The Walther Model 8 was the predecessor of the famous Walther PP and PPK and was the last single-action pistol made by Walther other than their target pistols.
The Model 8 was made to be simple and reliable and was chambered for the 6.35x16SR (25ACP) cartridge. It was well regarded and popular with civilian and military people.
Fast Facts
- The Walther Model 8 was a single action defensive pistol made to be conveniently small and light.
- The Model 8 was chambered for the 6.35x16SR (25ACP) cartridge and the magazine held eight rounds.
- This pistol was made in three variants between 1920-1940.
- One of these pistols in its first variant is coming up for sale by Rock Island Auction.
There is undoubtedly truth in the notion that the small caliber pistol you have on you is going to be far more useful in an emergency than the much more powerful pistol you have at home in the safe.
This logic has been understood for a very long time especially by those who’s life might just depend on how they manage an “expect it when you least expect it” situation.
It was for such people that John Moses Browning created the 25ACP (6.35x16SR) cartridge. It was the smallest cartridge he could create that could use a small pistol centerfire primer.
The 25ACP was made with a semi-rimmed cartridge case, like its larger sibling the 38 Automatic (not to be confused with the 380ACP). Browning reasoned, correctly, that this would enable the cartridges to be used in both automatic pistols and revolvers. For example, the 38 Automatic (aka 38ACP, 9×23mmSR) was chambered in a variety of automatic pistols and also the Webley Fosbery automatic revolver.
So Browning’s vision for the 25ACP was to allow its use in a wide variety of handguns, although as it turned out it the vast majority of 25ACP handguns were small automatic pistols.
One of the nicest of those semi-automatic pistols was the Walther Model 8, which was the predecessor of the famous Walther PP and PPK.
The Walther Model 8 was designed and entered production in 1920, in the early years after the ending of the First World War.
The Model 8 was a single action pistol, no doubt best carried with a loaded magazine and empty chamber – as the Israelis seem to favor.
Thus carried this was a perfectly safe pistol to slip into a pocket, or for a lady her handbag, and be prepared for any unexpected unpleasantness that might occur whether at home or out and about.
The Model 8 proved to be quite popular and remained in production up until 1940. There were civilian buyers and also many military officers who wanted a conveniently concealable pistol additional to their service pistol.
The Walther Model 8 weighed 350 grams (12.3 ounces), was 130mm (5.12 inches) long, 90mm (3.54 inches) high, and 22mm (0.87 inch) wide. Magazine capacity was a useful eight rounds, and the rifling was six grooves.
The hard rubber grips were secured to the frame by the medallions on each side.
The Model 8 was made in three variants over the years of production. The first variant was in production from 1920-1926 with serial number range believed to have been in the 390000-480000 range.
This first model had a separate breech-block which accommodated the firing pin and spring, extractor. The pistol was disassembled for cleaning, with the magazine removed and chamber checked to be empty, via a latch on the right front of the trigger guard, which enabled the trigger-guard to be hinged downwards.
With the trigger-guard hinged down the slide could then be drawn back and the rear of the slide lifted up, it could then be eased off at the front of the pistol.
That done the recoil spring could then be twisted off the barrel.
Reassembly was the opposite of that described above with the note that the larger end of the recoil spring must be to the front of the pistol.
The second variant had the breech-block integral with the slide and had an external extractor retained by spring and plunger. After 1927 the Walther banner was stamped on the grips and on the bottom of the magazines.
Serial numbers for the second variant are between 700000-715000 with some in the mid 720000 range. It is reported that there were a small number made with serial numbers in the 480000-700000 range, so such pistols are very rare birds.
The third variant did away with the latch in front of the trigger-guard and replaced it with a spring. The upshot of this is that when a third variant pistol is taken down for cleaning the trigger-guard must be held down to keep it from springing back during the disassembly process.
Serial numbers for the third variant Model 8 pistols is between 715200 to 745000 and some have an “A” suffix.
One of the first variant Walther Model 8 pistols is coming up for sale by Rock Island Auction at their February Sporting and Collector Firearms auction to be held over February 21-23, 2025.
This Walther Model 8 is scheduled to be offered on February 21, 2025.
You can find the sale page with full details if you click here.
Rock Island Auction describe the condition of this pistol as follows:
“Excellent, with most of the original finish, some light handling wear, and only the slightest handling marks on the grips. Mechanically excellent. Case is very good.”
Picture credits: All pictures courtesy Rock Island Auction.
Jon Branch is the founder and senior editor of Revivaler and has written a significant number of articles for various publications including official Buying Guides for eBay, classic car articles for Hagerty, magazine articles for both the Australian Shooters Journal and the Australian Shooter, and he’s a long time contributor to Silodrome.
Jon has done radio, television, magazine and newspaper interviews on various issues, and has traveled extensively, having lived in Britain, Australia, China and Hong Kong. His travels have taken him to Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan and a number of other countries. He has studied the Japanese sword arts and has a long history of involvement in the shooting sports, which has included authoring submissions to government on various firearms related issues and assisting in the design and establishment of shooting ranges.
