Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) 2011 Demo

Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 represents a new chapter in the long-running story of the popular football sim series.
The game features a series of significant, much-needed improvements to PES 2010. Gameplay has been tweaked to improve control, more game modes have been added, and the graphics and overall presentation of Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 are breathtaking.
Enhanced gameplay
The biggest changes in Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 are to be found in its gameplay. The last couple of PES releases were panned for not innovating on the game mechanics, and for making silly little changes that only served to hamper playability. This time, developer Konami has essentially ripped out the game engine and fashioned a new way to play Pro Evolution.
Passing is one of the most immediately obvious improvements in Pro Evolution Soccer 2011. In previous versions, passing the ball to a team-mate was quite a rigid experience, with the ball being drawn automatically to the receiver’s feet. Now when you make a short or a long pass, you need to be much more aware of where you want the ball to go, directing the ball precisely with the d-pad as you hit it. Use of the new power meter that appears under the player is crucial for weighting passes. With the right combination of direction and power Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 lets you play satisfying balls into space for a player to run on to.
Defensive controls have also been tweaked in Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 so they rely less on AI. Previously, defenders would automatically hone in on attackers (even when not highlighted), whereas now it’s up to you to bring them out, apply pressure or let them hang back to hold up play.
Attacking is made more exciting in Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 with the inclusion of assignable feints. There are lots of new flicks, tricks and moves to try out, and you can pre-select which ones you want to use, assigning them to a particular analog stick gesture.
More power to you
Make no mistake, Pro Evoltuion Soccer 2011’s new gameplay system is tricky to master and requires lots of sharpness and concentration. But this is very refreshing given the last few iterations have felt sluggish and automated. One of our favorite improvements was the way the system no longer remembers button presses for so long when the ball is about to be received by a player you’re controlling. This makes it easier to pull out of a tackle or change the direction of a pass before you make it.
The tactics system in Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 has been revamped as well. The confusing card-based player profile system from PES 2010 has gone. It has been replaced by a more intelligent, less confusing interface, where formations and player roles can be set by dragging and dropping their icons around the pitch board.
Graphical improvements
Out on the pitch, Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 is, for us, the most realistic looking football game to date. Player movements are slick and feel natural, and the flight of the ball is much more authentic than the dead-weighted pig bladder of previous versions. Up close, player likenesses are accurate, although Konami still seems to have a problem with mouths, and everyone looks like they’ve got a mouthful of stones.
There are several new games modes in Pro Evolution Soccer 2011, including new competitions such as the Copa Libertadores and UEFA Super Cup. Interestingly, there’s now also the option to play Master League online.
Presumably an effort to keep up with FIFA 10’s expandable content, Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 includes a range of fun extras to play with. There’s a stadium editor and league editor, as well as more comical stuff like the ability to turn the ball into a piece of candy, or deck your players out in cowboy hats and other accessories.
Licensing is one area where Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 is still lagging behind FIFA. Sure, it now has the UEFA and CONMEBIOL tie-ins, but the major leagues of Europe are still not fully licensed, meaning more fake names and made-up leagues for PES fans. Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 is a game that deserves to have the full rights afforded to FIFA.
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 is a true return to form for Konami, offering an authentic football experience that FIFA 11 will find it hard to match.

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Korriphila HSP-701 pistol

9mm Korriphila pistol with 127mm / 5.

.45ACP Korriphila pistol with 102mm / 4.

 

Korriphila Odin's Eye pistol, made from Damascus steel, with custom grip panels

 

Diagram from original Budischowsky patent, explaining roller-delayed blowback action of Korriphila pistol.

 

Characteristics

Type	Double Action semiautomatic
Caliber(s)	7.65x21 Luger, 9x19 Luger, .38 Super, .45ACP
Weight unloaded	1000 g (with 100 mm barrel), 1200 g (with 127mm barrel)
Length	n/a
Barrel length	100 mm (4") or 127 mm (5")
Magazine capacity	9 (7.65 and 9mm) or 7 (.45) rounds

Korriphila pistols, currently made in Germany by Intertech, represent the top line of European custom pistols. Basic design was a brainchild of the Edgar Budischowsky, who patented its delayed blowback action in 1979. The action is somewhat similar to older Vorgrimler roller-delayed system, developed during WW2 and later used in a number of firearms from Heckler und Koch, such as P9S pistol or MP5 submachine gun. Korriphila pistols are made on custom basis, and it is said that only few dozens of new pistols are produced each year. Made with very tight tolerances and luxurious finish, these pistols command prices in the US $ 4 000 region, and a special-order Odin's Eye versions, which had frames and slides milled from the solid blocks of Damascus steel, cost at least three times more. While these pistols can be used for personal self-defense, they certainly have more value as collectables and investment pieces.

