The early 1990s were an interesting time for handguns. It was a transitional period in many ways. Most police forces had transitioned to semi-automatic handguns, which were often metal frame, DA/SA, double-stacked handguns, typically in 9mm or .40 S&W, with a few .45s sneaking their way in there. At the same time, Glock had made the polymer-framed, striker-fired gun a success. In 1997, Walther took a look at the current handgun market and decided to satisfy the demand of every shooter. This resulted in the Walther P99.
The Walther P99 was a striker-fired polymer frame pistol with a double-stacked magazine and a DA/SA action. DA/SA polymer frame pistols are rare; most simply copy the Walther P99. The Walther P99 was produced from 1997 to 2023 in 9mm and .40 S&W. The gun recently went out with a bang, and a final edition was released with a special case, color, and collector’s coin.
The Walther P99 used a traditional Browning-style short recoil action with a cam-lock system adapted from a Hi-Power. The magazines were standard double-stack designs with varying capacities depending on the generation. The first P99s used 16-round 9mm magazines and 12-round .40 S&W magazines. Later, each was reduced by a single round.
The P99 is a compact pistol with a 4-inch barrel and 5.3-inch height. It is 1.1 inches wide and 7.1 inches long overall.
The P99: The Most Underrated Handgun
Most American gun buyers ignored the Walther P99, and it’s become one of the most underrated handguns on the market. The guys who liked DA/SA guns wanted hammers, and the guys who liked striker-fired guns wanted one consistent trigger pull. It also had some very European aspects with its trigger guard-mounted magazine release.
However, the gun experienced some success overseas. It was sought after by police and military forces in 15 different countries in various configurations. In 1999, the Walther P99 became James Bond’s gun in “Tomorrow Never Dies.” It would continue to be Bond’s gun in “Die Another Day,” “The World Is Not Enough,” and the Daniel Craig series, with a brief role in “Casino Royale.”
In the United States, the gun developed a cult following of enthusiasts who appreciated the benefits of the polymer frame, striker-fired design, and the DA/SA trigger system. As a personal fan, I found it to be an excellent combination of features. As a contrarian, I tend to like things that take risks and are a little different, so the P99 strikes a chord.
Changes Along the Way
Walther released a second generation of the P99 in 2004 that made some slight ergonomic changes to the Walther P99. The Walther P99 Gen 2 removed a grip hump that caused discomfort for some shooters. They also ditched the proprietary rail for a Weaver-style rail. The gun also got a redesigned slide that made the gun easier to grip and work the slide. Later on, Walther redid the Gen 2, but it was never officially called a Gen 3. They added a longer magazine release and an ambidextrous slide release.
With the second generation, we got a mix of new models. These variants got new initials after the P99 title. The normal P99 became the P99AS, and AS stands for anti-stress. The P99AS introduced a new trigger type. It’s still DA/SA, but there was an optional two-stage design. The gun could be fired in single action, with the same trigger pull length as the double action. This provided two distinct stages with a tactile feel between the first and second stages.
There was also a P99DAO model. DAO stands for Double-Action Only, and this model eliminated the single action from the trigger system. There was also the P99QA or Quick Action, which meant the gun used a partially cocked striker-fired design. It’s not quite a true double action, but not a single action, either.
Walther also introduced a compact variant, the P99c, which also got an AS, DOA, and QA model. P99c models, especially the AS, seem to be quite rare. I’ve never seen one in person. The QA models are more common but still rare.
Editions of the P99
Walther produced a few special editions of the P99, and foreign police forces under a Walther license improved the design. These rare P99s are tough to find, and go for a pretty penny when you can actually find one.
Walther MI-6: Walther has been associated with James Bond since the first films, and with that popularity, Walther released the MI-6 models. These were first-generation models and featured a serial number with the prefix 007 and a crest with a ‘Her Majesty’s Secret Intelligence Service’ inscription.
Walther Year 2000: To usher in the new millennium, Walther released 2000 models of a Gen 1 P99 with special edition markings.
Walther P99TA: The TA models were produced for a trial in Germany. They featured improved ergonomics and a different accessory rail. Only 50 were produced, and only 10 were imported to the United States.
Final Edition: The final edition, released in 2023, closes the loop on the P99. It comes with a special case, special markings, and a challenge coin, and Walther teamed up with Comp-Tac to produce a holster.
P99RAD: The P99RAD was the Polish-produced variant of the P99. It features a redesigned grip and grip texture, an extended ambidextrous slide release, an extended magazine release, an M1913 rail, and the option for a QA or DAO design. Additionally, the P99RAD set the stage for the P99Q.
The P99Q: Walther took the changes the Polish made to the P99 and developed the P99Q. Walther only released the P99Q for police forces. They never released the P99Q for civilian sales, but the P99Q evolved into the PPQ, a weapon that succeeded the P99.
Attack Of The Clones
The Walther P99 never had major success in the United States, but somehow, it kept getting clones. Three distinct clones were released in the United States to varying levels of success. Two of the three might not even qualify as clones since Walther produced the frames, and the other company produced the complete slide.
SW99: The SW99 is basically a P99 with a slightly different look to the gun. The frames are slightly different, as are the slides. They still feature the DA/SA striker-fired system. These guns were produced in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. This is the only thing close to a P99 that you can get in .45 ACP.
Magnum Research MR9: Magnum Research and Walther released the MR9 as a P99 clone with a different appearance and look. This includes a stainless steel slide and a slide design that looks more like a Desert Eagle than a P99. The Picatinny rail was one of the biggest improvements to this gun’s design.
Canik TP9DA: The first Canik was the TP9DA, a DA/SA gun made in Turkey. Walther had nothing to do with the gun, but it’s a clear copy of the P99. Notable differences include a standard button magazine release and a Picatinny rail.
The P99 Today
The P99 still delivers a competent handgun for duty use, self-defense, and concealed carry. It’s a modern 9mm handgun with modern capacity and design. Due to the placement of the decocker, it’s nearly impossible to mount things like a red dot. You’d have to resort to something like a Leupold DPP to use a red dot.
The fact it’s a DA/SA gun with a decocker and a trigger-mounted magazine release will be a turn-off for those who desire something more normal and more Glock-adjacent. I’m still a P99 fan and purchased an MR9, a SW99C, and even a P99 Final Edition. I love these fantastic firearms and wish they had created a new standard, but alas, I’m merely a member of the cult of the P99.
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