Walther P99 - Maruzen
I'd been reading an issue of the American Handguns magazine and it contained a review of the Walther P99 and it's, newly announced, clone, the SW 99. This got me thinking that I'd quite like another P99 (having sold my springer version some while earlier). A quick scan of the forums revealed a limited edition Maruzen P99 Military for sale.
In the Box
Like the Micro Uzi, the P99 comes in a box looking remarkably WA like, but bearing a lot more information. Surprisingly, nearly all the text is in English. |
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Inside, the gun is held in place with just cardboard inserts and there is a rather cheap feeling hopper, tube and rod loader (although it works very well), a few BBs and a manual (quite detailed, but, unlike the box, almost entirely in Japanese). |
First Impressions
Supposedly one of just 240 (although anything between 480 and 4800 have also been suggested as total production numbers), this gun is distinguished from the more common P99 by having an Olive coloured frame. This identifies it as a replica of the version of the P99 produced for the Bundeswehr (the German army)
My only prior Maruzen experience was with my Micro Uzi. Fun though that gun was, the external finish was crude in the extreme (to be fair, it's insanely cheap), so I was a little surprised (pleasantly) to find that, on the whole, the P99's finish is excellent.
The slide is slightly plasticky in appearance and has an almost blue hue to it. However, all the trademarks are nicely rendered and the controls are nicely detailed.
Probably the biggest feature of the P99 is it's excellent ergonomic grip (designed by an Olympic pistol shooting champion and adaptable, in real steel and Maruzen airsoft forms, by means of interchangeable back straps). Maruzen replicate this very well, making it an extremely comfortable gun to hold and shoot.
Metal parts are few, but include the slide lock, rear sight, magazine release and trigger.
Closer Look
This, unlike a KSC Glock 17, for instance, is a gun which deserves a closer look.
I hadn't realised until I got this gun that the P99 is loaded with novel and interesting features, which are accurately reproduced in the Maruzen version.
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Aside from the ergo grip and ambidextrous mag release in the trigger guard (very like the H&K Mk23, but much smaller), the gun also has a clever 'loaded' indicator, in the form of a small pin (with a red tip) which protrudes from the rear of the slide when the gun is cocked and chambered. |
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Once cocked, the gun can be decocked (much like a Beretta) by means of a 'button' on top of the slide. Depressing this, decocks the gun (which, like a Glock, has no external hammer) and causes the above indicator to retract into the slide. Very slick. |
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The gun has the Walther trademarks where it should, although the engraving on the slide is a little light (a bit like a KSC, but not so shallow) and the correct disassembly latches over the trigger to permit take down.
The gun bears a Walter replica trademark of 001007 (ah, how clever...) and a unique (supposedly) serial number on the slide of 130, below the ejection port. |
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The more common P99s are black in colour and there are a number of versions available with scope mounts, silencers and torches/lasers. There is a metal slide/barrel kit available, but it's more expensive than those for things like the KSC Glock or TM Berettas - As I've not seen it, I can't say whether the finish justifies the extra cost.
The markings on the gun consist of, on the left side of the slide, the Walther logo and P99 script. Below that on the frame is Carl Walther ULM/DO and the Walther logo on the grip. On the right, the Walther logo is repeated on the grip, with "WARNING: READ SAFETY MANUAL" and "ACHTUNG: WARNHINWEISE BEACHTEN" on the frame (just behind and above the trigger). Ahead of that is "MADE IN JAPAN" (Obviously non-original). On the right side of the slide is "Licensed Trademark of Carl Walther GmbH Germany JSAG 6mm Maruzen", the 'unique' serial number (under the ejection port). The chamber is marked with the Walther logo, 9mm x 19, an eagle proof mark and the serial number "001007". The rear of the frame (under the cocked indicator) bears the "001007" serial number and the magazine base is marked P99 and the Walther logo.
Shooting Impressions
The P99 is equipped with the now familiar 3 dot setup, which is good for fast acquisition.
Carrying out my 5m/6 shot test produced some quite pleasing results.
Click on image for bigger version in separate window.
The shots fell into two groups. 4 shots were tightly packed to the left of the aim point, but only 1.75 inches (4 CMs) across. The remaining 2 shots were to the right of the aim point, but again, closely grouped (1 CM, in fact, around .5 inch).
I'm sure with more experience these could be translated into a single closely grouped set of shots within the central area, but either way, these translate to very effective accuracy for skirmishing.
UPDATE
In 2005, I acquired another, plain black Maruzen P99 and was able to test it with my chronograph.Over 10 shots, the P99 recorded 245 fps using Propane at a bitter 10C. This would equate to about 280fps at 20C, about on a par with TM's SIG P226, a comparably sized gun.
| Shot | FPS |
| 1 | 253.0 |
| 2 | 250.9 |
| 3 | 249.4 |
| 4 | 247.7 |
| 5 | 246.2 |
| 6 | 242.4 |
| 7 | 242.8 |
| 8 | 241.8 |
| 9 | 238.1 |
| 10 | 235.7 |
Take Down
To take down the Maruzen Walther P99, first remove the magazine. Next, fully depress the disassembly catches (over the trigger on either side).
At this point the slide, barrel and recoil rod will slide off the frame.
The barrel and recoil rod can be removed by pushing it gently forward and down and then back, coming away as an assembly.
Conclusions
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the Maruzen P99 Military. The gun is a little light, but then so is the real P99, where that's seen as a virtue, The finish is excellent and the operation and design of the P99 is interesting and Maruzen have replicated that well making this an interesting addition to any collection.
Equally, the gun is quite powerful, reasonably accurate and sturdy in construction, making it a suitable skirmish sidearm. The Olive colour would make this a good sidearm for a sniper, for instance.
I'd recommend anyone looking for something a little different to consider the Maruzen P99 in any of its guises.
Weight : 620g
Realism : ****
Quality : ****
Power : ****
Accuracy : ****
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