Mystery .22 Rifle - Walther Model 1?

[@UnitedStatesOfGuns]

Hello - Very good video and fine .22. I had a very similar .22 - mine was marked Haenel on the bottom of the barrel just forward of the receiver (why there I'm not sure) and the bolt handle was also modified from the Walther but not quite the same as yours - and not as nice. Best I could determine is other makers such as Haenel and probably some custom makers (as suggested by other viewers here) offered there own custom versions of the excellent Walther. Sorry I don't know more.

[@314299]

Thanks, I appreciate the input. I will suggest to my buddy that he might want to take the action/barrel out of the stock to see if there are any other markings. If he finds anything I will let you know.

[@familienhansen8648]

Walter Model 1 ( around 1929/30 ) with a aftermarket stock. Repaired one recently. Fun little gun.

[@314299]

It could well be that the original rifle was damaged and was sent off for a new made stock and some other "custom' touches.

[@CandidZulu]

That was my first guess too. Never seen one like that. The whole idea was probably to be able to lock the bolt for suppressed fire!?

[@DeanMk1]

I can't help you with IDing the rifle, but I just wanted to say, I LOVED watching how the receiver dissembles and reassembles. Couldn't be simpler. Really, talk about well thought out. Wow. I wish all guns could be made like that.

[@314299]

It certainly is a clever design, and fairly simple to take apart and reassemble. I suspect it would be rather expensive to make, probably the reason they stopped making them.

[@RyeOnHam]

Definitely a Walther Model 1. Barrel markings and rear sight are identical. Sporterized, stubby bolt handle compared to the standard. The receiver housing that would normally be marke appears to have been refinished. There is some pitting on it. My suspicion is that when they refinished that part, they merely polished the markings off. Perhaps they were heavily pitted.

[@RyeOnHam]

With the metal as bad as it is, they were probably forced to replace the stock and thus the 'custom' stock.

[@314299]

I wish I had a Walter Model 1 to compare it directly to. Are the markings on a Walther shallow enough to be removed by polishing?

[@shawncramer9278]

an easy test would be the magazine. The Walther magazine won't fit anything else, so if the magazine from this rifle fits a Walther model 1, you will know what you have.

[@Niklas.K95]

Walther Modell 1 (Hunting Version) A. Custom wood (or replacement) B. Maybe it got somehow past the marking (maybe a special request)

[@314299]

I'm leading towards it being custom or rebuild of a Walther Mode 1.

[@Thorsaxe777]

The only hypothesis and conjecture I can contribute are that it is a Walther 1, however a store label gun, But no label was put on it for some reason and sold as such. That's my two cents. Not much help, -Dave

[@314299]

The action certainly looks like a Walther Model 1 - perhaps made for sale to gunsmiths to stock up and finish for custom work?

[@MrPh30]

Cheekrest looks like a Bavarian style,,the wood on the side of receiver is a way of reinforcing the stock. And keep rest of stock lighter.

[@314299]

Yes I suppose that would add a bit of extra "meat" to the stock without excessively weighing the whole thing down.

[@jakeoutdoors9600]

I'm going to call that a Walther model 1 that someone has made a manlicher stock for, refinished (removing markings) and modified the bolt. I like the looks of her. I see no actual purpose for a manlicher stock, but man i like them.

[@314299]

Yes, I had the same idea that it might have started off life as a Walther Model 1 that was built (or rebuilt) to this configuration. I wonder if Walther sold unmarked barreled actions to gunsmiths for stocking up and finishing?

[@MrBoltopenclassics]

Beretta also made a semi auto/bolt action very similar to this but a more simple stock fitted

[@314299]

Yes, the Beretta "Olympia" action is copied from the Walther.

[@canbrit4621]

Nice gun. I love the hybrid types semi/bolt. Such a cool idea. The stock has a double barrel shotgun kinda look with the “cheeks” near the action. Usually thickening for support but really give a unique look to the gun. Very cool thanks for showing. Maybe reach out to Ian aka gun Jesus to see if he has any thoughts on it.

[@314299]

Thanks for the input. The action design certainly is interesting, but there are a lot of pieces in the bolt and I expect it would have been an expensive thing to manufacture.

[@regsparkes6507]

I'm a big fan/shooter of .22 rimfires, and this rifle is fascinating, I'd love to own one of these,...( what ever it is :) )

[@314299]

It is an interesting one for sure.

[@peterparsons7141]

That’s a really nice .22, when rifles were made as forever tools. Nice heirloom. Sure looks like a factory custom.

[@314299]

Whatever it's source it certainly is a handsome rifle.

[@oneperfectshot]

Its walther model 1 with shortened bolt . Rest all appears same. It's nice piece.

[@314299]

Yes it does, it's the lack of markings that is odd.

