Bought a New PPK/S by Walther.

[Jerry in SC]

Glad to see a great endorsement of the quality of manufacturing. I had a German TPH and sold it for a lot back then 2,000.00 as it was Swiss military marked and with the box. Thought I would replace it with an American TPH that was not such a collector. Now have two with several spare magazines. Neither is reliable. Would still buy a new build if the Walther USA can build a reliable one. Wishing and dreaming. Anyone else?

The US made .22's were hit or miss, I owned several. The last one I bought new in 1992 was 100% reliable with standard velocity. The first one only worked with Stingers. I found a near new one a number of years ago and it's been very reliable with most decent ammo, it runs really well with SK Plus and SK Semi Auto.

I had heard Mid South Industries (multiple manufacturing companies under that umbrella) had an issue with a casting (slide) and stopped production for a while; I don't recall if they ever got it resolved.

Unrelated, but several of the later production TPH's (plastic box with two mags) I examined had been machined almost through the frame under the right grip panel as well.

I'd love to see another US made version done right.

 

[Echo40]

Ha, that part about the little fangs described my Interarms PPK/S to a tee. I agree with Faulkner, the earlier version PPK/S in .380 ACP is not fun to shoot. The one I had (and eventually sold) would draw blood after shooting a dozen or so rounds due to the fangs and sharp edges.

Even so, the PPK/S has an attraction so much so that I need to check out the Fort Smith version.

That's interesting, all of the Interarms versions I've seen have been very smooth. Was yours by any chance a late production model made in the 90s? I ask because I've heard that late production Interarms models weren't as nice, but I've never actually seen one. Supposedly late 90s production Interarms models were outsourced to another manufacturer since Ranger went out of business, and that the new manufacturer implemented a lot of cost-saving measures, which resulted in poorer fit/finish from earlier examples.

The history of PPK manufacturing really is quite a tangled web... For example, did you know that the frames of S&W models were actually produced by Ruger? It's crazy, but it's true!
I listed all of the common examples previously, but omitted transitional variants for the sake of simplicity. Yes, in addition to those I previously mentioned, there are a whole lot of transitional pieces which took place between production runs, many of which are unfortunately of inferior quality due to a variety of reasons from worn out tooling from the last generation, machinery which hadn't yet been broken in on the next generation, inexperienced workers on the next generation who weren't quite familiar with what they were working with, parts compatibility between generations due to variances in tolerances, minor changes in materials, minor changes in how finishes were applied, etc.

For example, my S&W PPK/S is a late production model made in Houlton Maine, which tend to be more reliable than early production models made in Springfield Massachusetts, but with substantially poorer fit/finish. So my S&W PPK/S has been 100% reliable, but it had sharp edges all over it, the frame to slide fit is a bit loose with some side to side play, and the inside of the frame is a bit rough.

 

[quikdraw67]

I had one of the Ft. Smith made stainless PPK/s pistols. It shot fine, and it was well made.

But, the extended tang rubbed me on the 1st joint of my thumb, and after shooting it a few times, I'd be bleeding.

So I sold it. Too bad, it was a nice piece.

If it had the original style tang, I would have kept it for sure.

I do have the PPK/s. 22, that's a fun gun to shoot.

I'm going to post a range Report later on about it.

 

[rockquarry]

I only have a couple of Walthers left; I've had both over twenty years, a P4 9mm and a PPK/S .22. The latter has the Interarms stamp. I've been unable to get decent grouping with the .22 at 25 yards. I don't shoot this gun often. That fact along with a lack of skill would probably indicate the problem is with the shooter, but I never had this happen with any of the PPK/S .380s I had. They would all shoot even cast bullets well at 25 yards.

However, CCI SV and CCI Blazer have been more accurate than anything else and they function the gun reliably.

 

[Grayfox]

I'm a long time fan of the Walther PP series pistols. I have German made, interarms imported, Ranger, Umarex and S&W models. I haven't had a chance to check out any of the Ft. Smith guns. Thanks for the review. I'll keep an eye out for them.
I have one of the newer Umarex Walther .22s. Its great little gun, but mine was a bit ammo sensitive. Oddly enough, this thing just absolutely loves cheap old Remington Thunderbolts.
I also have one of the Interarms/Ranger TPH .22LR. These guns are known to be troublesome and mine was. I sent it to M&M Gunsmithing. They are true Walther experts. Mike got it working like a champ. Now it'll eat anything and never misses a beat.
If Ft Smith were to start making the TPH in .25acp, I'd be all over it.

 

[wx7b]

I want a stainless Model PP, hoping someday. But, I can't get interested in an over $800 380.

 

[Gene L]

I've not seen a stainless PP. Are you sure they exist? PPKs and PPK/S, yep. Stainless P-guns are made in the USA, and we never to my limited understanding, made a PP in America.

 

[Marshal Tom]

I had a beautiful German PP in.22 that I sold several years ago and may get back. I owned a Interarms PPks and one of the crappy S&W stainless ones at one point. I love the look and the design but never cared for the sharp edges when firing it. They are also snappy as stated above. There are so many 9mm guns out now that are the same size with a bunch more power.

