Sorry if this is in the wrong area.

I have always liked the looks of the PPKS, but never made the leap due to some of the horror stories I have read.

How are the current production PPKs made by S&W? Are they reliable? Does the extended beavertail pervent slide bite?

I don't know what you mean by "current" run, as they sit in the warehouse until they are ordered, but about the first 7 years of manufacture were all recalled. I don't know why the Germans ever let S&W make them. I have two, but the .380 is a little harsh. The 7.65's are a delight to shoot, but they aren't made at S&W as far as I know.

If you want a sweet shooting .380, look for a Colt Mustang Plus II or the Government Model. You won't be disappointed.

I had a S&W Walther 'Tiger Edition.' Factory engraved, and gold inlayed. BEAUTIFUL gun. Took the usual 300 rounds to break it in but after that it was FLAWLESS!!!!!!!!! Yes the extended beavertail does prevent 'Walther bite' and cutting the feed ramp angel after the barrel is installed really helps with accuracy.

It is one of the VERY few guns I regret selling.

Brought up recently:
Any S&W Walthers Out There?
You could find more info in the archives also.

Thanks for the replies. I have a buddy selling one and wanted to get some info on them.

I have an early Smith PPK/S .380. Went back for the recall...bit of a pain but turned around in 7 or 8 days so not a huge deal. They do have a "break in" of a couple of hundred rounds but mine shoots accurately and reliably and I don't hesitate to carry it. Most things on the internet are exaggerated to one degree or another and I think the Smith PPK was somewhat of a victim of that. If I listened to all the chatter about these things I wouldn't own 5 K frames, either, but I sure do love those as well!

I have never held a .380 that feels as good as a PPK.

This is EXACTLY how a feel. I love my K's and my PPK has been flawless from day one. New shooters love my PPK and have never complained about the recoil - not so with the LCP and Kel-tec 380's.

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I had a German PPK/S which being 18 and not very bright I ran on a solid diet of Super Vel 115 Grain JHPs. No misfires two stove pipes in first 50 shots changed the way I hold no problems. Much nicer than the Mauser HSC which I also own. Traded the PPK on a Model 19 which is the best revolver I have ever owned.

Save your money and if you want a Walther PPKS buy a West German Interarms PPKS.I have seen too many S+W Walther PPKS with varying problems.JMHO

I thought the Interarms PPK's were made in the U.S. by Ranger? Either way, you had much better luck with Interarms than I did.

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We were only allowed to carry .38 Specials when I was on the police force, so we all carried them loaded with Super Vels. That was some "hot" ammunition, but the guys that shot it regularly had to have their S&W "adjusted" after a while. Great stuff for when you needed it, just not everyday ammo. Sorry it's gone.

I have an Interarms Ranger PPK/S in 380 and a Smith post-recall PPK/S-1 in 32. The Smith in 32 is a much better shooter. YES....it is very reliable and I think much more so than the early German weapon. It is not nearly as ammo-sensitive and you won't find a German version in stainless. Smith shot themselves in the foot trying to change a design that had worked since 1931. Once they figured that out.....they got it right. The extended beaver-tail and improvements in the feed-ramp are good improvements. My 32 will shoot any 32acp you feed it from the cheap Slavic and Italian junk to the American-made stuff without a hick-up be it FMJ or HP.

Just be sure you get one made after February 2009 (post-recall). I do not trust the recalled guns unless I see S&W documentation. It's too easy for somebody to put a punch-mark on top of the beaver-tail where the recall mark was placed.

I purchased a new S&W PPK/s three weeks ago. On the first range visit, the rear sight fell off after 103 rounds. They sent me a new one, I installed it and went to the range this last Thursday and put another 150+ rounds through it. I had a total of 4 FTE's out of 50 rounds but all were with Speer Lawman ammo so I suspect that. I have used Federal, WWB, Remington, Hornady and Brazer Brass without any issues.

I really, really like the gun , but then again, I don't have the experience of most of y'all.

It can take 400-500 rounds to shoot one in, but my 32 did not even need that. I have also heard of a few rear sight fall-offs myself.

No sir.I have a 1977 Walther PPKS imported by Interarms from West Germany.Not a single problem with it.Guys with the S+W Walther have had everything from cracked frames and slides to having to deal with recalls.

As I've related before, my brother bought one several years ago. It jammed from the start and an attempt at a fix, didn't work. The seller, I believe it was Academy Sports, finally took it back in trade it for a CS 9, which he loves. As for me, although, I like the looks and history of the Walther, I will never give up my E. German Makarov.

I would agree that the first runs from the Houlton plant were trash. They recalled EVERY gun they made from 2002 until 2009. I cannot argue the point that they made a complete arse of it at start-up. Just don't purchase anything made prior to February 2009.

