Welcome to at the moment’s Photo of the Day! The Walther Mannequin 6 semi-automatic pistol represented the corporate’s first try to interrupt into the 9mm army sidearm market in 1915. Primarily an upscaled model of their profitable .32 caliber Mannequin 4 blowback pistol, the Mannequin 6 retained the fundamental unlocked motion however with a heavier slide and spring to deal with the 9mm Parabellum cartridge’s larger energy. Nonetheless, over 1,000 manufactured by means of 1917, the simplistic blowback system proved ill-suited for the spherical’s pressures, resulting in rejection by German forces who most well-liked a locked breech. So whereas a quantity have been privately bought and noticed use, the Mannequin 6 by no means achieved widespread adoption. But it kickstarted Walther’s transfer towards full-size army handguns, presaging their subsequent P38 and PPK fame. The Mannequin 6 in the end confronted obsolescence as fight pistol design progressed.
“Manufactured in restricted numbers throughout the First World Warfare, the Mannequin 6 was Walther’s first transfer into the full-size army pistol market. In general design the Mannequin 6 reveals a really robust mechanical resemblance to Walther’s vest pocket weapons, whereas additionally meriting comparability to the Fabrique Nationale product of the time in addition to later developments by Star with full-power straight blowback semi-automatic army pistols. Blade entrance and notch rear sights, with the left facet of the slide marked “Selbstlade-Pistole Cal.9m/m. Walther’s-Patent.” over the Walther banner forward of a small “GERMANY” export stamp and the early one-line handle “Carl Walther, Waffenfabrik, Zella St. Bl.” on the suitable. Zella-St. Blasii was one of many communities merged collectively to type Zella-Mehlis in 1919, which might stay Walther’s headquarters till the post-WWII Soviet occupation.”
Lot 479: Uncommon Walther Mannequin 6 Semi-Automated Pistol – Very Scarce Walther Mannequin 6 Semi-Automated Pistol with Inscribed Grip Strap. (n.d.-l). Rock Island Public sale Firm. {photograph}. Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/element/74/479/rare-walther-model-6-semi-automatic-pistol.