 

[Gene L]

Yeah, my PPK .380, loaded, weighs as much as my Sig 365 loaded. Four more rounds of more powerful 9mm. However, I don't mind. One doesn't carry a PPK because it's the most efficient auto pistol ever made. Clearly there are "better" carry guns out there. If one is actually anticipating trouble, carry something bigger than even a 9mm para. But a P-gun is still a fine weapon for us traditionalists. I don't fool myself in thinking it's No. 1 in stopping power, but I enjoy carrying it.

 

[colt_saa]

I've not seen a stainless PP. Are you sure they exist? PPKs and PPK/S, yep. Stainless P-guns are made in the USA, and we never to my limited understanding, made a PP in America.

Perhaps they are making them now, but they have never been made in the past as production items

There are so many 9mm guns out now that are the same size with a bunch more power.

More power yes, but they lack the Old World Charm and Charisma of the Walther PP family of autoloaders

 

[M29since14]

Glad to see a great endorsement of the quality of manufacturing. I had a German TPH and sold it for a lot back then 2,000.00 as it was Swiss military marked and with the box. Thought I would replace it with an American TPH that was not such a collector. Now have two with several spare magazines. Neither is reliable. Would still buy a new build if the Walther USA can build a reliable one. Wishing and dreaming. Anyone else?

I still have my SS Interarms TPh .22. I found early that it preferred the Remington Golden .22s and had no problem with it with that ammo. That said, if they want to start making them in Arkansas in .25 ACP, and the quality seems good, I’d buy one in a minute. I’d prefer blued model, but would take SS if that was what was offered. I’d also like to have a PPK in 7.65. I should have bought one of those long ago.

 

[rockquarry]

Yeah, my PPK .380, loaded, weighs as much as my Sig 365 loaded. Four more rounds of more powerful 9mm. However, I don't mind. One doesn't carry a PPK because it's the most efficient auto pistol ever made. Clearly there are "better" carry guns out there. If one is actually anticipating trouble, carry something bigger than even a 9mm para. But a P-gun is still a fine weapon for us traditionalists. I don't fool myself in thinking it's No. 1 in stopping power, but I enjoy carrying it.

How true... it's refreshing that there are traditionalists who prefer the look, feel, and essence of a gun that's so much more than the drab and soulless semi-automatics marketed today.

 

[Echo40]

I want a stainless Model PP, hoping someday. But, I can't get interested in an over $800 380.

Sadly, the Walther PP was never made of Stainless Steel, so the closest that you can get is a Nickel or Chrome-plated PP.

Only American-Made Walther PPK and PPK/S models are Stainless Steel.

@colt_saa
You always have the most attractive guns, and you're a heck of a photographer too!

 

[Grayfox]

Just out of curiosity, I e-mailed Ft. Smith and asked if they had any plans to make the TPH. Their response was "Unfortunately, not."

 

[Gene L]

Over on the Walther board, there is opinion that the .380 is unpleasant (somewhat) to shoot. The .32 is universally (almost) prized, and a Ranger stainless .32 is a holy grail of PPKs. A few were made here but not many. I like the .380 fine, it's more accurate than my .32 and essentially the same size. I don't shoot the .380 through 200 rounds, can't afford it for one thing, but I wouldn't hesitate to do it if I had the ammo.

I've never been bitten by the slide which until S&W added the long nosed beaver tail backstrap, seemed to be a problem with lots of people. Now people who own the Ft. Smith P-guns say although slide bite is no longer a problem, the edges on the backstrap are sharper than they like, although that may have been fixed since I last heard of it. There is ultimate belief that the build quality is far better than the S&W pistols, and customer service is very much appreciated and quick.

 

[NavySCPO]

Bond...James Bond.

(Somebody had to say it)

 

[Echo40]

Bond...James Bond.

(Somebody had to say it)

Is it wrong that the sight of a PPK/S is more synonymous with Austin Powers than James Bond?

I can't help it, since Bond carried a PPK, and the differences in the grip between it and the PPK/S make then visually distinctive. Austin Powers (an exaggerated 1960s-centric parody of James Bond) carried a PPK/S, which I'm not sure was intentional or merely coincidental, but unfortunately the PPK/S just registers as Austin Power's gun rather than James Bond's gun.

That's no knock against the PPK/S either, as I actually prefer the PPK/S to the PPK for the slightly longer grip since it fits my hands better, and I actually like it better aesthetically too.

 

[Gene L]

In one of the later movies, Bond carried a /S, at least that's what he announced while chasing a bad guy. For a significant number of the earlier books, he carried a .25 Beretta, which Ian Fleming had him practically destroy...sawed off the front part, taped the grip safety, filed the firing pin down to a needle point. Finally he adopted the PPK in Dr. No, I believe, "like a brick through a plate glass window" in .32 APC.

 

[stem]

I just picked up a PPK from the Ft. Smith plant. I’ve always wanted one and jumped when my LGS had a couple come in. I’m glad I got a Walther made gun. I’ve read the slides are manufactured in Germany and the few reviews that are out say it eats everything it is fed.