[HBK]

I just bought a German Walther PPK/S in 9mm kurz. I wanted it for a summer carry gun. When I actually picked it up, I realized that it was made in 1977 and had never been fired. The finish is immaculate. Now I am thinking I might should just put this gun in the safe and try to find a later model, especially since they are no longer made. This one is practically an antique. Any thoughts on this?

[Old Fuff]

Boy, if your 1977 period gun is "almost an antique" I am in serious trouble ......

[HBK]

LOL. My Dad always said anything over twenty years old is an antique. I just don't want to lower the value of the gun by using it a lot. I could put it up and carry a newer one, keeping the older one in mint condition.

[Jim Watson]

Who and what would you be preserving it for?
The scarcest pre 1945 variants of PPK have book values around $2000 in pristine condition. Do you plan to retire somewhere or leave it to an heir such that $2000 would make a serious difference? Are you a wheeler-dealer and do you have prospects of selling it for a large profit or trading it for something more desirable? Does it go with your large display of all variants of Walthers?

I would want a strong reason to put up a gun unused and turn around to buy something similar but less desirable. Without one, there is no such thing as a gun too nice to shoot.

[Al Thompson]

If it was made in Germany, it should gain some value. But (IMHO) not enough to keep from shooting it. If it was made in the USA, forget it.

[HBK]

It was made in Germany, but imported by Interarms. I guess I would be preserving it for myself, and if that's the case, I may as well carry it and shoot it. It just seems ashame to shoot it when it was made so long ago and never fired. I don't know why I think like that. I've just never had a gun this old that has never been fired.

[Al Thompson]

It's not a big thing, just wax it up and store it somewhere. There's bunches more out there! :)

[George Hill]

I'd carry it. It's one of the better PPK/S examples but it isn't a collectors item or anything. It's just one of those excellent finds.
Load it with as brisk a load as you can and try to take good care of it.

[RustyHammer]

Guys, guys, I think we're missing the "silver lining" in this situation.

It gives HBK a PERFECT EXCUSE to buy ANOTHER gun .... and that's not a bad thing by any means!

Definitely, it needs to be replaced ... 10 or 20 more times ... that's my story and I'm sticking to it. :D

[TheMariner]

second the above opinion...

[spacemanspiff]

heck, if it makes HBR feel better, he should buy a new replacement gun every 100 rounds! heheheh

personally, i would think its pretty dang cool to have a gun a couple decades old that is in unfired condition. sort of reminds me of one of those WWII documentaries, in which a German Officer handed over his sidearm to an Allied Officer, it wasnt until years later that the US Veteran inspected the weapon and discovered it was unfired. now its a heirloom to be passed on through his family for many generations to come.

[CWL]

I think that it would be much more of an heirloom if your kids or grandkids knew that "grandpa carried & fired this gun".

Don't think that it'll go up much more in value since this is a post-WWII gun, it has no history, and more popular calibers have long since surpassed the .380. Buying retail guns for investment is not the way to go.

Use & enjoy.

[Standing Wolf]

I carry a fairly expensive, expensively customized gun. I figure my life is worth the costs involved.

[HBK]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll just have to keep it clean. If it wears, it will be because it is doing what it is supposed to do.

[Tacblack]

I realized that it was made in 1977 and had never been fired
Good thing you realized this before it was too late, If I were you I would unload this soon as possible for the first reasonable offer........$300 cash.......where should I send the check?

I agree with the others. Its worth more than an American one no doubt, but not enough to not enjoy it.

I have a good example of the American (1997) model, works like a champ none of the problems I hear of with the new ones. I carry it a lot. I would love to have a well made one like yours. Put it to use and take care of it, it will take care of you.

[Jaco]

I got my PPK last year, it's a .32 Manurhin. When I took it apart I saw that it has never been fired. I rushed to the firing range to look if a new Walther would need some shooting in. And it didn't, sweet from the first day....

[blue86buick]

there are people I know (or have heard of) that have many many firearms, a fair number of which they've never fired. i think that's silly. :rolleyes: if you bought it to shoot it, shoot it. if you bought it because of what it is, shoot it if you want, don't if you don't. it sounds like you bought it to shoot it, so enjoy!

BTW, I'm not a gun collector of any sort, so my opinion should maybe be taken with a saltshaker of salt. :D

edit: if that's the least of your gun problems, consider yourself lucky!

[para.2]

Shoot 'em if you got 'em!:p

[Ironbarr]

I sure hope your Dad's wrong about that 20 years. I'm 70. :)

[George Hill]

"twenty years old is an antique."

And 30 is a "Classic". Over that? Relic. :D