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Interesting Prototype "Concealed Hammer" Single Action Semi-Automatic Pistol with "Reciprocating Sli

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Interesting Prototype  Concealed Hammer  Single Action Semi-Automatic Pistol with  Reciprocating Sli
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Estimate: $10000 - 20000
This is certainly a "one of a kind" semi-automatic pistol that appears to be a continuation of the late Walther MP concealed hammer, pistol program but it is based on using the later and more refined standard pre-war "HP" or later P38 pistol design. The Walther factory reportedly was continually working on this concealed hammer design, primarily for the military and as such produced several configurations as concept evaluation or prototype designs. Some of these are identified in the excellent reference book Vol. 1 of the P-38 by Buxton, however, this specific prototype pistol, has never been seen before nor identified in any of the captured Walther documents. This could certainly have been the final attempt by the Walther factory to produce a successful concealed hammer designed pistol. Speculation is that this design was a continuation or reintroduction of the concealed hammer program that was initially started with the "MP" models. There are similarities of this pistol and the standard "HP and or later P38" designs that can be readily identified in the accompanying pictures and as follows: 1) this pistol has a standard, late style frame with both recoil springs located inside the frame, the Lanyard loop holes have been filled, 2) it has the standard single, swinging locking block, with standard push pin 3) the take down lever is exactly like an HP or P38 in that is has the grooved head on the lever, 4) and the slide release lever also has the standard early configuration with the grooved lever, 5) the internal components such as the trigger, sear, disconnector, hammer strut, main spring and magazine release all appear to be exactly like the standard early HP or P38 pistol. However, that where the similarities end and the uniqueness of this pistol design starts. The four most notable or unique features of this model, as can be seen in the accompanying pictures and described below are that this model has, 1) a slide that is approximately 1 1/4 inch shorter than a standard slide that has a unique firing pin assembly, 2) the front section of the slide actually telescopes or reciprocates into the rear frame housing. If you note in the pictures, the rear half of the slide has been machined down approximately 1/32 of an inch on both sides which allow the slide to telescope into the rear frame housing, 3) it has the early concealed hammer design with an elongated hammer that extends into the rear of the frame housing, 4) the rear section of the frame is actually a sheet metal housing that is pinned onto the frame, that enclose the rear end of the slide and coves the concealed hammer design. As can also be seen in the pictures, with this shortened slide and concealed hammer design Walther eliminated the safety lever and safety mechanism entirely which allowed them to shorten the rear section of the slide. This necessitated a further redesign of the firing pin assembly, which on this model Walther incorporated a small, separate steel block that acts as the contact point to actually cock the internal hammer and also acts as the firing pin retaining block. It appears that the firing pin is pushed in and probably rotated to remove it out the rear of the firing pin block and then the firing pin block slides down-ward at an angle and out of the slide. The firing pin is a completely round version and there is no loaded indicator in the slide, and it has the later external extractor on the left hand side. You will also note that there is no rear sight and no top cover on the slide. These were eliminated and instead there is a deep radius or groove in the top of the slide that acts as a guide rib that matches the dished recess in the top of the sheet metal housing noted above. The sheet metal housing itself appears to have been fabricated in two-piece; with the front section a simple sheet metal stamping that was bent or formed over a step die that has had a second flat stamping welded onto the rear end of the housing. By looking inside to the rear of the housing this describer was able to see some welding residue inside the rear area, supporting this theory. This was certainly done as production expediency as there is no structural intent for this housing other than to conceal the internal hammer and the rear of the slide and frame area. The pistol itself has no internal or external proof or inspection marks nor and assembly or serial numbers, which also supports a one-of-a-kind prototype design. It has a high polished blue finish on all the parts except the firing pin block, hammer and sear all of which are left in the white. It is fitted with a set of brown, ribbed wartime grips and a late war P38v marked magazine. Accompanying this pistol is a letter from noted Author James Rankin. Mr. Rankin is the world renowned authority on Walther pistols and author of the most important books on Walther Automatics. The letter which states this pistol and supports the theory that it closely resembles the early "HP" or P38 pistol designs, while still incorporating the early concealed hammer design.
BBL: 5 inch round
Stock:
Gauge: 9 mm
Finish: high polish blue
Grips: brown plastic
Serial Number: NSN
Condition: Near mint as specially fabricated with 99% of the high polished blue finish on the various parts except those internal parts noted above. The only observed defect is that in the top of the slide, in the very front end of the dished radius area there are two or three very minor pits. The replacement grips are in excellent condition and show minimal wear, however also as noted above were probably from a later period pistol. This is certainly a very unique semi-automatic pistol that certainly deserves further research.