S&W Walther Divorce?

[Skeptic 9c]

Folks,
The Firearm Blog » Carl Walther GmbH Forms US-based Walther Arms Inc.

Looks like Walther is getting serious about the US business. I just wonder why Walther tried so long to avoid getting in directly.

I wonder if this will result in US Production of more firearms?

I wonder if customer feedback will result in product improvements, I do not like the safety system on my P-22.
Geoff
Who notes Fort Smith Arkansas is an unusual choice, anyone know why?

 

[TAKJR]

I never liked the S&W-marked Walther pistols, nor do I like PPK pistols made by Smith & Wesson, despite the additional safety feature and extended tang.

It is a good thing that Walther is on its own (for the most part) now.

TAKJR

 

[DustyJacket]

I never liked the S&W-marked Walther pistols, nor do I like PPK pistols made by Smith & Wesson, ......

TAKJR

Smith & Wesson will continue to manufacture the PPK for Walther Arms, Inc. and CARL WALTHER will continue to manufacture the M&P22 handgun for S&W.

 

[Ken NC]

Will both now service the dual marked pistols? I really like my PPS. No problems, but just wondering....

 

[gonzogeezer]

IIRC, Fort Smith, AR is US headquarters for Umarex, who owns Carl Walther, and Colt, too.


--Lee, SoCenPA

 

[18DAI]

Very good news, for PPQ fans. Regards 18DAI

 

[Fastbolt]

Not too surprising, as their agreement was due to expire next year.

I imagine S&W will continue to service their licensed SW99/990L's to the original owners under their lifetime warranty, but the servicing of the Walther product lines can easily enough switch over to the new Walther importation & sales company. Aside from the PPQ, which is offered with a limited lifetime warranty for American buyers, the rest of the Walther product line has a typical Walther 1-year warranty, anyway.

Maybe this means that Walther has finally decided to invest more time and attention in the American market for their products. I guess we'll see if they devote more time to production for the American market, huh?

 

[nipster]

I wonder if customer feedback will result in product improvements, I do not like the safety system on my P-22.

The P22 is an all around horrible firearm that Walther should be ashamed to be associated with.

 

[George9]

...and I wouldn't be surprised if the were both made in China.

NO WAY IN THE WORLD!

 

[GaryS]

I don't think you can call it a divorce when you've just been fooling around with each other....

I wonder if they've changed their status on Facebook from "going steady" to "single and loving it" yet?

 

[Skeptic 9c]

More intelligence from the front.

The Firearm Blog » Why Walther Amd S&W Parted Ways

Interesting. I wonder how detailed the stockholders reports are on source of profits.

Geoff
Who is a skeptic.

 

[TAKJR]

DustyJacket:

Well.....S&W can keep making their PPKs. I will stick with German-made ones.

That's just me.

Thanks for the information.

TAKJR

 

[Scrumbag]

One hear's rumours that Walther have been looking at Sig and thinking of heading down a similar route.

It is not easy for EU manufacturers to get into the US market... I won't start an argument about free trade vs protecting jobs but it definitely happens and it means often the US consumer gets reduced firearms choice sadly. Mind you, works the other way as well...

 

[Fastbolt]

Personally, I didn't understand what S&W was thinking when they decided to make licensed PPK & PPK/S pistols.

Then again, I've had the chance to watch a variety of Interarms & other versions come through ranges over the years when they were popular as off-duty weapons. It was about a 50/50 split for reliability, and that was usually with ball ammo. Some required repair before they could make it through a simple course-of-fire, too.

The ones that worked could sometimes give their owners the typical PPK slide-bite "tracks" across the web of their hand, and some cut across the web of the hand deep enough that it interfered with slide run and induced stoppages. (At least one of the S&W revisions lengthened the tang to help mitigate this issue.)

The high location of the mag catch could cause an occasional unintentional mag release, too.

I've seen a few instances where the loaded chamber indicator plunger became sticky and caused some stoppages, too.

Some folks liked them, though, especially the ones that ran when the owners brought them out and shot them once or twice a year. The diminutive Walther was sort of a "lodge pin" for cops back when I started. Of course, there wasn't much choice for smaller off-duty weapons cops who didn't want to carry a snub made by S&W, Colt or Charter Arms back then.

But this is nowadays, and we have a wealth of diminutive pistols chambered in .32 & .380 from which to choose.

Bottom line, I hope Walther makes it by importing their own guns, as well as selling the S&W PPK & PPK/S models and hopefully continuing their licensing agreement with MR for the MR9/MR40 pistols. If they decide to increase their advertising effort and shipments to US customers, that can only be a good thing for the people who want to own Walther products.

Of course, it would also be nice if they'd consider revising their warranty support in the form of putting aside their 1-year warranty and offering something competitive with some of the other major manufacturers, as they did with their PPQ (but that's apparently for American purchasers of that model).

 

[George9]

Thanks for all the extra reading! I like learning all I can. I'm not going to debate this at this time.. not till I get a look at all the post and reading about it all.. I'm going to take out my M&P and see ho she shoots! Heck that's what we got it for.. I knew it was German made and that quality should be built right in.. Sorry for all the typos I'm getting ready to go out the door.. I have a few things to do outside today.. Happy 4th of July everyone! george

 

[George9]

I read the warranty as 1 year and like all M&P pistols lifetime to the org. owners there after the first year expires if you register within 30 days of ownership.. That's how I read it.. I may very well be wrong.. In any case I hope to get a lifetime out of any well made gun.. George

 

[Fastbolt]

The M&P pistols are made by S&W and come with their limited lifetime warranty to the original owner.

The Walther PPQ is made in Germany and comes with a limited lifetime warranty for owners within the United States (Owner manual language on Page 31 of current online manual).

The P99 & PPS are made in Germany, and the manuals (current online) still state the warranty is for 1 year after purchase.

The FAQ on the Walther America (S&W business) website states the PPK & PPK/S-1 are made by S&W for Walther, and only come with a Walther 1 year warranty.

 

[George9]

Smith & Wesson's M&P 22's only, are made by Walther.. As stated on the pistol and I think mag. george.

 

[Fastbolt]

Oops. I don't pay any attention to the S&W .22 pistols ...

I've never particularly been a fan of S&W .22 pistols, although an older M41 I've used from time to time seems to shoot decently well.

 

[Kavinsky]

Well I kinda hopes this means that sometime down the line we can get ahold of some quality walthers with a 1960's era fit and finish here in america without the interarms or smith marks on the right side for less that 1600 bucks

actually come to think of it I think walther still makes the PP back in europe with a beautiful blued finish along with FEG making some odd PPK/S variant called the PPK/E but they just dont import it anymore.

either that or maybe they could modernize the walther PP super and bring it back for the american market without that barrel insert I've heard of them having for the .380 version

hell if they could just modernize the PPK a touch more after removing the bevertail of the smith version (as its not really needed in my opinion, just need to radius the bottom edge of the slide a little so you dont have a sharp edge running along the top of your hand)

with the one piece feed ramp barrel set up of the modern .380's along with a Sig 230 takedown lever and maybe a 1911/beretta 85 style safety with a 3.8 inch barrel and slide minus the PP's snout I'd be in heaven with maybe a choice of the euro heel release over the american one to make it as pocketable as possibile like a smith bodyguard if the orderer so desires it.

after all options are good and you can always improve on a great design no matter what the purists say, you just need to know on what first, do it right and why and give them an option between the old and new.