I have an early all German made Walther P99 and it is great. It is a black frame with a stainless (coated?) slide. I don't want to break any rules by listing it here but it will be for sale as soon as I post it up. I've mentioned it to a few folks on here in PMs but nothing official. They are great guns and very versatile. The S&W version was also called the P99 was it not?
The S&W version was called the SW99.
I believe that the Walther P99 is one of the most under-appreciated and underrated pistols on the market today.
Their ergonomics are simply outstanding; they were offering interchangeable backstraps before that was a gleam in anyone else's eye!
Fit & finish are impeccable.
Accuracy is beyond my capabilities.
Decocker is quite handy and easy to manipulate (At least for me).
The SW99 is a CLOSE approximation of the P99...but not entirely identical. The frames ARE identical, it's the "fire control" stuff that's different. I've not fired a SW99, but I've read that you can definitely tell a difference between the two.
The "AS", or Anti-Stress trigger should be featured on the show Modern Marvels. There are several articles out there on the 'net that explain much better, but here's a Q&D synopsis: With a round in the chamber, you can carry the pistol in any one of THREE ways (As far as trigger goes).
A) can carry with the striker fully de-cocked, in which the first trigger pull will be "long and heavy". Each subsequent shot will be "short and light". This is kind of like your traditional DA/SA pistol.
B) can carry with the striker cocked and with the trigger fully forward. In this manner, the amount of force used to move the trigger rearward is a fraction of what it is when the striker is cocked (you're not having to cock the striker with the trigger). About halfway through the travel, you'll come to a slight "hitch" in the trigger, pressing fruther will discharge the weapon. Subsequent shots will reset the trigger to this "hitch" point.
C) can carry with the striker cocked and the trigger at this halfway "hitch" point. In this method, which isn't really encouraged (you must depress trigger on a live round to get to this point) means that you have a VERY short trigger pull to discharge the weapon. Think "Glock-like". Each subsequent shot resets the trigger to this point.
But they're not without their "faults":
They're expensive. Mags are expensive and not easy to find (interchangeable with SW99, so that helps. a little.)
Not the easiest to find holsters for.
Earlier production weapons, like my 1st Gen 9mm, don't have a standard Pitcatinny rail, but a Weaver design. This can make finding lasers/lights that fit a little interesting.
Tend to be a little more "flippy", as someone has said, than other polymer-framed pistols like Steyr and Glock
All in all, I'd recommend a Walther P99 to just about anyone...with my preference going towards the older ones with the "ski hump" in the trigger guard. They look the coolest. hehe
Hope this helps.
-J-