Korriphila pistols are delayed blowback firearms that use a single roller, interposed between a separate breechblock and a slide. When slide is in battery, roller extends below into the cut in the frame. Upon recoil, breechblock forces the roller back and out of its recess, which causes the slide to open faster than the breechblock. This system is basically a half of the more common Vorgrimler system, turned 90 degrees. Trigger is of double action type. Magazines are single stack.

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Korth pistol

Korth pistol, left side.

 

Korth pistol with alternative shape of trigger guard and black polished coating.

Korth pistol with long barrel.

Diagram from original patent, issued to Willie Korth in 1986. Locking piece is marked with orange color.

Characteristics

Type	Double or Single Action semiautomatic
Caliber(s)	9x19 Luger, 9x21 IMI, .357SIG, .40SW
Weight unloaded	1240 g
Length	n/a
Barrel length	100 or 127 mm (4" or 5")
Magazine capacity	10 (9mm) or 9 (.357, .40) rounds

Korth pistols were developed circa 1982 by renowned German gunmaker Willie Korth, who was known as a maker of fine custom revolvers since mid-1960s. First "production" Korth pistols appeared in 1985, and since then those are produced on very limited basis. These pistols represent high end, custom European guns, with as much as 70% of hand labour and hand fitting used in manufacture of each pistol. Korth pistols available in a variety of calibers and finishes; prices on these pistols usually start at several thousands of US Dollars or Euros.

Korth pistols are of all-steel construction, with al parts hand-fitted and heat-treated for maximum durability and accuracy. Korth pistol use proprietary locking breech, short recoil action patented by Willie Korth in 1986. This action uses vertically tilting locking piece, located below the barrel, which locks the barrel to slide when in battery. On recoil, the locking piece slides down, releasing itself from the locking notch in the barrel and allowing the slide to open while barrel is stopped. Trigger on Korth pistols could be either of DA/SA or SA (special order) type; standard safeties include automated firing pin block and loaded chamber indicator; manual safety is optional. Sights are adjustable, with target-type rear sight blade on most models.

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Walther PPS pistol

Walther PPS pistol in 9x19 caliber, with 6-round magazine.
image: Carl Walther GmbH

 

Walther PPS pistol, limited production "First edition" in 9x19 caliber, with 7-round magazine.

image: Carl Walther GmbH

Characteristics

Type	pre-cocked Double Action Only, semiautomatic
Caliber(s)	9x19 Luger / Parabellum, .40SW proposed
Weight unloaded	549 g less magazine
Length	160 mm
Barrel length	81 mm
Magazine capacity	6, 7 or 8 rounds

Walther PPS (PolizeiPistole Schmal - Police Pistole Slim) is a most recent offering from the famous German gunmaking company Carl Walther GmbH. It was first shown publicly during IWA 2007 exhibition in Germany, and it is proposed as a more powerful replacement for a venerable Walther PPK pistol, which was designed more than 75 years ago. PPS pistol is based on the proven Walther P99 design, specially adapted for concealed carry. Thanks to its single-stack magazines, PPS is only 23mm (~0,9 inch) wide.

Walther PPS is short recoil operated, locked breech pistol that uses modified Browning-type locking with tilting barrel. Frame of the gun is made from impact-resistant polymer. Trigger is of Double Action Only type, striker-fired, with pre-cocked striker system, similar to QA system used in Walther P99 pistols. This system requires a manual re-cocking (by partial slide retraction) in the case of misfire. Gun is fitted with automated trigger safety and firing pin block; additional "storage-type" safety is provided by removable backstrap of the grip; once backstrap is removed, the firing pin is automatically decocked and gun is blocked until the backstrap is reinstalled. This patented system is called QuickSafe by Walther. Magazines for PPS pistol are single-stack, and will be available in three sizes - 6-round (flush-fit), 7-round and 8-round (extended). Sights are low-profile, with rear sight adjustable for windage.

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Walther P99 pistol

Walther P99 pistol (1st generation).

Walther P99 AS (Anti-Stress) pistol, 2nd generation.

Walther P99 QA pistol.

Walther P99 Compact DAO pistol, 2nd generation (note extended slide release lever, which is also duplicated on right side of the gun).

