PPKS - S&W version?

[lhump1961]

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.

 

[snubbiefan]

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.

 

[werecat_25]

S&W PPK/S

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.

 

[snubbiefan]

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.

 

[lhump1961]

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!

 

[Jeb21]

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

 

[remat457]

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.

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