Walther PP .32

[Chris-bob]

So I' looking at a Walther PP .32. It says Walther on the grips, the slide and frame serials do not match, and the slide left side does not have any info(no markings). The only markings are on the right side, and those markings are the mismatched serial numbers. The owner claims it is a late 1945 build, has no proof or import marks, and is considered 'unfinished in factory'... Any thoughts?

 

[Chris-bob]

Serial numbers are;
frame - 3890xx
slide - 3894xx p
under the slide serial is stamped 'ac'

 

[usp9]

Do you know, is it a war trophy "bring back"? Any documents with it?

 

[sgt127]

Ac means Walther. As mentioned, it was likely assembled by Americans or Germans out of remaining stock at the factory, when the factory was captured by my father and his buddies.

It looses some collector value, but, it has a history of its own.

 

[Schlegel]

Sounds likely for a bring-back. U.S. GIs went through the Walther factory and scooped up some guns and paid workers in some cases to assemble a gun out of spare parts. Non-matching, poorly finished and no-import marks would not be uncommon for those. After they left, the Russians took the tooling and paperwork.

Also, your serial numbers date to 1945, both of them. Looks legit.

 

[Jim K]

Schlegel is correct. The fact that it has no proof marks or Waffenamt stamp indicates it was made/assembled after the U.S. took over the factory at the end of WWII.

Jim

 

[Chris-bob]

Any idea as to what it's value might be? I know it's hard to do without pics, but even a range of values is better than what I have(which is nothing). I think the guy really wants to sell it.

 

[sgt127]

Depending on condition. I would buy it in the $300's-400 ish range. Not a lot more than that. I have a few nice Walthers, I'm not too excited about a mixed serial number gun. It will likely be a decent shooter though.

 

[RON in PA]

The above explanations are most likely correct, but it should be noted that the Walther factory wound up in the French zone of occupation post-war. The French did assemble guns (P-38s especially) from parts and new production. They also produced PPs for a couple of decades for Walther.