Questions on Walther P-88
Recently I purchased a Walther P-1 and really like it. While trying to research this pistol on various websites, I came across the Walther P-88 which I have never heard of. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about this pistol, was it available on the commercial market, and other than private sellers, is there a source for these today (I checked with SOG and they don't carry them). Thanks in advance for your answers.
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The full-size, ( Original ) P-88 hasn't been available for years. It went out of print in the early 90's. They continued makeing a compact version, though I doubt if it's still in production. Neither were very common in the U.S, ( to expensive for the peasants, whatever? ).
Your best bet to get your hands on one would be to contact this outfit, Earl's Repair Service, Inc, http://www.carlwalther.com/ he specializes in top end hard to come by, Walther Pistols.
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The P-88 was Walther's entrant into the "wondernines" -the high cap. nines that became so dominant in the 80's.
http://www.carlwalther.com/p88.htm
Here one for sale.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=29378347
"It's better to make something drunk-proof... rather than fool-proof."0 -
For rufe-snow: Thanks a lot, I have to confess I am disappointed to read what you posted only because I want one. But your information is a huge help as I decide whether to pursue this pistol or look at a P-99. Again, thanks. 0 -
For Kiss-My-Chad: Thanks for the reply. Do you have any idea why it
wasn't marketed in the U.S. or at least not
marketed in a big way? Can't exactly explain why
but I really like the looks of this pistol.0 -
NOTPARS...Old world craftsmanship=Big Bucks! These were made in the traditional style of Austrian/German pistol manufacture. Alot of the reason has to do with cost of labor on a fine gun like that. Another problem was the weak dollar vs. the strong Deutsche MArk at that time in history. Protectionist trade policies of the time didn't help too much either, though that debaucle was more that offset by the stupidity of Clintons import bans a few years later. When a new series 80 Colt cost around $450 and the Walther was up around $600, it didn't take too long for the P-88 to die out. They were really well made in my opinion, by the way, and rank right up there with the Steyr GB in terms of "wish to hell they would have made it here" and sold enough to stay in production...then we could both afford to get a nice used one right about now!!
"When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
"When I was 14 I used to marvel at how ignorant my old man was...by the time I was 21 I was truelly amazed at how much the old bugger had learned in the intervening 7 years!" Samuel Clemens
"History is written by winners"(Patton)
"You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
"There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)0 -
I went to the Walther website you guys listed. $1200 bucks for a P-88, I think I'll pass but it was nice while it lasted. 0 -
For 1KYDSTAR: Hey I really appreciate your post. I know nothing about these older Walthers and your history lesson really helped. I found the site you folks sent me to and found some for sale. . . at $1200 dollars each! A bit out of my payscale. Anyway, just when I discover (for me at least) a pistol that I never heard of, and got to have, I discover I'm a day late and a dollar short big time! I sure wish they had made these in profusion so I could get one (I do have a SIG 229 I'm fond of though). Got to go check out those PP's you told me about. Thanks. 0
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