Walther Arms
Walther Arms: A Legacy of Innovation
Founded: 1886
Founder: Carl Wilhelm Freund Walther
Headquarters: Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
U.S. Division: Walther Arms, Inc. (Fort Smith, Arkansas)
Walther began in Suhl and Zella-Mehlis, Germany, where Carl Walther crafted hunting and target rifles using Martini and Aydt breech systems.
By 1903, the company expanded to a factory on Katzenbuckel hill, transitioning from artisanal to industrial production.
Walther introduced the PP and PPK pistols in the 1920s and 1930s—compact, reliable sidearms favored by law enforcement and military units.
During WWII, Walther developed the P38, a semi-automatic pistol that replaced the Luger as Germany’s standard military sidearm.
After WWII, Walther relocated to Ulm and rebuilt its operations, continuing to innovate in sport shooting and defense markets.
The company remained family-run until becoming part of the PW Group, which oversees global operations today.
Walther Arms, Inc. was established to serve the American market, offering models like the PPQ, PDP, and updated PPK/S—many now manufactured or assembled in the U.S.