Olderbutwiser
Member
I purchased the PPK/S .Model 9mm kurz/ .380 ACP in 12/1989 in 'used' condition. The serial # is S 004454. Does anyone have a research source that can date the manufacturing date of it? Thanks in advance if you can.
Sometimes there is a handwritten inspection/shipping date on the white sticker on the side by the barcode- but not always, ugh.Thanks NightLord. I suspected the date to be around late 70's. I carried it as a Concealed Carry weapon for a while but like you, it jammed one day at a range I suspected failing springs in the mags..I bought new mags and it never jammed again but I decided to go to a Mdl 85 Ultra light 5 rd revolver for a while. A buddy got a S&W Shield 9 mm in 2013 and I fell in love with it. Got one myself and that's my carry shootin' Iron since then. Really fits my needs. Still pop a few rds at a gun range with the Walter once in a while.. I think it;s a sexy looking gun but that's the only place I shoot it. I do have the black box it came in along with instru manual but no test target, Is there something on the box that might be helpful I should look for??
Late 70s to early 80s is as close as you can get without the factory box and test target. Ranger/Interarms were very secretive about production numbers and dates. Not only that, but their serial ranges overlap between the ppk and ppk\s, so that doesn't help. Still, with that low number 1979ish is a good guess.
I had one just like that and I wanted SO badly to like it, but, alas mine was a jam-o- matic with all but a handful of ammo brands and it had to go. The machining and polishing alone was so much better than those abominations S&W made later on.
Beautiful gun! But I would never trust my life to it.
Supposedly the .32s are better feeders.
I never had an issue with the PPKs shooting characteristics or bite, though I considered the accuracy to be "meh". The Zella-Mehlis, Ulm, Manhurin, and Ranger made PPKs are all fine examples of old school gunmakers craft, but the Bersa thunder, Sig P230/232, Makarov, Mauser HSC, and Astra Constable are all probably more reliable (at least in .380.) Unfortunately, it appears the new Walther USA is just going to continue producing the dreadful S&W pattern.I had an original German PPK in .380 (not Manhurin either) that was brought into the country prior to the GCA 1968. It was also a trainer for feeding and extraction issues despite having parts replaced, new factory mags, new recoil, and did so regardless of a variety of factory ammo. Replaced with a Sig P6 which just works-no drama. Will say that the Walther was dead on accurate at 7 yards or less despite the tiny sights and very heavy trigger pull in DA. Also disliked the slide cutting my hand if you had a high grip--always had to wear a shooting glove with it and the recoil was outsized considering the firearm weight and ammo shot. I have also heard that the .32 ACP's were more pleasant to deal with.
I never had an issue with the PPKs shooting characteristics or bite, though I considered the accuracy to be "meh". The Zella-Mehlis, Ulm, Manhurin, and Ranger made PPKs are all fine examples of old school gunmakers craft, but the Bersa thunder, Sig P230/232, Makarov, Mauser HSC, and Astra Constable are all probably more reliable (at least in .380.) Unfortunately, it appears the new Walther USA is just going to continue producing the dreadful S&W pattern.
Maybe someday, I might be tempted by a .32 gun....but then I would lose all rationale for resisting the 1914 Mauser, Savage 1907, or CZ 24-" Well, I already stock that round for the Walther, so......"
Ya, Ive been TRYING to avoid any more odd calibered milsurps, but if a .22 Martini or .410 Enfield falls from heaven on me, well.......That might be because the true PPK has a shorter grip than the PP sized PPK/s because of the GCA act of 1968 required Walther to redo the PPK in order to sell it in the U.S. To hold onto it and pull the trigger in DA and for repeat shots, you really have to use a death grip and that results in slide tracks across your hand.
Surprisingly, the .32's ACP are still pretty reasonably priced along with .32 S&W revolvers compared to .22 LR for some of these.
Since I have most of the stuff that I am looking for in WWI and WWII bolt action milsurps, I am kinda looking at either project level .32 caliber handguns or rebuilding old .22's in commercial rifles and/or converting scrap milsurps into .22 LR's. Have some old pitted crappy receivers that look pretty good for that are more than strong enough for .22 LR. But those would be projects for next summer and winter. It is either that or getting into trapdoors/rolling blocks/martini's/etc. that would be wall hanger projects for the most part. Not really interested in shooting blackpowder that much nor percussion/flintlock rifles at this point.
Ya, Ive been TRYING to avoid any more odd calibered milsurps, but if a .22 Martini or .410 Enfield falls from heaven on me, well.......
Ive also been successfully staving off the horde of classic .32s so far, but my father is getting on in years and I'll probably wind up with his mint Spanish Ruby .32 at some point. Then the flood gates will open....