Interarms PPK/S (update on post 22)

[rwadley1]

I am looking at an Interarms marked PPK/S with serial number of S160893. From what I can tell, this serial number would have been manufactured near the end of Ranger's production run in 1999 and while thier guns had some QC issues, they are generally regarded as better guns than the ones that followed them. So my question is, is there a way to tell if this was made by Ranger or assembled by a later manufacturer with left over Ranger parts? Anyone see any reason I shouldn't bring this one home?

 

[CH4]

That’s a good deal for a good gun. Interarms PPKs are fine.

 

[BrBa]

I am looking at an Interarms marked PPK/S with serial number of S160893. From what I can tell, this serial number would have been manufactured near the end of Ranger's production run in 1999 and while thier guns had some QC issues, they are generally regarded as better guns than the ones that followed them. So my question is, is there a way to tell if this was made by Ranger or assembled by a later manufacturer with left over Ranger parts? Anyone see any reason I shouldn't bring this one home?

Ranger's serial number range for the stainless .380 PPK/S went from S000001 up to S167588. Supposedly they were manufactured by Ranger up to February of 2000.

 

[schutz5]

Great price!!

 

[PALADIN85020]

I've had this Interarms PPK/S .380 for years, and no problems whatsoever.

John


(Click for larger image)

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I never heard of Ranger but about 12 years ago when I wanted specifically a PPK/S I looked for an Interarms. It would cost less than an import and I didn’t want a S&W. Found a mint one for $425, blued, of course. I don’t like stainless except for a few exceptions and the Walther is top of that list. I agree, that’s a fantastic price.

 

[Faulkner]

I have a Interarms Walther PPK/s in .380 ACP that I carried as backup and off duty gun for a number of years. It was very accurate and very reliable and convenient to carry.

It was not much fun to shoot though, in fact, I hated having to qualify with it semi-annually on the 50 round course of fire and seldom shot it more than one magazine without wearing a shooting glove. I dislike shooting it so much I have "retired" it to the back of the gun vault and replaced it with a Ruger SR9s Pro in 9mm, which is of similar size, less weight but just as accurate and reliable and MUCH more pleasant to shoot.

I can attest to the PPK/s accuracy with this one shot to the head of a rattlesnake.

 

[T44spl]

Not familiar with the Ranger series of PPK/S guns, but that gun is in very fine condition and at a great price. Any accessories, box, spare mag with this gun? Also I've heard recoil is very sharp with these guns.

 

[mckenney99]

I'm with Faulkner, one of the nastiest little guns to shoot that I ever owned. Yes it was accurate in single action mode but the double action trigger pull on mine had to be 18lbs and the trigger pull stacked terribly just before release. Every time I shot the gun, I came away with a set of railroad track slices to the top web of my shooting hand from the razor sharp edges on the bottom of the slide. My SS Interarms PPKs was a finicky feeder but it did like Winchester Silvertips. The magazines were expensive and part of the feeding issues, with the followers on every one of my magazines (all 6) being unusually tight in the magazine tubes.
I finally sold the gun to a co-worker who just had to have it and within 3 months it had changed hands at least 2 more times. Everyone had exactly the same issues I had.

 

[Imshootin]

The Interarms PPK/S .380 I had ran flawless. We parted ways after I purchased my Sig P238 to fill my .380 slot. Smaller, lighter, less recoil.
Can't say I miss the PPK/S.

 

[Oscar Zulu]

I've had one since the mid nineties. Good quality firearm, with the quirks others have described (most of them, anyway).
I do remember it cost me $512 then, so I would say that is a good price.

OZ

 

[cololab]

I'm with Faulkner, one of the nastiest little guns to shoot that I ever owned. Yes it was accurate in single action mode but the double action trigger pull on mine had to be 18lbs and the trigger pull stacked terribly just before release. Every time I shot the gun, I came away with a set of railroad track slices to the top web of my shooting hand from the razor sharp edges on the bottom of the slide. My SS Interarms PPKs was a finicky feeder but it did like Winchester Silvertips. The magazines were expensive and part of the feeding issues, with the followers on every one of my magazines (all 6) being unusually tight in the magazine tubes.
I finally sold the gun to a co-worker who just had to have it and within 3 months it had changed hands at least 2 more times. Everyone had exactly the same issues I had.

