BurntPizza
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2012
- Messages
- 11
I posted this on the Walther forums earlier but haven't had any replies yet so I figured I'd post here and see if anyone knows anything on this gun. I acquired what the seller claimed was a Walther PP manufactured in 1939. I have been trying to research it and from what I have read on some sites I believe it was actually made in either 1943 or 1944. There are a few things about the gun I have not been able to find anything on and am hoping someone here would be able to explain.
The first thing involves the serial number. The serial number matches, sort of. The serial number on the frame is 301XXXP and the serial number on the slide is 301XXXP. The reason I say sort of is on the frame the third digit, the 1, has been stamped over a 0. It had to have been done at the factory because it is perfectly lined up but this seems odd to me and I was just wondering if this happened a lot. I would also like to make sure it is legal to own with the odd serial number.
Another thing I've been wondering about with the gun is the proof marks. It has an eagle over an N on both the barrel and under the ejection port. These are the only proof marks I have found on it and from what I've been reading I believe there should be more marks. It also has what looks like a chrome plated trigger, mag release, safety lever, and hammer which seems out of place to me on a gun as old as this one supposedly is. When you add in how shiny the finish still is I can't help but wonder if maybe this gun isn't as old as it is supposed to be or if maybe it was refinished about 20 years ago. It does show wear, just not what I would expect for something from 70 years ago. It also still has the Walther banner and "Waffenfabrik Walther. Zella-Mehlis (Thur) Walther's Patent Cal - 7.65 m/m. Mod PP" on the slide if that makes a difference about whether or not it was refinished.
I'm going to include a couple pictures of the gun. Sorry my camera is too crappy to get a close up picture of the serial number or proof markings. Thanks for any info you can give me on it.
The first thing involves the serial number. The serial number matches, sort of. The serial number on the frame is 301XXXP and the serial number on the slide is 301XXXP. The reason I say sort of is on the frame the third digit, the 1, has been stamped over a 0. It had to have been done at the factory because it is perfectly lined up but this seems odd to me and I was just wondering if this happened a lot. I would also like to make sure it is legal to own with the odd serial number.
Another thing I've been wondering about with the gun is the proof marks. It has an eagle over an N on both the barrel and under the ejection port. These are the only proof marks I have found on it and from what I've been reading I believe there should be more marks. It also has what looks like a chrome plated trigger, mag release, safety lever, and hammer which seems out of place to me on a gun as old as this one supposedly is. When you add in how shiny the finish still is I can't help but wonder if maybe this gun isn't as old as it is supposed to be or if maybe it was refinished about 20 years ago. It does show wear, just not what I would expect for something from 70 years ago. It also still has the Walther banner and "Waffenfabrik Walther. Zella-Mehlis (Thur) Walther's Patent Cal - 7.65 m/m. Mod PP" on the slide if that makes a difference about whether or not it was refinished.
I'm going to include a couple pictures of the gun. Sorry my camera is too crappy to get a close up picture of the serial number or proof markings. Thanks for any info you can give me on it.
