[r_t_darc]

Pictured here is my German Army accepted Walther Model 4:
It is the early variation with only a shallow groove cut into the rear of the slide to serve as the back sight.


Download Attachment: WaltherMod4.JPG
165.86 KB


My question is: How many (approximately) of these guns were made with this early variation of the rear sight, and at what serial number range did the change to a separate sight assembly take place?

Also, is there an educated guess as to how many Model 4's were made by contractors, rather than by Walther?

 

[Jan]

Mine Army accepted SN 57139 has groove on the top (=without separate sight).

 

[r_t_darc]

Since mine is serial number 83068, that would imply that over 25 thousand of this variation were turned out.
That's more of them than I would have expected, as I thought this poor sighting system would have been improved much sooner in the production run!

 

[Marschall]

Hello,
your Mod. 4 was made by a contractor. So the rhs. of the slide is blank. What letters are there on the lhs. of the trigger guard? They tell you who the contractor was.
Dieter.

 

[r_t_darc]

Yes, the right hand side of the slide is blank.
The initials on the left trigger web are J.M.
I hadn't thought mine was contractor produced, but it adds interest for me if that's the case.
And I didn't mean to sound so negative about the design of this model of pistol. It's a well made gun, and all the features make for a great pocket auto (with the exception of the early variation of the sights...) Thanks for your reply!
Rich M.

 

[Marschall]

Hello Rich,
your Mod. 4 was manufactured by Immanuel Meffert in Suhl/Thuringia.
Dieter.

 

[r_t_darc]

Thank You for the information. Would Meffert have made the pistol in its entirety, or were some parts received from Walther/ or subcontracted elsewhere? The quality of fit and finish seems on par with normal Walther products.

 

[Marschall]

Hello,
this is very difficult to tell, as in those days in the Suhl/Zella-Mehlis area there was always a lot of co-operation - in today's terms: subcontracting. Basically, however, Meffert was expected to manufacture all parts.
Dieter.