Your description brought back so many memories of my experience with my PPKs. They are nice little pistols, but there are some not so pleasant attributes.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I bought this PPK/S for one reason - I wanted it as a collectible. It is NIB, unfired, from 1984, with original paperwork. From everything I have ever heard over many years this is an unpleasant pistol to shoot and I have no interest in finding out why.

 

[rwadley1]

I appreciate all the feedback. My interest in a PPKS is more "to have and to hold", than to "pour rounds through it". I"ll let you know if I decide to bring her home.

 

[zeke]

I have a Interarms Walther PPK/s in .380 ACP that I carried as backup and off duty gun for a number of years. It was very accurate and very reliable and convenient to carry.

It was not much fun to shoot though, in fact, I hated having to qualify with it semi-annually on the 50 round course of fire and seldom shot it more than one magazine without wearing a shooting glove. I dislike shooting it so much I have "retired" it to the back of the gun vault and replaced it with a Ruger SR9s Pro in 9mm, which is of similar size, less weight but just as accurate and reliable and MUCH more pleasant to shoot.

I can attest to the PPK/s accuracy with this one shot to the head of a rattlesnake.

The Interarms 380 acp PPK owned is also unusually accurate. The rear of the slide has some very sharp edges, which i rounded over slightly. But for people with large hands, these can bite ya. And they need a tight grip to be reliable.

 

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

Many years ago, in the 1980s, I toured a shop in New Hampshire called Pine Tree Castings and saw racks with what surely appeared to me to be PPKs frames being made there. I was there for the Ruger Armourer’s course, on the same property, different building.

 

[BrBa]

I appreciate all the feedback. My interest in a PPKS is more "to have and to hold", than to "pour rounds through it". I"ll let you know if I decide to bring her home.

Did a bit more digging on this. The serial number you listed dates to July/August 1999 manufacture. Mike McClellan was their lead gunsmith at the time, and he was there through the end of August 1999, so unless you find problems while inspecting the gun, I would grab it.

 

[2152hq]

Many years ago, in the 1980s, I toured a shop in New Hampshire called Pine Tree Castings and saw racks with what surely appeared to me to be PPKs frames being made there. I was there for the Ruger Armourer’s course, on the same property, different building.

Pine Tree Castings was Rugers owned and operated Investment Casting facility.
They did all the castings forRuger of course but took on contract work from much of the rest of the firearms world as well as other industries.

>>>>
Interarms was never a mfg'r of Walthers. Just an importer of the German product and marketer of the USA made version.

The USA made version came about becasue of the GCA68 ban on importation of the PPK.
Make it here was the solution. The popular PPKS and the TPH got made here as well.

The actual job of mfg'g the USA Walther pistols was given to MidSouth Industries in Gadsen (sp?), Alabama.
Midsouth had many corp names under the Midsouth name, one of which was Ranger Arms Co. Under that mfg name is what the Walthers were made in the USA.
This is the info I was given on the Walther Forum as to the time-line of sorts about the USA mfg of the PPKs/PPK


Investment cast parts were used for many of the components and I wouldn't doubt that Pine Tree and other firms in that business had provided the service.
It's a specialty business and not something that makes sense to set up on your own.
Ruger did at the time as no one else could provide exactly what he wanted for his style of mfg'g. So he built his own in NH.

 

[hardknocks]

Reason

The 380 version are no fun to shoot, which is why I now have a ppk 32 & a ppks 32. Which cost more and to me I'm happy to have them.
Seems I am not the only one that feels this way.
But it's a Kool gun and it's fun to buy new guns, so there's that !!!
YMMV
Regards
Mike

 

[Echo40]

Many years ago, in the 1980s, I toured a shop in New Hampshire called Pine Tree Castings and saw racks with what surely appeared to me to be PPKs frames being made there. I was there for the Ruger Armourer’s course, on the same property, different building.

You are correct, Pine Tree Castings produced the frames for Smith & Wesson during their production run.