Questions about Walther PPKs.

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Waldo

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I am thinking that I want a Walther PPKs. I want a stainless one. I will never carry it, I just think I want one. I am aware that several companies have made them. I think I saw some negatives about the ones S&W made. Is there any consensus on which ones to buy or which ones to avoid? Thanks for any information.
 
PPKS

I have a blue ppks from 1970 I like it it's reliable. had one pre WW2 ppk and pre war pp that were not perfectly reliable ? One or two jams per 100 rounds.?
You can get a brand new ppk or ppks in stainless.
That's my experience.
Good luck in your search
 
If you can get a genuine Ulm made that would be nice. The Manhurn ones, made I believe under French control are not too shabby I have heard. I have also heard bad stuff about the S&W tagged ones. FYI they have horrid triggers and tend to bite the hand that holds them. They are, however, cool. I have one, an Interarms import, which I inherited. I don't shoot it as I get a slide slice from it every time I shoot it and, as I said, the trigger is disgusting.
 
You've opened up a can of worms here, I'm afraid as there exists a far amount of arguments over the subject, with purists often expressing the belief that only the original German-made PPKs are any good, begrudgingly stating that the French-made Manurhin PPKs and original American-made Ranger/Interarms PPKs as decent shooter-grade alternatives, while other might argue that the design improves first introduced by Smith & Wesson then subsequently adopted by Walther themselves indicate that they're superior.

Personally, I'm in the later group, and feel that the American-made S&W as well as the current production Walther USA PPKs are better, a sentiment which is evidently shared by Walther themselves, seeing as they adopted/implemented the design improvements first introduced by Smith & Wesson.

I recommend getting a current production model chambered in .32 ACP or .22LR, simply because the .380 ACP models aren't comfortable to shoot. The felt recoil is surprisingly snappy and unpleasant due to the straight blowback design, so the softer shooting .32 ACP and .22LR is a better option for a range gun.

That being said, be aware that the .22LR models are cheaper for a reason, being constructed with use of injection-molded alloy rather than Steel, with lesser overall fit and finish, so the centerfire models are of much higher quality. Nevertheless, I still recommend the .22LR model because the ammunition is cheaper, more widely available, and obviously soft-shooting.

attachment.php

Walther PPK/S .22LR Alloy Slide/Frame with a matte Black Oxide finish, manufactured in the Umarex plant in Arnesburg Germany. (Umarex is the owner of Walther as of 1993.)

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Walther PPK/S .380 ACP Stainless Steel, manufactured by Smith & Wesson in their Houlton Maine facility. (Smith & Wesson was the officially licensed manufacturer of domestically produced PPKs from 2003 to 2012.)
 
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Walther PPK S Interarms 1984 NIB - with original receipts

iscs-yoda-albums-pistols-all-brands-picture25506-walther-ppk-s-interarms-1984-nib.jpg


I bought it instantly from a Forum member when he posted it. I'll never shoot it but it was on my grail list so there ya go!

Walther PPK S .22 LR

iscs-yoda-albums-pistols-all-brands-picture15836-walther-ppk-s-22-lr.jpg


Not my favorite gun but it's fun when it's suppressed. Walther P-2s are much better.

iscs-yoda-albums-pistols-all-brands-picture15835-walther-p-22-w-gemtech-suppressor.jpg
 
Got rid of three PPKs .380s, including a stainless some years ago. Mine may have all been the French guns, but I'm not sure. All fed reliably and even shot cast bullets quite accurately. That's about all I fired in them. Don't recall a hammer bite problem and don't know if this is real or an Internet tale.

I'm not overly fond of the cartridge, but the guns are good ones, at least mine were. I don't know about the American-made guns.
 
I never had any problem with hammer bite. My problem was the serrations on the side would cut the top of my hand just like a hacksaw.



Interarms stainless 380.



But it occurred to me that, while this would decrease the value if I wish to sell it, it would certainly make it easier to shoot if I wish to keep it. So I took a Dremel to that right side bottom of the cocking serrations.



Doesn't cut me anymore. Didn't take much.
 

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I am thinking about getting one of new PPK pistols in .32 Auto. I'll be disappointed if it is not as good as this Interarms Walther PP in 7.65mm. Mine was a police gun in West Germany and a backup police weapon in South Carolina before I acquired it. I have all the receipts as proof. I have the original black plastic grips and a spare magazine.

Walther PP.1.jpg
Walther PP.2.jpg
 
I have never owned the S&W made version,
Bought a stainless Interarms PPK to carry in the 80's, that was before the LCP and other micro plastic pocket pistol evolution.
Never had any issues with mine, have same gun in blue as well as a German made version dated to 1966 with the brown mottled grips.

I prefer the smaller PPK which is quickly distinguishable by the wrap around grip, also prefer the look of the smaller tang or beavertail behind the hammer compared to the newer reboot.
The PPKs is easily spotted by the metal backstrap, IIRC it is basicly a PP frame mated to a PPK slide.
If you like the PPK you should definitely own one as few other firearms are so iconic.
Don't think I'd carry a PPK today as there other and better options plus they've become quite expensive.
It's 1930's technology but pretty neat with its DA trigger and loaded chamber indicator like it's bigger sibling P38.
Plus who doesn't like the James Bond spy gun.
 
