I have a rifle I inherited from a friend. I have tried to find out from several places what it is worth, and no one knows. The top of the barrel reads "Walther Ulm/Do" It is chambered in 30-06. The serial number is four digit low number. It has a push button style safety through the stock. Can anyone please help? I am curuious about the history of this gun and what the value would be. I have done internet search's and looked in every publication of gun values, but can find no information about this rifle.

Dear Upland,
For your own protection, please delete the serial number of your firearm.

I am unfamiliar with the arm. Please state whether it is bolt, semi-auto, single shot; any other marks on the barrel or receiver; and post a photo is possible. Kudude

photos would be very helpful

quote:

Originally posted by kudude:
Dear Upland,
For your own protection, please delete the serial number of your firearm.

kudude

I often see comments like yours or see a serial number represented as, say, 123xxx. What is the danger in someone else knowing a serial number??

Ray

quote:

I often see comments like yours or see a serial number represented as, say, 123xxx. What is the danger in someone else knowing a serial number??

They would have a discription and serial number. Then they say the rifle is mine it was stolen this is what it looks like and the serial number is 123XXXX. Would be my concern.

Ramrod,

I don't disagree with you one bit, but, I'm reallll clost to being 60 years old and in my 10 or so years of being on the Internet and posting, reading etc. I have never ever heard of this happening.

I'd think if it was such a risk we'd have heard about it by now. Again, not disagreeing with the practice of not fully disclosing the entire S/N, just saying I've never heard od anyone having a problem.

Uplandhunter,
I've been around guns and gunshows for 45 years and never seen anything like that!

Sorry I cant tell you anything about it but it does appear to be rare!

It is simply blocking downward movement of the trigger sear when on safe. Neat approch huh?

quote:

I'd think if it was such a risk we'd have heard about it by now. Again, not disagreeing with the practice of not fully disclosing the entire S/N, just saying I've never heard od anyone having a problem.

Can say I have heard of it either. Just always worried me. Guess I'm a belt and suspenders type of guy ever since my wife had her checks stolen and we ended up in court proving it wasn't her that had written all of the checks all over town.
Just did a search Bruce Canfield wrote this in Jan 07 http://www.brucecanfield.com/cc-article.html

Prudent or Paranoid? Posting full serial numbers



I get a lot of inquiries regarding U.S. military weapons from this website and from members of the NRA in my capacity as Field Editor for American Rifleman magazine. Many, in fact, most of the people who send in questions that include the serial number of their gun will invariably “X out†a portion of the serial number. For example, a typical inquiry might read…â€I have a .45-70 Trapdoor Springfield carbine, serial number 35,XXXâ€. Can you tell me the year that the gun was made and any other information about it?†I’ve come to accept the fact that the majority of people who make such inquiries will not give the full serial number of their gun and I’ve always wondered why. This refusal to reveal full serial numbers is really rampant on most of the Internet websites devoted to arms collecting.



There seems to be three typical reasons given for the refusal to disclose full serial numbers:



(1) Somebody may find out the serial number and file a bogus police report that the gun was stolen from them and, somehow, force the current owner to give up his gun to them.

(2) There are BATF agents scouring the Internet and other sources who record all serial numbers so that the guns can be confiscated someday.

(3) It’s nobody’s business what the full serial number of my gun is.



I’m sure there are other reasons, but the above seem to be the most prevalent. Let’s take a brief look at the validity of each of these objections:



(1) I am not aware of a single instance where anyone has filed a fake police report regarding the serial number of a gun observed in an Internet website, reference book or anywhere else. A false claim would subject the maker to serious legal, possibly felony, penalties. Also, he would have to prove the gun was his to begin with. This would entail coming up with a prior police report of the theft (showing the serial number), a sales receipt when he bought the gun or some other form of convincing documentation. Simply stating that the gun was his, with no proof, won’t have much weight with the law enforcement types. A person making such a claim has a high burden of proof regarding his alleged rightful ownership of the gun. If one thinks about it for a second, such a scenario is highly unlikely and falls squarely into the “urban legend†category.