[@cory8791]

Great vid!!!!

[@314299]

Thanks.

[@joakimblomqvist7229]

Markings might be found on the barrel under the stock. Trigger unit looks a bit like the one of the target .22 pistol Walther GSP. All the oddities with the stock makes me think it's a frankengun. Woodwork seems rather crude, stuff being carved by hand in a flimsy way, not Mannlicher quality at all, but yes - perhaps it was a Mannlicher stock before it was made to fit the Walther.

[@314299]

I don't recall any markings under the stock line. As for the stock I rather doubt it is "off" a Mannlicher, I suspect it was purpose made for the rifle, as I said in the video it is Mannlicher "style' being full stocked to the muzzle.

[@joakimblomqvist7229]

@@314299 ah sorry, misunderstood The Mannlicher stock part. Sounds plausible with the other comments abt East german and Hunter mod of Walther mod 1. Looks like a fun litteratur shooter!

[@BitBurgers]

I am going to do a little research on the rifle. The stock does look like its the original the gun came with. If it was refurbished at some point (which I don't think) , it was made by surely by a master craftsman. I can't get a clear view on the proofing stamps, so it would be helpful, if you could provide a clear shot of those. I will talk to some friends who are master-gunsmiths. I am positive that this will yield at least some information.

[@BitBurgers]

Ok, I already found one that is up for sale. It looks really similar to the one you presented here, with the same stock, but the single picture is really bad and only shows the gun from one side, of course. It is only called Walther KK Stutzen in the description. (KK for Kleinkaliber = small bore, generally rimfire cartridges, cal. .22 and below, Stutzen = Mannlicher Stock).

[@BitBurgers]

OK, now I am at least positive that the proofing marks are German. They could be pre-1939 or Eastgerman 1945-1949. It's a little hard to make out, but both would be somewhat of plausible.

[@314299]

Unfortunately the rifle is back with it's owner so I'm not able to get any better close ups of the markings at the moment.

[@Stigstigster]

The crown over N proof mark is an East German nitro proof, 1950 onwards. A copy of the West German Walther Model 1, a good quality copy.

[@Stray03]

Also a prewar german proofmark (Pre 1940)

[@314299]

It seems unlikely that an East German rifle would make its way to Canada.

[@Stigstigster]

@@314299 Unlikely but not impossible? I only make an educated guess based upon my interest in all things copied by East Germany and that proof mark. They certainly did do things like copy West German designs as a lot of items were either completely unavailable to them on that side or if they were, completely out of their price range, so much "stuff" was copied. I think certain commercial designs of firearm would be copied too. I really hope you find an answer to this intriguing rifle though and let us know if you get a definitive answer.

[@israelnava6882]

Pretty cool rifle 👍🏻

[@314299]

Yeah, it's an unusual one.

[@kukajin9560]

while it certainly is different from the walther models, it is marked nitro which is what some of the walther rifles are marked. ill update the more i find

[@kukajin9560]

the best i can think of is a one off gun smimth project to make a nice shooting gun look nicer and the serial number that we saw matches the walther nitro's as well

[@kukajin9560]

and while im not sure if this rifle has this, but on old remington and springfield .22's, they had a "floating chamber" that would move back and forth allowing .22 long, short and long rifle to be fired through it. the extractor may not be gripping as well if the floated chamber is gunked up from use

[@kukajin9560]

i know theres a bereta .22 that was a military trainer like this, bolt looked similar but other wise its way less elegant and simple compared to this rifle

[@314299]

@@kukajin9560 I could see no evidence of any floating chamber. I gave the rifle bore/chamber a good scrub with a bronze brush prior to use and the chamber end of the barrel looked very conventional.

[@314299]

@@kukajin9560 Yes, the Beretta Olympia action is a copy of the Walther Model 1, they are beefed up a bit probably to help them last a bit better as a training rifle.

[@greentoptrekker]

Appears to be a practical but elegant rifle.

[@314299]

I certainly agree with that.

[@isserfiq]

I am thinking USOG might have a clue, he seems well versed in these European oddballs.

[@314299]

Luckily he did drop by and leave a comment.

[@eliseoreyes9279]

Muy chula la foto chulada trimo

[@314299]

Unfortunately I cannot seem to get your comment translated to a form that I can understand.

[@slowhand1198]

I've seen that style of butt plate before. I'll have to see if I can locate the source again.

[@314299]

If you ever come across that info let me know, a friend of mine bought this rifle and I'll pass any info along to him.

[@slowhand1198]

@@314299 It was quite some time ago, but if I recall correctly, it was on a European sporterized military rifle.

[@gfhfmf]

Great gun!

[@314299]

It's an interesting one.

