Walther TP
Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen · Pistol · Out Of Production · 1961
Also known as: Walther TP50, Taschen Pistole, Walther Vest Pocket
Overview
The Walther TP (Taschen Pistole, 'pocket pistol') is a small, double-action semi-automatic vest pocket pistol introduced in 1961 as Walther's first post-WWII pocket pistol design. Drawing on the lines of the pre-war Walther Model 9, the TP was offered primarily in .25 ACP (6.35mm) with a smaller run in .22 Long Rifle. Its compact dimensions - just 130mm long and 340g - made it a quintessential concealed-carry firearm of the early 1960s. The pistol features a concealed hammer, straight blowback operation, fixed sights, a thumb-activated manual safety on the slide, and a heel-released six-round magazine with pinky extension. It was discontinued in 1971 and replaced by the more sophisticated Walther TPH ('Taschen Pistole mit Hahn,' or 'pocket pistol with hammer') in 1968.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 340 g (12.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 130 mm (5.12") |
| Barrel Length | 65 mm (2.56") |
| Height | 95 mm (3.74") |
| Width | 23 mm (0.91") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 230 m/s (755 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 86 J (63 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 15 m (16 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .25 ACP · primary — also known as 6.35x16mmSR Browning, 6.35mm Browning, .25 Auto
- .22 Long Rifle — also known as .22 LR, 5.6x15mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Magazine Disconnect
- Features: Concealed Hammer, Fixed Sights, Thumb Safety, Heel Release Magazine, Pinky Extension, Vest Pocket Design, Fixed Barrel
Variants
- Walther TPH — Successor With Hammer
Service history
Operators
- Civilian concealed carry market · adopted 1961
- European plain-clothes police (limited)
Production
Estimated total produced: 14,667 · Production years: 1961-1971
Approximately 11,250 units in .25 ACP and 3,417 units in .22 LR for a total run near 14,667. Limited production made this a relatively scarce firearm even when new.
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Designer: Carl Walther GmbH design team
Discontinued: 1971
Notes
Sometimes erroneously called the 'TP50' - this designation appears in some collector references but the official Walther model name is simply TP. Total production was modest: approximately 11,250 units in 6.35mm (.25 ACP) and 3,417 units in .22 LR. In U.S. advertisements, Walther marketed the TP as a 'Vest Pocket' pistol and it sold for $64.50 new. The .22 LR variant is significantly rarer than the .25 ACP version on today's collector market. The successor TPH (introduced 1968, alongside the TP through 1971) added an exposed hammer and is the better-known of the two designs.
Background
Designed for the post-war European market in which many countries banned military-caliber pistols for civilians, the Walther TP filled the niche for ladies' purse and gentlemen's vest-pocket carry - a market category that practically vanished by the 1980s as the .380 ACP took over the deep-concealment role. Today its scarcity makes it more valuable as a collector's curiosity than as a practical defensive arm.