karlunity Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 A few years ago, I hated that pistol seeing as a POS. Dr. Hess and I disagreed over it merits. Well, after having shot several 9mms, including a Walter P 1, I have to say that with in it's limits the that big old steel helwan is not bad. Once you locktite the barrel block screw, that keeps the Block in place and prevents snapping it, Oh and fix this or that. The weight holds down recoil and it is a very accurate pistol. I am NOT saying that the Helwan is the same level of workman ship as the Walther, but it cost a lot less. For a 150 buck pistol that halwan is not bad at all. karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 It is my opinion that each Helwan needs something fixed. After that is fixed, it is as reliable as a hammer. Too bad they aren't $100 (or $150) anymore. More like $300 if you can find one. That's too much in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted December 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 Merry Christmas to you and your good lady sir. I agree, I would not go 300. In fact I found a fella selling a locking block for ...90 bucks...told him thanks but that was a bit much for a 150 dollar pistol. Still, I am now glad that I got one when I did. Karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Karl, your Hippy, and everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted December 25, 2013 Report Share Posted December 25, 2013 I had one for a very short time. I took in trade + cash for a pair of rebuild-able heads for a 390 Ford. I insisted I shoot it before swapping. Took it out to the desert and fired two mags flawlessly. The second mag I emptied it as fast as I could pull the trigger. I traded it a short time later for a Chinese Tokarov 9MM with my next door neighbor. Best I recall as the trade was about 89 or 1990. The Helwan had the paperweight appearance. Half-assed bluing, machine and tool marks but it functioned flawlessly. The military holster I got with it was quite the opposite, top quality and well taken care of. The holster resembled WW2 German soft shell.. I haven't had good luck with the Walther P-1's. I had two and they would only run reliably with high priced +P, hot handloads or mil-surp ammo. With cheapie white box or Rusky steel I got several of stove pipes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted December 25, 2013 Report Share Posted December 25, 2013 I've run everything through my Helwan. Handloads made with 90-something grain 380 cast bullets because that's all I had laying around, factory white box stuff, regular handloads with the right cast bullet. Never ever had a failure to fire when there was a bullet in the mag. Fed everything. Only failures were failure to lock open after the last round, and most of the time it still locked open on the mag follower instead of the slide lock. I consider that acceptable. That is, if there was a bullet, it went bang, every time. And I've put a couple thousand through it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted December 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2013 I have had a few stove pipes but that was taken care with a bit of lube. Had to replace the grips... If nothing else, you could use the Helwan as a short club. : ) karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted December 25, 2013 Report Share Posted December 25, 2013 You wouldn't happen to have a good left side grip would you? Mine is missing a chunk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted December 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2013 I don't think that I kept the one ones. I got a new set from Gun parts, I think that they still have them about $ 28 as I recall. Still, if there is no hurry, I will dig around and see what I can find, they may be in the bottom of a parts box, I am almost sure I tossed them as a part in the corner broke, but it won't hurt to double check. I will know by tomorrow. Karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted December 25, 2013 Report Share Posted December 25, 2013 Well, if you run across it, let me know. No rush. I have a hard time justifying $28 plus shipping on a $100 gun, even if it is worth $300 today. I've considered using some epoxy putty and small nails for reinforcement to fill in the missing part. It is a "working" gun, not a show piece. Even brand new, they are butt-ugly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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