[PATH]

Everyone keeps telling me that the German made are far superior to American made. Any truth to this?

[AK103K]

I've had both and the American gun was a pain the butt. It shot well, but had a bad habit of the hammer following the slide down. It didnt disable the gun, just put it back into DA(which was very heavy by the way). It was sent back a number of times and returned "fixed". The last time, I took it right to the range to check that it was, and it did it again on the first mag. That was the last Walther I owned. I never had any trouble with the German gun. I've since gone with the SIG P230's. For me it just feels better in my hand, has a great trigger in DA and SA.

[Peter M. Eick]

The only series of guns I will never own again is the american made ppk's (the stainless steel ones). I went through 3 of them. The first 2 were swapped by the dealer due to broken extractors. When the 3rd extractor broke, they said take it up with Walther (which by that time) was S&W (although the gun was NOT made by S&W). After the first trip to S&W for repair the extractor broke again after about 300 rnds. They nicely sent me a spare and I swapped it and traded the gun.

If you get a US made stainless steel gun, watch the extractor. If the frame is not correctly made, the full brunt of the slide closing hits on pivot pin and not the shoulder of the extractor on the barrel edge part of the frame. The extractor shears at this point.

My understanding is that the german parts are blued steel and forged while the american are stainless steel and cast. This is probably the root problem.


Well that is my opinion of the american vs. the german, any other thoughts....

[Southern Raider]

IMHO, Interarms had huge swings in quality over the years they produced this pistol. I have a stainless version that works extremely well, and a few other members will tell you the same. The same number will tell you they suck.

If you have a good one you're set, otherwise you hate life. :banghead:

[BHP9]

Everyone keeps telling me that the German made are far superior to American made. Any truth to this

Not only is there a ton of info on the net condemning the American made guns but the original "Swat magazine" of the 1980's made a scathing report against the American made Walthers. Magazines fell out by themselves, extractors broke and many even failed to feed hardball ammo.

I would also be very leery of the new Smith & Wesson Walther clone PPKs which supposedly have all internal cast MIM parts. "Gun Test" magazine also reported a very rough exterior finish on the gun which takes it way out of the quality class that the original German/French guns were in.

I have a German Gun (actually made by Manurhin) but stamped made in Germany which has never failed me no matter what type loads that I have shot through it which has also included cast bullet loads. Its accurate, and very reliable and has outstanding workmanship. It is one of the few guns that is small enough and light enough to carry almost all day long in relative comfort. Yet the gun is all steel and feels like a real gun in the hand. Its not a flimsy flyweight like many of the plastic and aluminum frame .380's that I have tried and rejected.

[Serpico]

My German '66 could jam with the best of the americans....

[Trisha]

I have both. The American stainless steel pistol has been relegated to a tool box gun: horrid trigger that never smoothed out, no reliability with anything but FMJ ball, but decent enough with that ammo to not become a fishing weight. The old German one is a dream gun, approaching 21,000 rounds flawlessly, with 1" accuracy at 15 yards. It's a pampered pet.

I'll likely buy a SIG P232 when I want another .380 somewhere in the future. . .

[Watch-Six]

A friend of mine had some pre 1968 German PPKs (plural - not to be confused with the PPK/S). They were great, so I bought the only thing that was available then, a German PPK/S. It was also a good gun. When the American made Walthers came out I traded in my German PPK/S for an American stainless PPK. What a mistake. It was a total piece of crap even after sending it back to the factory for repair. I would not consider EVER buying another one. A real German PPK, however, might still interest me. Watch-Six

[Standing Wolf]

My Interarms American-made PPK is a dandy little gun, but from what I've heard, read, and seen, it's the exception rather than the rule.

[denfoote]

My blue steel, S&W made, PPK/S is a dandy little gun. I have not had any trouble with it so far!! :neener:

[mrat]

I have had both a German made PPK/S and an American made PPK/S and I had trouble with both of them.

[David S]

american made walther? thats a sin to speak of such a thing.
lol

i own a 1969 (howd that happen?) marked German PPK in .32

i love it! shoots great and groups really really well.
Its about twice the size and weight of my Keltec P32, and holds the same number of rounds, but i choose to carry it more often than the P32 just because it feels like more gun, even though in actuality, they carry the same number or rounds....

never shot an american made one, but the new Smith made PPk/Ss are really bad in finish IMO. later this year they are reintroducing the PPK, well just see how that goes...

[cmsgt]

I have a German PPK in 32, and it is a much finer piece than the three American PPKs I have bought and sold. I agree: get a Sig Sauer P232 -- you get a 380 that is German made. I will always have a P230/232 -- have had one or two for two decades. I really cannot see any difference between the two models except for the sights, grip, and serrations on the back of the slide.

[denfoote]

This thread got me thinking. Maybe there is something wrong with my PPK/S!! So, I pulled it out, took it to the range and fired a box of ammo through it. Yup, my fears and angst were completely un justified!! The little gun munched its way through it with no problems!! I also managed to put about 14 rounds through Osama's forehead!! :)

[Ala Dan]

there is an American made Walther PPK .380, that
was purchased NIB back in January of 1995; when
the old "InterArms" was still in business. This gun
was made by Ranger FireArms of Gadsden, AL under
the license of Carl Walther Waffenbrik. This little gem
has been a good one; with 0 malfunction's with all
types of ammunition.:) :uhoh:

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member