Characteristics

Type: Double Action
Caliber:9x19mm Para, .40SW
Length overall: 180mm
Weight: 720g unloaded
Barrel length : 102mm
Capacity: 16 rounds (9mm), 12 rounds (.40SW)

The P99 pistol was a rather radical step forward for the Walther company, made under new management. The development of a new pistol started in 1994 and the first production pistols were shown to public in 1997. The earliest pistols were made in 9mm, and a .40 S&W version appeared in 1999. By 2004, the Carl Walther company presented the second generation of the P99 pistols. These new guns had even better ergonomics, and new model designations – the old P99 was renamed (and slightly redesigned) to P99AS (Anti-Stress), the double-action only P990 turned into the P99DAO, and only the P99QA (Quick Action) retained its name. The second generation also included the P99 Compact pistols, apparently made with input from American company Smith & Wesson, as the basically similar SW99 Compact pistol appeared on the US market a little earlier. Smith & Wesson makes a close copy of the P99 as the SW99, using Walther-made polymer frames and its own slides and barrels of slightly different shape. S&W also makes a .45-calibre version of this pistol. 9mm P99 pistols also are manufactured under Walther’s licence in Poland, and are standard police sidearms there.

The Walther P99 is short-recoil operated, locked-breech pistol. It uses a modified Browning locking system, with the barrel engaging the slide with a single large lug entering the ejection window. The frame is made from polymer and has interchangeable grip backstraps. Three backstraps of different shape are included with each pistol, so users can adjust the grip to their own preferences. The trigger is striker-fired, with an automated firing pin block safety, and varies with the model. The standard P99 is double / single action with a decocking button. Earlier P990s and current production P99DAOs are double action only, and the P99DAO also features a slightly different automated safety built into the trigger. The third variation of the P99 family is the P99QA, which features a partially pre-cocked trigger for a constant trigger pull from the first to the last shot. One feature, unique to the P99 series pistol triggers, is that despite being striker-fired, these pistols do not require the user to press the trigger during disassembly to disconnect the sear from the firing pin. This is done by using the decocking button, built into the top of the slide. This button is relatively large on the standard P99, as it is routinely used to decock the striker, and much smaller on the P99QA, as it is used only during disassembly to disconnect the firing pin from the sear. The P99DAO does not have such button, as its firing pin is always disconnected from the sear and at rest, except for the time the trigger is being pressed. The most recent Anti-Stress feature is, in fact, a modification to the trigger system which makes the trigger pull for the first shot in Single Action mode much longer than for subsequent shots. The Anti-Stress feature is activated each time the pistol is reloaded. Another safety feature is a striker cocking indicator, made in the form of a small pin, which protrudes from the back of the slide when the striker is cocked. First generation pistols had a slide release only at the left side of the frame, second generation guns may have optional ambidextrous slide stop release levers which, combined with ambidextrous magazine release levers built into the base of the trigger-guard, make these pistols truly left-hand friendly. All variations of the P99 use adjustable rear sights with white inserts. Magazines are of double-stack design.

How to field-strip (disassemble) Walther P99: 1) remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) on P99, P99AS and P99QA, press the decocking button; 4) press down and hold the disassembly sliders, located at either side of the frame, above the trigger; 5) push the slide forward and out of the frame; 6) remove the return spring assembly from below the barrel; 7) remove the barrel from the slide.
Reassemble in reverse order.

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Walther P-88

Walther P88.

Walther P88 Compact (note slide mounted safety instead of frame mounted decocker of the early P88).

Walther P88 disassembled into major parts.

Characteristics - Data for P88 (for P88 Compact in parenthesises, when differs from P88)

Type: Double Action
Chamber: 9x19mm Luger/Parabellum
Weight unloaded: 900 g (822 g)
Length: 187 mm (181 mm)
Barrel length: 102 mm (97 mm)
Capacity: 15 rounds (14 rounds)

The P88 had been developed by Carl Walther Waffenfabrik, Germany, in 1988, as a high capacity, military and law enforcement pistol. The production of the P88 had been ceased in 1996, and it had been replaced in production by P88 Compact, which is somewhat lighter and a little bit smaller, and have some techical diffrences from original P88. The P88 Competition, with ajustable sights and other minor changes, also had been produced as a sporting firearm.

