Walther PPK 380 1968

[22hipower]

Here is a PPK 380 from 1968, the last year of legal importation of the PPK I believe. Stamped as Made in West Germany which I assume means it was assembled and proofed in West Germany from parts made at the Manhurin factory in France. Anyone know if 1968 was the last year that Walther used the brown stocks and why they switched to black?

Jeff
SWCA #1457

IMG_0531 by , on Flickr

IMG_0530 by , on Flickr

IMG_0534 by , on Flickr

 

[boykinlp]

Very nice gun. I like the brown grips better than the black ones. I wish the distributor did not put his "billboard" on the right side so large. I like how many importers put it on guns now. Some, you almost have to use a magnifying glass to see.
Larry

 

[ralph7]

Mine is Interarms imported, black grips, Made in Germany and almost exactly 100,000 higher number than yours.

 

[OLDSTER]

Your PPK is a beauty. I also like the brown grips. I bought this one "new old stock" a few years back. It's a mid ca. 1950s Walther/Manurhin PP in .32 acp.

 

[Echo40]

Congratulations. The Walther PPK is a true classic.

The PPK/S is actually my favorite semiautomatic pistol. I carried an American-made Smith & Wesson PPK/S chambered in .380 ACP for years.

 

[hittman77]

My 380 PPK dates to 1962, has brown grips and NO import company name.

My 380 PP also from 62 is the same but with black grip panels.

The best 380s I’ve ever shot. Much superior to what is made today.

 

[Gene L]

I have one also a 68 version, Made in W Germany. Not as nice as yours, mine shows honest wear, but it's pretty nice. No distributor notice. Mine's a .32. A fine little pistol. I'll check the SN tomorrow to see how far apart they are. I suspect they're pretty close.

 

[CZU]

The "Made in West Germany" stamp was applied to those which were to be exported. I have a couple that are boxed that were probably bought at one of the Rod and Gun clubs that servicemen frequented when they were stationed over in W. Germany. I was lucky in that the Provost Marshal paperwork was still with them when they came my way. 2 different vets, 1 pistol dated '66 and the other dated '67, 1 9mmk and the other 7.65mm and they both came from the same lgs several months apart.

These 2 probably got here in the same fashion but no paperwork to prove that. 1966 9mmK and 1970 22lr.