Walther CP1 or Walther CP

[Sgibbar]

Hi, I have bought and am waiting for delivery of my latest addition to the Walther tribe, a CP or CP1 as it would become once there was a CP2.
so far just “that’s nice” the interesting bit is that from my reading around I didn’t think these were around till 1980 and then only for a year or so before being replaced.
well this one is wearing inspection stickers from 1978, 1979, 1980 for the SCSBRA, it appears to be the right grip, but is it ?
either this is earlier than we thought they were made or has someone added a grip of another Walther, maybe a free pistol?
so what do people think? I should get it early next week so can then take more, better pictures.

 

[waltherfan]

Nice purchase! Nice condition too.

This was Wathers first co2 match pistol, very early ones were CP’s and then they quickly became CP1’s.

I have a CP1 and it looks identical to yours. My grip is the same too.

The CP2 followed, which has a number of differences, such as a ‘proper’ dry fire mechanism instead of the catch on the rear sight and a detachable trigger assembly with a plastic instead of steel trigger guard.

The CP3 is similar to the CP2 with some further minor differences. I also have a CP3 and have been looking for a CP2 to complete my set.

Walther lists manufacturing dates as follows...

CP1 1980-82
CP2 1983-89
CP3 1989-91

So I’m puzzled about the 1978 equipment control stickers, also bear in mind this would have had to have been on someone’s FAC back in the day, long before the co2 exemption.

 

[Sgibbar]

Nice purchase! Nice condition too.

This was Wathers first co2 match pistol, very early ones were CP’s and then they quickly became CP1’s.

I have a CP1 and it looks identical to yours. My grip is the same too.

The CP2 followed, which has a number of differences, such as a ‘proper’ dry fire mechanism instead of the catch on the rear sight and a detachable trigger assembly with a plastic instead of steel trigger guard.

The CP3 is similar to the CP2 with some further minor differences. I also have a CP3 and have been looking for a CP2 to complete my set.

Walther lists manufacturing dates as follows...

CP1 1980-82
CP2 1983-89
CP3 1989-91

So I’m puzzled about the 1978 equipment control stickers, also bear in mind this would have had to have been on someone’s FAC back in the day, long before the co2 exemption.

thanks for the info, I have a CP 2 so was looking out for a 1 as these are probably the rarest variant. It is the control stickers that are odd, as you say I had production from 80 on for the CP series, so the obvious solution is that this grip is off something else, like a free pistol? Will get it off and see if there are signs of it being made to fit. The grip is very similar to the ones on my early GSP pistols.

 

[waltherfan]

FYI my serial no. Is 198X. So if the numbers are consecutive on the CP/CP1 then mine is around 300 later than yours. Someone did tell me only a few thousand CP1/2’s were made.

I still think you’ve got the ‘factory’ grip, GSP is much thinner and narrower with (I think, it’s been a long time!) two fixing screws either side. I would have thought a FP grip would be much more ‘enveloping’ Post some pics if you take the grip off and I’ll do the same. Some pics of your CP2 would be great too, as I’m trying to figure the differences between the CP2 and 3.

Things like this are what make our hobby so fascinating!

 

[Sgibbar]

FYI my serial no. Is 198X. So if the numbers are consecutive on the CP/CP1 then mine is around 300 later than yours. Someone did tell me only a few thousand CP1/2’s were made.

I still think you’ve got the ‘factory’ grip, GSP is much thinner and narrower with (I think, it’s been a long time!) two fixing screws either side. I would have thought a FP grip would be much more ‘enveloping’ Post some pics if you take the grip off and I’ll do the same. Some pics of your CP2 would be great too, as I’m trying to figure the differences between the CP2 and 3.

Things like this are what make our hobby so fascinating!

Will do as soon as I get back from this weekend and will add to this thread so there's more info in one place for any future searches.

 

[Sgibbar]

Nice purchase! Nice condition too.

This was Wathers first co2 match pistol, very early ones were CP’s and then they quickly became CP1’s.

I have a CP1 and it looks identical to yours. My grip is the same too.

The CP2 followed, which has a number of differences, such as a ‘proper’ dry fire mechanism instead of the catch on the rear sight and a detachable trigger assembly with a plastic instead of steel trigger guard.

The CP3 is similar to the CP2 with some further minor differences. I also have a CP3 and have been looking for a CP2 to complete my set.

Walther lists manufacturing dates as follows...

CP1 1980-82
CP2 1983-89
CP3 1989-91

So I’m puzzled about the 1978 equipment control stickers, also bear in mind this would have had to have been on someone’s FAC back in the day, long before the co2 exemption.

There is a cp2 on guntrader at the moment looks to be complete though does have a shiny action.

 

[Sgibbar]

Ok, so it’s here. So either someone is having a rather strange laugh or this CP was in the country in 1978 on someone’s FAC being shot at a match where FAC’s were not a problem. I will see if I can make contact with anyone who might remember from the club, let’s face it this would have been quite a memorable thing.
The condition is very good and having put a charged cylinder on, it fires and holds gas. There are various receipts for repairs including a complete seals change in 1999. Matching numbers on the case, the test card, the front of the handbook (though that could have been put on later as it’s for a CP1.
some photos of my CP2 alongside for comparison as well as some close up of the dry fire switch up by the sight. Maybe this was better as the dry fire switch on my CP2 is broken and has been bodged, but as it fires well I haven’t tried to either repair or operate it. I only carry out repairs to make my pistols usable unless it’s a full re build job.
One other interesting thing is the filler probes, the earlier one has a cut from the face back, the later one has a hole drilled into the filling line at the thread shoulder, this might well allow the spare gas to vent sooner, maybe to soon? There is a YouTube rebuild video of a CP1 where the cylinder blows off due to threads from the cylinder having been sheared off so it’s not held till the gas has reached the gap resulting in a loud bang and the cylinder jumping off.

 

[waltherfan]

That 1978 equipment control sticker is really puzzling! I saw the CP2 on gt, but I’d like to get a blues one like yours.

Pic of my CP1 below.

 

[Sgibbar]

That 1978 equipment control sticker is really puzzling! I saw the CP2 on gt, but I’d like to get a blues one like yours.

Pic of my CP1 below.

That grip looks like the one my CP2 came with, that had been chopped about, which is why I found the blue grip from a later Walther. I have asked a couple of people from the Bisley direction if they remember someone at that club having a CP back in the 80’s and shooting with it regularly, it must have been quite memorable.

 

[Modski66]

Bit of a thread resurrection here, I am just a bit late to the Walther party having recently bought a CP3...

@Sgibbar I am curious what model the laminated grip came from, just in case I ever see one for sale. Also, do you know if the CP/CP1/CP2 cylinders are compatible with the CP3? I could do with an extra one as my spare is proving difficult to repair.

 

[Sgibbar]

Bit of a thread resurrection here, I am just a bit late to the Walther party having recently bought a CP3...

@Sgibbar I am curious what model the laminated grip came from, just in case I ever see one for sale. Also, do you know if the CP/CP1/CP2 cylinders are compatible with the CP3? I could do with an extra one as my spare is proving difficult to repair.

No idea what the grip came off, I did have relieve it a bit in places to get it to fit, but it is better than what was on there. Yes any cylinder from this range will fit they all used the same fitting but did come in about 3 different lengths. I have one that has a slow leak after filling so will be looking at it sometime soon, will post how I get on.