The P88 is a recoil operated, locked brech semi-automatic pistol. It differs from previous Walther pistols, such as P38/P1, P5 in fact that it uses conventional Browning style locking with barrel lowered by shaped cam trach in the barrel extension under the chamber. The locking ius achieved by single massive lug on the barrel, that locks into the ejection port of the slide. The P88 trigger system is quite similar to that of Walther P5, but P88 has ambidexrous frame mounted decocker lever. The same internal safeties, as in P5, also available (firing pin safety, out of the batery safety/disconnector). P88 featured steel construction, with fixed sights and high capacity, double stack magazines. Being a good pistol, the P88 whas too high price, so Walther discontinued it in tha favour of the slightly lighter and smaller P88 Compact, which also featured redesigned safety - the frame mounted decocker had been replaced by ambidextrous slide mounted safety.

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Walther P-5

Walther P5.

Walther P5 Compact.

Walther P5 with long barrel.

Walther P5 disassembled into major parts.

Characteristics - Data for P5 (data for P5 Compact in parenthesises, when differed from P5)

Type: Double Action with decocker
Chamber: 9x19mm Luger/Parabellum; also 7.65mm Luger/Parabellum and 9x21mm IMI
Weight unloaded: 795 g (780 g)
Length: 180 mm (169 mm)
Barrel length: 90 mm (79 mm)
Capacity: 8 rounds

The Walther P-5 had been developed in 1979 on request by German Police for safe police sidearm. Basically, it is a further development of the famous Walther P-38 pistol, but with significantly improved safety system.

The P5 is a recoil operated, locked breech semi-automatic pistol. The barrel to slide locking/unlocking is achieved by wertically tilting underballer locking piece, after the barrel moves straight back for short time. The trigger is Double Action, with frame mounted decocker at the left side of the frame. P5 also featured addtional internal safeties, such as firing pin safety, which removes the rear part of the firing pin from under the hammer, unless trigger is pressed, and also a firing pin block which disablet the forward movement of the firing pin unless the triger is pressed. The trigger bar disconnector disables the firing unless the slide in fully closed. This allows the gun to be carried in "condition two", with round chambered and hammer lowered, safely, and ready for action in DA mode. For improved accuracy the SA firing is also available. The P5 Compact is an even more compact firearm, similar in design but with shorter barrel and slide. The sporting version of P5 had been manufactured for some time, and it had longer barrel and fixed or ajustable sights. P5 and P5 Compact both featured fixed sights.

The P5 had been adopted by German Police, as well as by Portuguese Army, Neteherland Police and other security and police forces, and also sold on European civil market. The P5 and P5 Compact are still in production by its originator, Carl Walther Sportwaffen GMBh, Uhlm, Germany.

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Walther P38, P1 and P4 pistol

Walther "Armee pistole" or AP in short, a direct predecessor to the P38. Note that it has concealed hammer.

 

Walther "Heeres Pistole" or HP in short, an early commercial version, produced before its official adoption as P38.

 

Walther P38, produced in 1944 for Hitler's army.

Walther P1, a post-war military version of P38 with aluminum frame.

Walther P4, a post-war police version of P38 with aluminum frame, shortened barrel and modified safety system.

Walther P38K, a short-barreled version of P4 produced for KSK during early 1980s.

Walther P38 partially disassembled.

Characteristics

	Walther P38, P1	Walther P4
Type	Double action semiautomatic
Caliber	9x19 Luger / Parabellum
Weight empty	840 g (steel frame) 770 g (aluminum frame)	740 g
Length	216 mm	197 mm
Barrel length	125 mm	104 mm
Magazine capacity	8 rounds