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TJm15.38 said:
I am thinking about getting one of new PPK pistols in .32 Auto. I'll be disappointed if it is not as good as this Interarms Walther PP in 7.65mm. Mine was a police gun in West Germany and a backup police weapon in South Carolina before I acquired it. I have all the receipts as proof. I have the original black plastic grips and a spare magazine.

View attachment 684127
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It depends on what you mean by "as good". If you mean as reliable, than barring the possibility that you might get a lemon, it ought to be even more reliable seeing as the new Walther USA PPKs feature S&W's improved one piece feed ramp design for enhanced reliability with JHPs.

However, if you're expecting the same level of fit and finish, then you may be somewhat disappointed, as these are obviously current production firearms, and thus they are being manufactured using modern methods such as CNC machining, ergo don't expect the same degree of hand-polished, hand-fitted, old-fashioned quality which would drive up the cost of the pistol to that of a custom made 1911 which are manufactured more closely to how they used to be.
 
Got a Ft. Smith PPK/S.
Don’t recall that it ever had a problem.
It does have a Heavy Double action trigger pull.
And when I shoot it along my Ruger LCP 22 those old school sights seem to be really antiquated!
 

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I had two Interarms PPKs - one blue, one stainless. Both .380. Neither could hit the floor from standing in a barn in DA. SA was ok, at least I could aim. Recoil was sharp and painful at times. A direct blowback fixed barrel. Not enough grip and too much metal in my hand.
 
I have a German made PPK/s in 380 and it works fine. But for plain old shooting fun nothing beats them it 22 lr. Plenty of bang and no bite -

IMG_1045.jpg

Interarms import. Nice bluing. FWIW I think the current matte finish types kind of miss the boat on looks.
 
Waldo said:
I am thinking that I want a Walther PPKs. I want a stainless one. I will never carry it, I just think I want one. I am aware that several companies have made them. I think I saw some negatives about the ones S&W made. Is there any consensus on which ones to buy or which ones to avoid? Thanks for any information.
Click to expand...

I don't know about a consensus, but I can tell you what I like.

If you want a real classic, made in Germany, Earl's Repair Service, who has a huge inventory, still has original PPK and PPK/S models in both .32 and .380 new in the box, but from pre-1968 Gun Control Act. They are very pricey and I have never been able to afford one, however, if you want the "real deal" you can still get it.

Second choice for a collector type is an Interarms import. Third is the Interarms manufactured under license pistol. I have shot these before, but I have never had one of my own as it is a gamble trying to get one that is new- or near new-in-the-box.

While I have never had any malfunction with my S&W-made PPK, I like the new one being made by Walther Arms here in the US, so it had to go when I shot the new one by Walther Arms USA.

For shooting and carry, the new Walther Arms made in the USA is my choice. I had a stainless one, but got rid of it when the blue/black ones came out. The black one is more of a nitride finish, very corrosion resistant, but it is more of a flat, very business like finish.

So, the one I have now is my favorite. The Walther Arms USA model with the black finish.

Also, I have come full circle on the issue of PPK versus PPK/S. The PPK/S with flat magazine is not appreciably bigger (taller) than the PPK with the thumb-rest magazine, and I prefer the extra round, so the PPK/S is now my favorite. I can have the extra round in the same space with the flat magazine bottom. I can have black finish and still have corrosion resistance that equals or exceeds the stainless steel and I get closer to the classic appearance.

Sorry for the long answer, but I really like the new US made Walther Arms pistols and I would have no hesitation recommending either the PPK or the PPK/S.
 
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Waldo said:
I am thinking that I want a Walther PPKs. I want a stainless one. I will never carry it, I just think I want one. <snip>
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Waldo, I like that you said "want" not "need." Bravo!

So many people rationalize buying another gun with the "n-word." That would be "need." Really, we might be able to say we need a few various guns. The rest are definitely "wants" to my thinking. Kudos to you for just stating you want something. That's a big meeee tooo from this member. The vast majority of my guns are "wants."
 
My stainless S&W .32 PPK made at the end of the production run (post recall) is outstanding. It's been 100% reliable with Euro spec ball, such as Fiocchi and S&B. I have no issue with carrying it, and it's accuracy at extended ranges is quite good compared to many "modern" pocket polystrikers
 
I have a S&W PPK/s.
I wouldn't do it again.
One issue after another. The latest is a broken trigger return spring, stock.
I don't even want to waste my time discussing it.
 
Walther is now making the PPK and PPK/S in .32 again. I thought about buying one, but the new Beretta 30X caught my eye. Just ordered one with suppressor height sights (fully interchangeable front and rear) and threaded barrel. Additionally, once Beretta starts putting out the optic plates you will be able to put a red dot on it. It is also several hundred dollars less than the Walther.

Practical? Heck no, but I figure that with my Rugged Obsidian Nine can in its short configuration this is going to be a fun little range toy.

30X Tomcat Do It Yourself | Beretta
 
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