.25ACP - Rimfire or centerfire? German use?

[P08]

Can anyone tell me if .25ACP is a rimfire ammunition or a centerfire?

Did the Germans ever use any weapons of this caliber during the war?

[Jan Balcar]

.25 ACP is 6,35 mm Browning cartridge centerfire with rim & grove.

[Gene]

I believe the Mauser M1910 was available in 6.35mm, and was used as a personal sidearm by LW and KM personnel (possibly unofficially though)

[Douglas Jr.]

I believe the Mauser M1910 was available in 6.35mm, and was used as a personal sidearm by LW and KM personnel (possibly unofficially though)

I read somewhere that some high officers (I mean, Generals) used to carry those small pistols instead of those chambered to fire .32 ACP (7,65mm), as they probably would fire them once in a blue moon.

So, small pistols (as the Mauser M1910, Ortgies and some Belgian pistols just to mention a few) were used (unofficially as noted) as side arms during the war. Also, I saw somewhere thet the famous Tank ace Michael Wittmann used to carry a 6,35mm pistol, but I never could see a picture to check. Strange choice isn´t it?

Douglas.

[ramon]

Here is a photo of Wittmann's pocket pistol. This was recovered from the remains of Wittmann's tunic pocket when his body was disinterred from the former battleground. In the 1980's it was displayed at the German War Graves Commission Headquarters in Kassel.


This picture is from After the Battle, issue 48

Cheers,

Ramon

[Douglas Jr.]

Ramon,


Thanks for the image. It´s the first time I saw it. Impressive that it survived after so many years (and the explosion of Wittman´s Tiger) . I don´t have my books with me to identify the correct model, but it looks like a Walther (Model 3 ??).
Douglas.

[P08]

Very interesting. What brand and model is that pistol? Looks a wee bit like a FN 1906.

[Bill Grist]

Mod 2

The Pistol is a WALTHER Model 2 or a Walther Model 5... BILL

[copdoc]

My first partner took a Walther Model 9 off a KM officer that they captured. He found it in the pocket of a leather overcoat as they were searching him. He kept the coat, removed the buttons and his son occationally wears it to work. My Dad (13th Airborne) took an Old Model WTP off a German soldier in France. It was sewed into a pocket of his belt. He also took a New Model WTP out of a warehouse full of German weapons near Berlin. I have heard some of the Cz36s and or Cz45s have WA stamps but I have not seen one with them. (2 cents worth)Copdoc