The Walther P38 pistol was developed as a military pistol for the German army (Wehrmacht) during the late 1930s. It first appeared in 1938, and small numbers of the original HP (Heeres Pistole – army pistol) were bought by Sweden before the Wehrmacht adopted it as the Pistole 38 and took over all production guns. During the war, P38 pistols were made by a number of factories, including the Walther itself. After the war, most of the ex-Walther machinery ended up in France as war reparations, and many of the post-war P38 pistols were actually built in France, by the Manurhin factory.
In 1957 the newly formed Bundeswehr adopted a slightly modified P38 pistol with a lighter aluminum frame as the Pistole 1, or P1 in short. Commercial pistols were still manufactured under the original P38 designation. Most of the post-war P38 pistols were made with aluminum frames, only handful of commercial pistols were made with steel frames. There were a couple of modifications of the P38, intended for police use, which appeared during the 1970s. The first was the P4, the first pistol to conform to new German requirements for police sidearms. Actually, the P4 was the P38 (or P1) with barrel cut back by 25mm (1 inch), fitted with an automated firing pin safety and decock-only lever. Early P4 pistols were actually made using P38 components, including slides, and thus were marked “P38 IV” instead of more common “P4”.
Another, less well-known variation was the P38K (Kurz, for Short in German), made for some special users such as the KSK – an elite counter-terror unit. This was a P4 (rather than original P38) with the barrel cut down at the front of the slide, and it was intended for concealed carry. The front sight was mounted on the slide, unlike the full-size model. It must be noted that a similar model was produced in small numbers during WW2 for the Gestapo and other such organizations. Wartime Kurz P38’s differed from post-war version by having a slightly longer barrel with the front sight mounted on the barrel. However, the service life of police derivatives of the P38 was much shorter than of the military P1 – most P4 pistols were declared obsolete and sold as surplus during the 1980s, while the P1 served until 1995. The last commercial P38 pistol was manufactured in 2000.
While P38 pistols were in some aspects revolutionary in design and concept, their post-war P1 versions were less than popular in the Bundeswehr, deserving the unofficial description of “eight warning shots plus one aimed throw”. Also, these pistols showed a typical German obsession for unnecessary over-complication of design – for example, the P38 pistol had eleven springs (mostly of very small size) – about twice that of the older P08 Luger pistol it replaced in service. It also had plenty of small parts and pins that were easy to lose during full disassembly, and a firing pin of intricate shape that easily broke.

The Walther P38 is short-recoil operated, locked-breech pistol. The barrel is locked to the slide using a wedge-shaped locking piece, which can tilt up and down below the barrel, while following the inclined surfaces on the frame. When the barrel and slide are in battery, the locking piece is in its upper position, and its lugs securely lock the slide to the barrel. Upon recoil, the locking piece drops down and out of the engagement with the slide, unlocking it and allowing it to recoil and complete the reloading cycle. Because of the short slide, the P38 has two captive return springs, located on either side of the frame and inside the slide. With time it was found that the aluminum frame developed cracks in the most highly stressed area, where the locking piece and barrel were slamming against it on recoil, so the frames of late production pistols were reinforced with the addition of a hexagonal cross-pin, made from steel. The trigger is double-action, with an exposed hammer and trigger bar (the link between the trigger and sear) unusually located outside of the frame at the right side. The standard safety also acted as a decocker, and was located at the left side of the slide. On the P4 pistol, the slide lever retained only the decock function and, once pressed and released, automatically returned to the fire position. P4 pistols were also fitted with a firing pin block safety. Magazines were single-stack, with the magazine release located at the heel of the grip. The sights were fixed. P38 pistols were also fitted with a loaded chamber indicator in the form of a small pin that projected from the rear of the slide, above the hammer, when a cartridge was loaded in the chamber.

How to field-strip (disassemble) Walther P38: 1) remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) pull the slide all the way back and lock it there with slide stop lever; 4) turn the disassembly lever down and forwards (located at the front of the frame, on left side); 5) while holding the slide, release the slide stop lever and carefully ease the slide into battery, then push it forward and out of the frame; 6) turn the slide upside down, and push forward the small pin at the base of the barrel, this will unlock the barrel from the slide; 7) pull the barrel out of the slide.
Reassemble in reverse order.

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Walther PP Super pistol

Characteristics

Type: Double Action
Calibers: 9x18 Police and 9x17 Browning Short (9mm Kurz/.380ACP)
Weight unloaded: 780 g
Length: 176 mm
Barrel length: 92 mm
Capacity: 7 rounds

The Walther PP Super pistol came into existence circa 1972, as a proposed service handgun for West German police. At that period, German police looked for a new standard handgun and ammunition, to replace obsolete and underpowered pistols then in service. During the early 1970s there was much debate about a new service cartridge, and two major contenders were the already famous 9x19mm Luger/Parabellum, and the relatively new 9x18 Police cartridge. The 9x18 Police cartridge has been based on pre-WW2 9x18mm Ultra ammunition, developed in Germany by the Geco and Walther on request from Luftwaffe (German Air Forces). The 9x18 cartridge offered about a maximum power which could be used in relatively compact and lightweight blowback pistols. This, in turn, allowed these pistols to be simpler and less expensive than locked-breech 9x19mm pistols. Recognizing these advantages of 9x18 ammunition, the Walther company developed a police pistol, roughly based on the famous Walther PP pistol, and called it PP Super. However, by mid-1970s German law enforcement authorities selected the more powerful 9x19mm ammunition as a standard, and by the end of 1970s the 9x18 Police ammo went out of favor; Only about 2 000 of 9x18 PP Super pistols were purchased by Bavarian Police during 1970s. Some of PP Super pistols were also made in 9x17 short caliber, but the future of the police handguns was in 9mm Luger, and the Walther company dropped the PP Super from manufacture circa 1979, focusing on 9x19mm pistols like P5 and P38 / P1 / P4. 

