Walther P99 versus S&W/Walther 99: Differences??

They are both nice guns. I own a Gen 1 P99 and I’ve owned a SW99 in the past, both in 9mm. The slide cuts are different and the finishes also differ I believe. I think the barrels are of similar make and quality. Both are solid guns, with better than average triggers. I own the P99 because of the Bond connection (I’m shallow). The Smiths are generally less expensive. Hope this helps a bit.

I have a SW P99 in .40 and love it. I also have an M&P full size in .40, and while it's a great gun, give me the Walther any day of the week. It just fits my hand, and I like the decocker. Full disclosure: the one I currently own is technically the 3rd one I've bought. I had another SWP99 I sold, plus a Magnum Research P99 I traded off. This one stays.

Both are hard to find. Although I wager it is easier getting the all Walther P99 than the hybrid. I haven't seen a S&W99 in awhile.

The last time I saw a SW99, the frame and slide color didn't match. The frame was a dark black and slide was a different shade of black. Hard to describe but it was easy to see they were made by different companies. I have a P99 in 40 as well as a PPQ in 9mm. I would certainly pick up a P99 in 9mm if I had the option. A 9mm P99 would compliment the MP40 nicely.

Back in 2002 when I was looking for that "perfect carry piece"..
The S&W seemed the better .40
The Walther seemed thebetter 9mm.
Early P22s were a crap shoot.
The Walther brand CO2 pellet gun was & is overpriced - but - super cool if you have the other three....

I somehow never managed to get around to ordering a

Canik makes a pretty good version, too.

We have the S&W 99 in 40 S&W.....seems to be a good reliable handgun! I may be incorrect, but I think that they are the same firearm, with only cosmetic differences, due to different areas of manufacturing! memtb

I've got a W&W 99 in 9mm. Got it new in box for $20. Best $20 I ever spent. It shoots well with no problem.

I thought there was a difference in the barrels between the S&W 99 and the Walther P99. I think the S&W barrels were Melonite and maybe had a different rifling than the P99. I can’t remember for sure. My Police Dept. tested the P99 in the late 90’s when my Agency was looking for a 40 S&W caliber pistol. They had numerous Officers shoot the trial pistols and rate the contenders. The P99 scored very high but I think this was prior to the S&W 99 being released.

I haven’t shot the P99 or S&W99 very much but for uniform duty use I think they’d be good. Ultimately my Agency went with Glock 22/23 and many Troops bought the Glock 27.

My example of the SW99 is in 45ACP which was the least produced model.

I don't have experience with the S&W 99 but I do have experience with the P99.

Walther P99 - Semi Auto Pistols at GunBroker.com : 895845881

They are certainly available. It's not mine - simply showing an example.

5-SHOTS said:

I don't have experience with the S&W 99 but I do have experience with the P99.

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Walther has been stamping their SN in multiple places going back decades. On the P99/PPQ it is on the barrel, slide, and frame just under the grip module. Yours has another above the dust cover on the slide. Any idea what it means? The BB on the frame indicates yours was made in 2011.

herrwalther said:

Walther has been stamping their SN in multiple places going back decades. On the P99/PPQ it is on the barrel, slide, and frame just under the grip module. Yours has another above the dust cover on the slide. Any idea what it means? The BB on the frame indicates yours was made in 2011.

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The inscription CAT.10319 is the number of the Italian Catalogo Nazionale delle Armi (National Firearms Catalog), a technical commission that had to screen every single model of firearm for which the sale in Italy was requested. It is a progressive number that was assigned to each firearm model that could be legally sold in Italy. This means that all the technical characteristics of the Walther P99 are present in the file n°10319 of the National Firearms Catalog, so there is a two-way relationship between the firearm model and the number assigned to it. So, every single 9mm P99 sold in Italy has the number 10319 stamped somewhere (.40S&W P99 has a different number assignment, of course...).


Currently the cataloging has changed slightly and it is now made by the Banco Nazionale di Prova (National Proof Bench) but the principle is basically the same.

Note that my Walther P99 AS is factory chambered for the 9x21 IMI, since in Italy the sale of 9x19 Parabellum caliber pistols to civilians is not allowed.

More informations here: https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalogo_nazionale_delle_armi_comuni_da_sparo

https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ban...uoco_portatili_e_per_le_munizioni_commerciali

5-SHOTS said:

The inscription CAT.10319 is the number of the Italian Catalogo Nazionale delle Armi (National Firearms Catalog),

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Very interesting. Thank you.