Rare pistol fetches €6,100 at auction
A rare German Walther Model PP 7.65mm pistol issued to the NSKK (National-Sozialistische Kraftfahr Korps - a Nazi party para-military organisation) in the late 1930s fetched a record €6,100 at an auction in Sliema last Sunday.
The action was held by Obelisk auction house at The Palace Hotel.
The successful floor bidder fought off competition from an bidder who submitted his bids over the phone.
However, bidding on a British WWII .303 Vickers machine gun in immaculate condition ended in favour of a Swiss phone bidder. It was sold for €5,700.
This third Obelisk sale was characterised by vigorous bidding on some of the top-end pieces consigned by local and overseas sources.
Walther-brand pistols did remarkably well as all pieces were sold well above the estimate. One notable piece was a rare 1939 Swedish contract Walther 9mm Para Heeres Pistole of which only 1,070 were produced. It fetched €2,600.
The sale included both antique and modern weapons. It was conducted by auctioneer Pierre Grech Pillow while Stephen A. Petroni researched and catalogued the lots.
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26 Comments
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Stephen Petroni
Nov 23rd 2010, 09:42
Two points worth noting:
1) if only we could be in such good condition when we're 75 years old as this "tatty old gun"... :)
2) if we were to destroy what is historically linked to man's darker side then we might as well start by burning our beloved Caravaggio. After all this masterpiece of the 17th century depicts a horrendous murder and if that were not enough it was painted by a trouble-maker who was accused of murder... :)
Keep things in perspective and be mature in your comments.
Bernard Cachia Zammit
Nov 23rd 2010, 16:29
I agree with you on this comment.
J cachia
Nov 23rd 2010, 07:38
TO ALL the 'it reminds me of the Nazis' rant . Snap out of it people. Love of guns and collecting has nothing to do with being a Nazi. I myself do not approve of what happened but I am into guns as much as most of my friends are into soccer or formula 1. That does not make me a Nazi. I love guns and any history behind them . I collect them . I stare at them . I handle them and appreciate how the workmanship of 60 or 80 years ago was superior to today's mass produced material. I love to shoot them but that does not make me a killer. When will you grow up ? and Stella , that is all very noble of you, but what are the major causes of deaths anywhere in the world. Grow up for god's sake !
I wonder if all the thousands that go to drool over war planes at the airshow realise how many lives they have taken. BUT NO .. that is different !!
R.Damitz
Nov 22nd 2010, 19:48
@Jesmond Micallef Dear sir, its very honorable of you for feel touched by the selling of a German gun as it reminds you of the Nazis..... but I wonder what is your position on the survivals of the Nazis which respond by the name of Zionist and are doing today worse then the Nazis did to their gran parents (God's bless upon their souls)..... would they be proud of it? I sugest you spare your coments to facts of our generation and our days.... Perhaps your precious words will be of more use..... God bless.
Jesmond Micallef
Nov 22nd 2010, 20:24
R.Damitz, What is wrong remains wrong all along the way. Here consider this argument then : I will not mention anyone in particular here so I'll say this "Would one feel good if one did wrong and seeks his own justification for his own wrong doing in the wrong doing of others, for example ? Furthermore, my reply was directed to Mr. Bernard Cachia Zammit's comment, which does not relate to your generation or days at all.
Michael Borg
Nov 22nd 2010, 18:38
I find it strange to spend sometimes millions of dollars on a painting but that's life ! I know someone who bought a german heavy machine gun from previous auction for 3000 euros he is so proud of it !! :)
Bernard Cachia Zammit
Nov 22nd 2010, 18:27
@ Jesmond Micallef I am sure that the buyer would only keep it for collections. It is a bit like stamp collecting although a bit more dangerous as firearms can harm if handled carelessly. @ Nick Falzon Your comment is basically silly. What do you prefer? A person who spends his/her money on something he/she always wanted; something that he/she always wanted to possess? Or do you prefer someone spending their money on alcohol, getting drunk every Saturday, smoking packets of cigarettes and basically ruining their health and wasting money?
Jesmond Micallef
Nov 22nd 2010, 19:14
Bernard Cachia Zammit. The name Walter reminds of a man and his boats at the Mermaids Cave at St. Georges Bay, Birzebugia. I collected stamps once and I cannot see the relationship here. The word "nazi" is very psychologically harrowing as I tend to relate that to the sytematic gassing and cremation of human beings. In one word - DISGUST and some form of EMOTIONAL SICKNESS. I stand to be corrected if I am overly sensitive on this. Here, publically, if need be. I am willing to discuss.
