The LP53

[ogilkes]

I'm trying to get some oreder into the chronolgy of LP53's, which type was produced first etc. Heres what I think so far.

The forst few batches were all black with a polished and blued reciver with crinkle paint only on the top and on the 'duck bill' at the back

The came the type with crinkle painted reciver with brown handles (or are brown handles only on the De Luxe model)

Then finally crinlkle painting all black with a straight back to the reciver.

Am I correct or way out. Anyone know?

[Iain K D]

The transition from polished (early) to black crackle (late) is certainly what Dennis Hiller gives in his guide.

The first edition of John Walter's The Airgun Book (1981) would presumably show a late model gun, if the illustration was sourced especially for the book, and that has a black crackle finish, straight rear to receiver.

Wesley's Air Guns and Air Pistols is also interesting - the 1979 edition has a cover photograph of a LP53 (and also an Original Model 50) with black crackle/straight back, but a plate showing a polished/curved back version. It looks, though, like the cover photo was taken especially for this edition, while the plates were simply carried over from earlier editions.

I imagine the all-black crackle finish was introduced to try and keep costs down - didn't Webley have the same problem with the Premier?

Iain

[ogilkes]

Thanks for this. Webley though used some form of expoxy finish on the Premier II, quite hard wearing, but smoothes surfaced. Similar to the finish of the alloy parts of the Tempest

[tacfoley]

I have two of these fine air pistols - MIB and totally complete with their cocking ball devices.

Pistol #021331 has an all-crackle finish to the receiver, but has an all-blacked barrel and breech. It has brown plastic grips, and comes in a compartmented box with the spare foresight and backsight elements held in cut-outs in the raised section of the box. It is stamped GERMANY in the cartouche as an afterthought - the lettering style is different and is only lightly struck AFTER the finish was applied. According to the letter I have From Herr Werner Hampel, it was made in 1957.

I got it via a dealer in Boston, Mass, who obtained it from the widow of a US serviceman who bought it in the Wiesbaden Rod and Gun Club store in 1958, but who never used it.


Pistol #116552 is all-black crackle with black grips and an all-blacked barrel and breech. It comes in a 'simplified' box with the spare foresight and backsight elements in a small Walther clear plastic box. It is stamped MADE IN GERMANY at an angle on the cartouche, and was sold from the Army & Navy stores in Great Victoria Street London, England, sometime in the mid-1960's.

And yes, I shoot them both with great enjoyment.

tac

[mxgb]

Hi ogilkes
I have received this reply from Carl Wather GmbH with regards to dating my LP53 number 110045 :-This air pistol was made in the year 1971.
The LP53 was produced from 1953 to 1976, approx. 125'000 pcs were made.

Best regards,
Carl Walther GmbH - Germany

Hope this helps regards Keith

[pennineway.fswo]

Hi Ollie
There is a article on the web that explains the 4 basic variations of the pistol. I have a link somewhere that I will try and find and post on here

With regard to the crinkle finish, the early models were chemically blacked as stated. Generally these also have an adjustable trigger but a very heavy trigger pull weight of the order of 1500 gms.

The crinkle finish was adopted to reduce costs, not only because it may have been cheaper to apply, but also it reduced the reject rate of the bodies that showed surface flaws, (porosity, tears, slag inclusings in the cast)
The body also did not need the same degree of preparation for the paint application
Non adjustable triggers are usually between 550 and 750 gms pull weight and so are more suitable for target shooting
John

[ogilkes]

John

Thanks for this would be most interested in the link if you find it! Yes I've noticed the distinct difference in pull on the early and late models, glad its not just me...

Ollie

Hi Ollie
There is a article on the web that explains the 4 basic variations of the pistol. I have a link somewhere that I will try and find and post on here

With regard to the crinkle finish, the early models were chemically blacked as stated. Generally these also have an adjustable trigger but a very heavy trigger pull weight of the order of 1500 gms.

The crinkle finish was adopted to reduce costs, not only because it may have been cheaper to apply, but also it reduced the reject rate of the bodies that showed surface flaws, (porosity, tears, slag inclusings in the cast)
The body also did not need the same degree of preparation for the paint application
Non adjustable triggers are usually between 550 and 750 gms pull weight and so are more suitable for target shooting
John

[tacfoley]

...to dating my LP53 number 110045 :-This air pistol was made in the year 1971.

That's interesting - as you can see from my post I was told that my 'newer' LP53, #116552, that is actually a lot further down the serial numbers than yours, dated from the middle 1960's....

However, it doesn't matter much to me.

Best wishes

tac