Walther PPK questions

[loanman]

First I hope I am posting in the right category but was hoping to get some info from Walther PPK guys who are knowledgeable in these guns/models

I was just given by a family member a Walther PPK 9mm Kurz/.380ACP stainless model

Doing some research I see there are some made in US, some in Germany. Some models say Interarms on the side and some say Smith and Wesson

Can anyone offer some information and details about each and if one is more desirable/valuable than others?

I have posted a picture of mine to help you guys inform me of exactly what I have here

I appreciate any input

[loanman]

not sure why my photos are so small but mine PPK is a US model and says Smith and Wesson on the slide

[Garv]

IDK, but this might help a bit.

Congrats.

[brassburnz]

The Gun Control Act of 1968 limited importation of certain handguns into the US. The PPK was too small to meet the import restrictions, however, Walther used the slide from a PPK and mated it with the lower of a PP and created the PPK/s.

Your Walther PPK was made in the US, so the import restrictions do not apply.

The history of Walther is very interesting and so are their pistols in the PP and PPK family. In general, there are pre-WWII, WWII, post-WWII, post-Berlin wall, and modern production eras. Then you have commercial production, military production, and all sorts of sub-categories.

Your PPK was made by Smith and Wesson under license from Walther. They were subject to a recall in 2009. Check your serial number against the recall list. Recalled guns are marked to show they have been fixed. See the link for more info. https://secure05.lwcdirect.com/front...fetyrecall.com

[loanman]

fantastic info Randy, thank you

I tried that link but it didn't work?

[Pofoo]

Unfortunately, once a "problem" hits the internet, it grows and stays there for ever, whether its been fixed or not, or a major or minor problem, etc. The S&W's had some problems and many people bad mouth them. I don't know the story, but they are worth less.
I have a Interarms model that is very good quality. I cannot imagine a German made one being any better. But, it is worth less that a German one.
Being worth less or more doesn't mean it will shoot better or be more reliable or etc.

[highpower]

Collectors are funny people, the smallest cosmetic or feature difference can have a huge effect on the value of a particular firearm. For instance, a WWII Party Leader PPK is worth multiple thousands more than a post war PPK in the same condition even though they are functionally the same gun. One has history and the other is just a gun. A post war PPK will commonly sell for more than a PP made around the same time and in comparable condition.

[dfletcher]

First I hope I am posting in the right category but was hoping to get some info from Walther PPK guys who are knowledgeable in these guns/models

I was just given by a family member a Walther PPK 9mm Kurz/.380ACP stainless model

Doing some research I see there are some made in US, some in Germany. Some models say Interarms on the side and some say Smith and Wesson

Can anyone offer some information and details about each and if one is more desirable/valuable than others?

I have posted a picture of mine to help you guys inform me of exactly what I have here

I appreciate any input

Your photos show the currently made Walther PPK manufactured by S&W - out of Houlton, ME IIRC. When S&W started stateside manufacture of the PPK they kept the smaller tang as seen on German & French manufacture. They later extended the tang, I assume to diminish hammer bite.

A good condition PPk can go anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Being current manufacture I'd presume yours would be closer to the few hundred range - anywhere from high $400.00s to whatever a CA buyer would lay out. I've seen them for about $450.00 used out of state, mid-$700.00s in state.

[SkyHawk]

In excellent condition, that gun is $800+ all day in CA. PPK more desirable than PPK/S IMO, and either way they just do not come up for sale very often. If it was a blued 32ACP, $1000-$1200 easy

[XDJYo]

Some very interesting info. He has a few other videos on the PPK models.

https://youtu.be/aqrTujScK2U

He also has a nice one on a Singer 1911 too.

[newbie1234]

Thanks for the CLEARLY explanation of the Good the Bad and the Ugly.
Cannot afford the Good and do not want to pay the CA's extortion of the Bad and the Ugly that was why I have to settle with Bersa , somebody called Bersa is the Worst, but, hey I like it, it bangs every time I pull the trigger )

[dk94044]

and the original mags are $40-50. but mecgar makes ones for half the price work fine.

[Rogerbutthead]

Does anyone else here think that the PPK/s has an unpleasant "bite" in the web of your shooting hand when fired?

The two US made Walthers I own both do that to me.

I prefer to fire a Sig 230 when I want to shoot 380 ACP, it does not have a "bite" at all. I am guessing the back of the grip on the Walther needs to be redesigned for my hand.

[Ora Serrata]

Does anyone else here think that the PPK/s has an unpleasant "bite" in the web of your shooting hand when fired?

The two US made Walthers I own both do that to me.

I prefer to fire a Sig 230 when I want to shoot 380 ACP, it does not have a "bite" at all. I am guessing the back of the grip on the Walther needs to be redesigned for my hand.

[Dieppe42]

I have a PP and the trick I saw in a video (works every time). We now shoot with the right thumb up/forward, the style used to be right thumb down/parallel to the slide. I have huge hands and this solved the problem 100%