31:
315:
held enameled medallions: on the left side, the "CW" (Carl
Walther) monogram, and on the right "6.35", with the serial number on the right side grip tang. Proof marks indicating the place and date of manufacture appear above the trigger in some variants. The Model 8 was produced with a standard blued
433:
Produced between 1927 and 1933 or 1934, this variant has serial numbers from about 700000 to 720000. The breech block is integrated into the slide, with a spring and plunger in a drilled recess to retain the external extractor. A plate and screw hold the firing pin at the rear of the slide. There is
302:
The Model 8 was approximately 130mm in length, and weighed 12.5 ounces. The slide fully covered the barrel, and the trigger guard served as a take-down (disassembly) lever, securing the recoil spring, with no barrel bushing. In order to disassemble, the hinged trigger guard had to be pulled down,
328:
The Model 8 was produced starting in late 1920, and was
Walther's first post-war pistol. It was quite popular, and although production estimates vary, probably between 145,000 and 500,000 were produced until 1940. Marschall estimates that about 370,000 were made, and Kersten calculates around
404:
and locking lug disassembly button, and the second had an exposed extractor with a locking lug disassembly button mounted on the trigger guard. The third had an exposed extractor, but to make manufacturing less complicated, the locking lug button was removed.
424:
The is a large W on the bottom of the magazine, and sometimes an L-shaped flat follower with an open front. Some have a U-shaped swaged follower with a closed front. The magazine has seven staggered holes in each side so that cartridges can be seen.
421:, firing pin spring, and the extractor, was removable, with no external extractor visible. The firing pin is retained in the breech block by a projection on the extractor. A small latch on the trigger guard releases it for disassembly.
434:
still a latch button for disassembly on the right side of the trigger guard. After 1927, the
Walther banner was stamped on the grips and on the bottom of the magazines, which had a U-shaped flat follower, closed at the front.
448:
Instead of a trigger guard latch button, the third variant had an added spring over the trigger guard to pull it upward. Pre-1940 models have the crown-over-N proofmark, meaning that the gun has been tested safe for use with
457:
over the N. In early 1940 the 'crown over N' proofmark was changed to the Nazi 'eagle over N', but Model 8s with the 'Eagle over N' proofmark are extremely rare, and were not produced after 1940.
413:
This variant was produced between 1920 and 1926. Serial numbers range from 390000 to about 480000, and around 84,000 first variant guns were manufactured. The breech assembly, consisting of the
341:
and tank crews, many of whom needed small weapons for use in tight spaces. Engraved Model 8s were sometimes presented to high-ranking German officers. A third variant Model 8 engraved with
445:
This variant was made from 1933 or 1934 until 1940, with serial numbers from 715200 to 745000, some with an "A" suffix. An estimated 37,000 third variants were manufactured.
1141:
316:
finish, and was also made with nickel plate or gold plate, ivory or wood grips, and engraving on those intended as gifts. A rare variant was manufactured with an
1136:
770:
1126:
1121:
311:
These inscriptions were found on all variants. There are 16 triangular, angled grooves on each side of the slide. Cross-hatched hard rubber
437:
The second variant is quite rare with fewer than 15,000 produced. Guns with serial numbers between 480000 and 700000 are extremely scarce.
708:
573:
557:
679:
503:
763:
694:
388:
of the third variant which served as a disassembly latch, the attaching of grips using the medallions, and the separated
287:
and has several design features that were innovative for
Walther, including fewer parts and an easier disassembly.
1100:
756:
959:
533:
A Historical
Overview ; Models 1 Through P99 and Copies; a Collector's Guide and Historian's Overview,
834:
44:
678:
Manfred
Kersten, Walther, A German Legend, Safari Press, Long Beach, CA: 2001 (English translation of
666:
A Historical
Overview; Models 1 Through P99 and Copies; a Collector's Guide and Historian's Overview,
401:
195:
1044:
1039:
974:
969:
280:
244:
1059:
1029:
1064:
1034:
1019:
265:
1131:
779:
569:
553:
381:
377:
356:), and was the last single-action-only pistol manufactured by Walther except for the post-war
284:
217:
722:
649:
635:
376:) filed six patents in 1919 and 1920 for the Model 8, covering the single axis-pin for the
1074:
979:
852:
819:
466:
342:
291:
222:
450:
317:
400:
The Model 8 was produced in three slightly different variants. The first had a hidden
1115:
1054:
1049:
927:
922:
796:
385:
268:
824:
414:
389:
373:
334:
272:
230:
108:
85:
75:
736:
663:
562:
546:
530:
521:
512:
483:
303:
then the slide was pulled back and up. On the left side of the slide was stamped
1024:
964:
917:
912:
907:
887:
882:
877:
872:
867:
857:
842:
814:
809:
804:
357:
312:
290:
The Model 8 was produced at the about same time as the smaller and less popular
1082:
1011:
902:
897:
892:
862:
471:
418:
349:
163:
30:
486:
Handguns of the World: Military
Revolvers and Self-loaders from 1870 to 1945.
