Toolroom Prototype .32 ACP Walther Olympia

In the late 1930s, Walther experimented with the idea of an Olympia target pistol in .32 ACP. They used the frame from a 1936 pattern standard (.22LR) Olympia with a .32 caliber barrel, increased mass slide, and magazine adapted from a Walther PP. The project never progressed beyond the toolroom sample we have today, probably due to a combination of less-than-huge market demand for such a gun and the increasing military production Walther was undertaking.

 

6 Comments

  1. Ed Buffaloe over at The Unblinking Eye asserts that the .32 Ortgies was extremely accurate and therefore popular as a target pistol. Couldn’t imagine why until I saw this video. Probably explains why else Walther would consider a target-specific .32. Thanks for filling a gap in my (our) historical knowledge.

  2. I have heard it said, but don’t know why it would be, that the .32 ACP as well as the .32 Long (rimmed) are inherently accurate rounds favored by pistol competitors.

  3. Interest in development was probably lost when some European countries restricted military and police cartridges use and sale. In International Shooting Sport Federation Center Fire competition almost all pistols were chambered in 32 S&W or 38 Special. Due to no restrictions in the USA Pardini USA started offering HP models in 32 ACP and these have become popular with Bullseye competition shooters.

    I think it is a hoot that the CF record score was set by an amazing US shooter using a 1911 platform chambered for 38 Special, USAF Col. Thomas D. Smith III. Col. Smith was also a good shot with everything, from 22 pistols to McDonnell Douglas F-4Es.

    http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-galleries/modern-firearms-1950-to-present/case-49-olympic-and-international-competition/colt-government-model-semi-automatic-pistol.aspx

  4. “World War II would change the direction of Walther products for a while.”

    Masterful piece of understatement there!

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