Walther P-88

[ricebasher302]

My local gun store had in two Walther P88s. One was the later "compact" version. Both were immaculate, both were $1,400 and both are pistols I knew nothing about. I read a bit of factual info online but would like to be educated a bit more. Who can help me? Any owners out there?

 

[legion3]

Excellent guns, in the days of metal and bluing perhaps Walther's best gun made.

Competed in the XM-9 trials that eventually led to the Beretta 92 being adopted. It (an early version) failed in those tests and I would have to look up which test it failed.

It was then introduced in 1988 to the shooting public. Walther as always has sucked at marketing and even more important has never been able to price a product in a decent price point. Thus the gun did not do well commercially and did not garner any big government contracts.

Walther added the modified and simplified P88 C (Compact version) in the early 90's in order to lower overall production costs but again it was still a pricey gun and it arrived in 1994 and thus got caught up in the 10 round mag ban, so high cap 14 round mags are even harder to find for the compact and thus way more $.

Today the cost of magazines (even 10 rounders) is very very high, if you can find them.

Some have said it was one of the finest and most accurate 9mm service pistols out of the box. To me the P88C grip was better, the P88 ambi decocker system made the standard guns grip fatter than it should have been.

$1400 is a bit high, unless mint in the box, unfired, with 2 high caps etc... but is not way way off.

 

[Jim Watson]

Agree with legion.

I looked at the P88 but the way the grips bulge out over the ambidextrous dual purpose slide stop-decock levers makes it too bulky for my hand size. If they had left the system single sided like a P5, I would probably have bought a P88.

The P88 Compact with 1929 vintage slide decock-safety levers is a much better fit for me, right up in there with a P225, just a little wider over the double column magazine. But the high price and the AWB interference kept me from buying one of those.

I ended up with a CZ75, for which standard magazines were still available at the time.

 

[nwilliams]

The Walther P88 is one the finest built 9mm handguns of all time, they are on par with the Sig 210 in terms of quality and accuracy.

They are hard to come by these days and when you do see them they tend to be fairly pricey. $1,400 is about right for a compact in very good condition, a bit steep for a full size even in very good condition. You can get a full size P88 in excellent condition for under $1,200, check Gunbroker frequently. You can get a P88 in fair to good condition on Gunbroker for under $1k and even if it has some cosmetic wear I'm sure it will still be one of the best shooting pistols you'll ever own.

Last summer my local gun shop got in two P88's, the first one they got in was an early model for $850, bought it. About a month later they got in a second P88, this one a little bit later model and it was $625, bought it. Both were in like new condition.

I'm still trying to find a compact P88 for a decent price, one of these days hopefully I will.

Here are my babies.....

 

[Big Dave]

I have a P88C and it is a wonderful gun. Very accurate, nice trigger. Please be aware that the P88 and the P88C are really two completely different guns. Nothing like the relationship between the P99 and the P99C, where the P99C is just smaller.

 

[jsbethel]

I bought a new P88 Compact back in 1995 for $800 - I thought that price was crazy back then but I had to have it and I would never part with it. I picked up a nice early P88 a few years ago - it is a bit large in the grip area but still a great pistol.

There is much information here - http://www.waltherforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=9

 

[wnycollector]

A buddy of mine is an avid Walther collector. He has a P88 and P88c. I have shot both at the range and they are very accurate with great triggers. He picked up is P88's a few years ago in the $700-800 range.

Here is a P-88 w/ 4 mags for $1050 (starting bid) http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=204458158 The two extra mags will run you $150 so its like picking the gun up for $900

 

[legion3]

GB has 2 14 round P88 C mags for $80 each. Gives you an idea of the cost of P88 hicaps. But even the 10 rounders often go for more than $50.

Also GB has a NIB P88 with a reserve that has not been met yet.

 

[PabloJ]

One thing is sure despite their high cost when they were sold new (about $1100) these are not $1400 guns. Serbian made EZ9 can be had for $300 and .40 for $330. I would move on if I were you.