Bernard Cachia Zammit
Nov 22nd 2010, 22:37
I think you got my drift wrong. What I meant was that this is basically another type of collecting stuff, however this is basically more dangerous as I said firearms can cause harm or death if left in the wrong hands. I understand that this pistol reminds you of Nazis as it was manufactured in Nazi Germany and I agree with your statement of the word 'nazi'.
Christine Attard
Nov 22nd 2010, 16:38
@ Nick Falzon.
Why do we always have to judge other people's decision and likes???? Good for the guy that bought it he must be head over heels especially if it was a dream come true. Maybe we should not judge especially if we dont have any hobbies.
Stella Calleja
Nov 22nd 2010, 15:53
and how many lives has it taken?
Eric Camilleri
Nov 23rd 2010, 09:27
Probably none at all.
J cachia
Nov 22nd 2010, 15:44
If that gives you the creeps , have a look around you in this country, you're bound to turn to salt .
Not all guns were used to execute anyone. Some pistols, like this , were given as a status symbol to members of special units. Their value lies in their rarity, mainly because of the markings they carry. This one in particular belonged to someone in the NSSK which was a motoring unit ( yes , driver's unit ) within the NAZI party. Like them or not , anything to do with NAZI marked weapons are very collectible.
Jesmond Micallef
Nov 22nd 2010, 15:38
Was this thing used to execute somebody ? Even the picture gives me the creeps !!
Eric Camilleri
Nov 23rd 2010, 09:33
Knowing what their original design and purpose is, don't airshow jet fighters and bombers give you the creeps ?
Jesmond Micallef
Nov 23rd 2010, 13:09
I'm very sure that micrometers, vernier calipers, miling machines and other equipment is used in production of aircraft. But then again the same can be said for the production of air pistols, too I guess. I prefer the first option, most especially when reading todays news comemorating a very particular event. Do we "quantumly" know eachother Mr. Camilleri ?
Eric Camilleri
Nov 24th 2010, 13:24
Hi Jesmond than it seems you are the Jesmond I know :-)
Long time no see. Its all engineering my friend and few oeople realize that.
Jesmond Micallef
Nov 24th 2010, 14:42
Hello Eric, indeed long time no see, buddy !! I'll call around sometime. Hope you are well.
Jesmond :-)
J Cachia
Nov 22nd 2010, 15:28
It only shows that you have no sense at all, and know nothing about collectibles. If anyone has the money , its their business how they spend it, be it an expensive car, villa, rare stamp or maybe a 600euro mobile that goes obsolete in 6 months time, whatever.
That tatty old gun ,as you call it , is a rare collectible of WW2 Nazi Germany. Collectors do not always make sensible decisions. When you want something , you make your best to get it. I'm pretty sure you did something like that in your life.
If you know nothing of the subject think before you bash it.
Steve Demicoli
Nov 22nd 2010, 16:33
Agree 100% - If anyone has the money , its their business how they spend it!!
Nick Falzon
Nov 22nd 2010, 15:12
Yet more proof that some people have more money than sense.
6,000 euros on a tatty old gun? Madness.
R. C Conti
Nov 22nd 2010, 15:37
This is no madness. Maybe the person who acquired it, collects such items. Madness is when people literally burn hundreds or thousands of euros up in smoke in their lungs each year.
Nick Falzon
Nov 22nd 2010, 15:52
That's very true!
What's even more crazy is that they spend all that money to puff away on something that will kill them in the end.
jjzammit
Nov 22nd 2010, 15:55
Nick Falzon
I was there,and most of the wapons were sold outside Malta,and even the €6.100 German Walther Model PP 7.65mm pistol was not Maltese who bought it,so beforer you say something make your self sure what you´r talking about.....
A Cardona
Nov 22nd 2010, 16:23
I am sorry to say but it seems you have no idea about collectibles as this pistol is. Collectibles themselves go up in value and are recession proof.
Andrew Brincat
Nov 22nd 2010, 17:09
He did the right thing!! that rare pistol would increase to 10,000euros in next 5 years, and an expensive car would decrease to 2,000euros in next 5 years.
@Nick falzon: your comment makes no sense at all.