Fantastic Walther quality back then!
The model 1 rifle was developed pre-WWII, when Karl Walther was running the company. What an amazing, almost futuristic design!
As the war came to a close, Walther had to leave. His factory was overrun by the occupying Soviet forces.
When he resettled in the West, he licensed some of his designs to other makers. Perhaps most famous was the Walther Olympia pistol, which he licensed to Hämmerli in Lenzberg Switzerland. This design became the "Walther-Hämmerli Olympia" and would go on to become the 200 series pistols, themselves the design inspiration for the S&W M41!
While Manurhin of France manufactured several Walther designed pistols (P-38 and PP) after WWII, I'm not sure that Karl Walther received appropriate renumeration for that.
Of course, Walther eventually started a new company in West Germany, and had many successful rifle and pistols.
What a company Walther was, before Umarex got ahold of them, or should I say, bought the name!
Jim