[@theabstract100]

Seems like a Walther Model 1, which was customized. The bavarian cheek piece and the stock (Stutzen in german), as well as the base plate seems to me, that a hunter wanted the gun to be customized for hunting. The stock and the cheek is typical for german hunting rifles, as well as the express sights which is especially common for combined rifles and big calibers for hunting in africa until today.

[@314299]

That's certainly possible, but why would there be no Walther markings on the receiver? A rework would generally leave the makers markings.

[@theabstract100]

@@314299 I found this source: gunlab.net/the-walther-model1and-2-self-loading-22-rifles/ They are mentioning, that some rifles got later assembled from leftover parts. Maybe the manufacurer information is added late in the process, and the leftover parts are missing that (just a guess). In the video there I couldnt find markings on the Model 1 as well, but he didnt show everything. Thats the best I could find. Maybe the guy does know more about it. Edit: Btw, I think the bolt handle was cut off, because while hunting that would tend to get caught on the gear and possibly unload the rifle.

[@davidwagner6055]

I really like it.

[@314299]

It's unique.

[@Gungeek]

looks like the bolt handle was bobbed.

[@314299]

It could be. Probably Not a great idea to reduce the mass of the bolt so much on an already light bolt blow back gun.

[@billyhead7798]

It is quite common to break the bolt knob off with higher velocity ammo. I suspect it started out a standard model 1 that was fixed in multiple ways at some point resulting in a custom stock, nicely checkered/knurled bolt handle stub,and a refinishing job that sanded off most markings. Crown over N was an early marking that changed eventually to the eagle over N as Germany got closer to WW2. Nitro is a common markings designating the powder type used.

[@CandidZulu]

I have seen semi auto .22s without extractors, so this one is perhaps completely defective.

[@314299]

Yes, there are semi 22's designed with no extractor, foe example the French Gevarm rifle. As I explained at the start of the video this rifle appears to have a broken or missing component in the extractor, it's no problem as long as one shoots it as a semi.

[@larsandreasrisy4402]

I think it's a East German rifle, Walther mod 1 copy..The East Germans made a lot of Walther copys (and they made nice copys) It has a Eagle and a "N" marking,i think its only East Germany who used that proof after the 2 world war.. But i'm no expert.. Anyway,that is a nice litle rifle 🙂

[@314299]

Anything is possible.

[@modalkhader6214]

👍👍

[@314299]

Thanks.

[@CaptianDerp69]

it's a walther model 1

[@314299]

That seems like the the most plausible make and model.

[@karelteck8004]

A Voere ?

[@314299]

I can't find any Voere rifles that resemble this thing.

[@faka.umake.me.bizzzatch7458]

Is there a acorn stamp on it .It could be an RWS

[@314299]

Did not see any such stamp.

[@heliopalmeiradasilva9205]

Arma espetacular

[@314299]

It's a nice one for sure.

[@GiorgosC-rp5ms]

oh i want one now

[@314299]

If you can find a Walther Model 1 for sale they are rather expensive.

[@charlesdemay4192]

Wow that's a AWESOME RIFLE. IT'S DEFINITELY GERMAN CRAFTSMANSHIP. WAY COOL.. I LIKE IT.😯😁👍

[@314299]

Yes, it is a hansom piece, and very Germanic in it's design.

[@setdown2]

What ..what he say....

[@314299]

I can't complain with people agreeing with me!

[@byerboys2607]

Iam gonna say moded walther 1 dandy little rifle though..

[@314299]

Yeah, that seems to be the general consensus.

[@Idliketoknow303]

Very similar to a beretta Olympia

[@Idliketoknow303]

After looking closer, no it's alot closer to a walther model 1

[@314299]

Yes, the Beretta is a bit more "chunky" in appearance, very similar of course as the Beretta is a copy of the Walther action.

[@NekitaNet]

If it's a real Walther it might be an unfinished bring back from when the factory was taken under US control. Ian from Forgotten Weapons made a video about those: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mne1ZKKpptNrd6s

[@314299]

All sorts of things are possible. Pistols were more popular for such trophy items as they were easier to bring back, but a lot of .22 rifles came back as well.

[@billhatcher2984]

It is Austrian and it's made by Voltro ? On spelling

[@314299]

It does not look like any model of Voere that I have seen and I think the proof marks are German and not Austrian.

[@miklosszucs5368]

Walther model 2

[@314299]

Nope, it's not a model 2, the safety is a sliding tang like a model 1. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnLbiGqZg65ro9U

[@curtisdowling3773]

Got to be a German gun because they make the best 22lr rifles !!

[@314299]

IMO the Germans make the best target .22 rifles, but the Czech's make the best sporting 22's.

[@Gary-yo4rs]

Prototype? Walther 1? Beretta Olympia? See sooch. Peace.