333:
Compact, easy to clean, and attractive, the gun was often carried during the
954:
949:
338:
275:
between 1920 and 1940. It was fed by an 8-round magazine and chambered in
1092:
787:
454:
989:
276:
207:
200:
748:
307:
over the
Walther banner. Stamped on the right side of the slide was
941:
752:
337:
as a back-up pistol by staff officers, members of the SS, and
739:
The
Walther Handgun Story: A Collector's and Shooter's Guide,
515:
The Walther Handgun Story: A Collector's and Shooter's Guide,
551: United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2022.
502:
Safari Press, Long Beach, CA: 2001 (English translation of
320:
frame and was considerably lighter at 280 grams (9 ounces).
345:' name appeared for sale on the GunsAmerica site in 2011.
650:
Ed Buffaloe, "The Walther Model 7 and the Walther Model 8"
695:
Walther Model 8 Dr. Goebbels personal sidearm C&R,
543:
Volume III, Privately Printed in Coral Gables, FL: 1981
1091:
1073:
1010:
988:
940:
833:
795:
786:
250:
239:
229:
216:
206:
194:
181:
173:
162:
154:
146:
141:
133:
122:
114:
104:
96:
91:
81:
71:
63:
58:
50:
40:
21:
764:
526:Stackpole Co., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: 1946
8:
636:Earl Mount, "Early Walther Pistols: Model 8"
659:
657:
493:NRA Illustrated Firearms Assembly Handbook,
792:
771:
757:
749:
645:
643:
18:
609:Vol III, 1908-1980, Coral Gables, Florida
309:Waffenfabrik Walther Zella-Mehlis (Thür.)
1142:World War II infantry weapons of Germany
601:
599:
597:
595:
593:
591:
589:
35:Walther Model 8, first variant, ca. 1926
631:
629:
627:
625:
623:
621:
619:
617:
615:
585:
517:Stoeger Publishing Company, 1999.
565:The Personal Pistols of Adolf Hitler.
7:
348:The Model 8 was a prototype for the
683:Wiesbaden: Weispfennig-Verlag, 1997
507:Wiesbaden: Weispfennig-Verlag, 1997
488: Barnes & Noble, 1993
549:Walther Pistols: PP, PPK and P 38.
14:
1137:Semi-automatic pistols of Germany
741:Stoeger Publishing Company, 1999.
709:Matthew Moss, "Walther Model 8,"
484:Ezell, Edward Clinton.
681:Walther – Eine deutsche Legende.
505:Walther – Eine deutsche Legende.
384:, the improved spring-supported
29:
1127:.25 ACP semi-automatic pistols
1122:Walther semi-automatic pistols
123:
1:
372:Fritz Walther (eldest son of
668:Ucross, Los Alamos, NM: 2000
535:Ucross, Los Alamos, NM: 2000
177:0.870 in (2.21 cm)
1003:Walther LP400 (five models)
453:. Post-1940 Walthers had a
158:5.12 in (13.0 cm)
1158:
185:3.54 in (9.0 cm)
169:2.87 in (7.3 cm)
1101:Walther automatic shotgun
500:Walther, A German Legend,
189:
150:12.5 oz (350 g)
51:Place of origin
28:
547:Walter, John.
305:Walther's Patent Mod. 8.
283:pistol with a concealed
235:116 rpm (semi-automatic)
563:O'Hara, Michael John.
392:of the first variant.
