Finding year and place of manufacture of used handgun

[NV_Born_46]

Hi all,
I recently purchased a used PPK/S from my local and reputable FFL.

How can I find out where and when it was manufactured?

Thank you!
:-)
Vanessa

[Garv]

Start by letting us know the serial number.

Good Luck.

[Rogerbutthead]

This thread on another forum might help.

https://www.waltherforums.com/threads/some-websites-to-help-pp-ppk-owners-id-their-guns.10152/

[SVT-40]

The where will be stamped on the slide. The when may be found stamped on the frame, as in the proof marks.

[NV_Born_46]

Thanks, all.
S/N is 023360

I will also post on the other thread that was recommended.

:-)
Vanessa

[NV_Born_46]

Finding year and place of manufacture of used handgun

Hi all,
I recently purchased a used PPK/S from my local and reputable FFL.

How can I find out and when it was manufactured where?

I do know that the frame and slide are from two different places.

S/N is 023360

BTW--I should mention I am rather new to this wonderful world. ;-)

Thank you!
:-)
Vanessa

[sealocan]

I'm not a Walter expert and someone here who is might be along to give you the exact answer or direct you to a Walther firearms forum that might have the "serial number date code guide chart" using your serial number. But it gets a little more complex than some other firearms makers because the Walters were imported by Interarms and later Smith & Wesson.

I can give you a link that might give you the year of manufacture, going by the possible stamped into the metal two-letter date code, on the right side of the frame, on forward part of the trigger guard, above the trigger. You're looking for two letters in that location and then you could look that up online.

There's another possible two digit year of manufacture indicator near the chamber / barrel area. And those two digits may possibly be the year of manufacture. These two methods might give you your answer quicker.
Here's the link with some photographs to help you see exactly where I'm talking about...

https://www.coltforum.com/threads/walther-ppk-s-serial-number-verification.384058/

[Mark49]

Welcome to our wonderful world of firearms.

I have many Walters, so many decades ago joined the Walther forum.

Wonder bunch of knowledgeable folks. Keep us posted.

WaltherForums.com

Mark

[highpower]

The serial number by itself is not going to be any help. However, if you were to give us a picture of both sides of the gun I am sure there is someone on here that could help you.

Any PPK/s is going to be post 1968.

[MajorSideburns]

Who made it? The PPK design was licensed to a couple of different companies over the past 90 years. Does it say Smith & Wesson, Walther, Manurhin on the slide? That would help narrow down the year range greatly. A picture is worth a thousand words, I'm sure our resident experts could figure it out immediately with a picture of the slide markings. Congratulations on the purchase, they are a fine little handgun.

[IVC]

Normally, when you want to find something about a gun you start with the serial number. Manufacturers keep records about batches they produce and information is often available online. If not, there are collectors who will compile this information and they tend to be on the model-specific forums, as suggested above.

[naz]

Try contacting Walther and provide the S/N. Maybe they will share all that info you are looking for

[Hockeytodd03]

There will be proof marks on the frame. They may be under the grip panels. All European makers have proof marks for dating.

[ar15barrels]

Hi all,
I recently purchased a used PPK/S from my local and reputable FFL.

How can I find out where and when it was manufactured?

Thank you!
:-)
Vanessa

Other companies have made PPK/s as well as Walther so you need to know the manufacturer first.
Walther has had many different importers over the history of that PPK/s being manufactured.
Knowing which importer brought it into the country (or no importer if it's a war trophy) will get you into the year range of the specific importer.
Then the serial number will hone you into a specific year.

[subscriber]

The date of manufacture of a used gun matters, if it is a collectors' item. Else, the state of machining, fit and function, as well as cosmetic condition that you can see and evaluate are what matter. You can check those out to varying degrees before purchase.

Yes, there are guns such as pre-'64 Winchester model 70 rifles, that are preferred to later models. Because the ones made after that lacked the controlled round feed extractor. (although I believe that has been brought back). Easily identifiable before purchase.

Colt 1911 pistols fall into a number of categories, over the years, that make them desirable, or valuable. I am not a collector, so if I could find a "new in the box" govt model made in the 1970s, that would be my preference. Based on quality, finish, and lack of a firing pin lock. A GI model from before 1945 could also be interesting, but I want one that is not too precious to shoot.

So, the question is, why do you want to know when your gun was made? You already bought it, so it can't be part of the purchase decision. If you want to confirm value after the buy, that would seem an odd time. Curiosity would be a good enough reason.