Earliest Known Walther LP53 Air Pistol.

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Leonardj
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Earliest Known Walther LP53 Air Pistol.

Post by Leonardj » Sun Dec 23, 2012 9:49 pm

Update: 08-Nov-2014
I thought that an update to this thread was in order, because an earlier LP53 has come to my attention.
The current earliest known LP53 is now SN 001274, and pics of it can be seen here:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/681456/m ... known+LP53" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


The original subject of this post, SN 001345 remains significant among the earliest known LP53s by virtue of it being the most well preserved specimen currently known. It is in its original box, with all the sight inserts, the cocking knob, the factory test target, and the owners pamphlet (printed in German). Sadly, the original cleaning rod was missing, and the original early grips were broken. The damaged grips were replaced with a set of later grip panels that I had as spares to make the gun look more presentable. The original grips have been retained due to unique features they possess, not seen on later style grips.

As well, this is the earliest known variant of the LP53 box. This early Walther box is very different dimensionally from anything that I have seen to date. The box measures 349 mm wide by 180 mm deep by only 47 mm high. The accessory shelf for the sight inserts inside the box measures 38 mm wide by 115 mm deep by 34 mm high. Contrast these dimensions to the box most commonly seen for these pistols, at 345 mm wide by 170 mm deep by 58 mm high, with the accessory shelf measuring 52 mm wide by 117 mm deep by 46 mm high.

Image
Last edited by Leonardj on Sat Nov 08, 2014 7:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Ian
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Post by Ian » Sun Dec 23, 2012 10:01 pm

Wow! Thats a rare gun!

Fascinating post Len - many thanks



.

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pmh
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Post by pmh » Sun Dec 23, 2012 10:10 pm

Excellent post Len, and good pictures if the nuances.

Would be easily missed if you didn't know what to look for.

Kind regards,



Phil
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chriscp1991
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Post by chriscp1991 » Mon Dec 24, 2012 10:41 pm

very nice indeed, a lovely example of an old lp53 :lol:

the important question; do you "use" it?  How does she shoot?

chriscp1991

Leonardj
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Post by Leonardj » Wed Dec 26, 2012 12:28 am

chriscp1991:1077 wrote:very nice indeed, a lovely example of an old lp53 :lol:

the important question; do you "use" it?  How does she shoot?

chriscp1991
Thus far I have only put a few pellets over the chrony to check it out.
It will be properly freshened up before doing any further shooting with it, but it will be shot.

Henno3
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Re: Earliest Known Walther LP53 Air Pistol.

Post by Henno3 » Fri Dec 04, 2015 4:09 pm

I bought this in sweden two weeks ago. The serialnumber is: 01154. It doesnt start with "00". Is it a realy early one? The condition is very good. Is it rare?

/ Henrik

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Re: Earliest Known Walther LP53 Air Pistol.

Post by Leonardj » Fri Dec 04, 2015 11:27 pm

Henno3 wrote:I bought this in sweden two weeks ago. The serialnumber is: 01154. It doesnt start with "00". Is it a realy early one? The condition is very good. Is it rare?

/ Henrik
Hello Henrik,
All Walther LP53 pistols had six digit serial numbers.
The serial number of your gun should have one more number. Based on your description, I suspect that the missing digit is the one that comes after the "4".

Sometimes, the last number of the serial number is obscured by a buildup of old lubricant and dirt near the point where the barrel pivots.
I have also seen a couple of rare incidences where the number is stamped too far to the right, so that the last digit is actually hidden by the receiver at the barrel pivot point, requiring removal of the barrel from the receiver to be able to see the full serial number.

Have a closer look and see if you can spot the missing number.

Henno3
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Re: Earliest Known Walther LP53 Air Pistol.

Post by Henno3 » Sat Dec 05, 2015 7:04 am

God morning.

Yes, thats correct! I found a number in the dirt. So the number is now 011547.
Do you know if its from the 50:ies with this number?

/Henrik

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Re: Earliest Known Walther LP53 Air Pistol.

Post by Leonardj » Sun Dec 06, 2015 1:08 am

Henno3 wrote:God morning.

Yes, thats correct! I found a number in the dirt. So the number is now 011547.
Do you know if its from the 50:ies with this number?

/Henrik
Based on the serial number, your gun was made in 1955, possibly around Sep or Oct.

Henno3
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Re: Earliest Known Walther LP53 Air Pistol.

Post by Henno3 » Sun Dec 06, 2015 1:03 pm

Thank you very much for that information! Very interesting to know that.

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