The Walther PP Super is an all-steel, blowback operated, double action pistol. Unlike its predecessor, the Walther PP, the PP Super featured an external slide stop lever, and a manual decocker on the left side of the slide, which, when pushed down, locked the firing pin and released the hammer, and then automatically returned to the 'fire' position. There was no manual safety, but the PP Super has a firing pin safety, and was intended to be carried with the loaded chamber and hammer down, ready to be fired in double action mode. The magazine catch is located on the side of the grip, next to triggerguard.

A word of caution to the owners of Walther PP Super pistol. The scarce 9x18mm Police/Ultra ammunition is NOT compatible with Soviet 9x18 Makarov PM ammunition. Attempts to fire 9x18 Makarov ammunition from PP Super pistol are very dangerous due to the larger diameter of 9mm Makarov bullet.

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Walther PP, PPK and PPK/S pistol

Experimental Walther "Police model" pistol which served as a prototype for PP; note that it has longer grip for 10-round magazine, and frame-mounted manual safety.

Early production Walther PP pistol with so-called 90-degree safety.

Rare pre-WW2 variation of Walther PP with bottom-mounted magazine release.

A typical prewar Walther PP pistol.

Post-war Walther PP pistol in .22LR.

Post-war Walther PP pistol made under license in France by Manurhin.

Post-war Walther PP pistol made in East Germany.

Pre-war Walther PPK pistol in presentation gold finish with engraving, issued by RZM.

Post-war Walther PPK pistol.

Walther PPK pistol fitted with silencer - a setup, closely associated with James Bond, agent 007.

Walther PPK pistol, partially disassembled.

Walther PPK/S.

Characteristics

Type: Double Action
Caliber: .22LR or 6.35mm auto (.25 ACP) or 7.65x17mm Auto or 9x17mm (.380 ACP)
Length overall 173mm PP, 154 mm PPK
Weight: 682g PP, 568g PPK
Barrel length: 99mm PP, 84mm PPK
Capacity: 8 (PP), 7 (PPK) rounds

Walther PP pistols were among the most important developments of the inter-war period. Produced between 1929 and 1945 in significant numbers, these pistols, among with the basically similar but smaller PPK, were widely used as police and military guns in Hitler’s Germany. After the war, production of the PP and PPK pistols was resumed in France by Manurhin under German licence. Later on, production was returned to the re-established Walther factory in the city of Ulm ab Donau (pre-war Walther factory was located in the city of Zella-Mehlis), and these pistols have seen widespread use by civilians and police, as well as for personal defense by many non-infantry officers in several European armies. Very close copies of the Walther PP were manufactured after the war by East Germany, Hungary, Romania, Turkey and USA. At the present time, Walther PP, PPK/S and PPK pistols are manufactured in the USA by the Smith & Wesson Company under licence from Walther.
Walther PPK pistols are essentially similar to the larger PP pistols, except for the different design of the grip frame – while on PP pistols the grip backstrap is integral to the frame and grip panels are two separate items (left and right), on PPK pistols grip frame has a rectangular shape of a magazine channel and the backstrap is formed by the single-piece U-shaped grip unit, also usually made of plastic. While most PPK pistols were made with steel frames, in the post-war period Walther also produced some aluminum-framed PPK/L (Lightweight) pistols.
Also, there are Walther PPK/S pistols, which are a cross-breed between PP and PPK, combining the PP frame with shorter PPK-style barrel and slide. These pistols were designed to avoid limitations imposed by the American Firearms Owners Protection Act of 1968. This act, in particular, limited the minimum size of a “sporting purpose” pistols that are allowed to be imported in USA, and use of the larger grip frame allowed importing these pistols instead of smaller PPK pistols, banned from importation under this law.

