Walther Serial Numbers
I just got a book written by Gene Gangarosa " The Walther Handgun Story". Very informative, and some info on Serial numbers. Still, the numbering system is vague even for Manurhin and German made Walters. It really takes some digging to get even close. It seems to me with all I have heard about German record keeping being way above board, that Walther, which built an excellent firearm, just couldn't get it's numbering system down.
Try this web site:
http://www.waltherforums.com/forum/...interarms-ppk-ppk-s-serial-numbers-dates.html
Re: Walther Manurhin PP .32 sn# 138XX Year Made?
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What a tangled web we weave, when first we try and decipher Manurhin and Walther serial numbers. Having said that. All of the Walther PP's,PPK's, regardless of what is roll marked on the slide were manufactured by Manurhin from 1952 until 1984 when Walther started producing the guns again ( until 1989 ) At the same time Manurhin also sold the guns ( made under license by Walther ) under their own name. In fact if James Bond had been a real person, M-16 would have issued him a Manurhin PPK in lieu of a Walther. ( British intelligence bought a number of Manurhins ), they also sold a batch to the German police , go figure. Yours is a Manurhin made and sold under their name, Serial number 14,114was made about 1953, yours serial number 138XX would have been made about the same time. We have a Walther collector, Danny, who stops by ever so often, if I'm in error then he will have the correct information. Hope that helps, By the way, some where along the way the Manurhin grips were replaced with Walther grips .
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RonJames
Below you'll find three charts of usable data. From the posts in the Sticky I've learned a very important fact in regards to Interarms made PPK and PPK/S models. Note the following:
PPK 9mm kurz stainless all start with "A"
PPK 9mm kurz blued all start with "K"
PPK 7.65 x 17mm stainless all start with "B"
PPK/S 9mm kurz stainless all start with "S"
PPK/S 7.65 x 17mm of unknown finish all start with "W"