Walther ?

[yncrogers]

I have always wanted a Walther PPK (no I'm not a James Bond fan) and found one at my LGS for $350. It is an Interarms version from the 80's. Anyone know of any problems with these guns? Fit and finish looks good. Only problem is someone put Pach's on the gun.

I know this is not the forum for Walther but I respect and value the knowledge to be found here.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

The Interarms imports are much better than a lot of the recent production. If the gun was in good shape, I'd go $350. I spent $400 in a cash deal on one here locally a few years back. Mine liked the 90 grain Hydra-Shoks.


Bullseye

 

[yncrogers]

Sorry - I forgot to mention it is the stainless model, not the blue. Also does anyone know of a source for PPK/S grips?

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Sorry - I forgot to mention it is the stainless model, not the blue. Also does anyone know of a source for PPK/S grips?

Yep. Walther Pistol Grips


Bullseye

P.S.: If this gun is new to you, I would test it for reliability with the carry load and all of the magazines I intend to use. People differ on how many rounds that should be, but I'd say at least 250. These are great little guns, although I haven't liked the double-action on any that I have handled.

 

[ABC]

PPK/S grips will not fit a PPK, I could be wrong. Check into this some more.

 

[ladder13]

I believe they're noted for hammer bite, the PPK/S

 

[yncrogers]

Dont' get me wrong. I am not looking to CCW this gun. I have always wanted one. I CCW my Kahr PM9 (for real bad neighborhoods) or one of my Colt or S&W snubbies for walking the dog/7-11 etc...

I think PPKs are one of the sexiest guns ever made and would like to have one to take to the range etc...

 

[gunblade]

I also have an Interarms PPK and carry it occasionally when I need something smaller than my K40. It's been a reliable shooter, even with hollow points. My only real complaint with the gun is the difficult to manipulate safety/decocking lever, and the heavy DA trigger pull. But it is a classic and I guess that's the main reason I own one.

 

[GyMac]

My brother owned one briefly, in .380. He bought it new. It bit, but the real problem was reliability. He just couldn't get it to work. He took it back to Academy Sports (?) and they gave him credit toward a CS-9, I believe.

I also always wanted a Walther, but after his experience and being exposed to the Makarov, I much prefer the latter, especially the East German varient, which I find to be every bit as nicely finished as the Walther..

 

[Kelly Green]

I own only one Walther that I bought new in 1989, the stainless Interarms PPK. I can’t speak for all Interarms Walthers but the machining on mine was poor. The right rail grove looked like it had been cast and the excess metal not removed. The feed ramp was far from smooth. I spent a day milling the rail groove and smoothing and polishing the feed ramp to make it right.

Hey, other than that, its very accurate and fun to shoot. It will bite you if you let your hand slide up too far on the grip. Also, the DA trigger pull is way too stiff for this gun.

I suggest field stripping the gun to see if there are any machining problems.

 

[sar4937]

Find yourself a good P5. Pay a little more than you feel is right, you will not regret it. Even a PPS is a better weapon than a PPK.

 

[imjin138]

I just traded for a PPK/s in West bend on Saturday, I pick it up tomorrow it is a blued interarms looks quite new. I will shoot it and if I fell it is ok i will carry it. I have owned several walthers PPK PPK/s and PPs and P5 and p1s all worked well. I never owned a TPH but was always told they were problem guns.

One I keep near me in the house is a PP.32 surplus gun never failed me yet.

 

[Armyphotog]

If the PPK/S was made by S&W, they had a recall on all of theirs that were made for about a 7 year span. Need to check their web site for details. I had both a PPK and PPk/S made by them. Both had to go back for repairs.

 

[sheepdawg]

Carried an Interarms PPK/S for years with no issues, fed everything. Around 2K rounds it turned into a jamomatic even after the mother of all cleanings. I figure a weak spring or something but I now carry a Ruger SP 101 357. I just can't trust the PPK/S anymore.

 

[ridewv]

Go for it, I've never had any problem with my PPKS. It's a classic design, a nice size and fairly thin to carry. It's also quite accurate for it's size. As a blow-back, racking the slide takes a little more effort and the recoil is snappy.

 

[armadillo]

I recently took a stainless PPK .380 in trade. It was made in the USA by Interarms. I have shot about 25 rounds of various ammo through it and it seems like it is going to be a good one.

It is my understanding that the PPK could not be imported after 1968 which is the reason they are now made in the USA (first by Interarms - now by S&W). In '68 or '69 Walther introduced the PPK/S for the American market which combined the larger PP frame with the smaller PPK slide and barrel which was enough to get ATF approval.

 

[Raider]

I have a stainless PPK and a blued PPK/s, both in .380. They are fine and reliable pistols and I've CCW'd both of them. Just be careful where you place your hand while shooting. Never had slide bite with mine though.

Charlie

 

[mm6mm6]

I own several Walther PPK pistols. The PPK has wrap around plastic grips that cover the back of the pistol. The backstrap is cut away and the plastic grip actually forms the backstrap. The .380 magazine capacity for the PPK is 6 rounds.

The PP and PPK/S have a heavier steel backstrap and two piece grip panels. The PP and PPK/S have a 7 shot magazine capacity in .380 caliber.

The PPK/S is a Walther PP frame with a PPK slide/barrel. The slide/barrel of the PP (Police Pistol) is longer than that of the PPK (Police Pistol Kriminal - like the terminology of Detective Special here in the US).

Here is my pre-WWII Walther PPK .32:

Here is my 1968 Walther PPK .380:

Here is my 1988 Walther PPK .380 made in the USA at the Ranger, Alabama plant and distributed by Interarms:

I carried my Interarms PPK for 20 years. I qualified with it every year and shot it for fun with thousands of rounds. It has served me reliably and never jammed. Full metal jacket rounds, Winchester Silvertips, and the new Hornady Critical Defense ammo have all functioned perfectly in the gun.

When I bought a Ruger LCP, I retired my PPK and had it engraved with 75% coverage American Scroll by Michael Gouse. I absolutely love my Interarms PPK. I have since sold my LCP and I now carry the S&W Bodyguard .380 pistol as it has the same capacity as the PPK, but is obviously thinner, lighter, smaller, and has a laser. My Bodyguard is now 100% reliable with fmj and Critical Defense ammo after 400+ rounds fired.

But I still love my PPK for the same reasons you do.

I think the price you're looking at is a very good deal. The Interarms guns are very desirable due to the problems the current S&W production guns have experienced.

 

[wbraswell]

I have a German made Interarms PPK/S, probably made around 1980, and it seems very well made. I've only put about 2 boxes of ammo through it, and it went bang every time. It does have a stiff double action, but then that's just the first shot. I think the PP and the PPK/S should use the same grip.

 

[JcMack]

mm6mm6: I have a Camilus heat like yours. It is "the sharpest knife in the world" Every time I touch it it cut's me. I'm trying to sell it and took it out Monday to take pics of it. Sure enough the thing got me again.