German Guns Walther Home

Walther Model 1 The state of Thuringen, in the eastern portion of Germany has long been home to one of the great gunmaking centers of the world.  In 1592 the gunsmiths of the area around Thuringa forest formed a gunsmith's guild.  The guild was incorporated in the town of Zella St. Blasii.  294 years later, in 1886, a twenty-six year old engineer named Carl Walther began operating a small gun shop, Waffenfabrik Walther, in Zella St. Blasii.  Walther's first products were shotguns, hunting rifles, and small pocket pistols.  As Waffenfabrik Walther became more successful, it expanded both in size and in scope, producing such diverse items as office machinery in addition to firearms.  However, it was not until 1908 that Walther marketed his first successful self loading pistol.   Walther Model 1 Image Credit:  Rankin, James L., Walther Volume III, 1908-1980, (Coral Gables, Florida, 1981) Page 20 This first pistol was called the Model 1 (or alternatively the Model 1908), and was a small, blowback operated, pocket pistol chambered for 6.35mm Browning.  The top part of the slide is cut away so as to expose the barrel from the muzzle to the breech, and an internal hammer and recoil spring are located below the barrel.  The Model 1's safety was of the cross bolt push type located on the rear frame.  The Model 1 was approximately 4.375" long and weighs 12.8 ounces.  Magazine capacity was six rounds.