Walther PPK vs. Iterarms PPK

[giggitygiggity]

I have been looking at Walther PPK's and have noticed that some have the Walther trademark, but also have another trademark for Interarms. What is the deal with the PPK's that have both the Walther and Interarms trademarks? Are these pistols knockoffs? How do they differ from the Walthers that have only the Walther trademark? Thanks.

 

[EHL]

I didn't know we had Quagmire in the forum?!!

You need to look at the manufacturing location located on the other side of the slide. The new S&W ones have Houlton, MA stamped on the slide. None of them are knock off's though. They are all genuine Walther's, licensed by Walther. Just different importers, and in S&W's case, manufacturers with a redesigned frame. Interarms was merely an importer of Walther's, they were the ones just before S&W took over.

 

[searcher451]

Interarms/Ranger had a license from Walther to manufacture the PPK model at one time. The USA-made guns are marked "Under license of" at the very top of the left-hand slide. The Interarms company also imported Walthers that were made in Europe. These guns will be marked "Carl Walther Waffenfabrik" on the left side of the slide (no "Under license of") and will have the ugly Interarms import banner on the opposite side of the slide.

The Interarms-made PPKs are actually decent copies of the originals and are thought by most Walther fans to be third in line in quality, behind the German-made guns and the French-made guns. (To confuse matters, most of the post-war so-called German guns were actually made in France by the Manurhin firm.) The current crop of PPKs made by S&W are not as highly valued, or considered, as the others.

If you want to know more about the Manurhin/Walther relationship, check here:

http://www.waltherforums.com/showthread.php?t=10386

 

[Jim K]

The best are the pre-WWII guns with the Zella-Mehlis address. Wartime guns gradually deteriorated in quality of finish and workmanship, though most are serviceable.

Jim

 

[win71]

I didn't know we had Quagmire in the forum?!!

Yes, yes we do, and sometimes they actually grow........

 

[JTQ]

The new S&W ones have Houlton, MA stamped on the slide.

For clarity, and to keep all the "Mainer's" happy it is Houlton, ME (Maine). Found at the northern end of I-95. Not the northern end of Maine, that is still another couple hours drive north, but that's where the highway ends.

 

[NGIB]

Both of mine, a blue PPK and a stainless PPK/S, are pre-S&W Interarms guns. They are both fine shooters. The PPK with it's smaller grip can and does function for me as a pocket gun when I have my cargo shorts on...

 

[KarenTOC]

the ugly Interarms import banner on the opposite side of the slide.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! I chose an Interarms PPK/s because I wanted that "ugly" banner!! Since I'm from Alexandria, VA, I guess it's not surprising I consider the banner a desirable attribute

 

[pogo2]

Interarms PPKs

I have an Interarms PPK that was made in the US. It is a very solid, well-made gun. Notice on the photo it says "Made in USA" on the slide:

 

[Walter]

I have a stainless Interarms PPK I bought back in the mid-1990s specifically
for concealed carry. It gets hot and humid in Texas in the summer, and
stainless is almost required for ccw. I would guestimate I have about
3000 rounds through the gun, and I don't remember a single failure to
feed or eject. The gun was fairly tight when I bought it (new) but it
slicked up nicely after just a few hundred rounds, and it shoots 2 to 3 inch
groups, about 2 inches high, at 15 yards. That is with Winchester Silvertips
and with Federal HydraShoks.
It is a very nice small gun, completely suitable for concealed carry, and even
though I have newer and larger caliber "CCW" pistols, the Interarms PPK
still finds its way onto my belt once or twice a week, especially in the summer
when tee shirts and shorts may be the "uniform of the day".

Walter

 

[searcher451]

Karen: Must confess that you are the very first person I've ever heard describe the Interarms import stamp as anything other than either a) downright ugly, or b) god-awful looking. But beauty is, indeed, in the eye of the gun-holder, and we can't always help where we hail from.

Glad to hear that you like your Interarms PPK. I've got a couple myself, shoot them often, and have found them to be most reliable, indeed, regardless of that god-awful stamp on the slide.

 

[Storm]

I'd have to go check but I don't think my Interarms PPK has that banner. My Interams HSc does and it's a fricking billboard!

 

[Jim K]

Ugly Interarms banner? The banner is the Walther trademark, dating back almost a century; the Interarms trademark is like a compass rose.

Jim

 

[searcher451]

Call it what you will, but the monstrosity that Interarms stamped on the slides of thousands and thousands of firearms is just that. In this case, at least, a compass rose by any name is still a monstrosity. IMO.

 

[Line Rider]

Interarms/Ranger PPK and PPK/S were made in Gadsden, Alabama at the old EMCO plant off Hwy 431.

 

[m2steven]

I too like the interarms tradename on the pistol. I'm not sure it's a monstrosity. What if Nike purchased the franchise?

 

[chevyforlife21]

does walther acualy still make these

 

[Line Rider]

I think S&W bought out Walther... didn't they?

 

[oneounceload]

Interarms also imported the French-made Walthers that were former W.German police pistols. Some of the guns were also marked with HK to go with the Interarms. Used to have one in 32.....great shooters

 

[searcher451]

As has been said many times here, beauty is in the eye of the gun-holder. I'd love to be able to erase every Interarms banner/monstrosity (call it what you will) off every gun I own that has one emblazoned on the slide, but that's just me.

Walther is owned by Umarex, the air gun company. S&W is the current importer of Walther firearms in the USA. S&W also currently holds the license to manufacture the PPK and PPK/S models under arrangement with Walther in Ulm, Germany.

 

[scotthsi]

So it says Interarms on the right side of the slide. BFD. I don't even notice it. Mine has been a great shooter over the 20 years I've owned it and I bought it used.

 

[scotthsi]

deleted...double tap

 

[denfoote]

Mine is an Interarms gun that has Walther USA LLC, Springfield MA on the side.



Just to add to the confusion.

 

[cocojo]

That ranger plant, is it closed up or are they making another brand of firearm there? I own two, a ppk interarms ranger made with S&W markings and a interarms german ppk/s 1976, which was probably made by Manuhin of France, proofed in Germany. Back in the late 80's I bought a French made ppk/s Manuhin which was a great shooter for $250.00 new at the time. They were only imported a short time, don't know why. The only thing I noticed different between the german import made in France, and the french Manuhin was the feed ramp. The feed ramp was smoother on the German and the French gun looked untouched and rough. Took care of those issues. My USA made ppk shoots 32 like no tomorrow and has never malfunctioned. My German gun is in 380 and is not 100% reliable. Sorry, I traded that Manuhin ppk/s that gun was 100% reliable. I don't like the extended tang on the S&W guns at all, it looks deformed.

 

[searcher451]

Cocojo: The extended beavertail on the S&W guns does look funky, all right (though not as funky as the Interarms import stamp ), but it sure does eliminate the dreaded Walther bite. Ugly or not, it works.