I don't bash your German made pistol. There is a forum dedicated to the Walther and anybody can go there and do some research. The recent Smith-Walther's are much better guns than the recall guns and what choice do you have if you want to own a PPK or PPK/S. The ONLY place that manufactures one now is in Houlton and the Company is Smith & Wesson.

Here is a little more information on the Interarms version;
Some clarification on Walther PPK and PPK/S's
Regards,
BM1

ALL gun manufacturers deal with recalls. As I said I bought an early Smith PPK/S. After the recall and 200-300 rounds fired it is very accurate and dependable. It is not bad advice to steer clear of the early models if given the choice but I think it is a bit over the top to call them "junk". Smith fixed 'em up to be fine, reliable guns with one trip back to the shop. I have read plenty of complaints about the Interarms version as well as the French and German models although I am certain that they are very good guns as well. No manufacturer is immune to problems or criticism. I've seen reports of cracked frames and slides from all corners of the gun market for years.

Just my opinion about a gun I own. Happy shooting!

I think I likely went a bit over-the-top to call all the recall guns junk. Some of that was diplomacy to appease the owners of the early German guns that think everything else is no good...and then we have the Ranger fans that swear that is the only real Walther worth having. The truth is just what you said and I don't argue that you can have a good Smith recalled gun. I don't like the way they stamp the recalled weapons. Only a punch-mark on top of the beaver-tail that can be easily duplicated by some unscrupulous dealer/owner. I just think it's "safer" to purchase one of the post-recall models...just my humble opinion to make sure you have a good one.

The real fact is that Smith DID improve the weapon with the extended beaver-tail to prevent/reduce "slide-bite" and the re-working of the feed-ramp that vastly improves the digestion of about any round in the caliber it was chambered for. I have not found a round that my 32 will not properly chamber and fire.

AND....I like all stainless guns. Others love the blued weapons. I just prefer the ease of maintenance. If you seek what some will call the "real Walther" you will have to open your wallet. If you want the Interarms Ranger...it will get harder as time passes as Ranger has not made one since around 1999-or-so. Smith did make some very good improvements and I want a gun to shoot....not a safe queen. You can send your Smith home if it needs repair. I don't know where you would send a Ranger or a foreign-made Walther.

You make an excellent point on the "punch mark" on the beaver tail...not nearly enough of a mark to confirm such an important piece of information about the gun. This could easily be done by anyone at home. The hammer contacts the inside of the beaver tail enough to leave a line across it which in my case almost obscured the recall mark!

I am happy with my recall gun and will keep it but cannot argue that it would be prudent for the new buyer of a Smith PPK to go with a post recall gun. I really want the new 1911Sc two tone 4.25" E series from Smith but am tempted to wait a little longer to allow for any bugs to be worked out.

Again...JMHO...individual results my vary.

It's the same thing with automobiles and motorcycles....ESPECIALLY Harley's. I have finally learned not to buy the "next latest and greatest thing" until it has been out there in the hands of the user for a couple of model years and the user has helped the manufacturer work-out the bugs.

You can find out pretty quickly whether-or-not you're about to purchase a recall Smith Walther. Say...Gunbroker just as an example. If the seller will not tell you the last three letters in the serial number, or tells you you can see them when you buy the gun....it's pretty much a dead give away it is a recall gun. The list of recall serial numbers are readily available. I purchased my 32 off Gunbroker on the condition that the birth-date was well past February 2009. The seller was glad to give me the birth date and insure it was a post-recall gun. If they stutter, stammer or won't tell you....that's a red flag and it may even mean it has not been sent in for recall.

Most of us know there are still thousands of Smith revolvers around (586 and 686 for example) that are turning up all the time having never been sent home for the firing pin bushing upgrade. You know there just has to be many recall Walthers out there on shelves, or in gun safes and closets that have never been sent home. You may wind up with one you have to send home as soon as you get it.

Around here, west KY, the S&W marked Walthers are much less desireable than the Interarms versions...I know a number of people that have had problems with the S&Ws..I have a Interarms PPK, as well as a S&W PPK/S, which I have never shot.

Go shoot it.....you may like it. The 32 is what the gun was designed to shoot in the first place and the 32's seem to be better performers and a little less problematic. Mine shoots any FMJ and HP very well. I would sell my Ranger 380 to somebody up there in KY that just has to have one and I'll keep the Smith. I think the price on the Rangers will increase as time passes.

Funny you should mention the 686 as I have sent one back just recently for the old recall. Smith still honors it and not too big a deal but proves your point. In the defense of the seller I knew it was a recall gun that had not been back when I bought it but not all buyers do their homework and know what they are buying! As long as you know what's involved and are OK with it this can be a price reduction tool...the recall is free! I got a nice deal on my 2 1/2" 686-1 because of this.

My 2002 F-150 Ford just got a recall and it's 10 yrs old!

My experience with the Smith version of the ppk was terrible. I came new from the factory with broken parts.

Interesting! My Interarms was not a W. German. Has there been more than one recall on the S&W's?

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