Walther TPH: were there any Germany made .25 cal finished in Nickel or Chrome?

[Ignacio49]

There is one TPH .25 for sale (not in US). Seller says it is stainless steel and made in Germany. As far as I know the only stainless steel TPH’s were made in US, and the german ones were alloy frame and steel slide.

If I remember well somewhere I read about german Walther PPK’s finished in chrome or nickel. Maybe some TPH’s were too.

The seller sent me the pics below. The finish seems to be nickel, not chrome and not stainless, but it is hard to tell from these pics.

What do you think? Could this be an original german nickel TPH?

Thanks,
Ignacio

 

[bannockburn]

I don't know; kind of looks like it's either stainless steel with polished slide flats, or else some sort of brushed or electroless nickel finish. If so, I would venture a guess it's aftermarket and not a factory finish.

 

[Litlman]

Check the Walther Forum.

 

[Shear_stress]

The Blue Book of Gun Values (only a so-so reference) lists the German-made guns as blued only. The American made ones were available in stainless as well.

 

[Onmilo]

Krause Publishing Standard Catalog lists the German made guns as being available in both blued and "Silvered" finishes which I would assume to be electroless nickle and that is what the gun appears to be.

The slide markings are German, US made guns have a .25acp caliber designation.

The Germans may have offered stainless steel slides on the pistols but I bet the frame will be aluminum and not steel as the US made guns are.

 

[DBR]

That looks like hard chrome to me. Electroless nickel (not NP3) has a slight yellowish cast to it. Electroplated nickel has a slight bluish cast to it. That kind of pewter gray is more typical of industrial hard chrome. Of course it is pretty difficult to judge color from a digital photo.

 

[Onmilo]

Notice the freckling?
Chrome finishes flake and peel, electroless nickles tend to freckle with age and use.

I agree it is very difficult to guess exactly what the finish is due to the lighting of the pictures.

 

[searcher451]

In the 1970s, Interarms was importing from Germany a varietey of Walthers that were called "Deluxe Pistols," or presentation pieces; they all were engraved and were available in four finishes: blue, gold, silver, and chrome. You could order a PP, a PPK/S, a P.38, or a P38K in these finishes. You could not order a TP or a TPH; additionally, the gun you show here is not engraved.

In 1976, for what it's worth, you could order an engraved, gold-plated Walther P.38 for $975. A gold-plated and engraved PPK/S would have cost you $825.

Ah, the good old days.

 

[DBR]

Freckling is a common occurrence with hard chrome subjected to salt water or sweat.

Industrial electroplated hard chrome has millions of microscopic cracks in it. When the chrome and the underling steel are subjected to an electrolyte the cracks become miniature batteries pumping out iron atoms. The oxidized iron forms the freckles.

E nickle is a coherent coating (no cracks) and does not do this unless it has pinholes in it from improper application.