231:Rate of fire
737:Gene Gangarosa, Jr.,
664:Dieter H. Marschall,
531:Dieter H. Marschall,
513:Gene Gangarosa, Jr.,
45:Semi-automatic pistol
16:Semi-automatic pistol
725:OVM Guns & Knife
711:Historical Firearms
279:. The Model 8 is a
605:Rankin, James L.,
92:Production history
1109:
1108:
936:
935:
780:Carl Walther GmbH
723:Walther Model 8,
539:James L. Rankin,
498:Manfred Kersten,
273:Carl Walther CmbH
258:
257:
223:Blowback-operated
109:Carl Walther GmbH
1149:
793:
773:
766:
759:
750:
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714:
706:
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692:
686:
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670:
661:
652:
647:
638:
633:
610:
603:
524:Walther Pistols,
522:W. H. B. Smith,
362:Taschen Pistolen
339:German air force
335:Second World War
271:manufactured by
240:Feed system
125:
33:
24:
23:Walther Model 8
19:
1157:
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1152:
1151:
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1075:Submachine guns
1069:
1006:
984:
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829:
782:
777:
747:
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735:
731:
721:
717:
707:
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697:GunsAmerica.com
693:
689:
677:
673:
662:
655:
648:
641:
634:
613:
604:
587:
582:
567:Lulu.com, 2006.
480:
467:Walther Model 9
463:
443:
431:
411:
398:
370:
354:Polizei Pistole
343:Joseph Goebbels
332:
326:
300:
292:Walther Model 9
262:Walther Model 8
190:
64:In service
59:Service history
36:
22:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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510:
496:
490:
479:
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451:nitrocellulose
442:
439:
430:
429:Second Variant
427:
410:
407:
397:
394:
369:
366:
325:
322:
318:aluminum alloy
299:
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256:
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225:semi-automatic
220:
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142:Specifications
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797:Target pistol
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579:
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574:9781411678668
571:
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559:
558:9781472850829
555:
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487:
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481:
477:
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468:
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460:
458:
456:
452:
446:
441:Third Variant
440:
438:
435:
428:
426:
422:
420:
416:
409:First Variant
408:
406:
403:
395:
393:
391:
387:
386:trigger guard
383:
379:
375:
367:
365:
363:
359:
355:
351:
346:
344:
340:
336:
330:
323:
321:
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314:
310:
306:
297:
295:
293:
288:
286:
282:
278:
274:
270:
269:pocket pistol
267:
266:single-action
264:was a 6.35mm
263:
253:
249:
246:
242:
238:
234:
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228:
224:
221:
219:
215:
212:.25 (6.35 mm)
211:
209:
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202:
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70:
66:
62:
57:
53:
49:
46:
43:
39:
32:
27:
20:
1083:MP (MPK/MPL)
1000:Walther LP53
997:Walther LPM1
950:Gewehr 41(W)
863:PP & PPK
847:
738:
732:
724:
718:
710:
704:
696:
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564:
548:
540:
532:
523:
514:
504:
499:
492:
485:
478:Bibliography
447:
444:
436:
432:
423:
415:breech block
412:
399:
390:breech block
374:Carl Walther
371:
361:
353:
347:
331:
327:
308:
304:
301:
289:
261:
259:
166: length
105:Manufacturer
86:World War II
76:Nazi Germany
72:Used by
990:Air pistols
298:Description
126: built
1116:Categories
1012:Air rifles
580:References
472:Walther PP
419:firing pin
358:Walther TP
350:Walther PP
960:MKb 42(W)
955:Gewehr 43
835:Semi-Auto
402:extractor
360:(German:
329:200,000.
196:Cartridge
118:1920–1940
67:1943–1945
1132:Handguns
1093:Shotguns
788:Handguns
607:Walther,
541:Walther,
461:See also
455:Swastika
396:Variants
380:and the
281:blowback
245:magazine
243:8-round
134:Variants
115:Produced
97:Designed
980:WA 2000
853:Model 9
848:Model 8
820:Olympia
368:Patents
324:History
277:.25 ACP
208:Caliber
201:.25 ACP
129:145,000
54:Germany
942:Rifles
572:
556:
382:hammer
378:safety
285:hammer
251:Sights
218:Action
182:Height
164:Barrel
155:Length
1055:LG400
1050:LG300
1045:LG210
1040:LG200
975:KK300
970:KK200
928:Creed
923:PK380
313:grips
254:fixed
174:Width
1060:CG90
1030:LG90
825:SP22
570:ISBN
554:ISBN
495:1962
260:The
147:Mass
100:1920
82:Wars
41:Type
1065:CGM
1035:LGM
1025:LGR
1020:LGV
965:G22
918:P99
913:P88
908:P22
888:TPH
883:P38
878:PPX
873:PPQ
868:PPS
858:PDP
843:CCP
815:SSP
810:GSP
805:OSP
364:).
124:No.
1118::
903:P5
898:P4
893:P1
656:^
642:^
614:^
588:^
417:,
294:.
772:e
765:t
758:v
685:)
509:)
352:(
137:3
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