The Walther PP is blowback-operated pistol with a fixed barrel, usually of all-steel construction. A few aluminum-framed PP pistols were built in Germany before the war, and stainless steel versions are manufactured in the USA under Walther’s licence since the mid-1980s. The trigger is double-action, with an exposed hammer and a frame-mounted manual safety/decocker; the lockwork is somewhat complicated in a typical German manner and has many small parts and pins. Sights are fixed, with the rear sight blade dovetailed into the slide. Magazines are single-stack; the magazine release button is usually located at the left side of the frame, just below the slide and in front of the grip panel. However, at least some PP pistols were made both before and after the war with so called “European-style” magazine release, located at the heel of the grip. Walther PP and PPK pistols are fitted with a loaded chamber indicator, made in the form of a small pin that protrudes from the rear of the slide (above the hammer) when a cartridge is in the chamber. This indicator is not present on .22LR models.
It must be noted that most of PP and PPK pistols were made in 7,65mm (.32ACP) caliber, with 9mm Kurz (9x17, .380ACP) running distant second. The .22LR version was made in some numbers, and so far most rare is the 6,35mm / .25ACP version, with very few guns made early in production history of both pistols.

How to field-strip (disassemble) Walther PP or PPK: 1) remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) pull the trigger-guard downwards, then swing it to one side to lock in the open position; 4) pull the slide all the way back, then raise the rear of the slide to the top, and off the frame rails; 5) carefully ease the slide forward and off the barrel; 6) remove the return spring from the barrel.
Reassemble in reverse order.

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Sauer 38H pistol

Sauer 38H pistol, left side. Note dual controls (safety on the slide and cocking/decocking lever on the frame).

 

Sauer 38H pistol, right side.

Sauer 38H pistol, late war production model with omitted decocker lever.

Sauer 38H pistol, probably made in the last days of WW2; it has no manual safety nor decocker lever; it is also has no finish on external surfaces.

Characteristics

Type	Double Action semiautomatic
Caliber	7.65x17mmSR Browning (.32ACP)
Weight unloaded	705 g
Length	171 mm
Barrel length	83 mm
Magazine capacity	8 rounds

German arms making company J. P. Sauer & son is one of the oldest names in European firearms industry. Sauer made first semiautomatic pistols just before WW1, and continued to make quality pocket pistols during interwar period. Since about 1932, Sauer engineers were working on an interesting trigger system, that employed concealed hammer and external cocking and decocking lever, located on the side of the gun. First patents for this system were issued in 1935, but final design was completed by 1938, when this pistol was brought to the market as Sauer 38H (H stands for hahn, or hammer in German, to distinguish this pistol from earlier Sauer designs, all of which were striker-fired). Sauer 38H pistol was used by various police and security forces in Hitler's Germany; Wehrmacht, the German armed force, also adopted this pistol as substitute standard and ordered some 200 thousands of this pistol to be issued to officers. Pre-war Sauer 38H pistols were made to rather high standards of fit and finish; however, as the war fortune turned its back towards Germany, some cost- and time-saving efforts were made to make guns faster and cheaper. First to suffer was the external finish of guns; later on, some safety features were dropped, and pistols from late period of WW2 can be found either without a manual safety on the slide or without the cocking/decocking lever on the frame (or without either, on last-ditch pistols).
While the basic setup of the Sauer cocking/decocking lever was rather advanced even by immediate post-war standards, 38H pistol was never brought back to production after the far; the basic idea of separate, frame-mounted decocker was revived much later in HK P9s and SIG-Sauer P220 pistols.

Sauer 38H is blowback operated pistol with stationary barrel. Pistol is characteristic with separate breechblock, which houses extractor, firing pin and loaded chamber indicator (that protrudes from the back of the slide if the cartridge is loaded in the chamber). Breech block is fixed to the slide by the cross-pin. Disassembly latch is located inside the trigger guard, just ahead of the trigger, and must be pulled down to allow slide removal. Trigger is of double action type, with concealed hammer and slide-mounted manual safety, which locks the hammer. Additional safety (and flexibility in choosing the shooting mode) is provided by the cocking/decocking lever, located on the left side of the frame, under the grip panel. If the hammer is cocked, a pull on this lever will safely lower the hammer; if the hammer is lowered, a pull on the lever will cock it for single-action first shot.
Magazine release latch is controlled by the button, located on the left side of the grip, at the base of the trigger guard. Sights are fixed. Grip panels are made from black plastic, with "double S" Sauer logo on the left grip.

How to field-strip (disassemble) Sauer 38H: 1) remove the magazine 2) check for live round in chamber 3) pull down the disassembly latch, which is located in the front of the trigger, inside the trigger guard 4) pull the slide all the way back, then rise its rear part off the frame rails 5) ease slide forward until it is clear off the barrel 6) remove the return spring from the barrel
Reassemble in reverse order

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Heckler Koch HK 45 pistol

HK 45 pistol.

HK 45C compact pistol, with tan-colored frame and DAO trigger unit (notice lack of manual safety and spur-less hammer).

