New Production Walther PPK & PPK/s

video time 9:52 nice short reset now

Also, does anyone know where they are made? I met a guy who thinks of himself as an enthusiast and he says they are made by S&W somewhere up north, and the Ft.Smith organization just does the paperwork.

1930's technology. Heavy, low capacity, stiff DA trigger.

I wouldn't feel unarmed with one, but mine is definitely a range toy.

I had one of the early stainless steel PPK/s made in Gadsen, Alabama by a Mid-South Manufacturing subsidiary called Ranger Manufacturing. I believe when Umarex bought Walther they moved production to Houlton, Maine where S&W made them there under license. The S&W models have a slightly longer tang to help prevent hammer bite. I don't know where they're being built nowadays.

My PPK/s had a number of sharp edges, a very heavy trigger pull in both DA and SA, numerous feed problems, and would on occasion drop the magazine without the magazine catch even being touched. If you can look for the older German made Walthers that were imported by Interarms.

My Ranger-built PPK .380 was one of the most beautifully crafted firearms Ive ever owned- and one of the least reliable.

My Manurhin-built .32 PP functions about 90% of the time with round-nose bullets, but I wouldnt bet my life on it if I had anything else handy. Im thinkin about selling it......

NIGHTLORD40K

I had a Manurhin PP and while the DA trigger was a little heavy the gun was very reliable and capable of some decent accuracy.

Rather stupidly just sold a S&W PPK. It was after the corrections were made and was an OUTSTANDING pistol. I only really sold it because I thought I liked my Bersa Thunder better but they're just different enough that I should have kept the PPK too.

I can give a resounding, unqualified both thumbs AND both big toes up as far as my own experience is concerned.

Light, reliable, small and handy.

PPKs? I guess I don't really see an advantage as there are so many version legal for import.

Todd.

JohnKSa said:

I just can't get past the huge beavertail on the new ones.

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That abbreviated beavertail really rocks for the fat-handed slide-bite prone. Too, it adds a fine additional stability.



Todd.

JohnKSa said:

I just can't get past the huge beavertail on the new ones.

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Same here. Today this pistol is basically for nostalgia or cool factor, and the beaver tail is an abomination even if it may save your hand from slide bite.

IME PPKs suck to shoot, at least in .380. They are way cool though. I’ve wanted a blued Interarms or original Walther since the 80s.

JohnKSa said:

I rounded the edges of the slide on mine slightly (it's SS, so no need to refinish afterwards) and pretty much eliminated the slide bite issue. If I were going to shoot it a lot, it would eventually rub enough to be a problem, but it never gets more than a couple of boxes through it in a shooting session.

That said, if my hand were meatier in the web, I might have a different opinion.

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Agreed, from what I had seen, it was more *slide-slice* than the classic *bite* and removing the offending edges is a fine idea.

Todd.

Not a fan of the fixed sights on the new ones as opposed to the rear dovetail on all previous versions.

I have a 1961 7.65mm blued PPK (as James Bond as you can get) and a final run stainless .32 acp PPK from S&W. Both have been exemplary for carry and shooting.

While I think I maybe should have kept my S&W Walther - and most certainly would have had it been a .32, this Bersa *Walther* is what allowed the S&W to move along.

It's just about the ultimate evolution of the PP family. Easier take-down, slide release, adjustable rear sight, light and very ergonomically advanced (for me at least). And, MSRP is right about $300.

I would rather NOT have the semi-squared trigger guard as it queers using standard PP and PPK holsters. Might oughta round it off one day.
These days, it's charging hard on the heels of my Sig 230SL and while the Sig is seldom carried anymore - I'll likely never sell it either.

Todd.

I have one of the new PPK/S but in 22LR. So far it has been boringly reliable and likes any kind of ammo I've fed it. It even gets to go WalkAbout more often than my Manurhin PP.

PPK/S:


PP:

Mr. Mosin said:

I like that PP

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ALMOST stupidly sold that last month. Fortunately, it came back to me since the buyer was having trouble with magazines.

Todd.

I have a mid-70s 380 PP. Accurate and reliable. Lousy sights tho.

I like my PPK/S except for the DA trigger.

Here is a good write up on the Bersa 380. Its an older article but I am sure the relevance is still there. I had the same gun in 22lr and let another guy talk me out of it. What a great little gun that was. And the trigger was much better than the trigger on my Manhurin/Walther PP 32.