[IrishCop]

Okay, I was at my favorite local gun shop today (on business, swear to God!!) and there was a little pistol in a nice satin lined case. Nicely polished blue steel, well crafted, attractive lines. Used of course, but just barely, and definitely not abused. The price was reasonable so I went for it.

It's a Walther PPK/S in .380. Not a huge fan of the caliber, but she looked so nice. On close examination it is a well made pistol. It's marked Made in West Germany and Imported by Interarms. It has Pachmayr Signature grips on it...some nice fake ivory might look good on her though.

I always liked the look of the PPK/S...yeah it has a long kinda stiff double action pull, but the single action isn't bad at all. It's heaver than my Airweight 442, so IO don't think I'll be carrying this one, but I might have to check NetFlix or Amazon for a couple of Sean Connery Bond flicks.

 

[CaptainGyro]

I have always felt that the PPK/S had style...I've been tempted to get one since the eighties, when I lived very near Interarms. I always manage to talk myself out of it (for exactly the reasons you mention, Terry: trigger pull and caliber) but they are very cool.

 

[Charlie Petty]

Welcome to the club.

When Interarms first started making them in this country I went out to the police supply store and bought #1053 (they didn't have 1052... started at 1000) for a backup gun. The 10 code is just for you Terry.

Some time later when Walther introduced the P-99 I was able to get the same number...

Now the original PPk does have ivories and MMC adjustable sights... talk about overkill... (blush)

 

[SpecialEd]

My first centerfires were a Walther P-38 and a PPK/S. Now I prefer my Makarov and my CZ 83 in Makarov.

 

[Snake45]

Here's mine, posed on the appropriate page of the old Chic Gaylord book.

 

[WaltGraham]

"Bond, James Bond"...

 

[dfariswheel]

The Walther PP series like the PP, PPK, and PPK/s are the "1911" of the .380 world.
No one ever quite managed to get as many features and such high quality into a .380 auto as the 1929 Walther design.
It's still quite capable of handling business today.

It's only down side is that it's been overtaken by developments.
I owned several PPK/s models over the years for use when a larger gun couldn't be carried, but when I saw my first Kahr Arms K9, I bought a stainless K9 and sold the PPK/s.

The K9 is about the same size package but in 9mm, with a far simpler action and superior DAO trigger, better grip, and better sights.
Still, if I had to carry a .380, it'd be a stainless PPK/s.

 

[Snake45]

It's only down side is that it's been overtaken by developments.

I disagree. The series has two other serious drawbacks.

1. They have a tendency to bite most hands that feed them. I don't want to rely on a gun that I have to think about holding with a "special" grip.

2. Horrendous DA trigger pull, which can't be improved much (at least not without affecting functioning).

 

[Charlie Petty]

Right on both counts, but you missed one.

When S&W started making them under license the bottom of the slide was so sharp it left a pair of railroad tracks on your hand.

The swapped one problem for another. They got rid of the hammer bite by extending the beavertail but you still had to get a low grip.

 

[Snake45]

Right on both counts, but you missed one.

When S&W started making them under license the bottom of the slide was so sharp it left a pair of railroad tracks on your hand.

Didn't miss anything--both my original Walthers do the same thing.

The hammers don't bite me, the slide does. And spending its energy chewing up my hand surely can't do anything for its functioning/reliability, either, I'm sure. :???:

My Beretta 70 is a much more comfortable and enjoyable gun to actually shoot for that reason. (And, it's slim!)

 

[Charlie Petty]

I recently picked up a Nazi marked PPK .32 and it was almost as bad as the .380.

The comment about the trigger is spot on. Back when I thought I was a gunsmith I spend a lot of time trying to improve the DA trigger but the geometry is simply wrong for DA and the trigger doesn't have enough leverage. About the only thing you can work on is the spring and about the time it starts to feel reasonable the gun won't go bang.


The new crop of locked breech .380s like the Ruger LC 380 are a whole new ballgame though. They are pleasant to shoot and some of the new ammo is pretty cool.

 

[Snake45]

About the only thing you can work on is the spring and about the time it starts to feel reasonable the gun won't go bang.

I had exactly the same experience with the ODI Viking, too.

 

[IrishCop]

I am going to try and upload a photo of my little friend (the pistol guys...the pistol!) see if anyone can tell me about an estimated manufacture date. The serial number is 209186. Like I said earlier, the slide is marked "Made in W. Germany", so I figure it was produced before Germany reunited...that was what, in the early nineties?

 

[IrishCop]

Hey guys, never mind about date of production. Did a little research (shoulda tried that first). Seems that on some Walther's, there is a two digit number stamped on the barrel at the ejection port, right beside the antler looking thing. Mine say 76. Sounds good to me.

My ammo will be waiting on me when I get home. That was quick. I just ordered it yesterday.

Maybe it's time for a trip to the Casinos in Tunica, MS.

 

[IrishCop]

Gentlemen, I have decided to go with a nice set of wood grip panels instead of polymer "ivory". Now here is the $64,000 question...

When I take the Pachmayr Signatures off, are any sneaky little springs or stuff likely to fly out? 'Casue I really hate it when that happens. mg:

 

[CaptainGyro]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: always do the first disassembly of a new firearm in the bathtub, drain closed, shower curtain pulled.

If your wife discovers you and wants to know why you're playing with guns in the bathtub, you're on your own.

 

[IrishCop]

I've got an enclosed shower stall...and my wife got tired of asking me questions a couple of decades ago.

 

[Snake45]

When I take the Pachmayr Signatures off, are any sneaky little springs or stuff likely to fly out? 'Casue I really hate it when that happens. mg:

No worries. If something DOES fly out, it means something is broken and you need to get it fixed.

BTW, when shopping for grips, you do NOT want anything for PPK. You want grips for PP or PPK/S. Two very different things, grip-wise. (The PPK/S is a PPK "top half" on a PP receiver.)

 

[Charlie Petty]

Snake's right.

Terry anything less than ivory will get your 007 card pulled...

 

[IrishCop]

Thanks, Snake. And I made sure I ordered grips for the PPK/S.

Aww heck, Charlie. No worries. I haven't been mistaken for Sean Connery in well...ever.