(2) If anyone thinks that a Federal agency has the manpower, time and/or inclination to engage in such non-productive pursuits, they probably believe in the black helicopters or needs a new tinfoil hat. They should worry more about the Federal Form 4473s already on file at their gun dealers for all the guns they’re purchased over the years. Those would be readily available to any BATF agent for the asking.



(3) OK, this one I can respect. If you don’t want to give out your serial number, that’s your business. However, if you’re asking a researcher or someone with a serious interest in the subject a question or requesting information, they are under no obligation to help, especially if you’re not willing to share your full serial number. There are some cases, such as determining the year of production, where a full serial number may or may not be critical. On the other hand, there are some instances where the full serial number is vitally important. For example, a full serial number can determine if a particular M1896 Krag carbine was one of the rare and valuable “Rough Riders†guns or if a particular M1873 Trapdoor Springfield carbine was one of those issued to the ill-fated 7th Cavalry. Leaving off even the last digit can result in not knowing the provenance of a gun. Also, for researchers compiling serial number/production date tables, full serial numbers are necessary.



Some researchers and “serious†collectors will absolutely not respond to an inquiry that only gives a partial serial number. One such individual I know will respond to a question about “…when was my Model 12 trench gun, serial number 967,XXX made…†with… “It was made in 19XXâ€! Actually, I think such a response is pretty funny and manages to get the point across. There are several Internet websites/forums that require the posting of full serial numbers to get a response. I’m not quite in that camp just yet, but I do wonder why so many people refuse to give out their serial numbers. It’s certainly their right not to do so, but it is also others’ right not to respond when such information is withheld.

Hi Uplander

An older issue of the Bluebook of gun values shows Walther making a post war sporter in 30-06 with a 22" bbl. called the model B. They show production discontinued and list a value of 450. I'm sure it's worth more than that. The safty on your gun looks like the same one used on the KKJ and the checkering does look like that of a post war era rifle.

I asked an old trader once why guns were listed for sale that way and he told me that the people were afraid the gun might have been stolen sometime before and they didn't want people trying to narrow it down in case the number was recorded somewhere.

Uplandhunter,

Looks like an interesting piece you've got.

The "Greener" stock safeties were in very much in vogue for a while on Tuetonic rifles and shotguns. As Doug mentioned they are trigger block safeties.

Not uncommon for Germans to include the Region, Area, City, etc. with their company names and the "Walther Ulm/Do" refers to the Walther company located in Ulm on the River Donau (Danube River).

Walther is primarily known for their Target & Sporting Rimfires, Pistols and Air Rifles; I've never seen a Walther large bore now that I think about it - but perhaps someone can jiggle my memory.....

Anyway, website below perhaps that will give you a start, it's initially in German but there's an English prompt located on the first page. You never know, perhaps Walther will be able or willing to give you some history on the rifle?

http://www.carl-walther.info/dev2/

Have fun with you new Boomer!

Uplandhunter!

I have a similar rifle I just bought from an old hunter! It's a really well built rifle in near mint condition, and the safe is real nice, isn't it!

Mine looks exactly like yours except:
Yours seem to have MC stock, I don't.
Mine is marked Walther, i.e no Ulm/Do
Mine also has in low 4-digit serial number and an A in front, i.e. "A 1234"
Mine is in 8x57 JS.

I'll try to post some pictures...

Mine is, as far as I understand, manufactured in April -52, (marked 452)
When was your manufactured?


Uplandhunter,
I have also tried to get some information on these guns, but have failed so far...
It's real nice though to know someone else has this (rare) gun.
I take it you'r based in the US. My gun was bought in Sweden, thus we know it was exported to both continents.

Any one who can help us with more information about these Walthers?

How do I do to post a picture or two, I seem not have permission to do so...

Can someone help out here? What do I do to be able to load some pictures?

TRYING TO POST SOME PHOTOS

David:Just a suggestion of sorts. When photographing rifles it is best to place them on a darker background and not white. The camera's meter reads the white background and darkens the subject to compensate. Try a dark blue, dark red, or some such as that. By the way, welcome to the forum. It is always good to see new members coming on board. Tom P