Characteristics

	HK 45	HK 45C
Type	Double Action semiautomatic
Caliber(s)	.45ACP
Weight unloaded	785 g / 1.7 lb	717 g / 1.54 lb
Length	191 mm /  7.52"	183 mm / 7.2"
Barrel length	115 mm / 4.53"	100 mm / 3.94"
Magazine capacity	10 rounds	8 rounds

The HK 45 pistol is the most recent handgun from famous German arms-making company Heckler und Koch. The HK 45 was born as a competitor for a now-discontinued US Army program for a new .45 caliber military pistol. It is based on proven technical solutions of the HK USP pistols merged with enhanced ergonomics of the 9mm HK P30 pistol. HK 45 pistol features improved grip with replaceable backstraps and slimmer profile, recountured and less blocky slide, and enhanced, fully ambidextrous controls. Pistol is available in two versions, standard HK 45 and compact HK 45C, which features smaller dimensions and shorter grip and slimmer, which houses shorter magazine, compatible with HK USP 45C pistols. New pistols will be available in several frame colors, including black, military green and desert tan. Other standard features include low-profile "combat" sights with three dot system and an integral Picatinny rail under the frame.

The HK 45 pistol is short-recoil operated, using modified Browning type locking system with tilting barrel. Barrel movement is controlled by the lug, located below the breech. Barrel locks into the enlarged ejection window in the slide. Front of the barrel is fitted with rubber O-ring which improves barrel-to-slide fit and enhances accuracy. Recoil system features an additional polymer buffer which decreases stress on the frame and softens felt recoil. Frame of the gun is made from impact-resistant polymer, with removable grip backstraps (available in three sizes to be adjusted for most shooters). Trigger is of modular design, available in several versions including standard DA/SA, DAO and HK-proprietary LEM (pre-cocked) versions. Manual safety and/or decocker levers can be installed on either side of the frame; slide release levers are ambidextrous by default. Magazines are double stack, and hold 10 (for full-size) or 8 (for compact) rounds of .45ACP ammunition.

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Heckler-Koch Ultimate Combat Pistol / HK UCP

Heckler-Koch Ultimate Combat Pistol - early prototype (2003).

The same 2003 HK UCP prototype, with M6 tactical light / laser pointer mounted on the frame, and B&T suppressor.

HK UCP prototype, 2004. Note grip with removable (adjustable) backstrap, as well as manual controls (slide stop and safety).

Characteristics

Type: Double Action
Calibers: 4.6x30mm
Weight unloaded: 850 g
Length: 200 mm
Barrel length: 130 mm
Capacity: 20 rounds

The Ultimate Combat Pistol (UCP) is the most recent development of famous German company Heckler und Koch. The development of UCP has been started on request from Bundeswehr (German Armed forces) in 2002 or 2003, and this pistol is intended to become a companion to HK MP7 Personal Defence Weapon, which is also is under serious consideration for Bundeswehr, as well as some counter-terrorism forces in Germany and abroad. This combo (MP7 PDW and UCP pistol) apparently will become a major rival to already famous Belgian FN P90 PDW and Five-seveN pistol.

Like the Five-seveN pistol, the UCP is intended to provide accurate pistol fire, with high armor piercing capabilities, high accuracy, large magazine capacity and low recoil. To achieve those requirements, UCP uses special small-caliber, 4.6 millimeter ammunition, initially developed for HK MP7 weapon. This ammunition has a bottlenecked cartridge case and a pointed bullet with steel core, with relatively high velocity. The only questionable property of this ammunition is its stopping power, as the bullet is very small and thus could make any serious damage only if it will tumble or fragment on impact with human body.

So far not too much information is available on UCP. At the present time (November 2004) HK and Bundeswehr apparently started initial trials of the pistol, and more information probably will become available next year.

The UCP is a semi-automatic pistol with detachable magazine and polymer frame. Current prototypes feature a HK P2000-type grip with detachable backstraps of different size and configurations, and a Picatinny-type accessory rail under the barrel. The action of the gun is said to use some sort of retarded (or delayed) blowback system, but so far it is not known, if it is a roller-delayed blowback, as in HK P9s pistol, or a gas-delayed blowback, as in HK P7 pistol. The trigger unit in current UCP models is modular, and could be had in various configurations (DA/SA or DAO), with or without manual safeties. Standard magazine capacity is 20 rounds, and it is believed that the UCP will accept both 20- and 40-round magazines from HK MP7 PDW weapon.

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