Walther OSP

Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen · Pistol · Out Of Production · 1961

Also known as: Olympia-Schnellfeuer-Pistole, Olympic Rapid-Fire Pistol, OSP Match

Overview

The Walther OSP (Olympia-Schnellfeuer-Pistole, 'Olympic Rapid-Fire Pistol') is a purpose-built target pistol designed exclusively for the ISSF 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Olympic event. Introduced in 1961 as the spiritual successor to the .22 Short Schnellfeuer variant of the pre-war Walther Olympia, the OSP was engineered around a single goal: dump five aimed shots at five separate targets in 4, 6, or 8 seconds. Every feature serves that purpose - a low-axis Morini wraparound grip that channels recoil straight back rather than rotating the muzzle, a heavily ported and weighted barrel that practically eliminates muzzle flip, an aluminum slide for low reciprocating mass, and a feather-light single-stage trigger pulling between 1,000g (2.2 lb) and 1,400g (3 lb). Production ran from 1961 through 1994 before ISSF rule changes in 2004 obsoleted the .22 Short cartridge, wraparound grips, and ultra-light triggers, replacing the OSP's category with Walther's modern SSP.

Specifications

Weight (empty)	1276 g (45.0 oz)
Overall Length	300 mm (11.81")
Barrel Length	146 mm (5.75")
Height	145 mm (5.71")
Width	50 mm (1.97")
Sight Radius	220 mm (8.66")
Action Type	Blowback
Firing Mechanism	Hammer Fired
Trigger Type	Single Stage
Trigger Pull	9.8 N (2.2 lbf)
Magazine Capacity	5 rounds
Magazine Type	Detachable Box
Muzzle Velocity	270 m/s (886 fps)
Muzzle Energy	70 J (52 ft·lbf)
Effective Range	25 m (27 yd)
Maximum Range	500 m (547 yd)
Barrel Rifling	Right Hand
Rifling Twist	406 mm (15.98")
Number of Grooves	6
Frame Material	Steel
Slide Material	Aluminum
Barrel Material	Steel
Stock Material	Wood
Finish	Blued

Calibers

.22 Short · primary — also known as .22 S, 5.6x10mmR

Features

Firing modes: Semi Automatic
Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
Features: Ported Barrel, Weighted Barrel Compensator, Morini Wraparound Grip, Low Bore Axis, Ultra Light Trigger, Adjustable Target Sights, Match Grade Barrel, Purpose Built Competition

Variants

Walther OSP 2000 — Late Production Refinement
Walther OSP Match — Competition Match Grade

Base model

Walther-Olympia

Service history

Operators

International ISSF/UIT competitors · adopted 1961
East German Olympic shooting team
Soviet Olympic shooting team
West German Olympic shooting team

Production

Production years: 1961-1992

Specific production figures not publicly disclosed by Walther. Estimated several tens of thousands across the 30+ year production run. Replaced by Walther SSP in 2005 when rule changes obsoleted the .22 Short category.

Origin

Country of origin: Germany

Designer: Carl Walther GmbH (post-war target pistol design team)

Discontinued: 1992

Notes

The OSP and its Italian rival - the FAS OP 601 Domino - literally defined the category of 'purpose-built' competition firearms; nothing about either pistol made sense for any application other than ISSF rapid-fire. The OSP dominated 25m Rapid Fire Pistol from the 1970s through the early 2000s, setting numerous Olympic and world records. The pistol was rendered competitively obsolete in 2005 when ISSF rules switched the event to .22 LR with conventional grips and trigger weights, prompting Walther to release the SSP successor. The OSP remains highly collectible and is still used in legacy and casual competition.

Background

The Walther OSP was so dominant in Olympic 25m Rapid Fire Pistol that for decades the event was effectively a footrace between OSP shooters - with the pistol contributing more to medal counts than national-team training programs - until 2005 when the ISSF rewrote the entire ruleset specifically to encourage gun design diversity. The new rules outlawed everything that made the OSP special: .22 Short, wraparound grips, and ultra-light triggers all banned overnight.