Century Arms International 9mm Walther P1 Holster
SCOTT W. WAGNER The other day I was in my favorite firearms emporium, Vance’s Shooter’s Supply in Columbus, Ohio, perusing the gun cases. I hadn’t paid much attention to the prices lately, and was struck by how expensive many of the handguns are, even in a store where prices are very reasonable. It’s hard to find reliable, quality defensive handguns on a restricted budget. One option is the surplus Walther 9mm P1 semi-‐ automatic pistol imported by Century Arms International and priced around $325. The Walther P1 is the updated, much improved version of the WWII era 9mm Walther P38, which is the successor to the famous Luger 9mm pistol. The P1 borrows the DA/SA trigger system and slide mounted de-‐cocking lever from the earlier Walther PPK. The P1 operating system and open top slide design was later incorporated into the Beretta Model 92 pistol series. Manufactured for the post-‐war West German Police and security forces with a lightweight aluminum frame, the P1 is a genuine “Cold Warrior” handgun. Weighing in at 28.2 ounces with a 4-‐7/8-‐inch barrel, the P1 is still quite capable of defensive service and recreational shooting, and can be a fine option for days when the Beretta 92 is too large to pack around. But, there are a few considerations to take into account when choosing the P1 as a defensive arm.