Walther PPK question

marsh · February 22, 2001, 08:00 PM

Wondering date of manufacture of 9mm K. Walther PPK #1053XX-A. Brown plastic grips, rectangular firing pin, and a lanyard loop. Country of origin not on slide where it usually is but it is stamped on frame in different type font looking like an afterthought.

Thanks,

Marsh

Strayhorn · February 23, 2001, 09:41 AM

Can't provide much info with just a serial number - what county is indicated as the place of manufacture?

Does it say "made under license of" Carl Walther? If so, it's US made, as most .380 PPKs in this country were.

If it is German made, it should say either "Zella-Methis" or "Ulm Do" as the city of manufacture. If it says "Zella-Methis", it's pre-war. The factory was moved to Ulm in the 1950s.

If it says "Made in France" it was made during the years that Walther operated at the Manhurin plant, just across the border in France, right after the war. Manhurin PPKs are really, really rare in the US.

Is it blued or stainless?

Ken Strayhorn
Hillsborough NC

marsh · February 23, 2001, 08:04 PM

It says "made in west-germany" in tiny letters on the frame above the serial number and mag. release. On the slide, the city of mfg. is Ulm/Do but no country there as on my other Walthers. I know it has to be pre-68 as it was banned from import in 68 because Senator Dodd felt it was icky-poo.

Is the number (64) on the side of the barrel with the proof mark the date of mfr.? My other Walthers have two letters with the proof mark.

The things that throw me are the lanyard loop on the butt and the brown grips.

Thanks

marsh

Strayhorn · February 26, 2001, 10:21 AM

It's most likely a piece made in the late 50s or early 60s, as you suspect. I don't have a serial number list with me, unfortunately.

The lanyard loop and brown grips were standard on the original pistol and it was made in this fashion for a long time, up until the late 70s if I recall correctly. Since their primary customers were police departments, the lanyard loop was specified for security purposes.

Several state-level law enforcement groups used the PPK as a back-up piece for a while (Kentucky comes to mind, I have seen a PPK with a Kentucky Highway Patrol number engraved on the frontstrap) so this may be a police trade-in.

Ken Strayhorn
Hillsborough NC

marsh · February 27, 2001, 09:30 PM

Thanks very much.

marsh

February 23, 2001, 08:04 PM	#3
marsh Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 1999 Location: New Mexico Posts: 126	ppk It says "made in west-germany" in tiny letters on the frame above the serial number and mag. release. On the slide, the city of mfg. is Ulm/Do but no country there as on my other Walthers. I know it has to be pre-68 as it was banned from import in 68 because Senator Dodd felt it was icky-poo. Is the number (64) on the side of the barrel with the proof mark the date of mfr.? My other Walthers have two letters with the proof mark. The things that throw me are the lanyard loop on the butt and the brown grips. Thanks marsh

February 22, 2001, 08:00 PM	#1
marsh Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 1999 Location: New Mexico Posts: 126	Wondering date of manufacture of 9mm K. Walther PPK #1053XX-A. Brown plastic grips, rectangular firing pin, and a lanyard loop. Country of origin not on slide where it usually is but it is stamped on frame in different type font looking like an afterthought. Thanks, Marsh

February 23, 2001, 09:41 AM	#2
Strayhorn Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2000 Location: Central NC Posts: 339	Can't provide much info with just a serial number - what county is indicated as the place of manufacture? Does it say "made under license of" Carl Walther? If so, it's US made, as most .380 PPKs in this country were. If it is German made, it should say either "Zella-Methis" or "Ulm Do" as the city of manufacture. If it says "Zella-Methis", it's pre-war. The factory was moved to Ulm in the 1950s. If it says "Made in France" it was made during the years that Walther operated at the Manhurin plant, just across the border in France, right after the war. Manhurin PPKs are really, really rare in the US. Is it blued or stainless? Ken Strayhorn Hillsborough NC

February 26, 2001, 10:21 AM	#4
Strayhorn Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2000 Location: Central NC Posts: 339	It's most likely a piece made in the late 50s or early 60s, as you suspect. I don't have a serial number list with me, unfortunately. The lanyard loop and brown grips were standard on the original pistol and it was made in this fashion for a long time, up until the late 70s if I recall correctly. Since their primary customers were police departments, the lanyard loop was specified for security purposes. Several state-level law enforcement groups used the PPK as a back-up piece for a while (Kentucky comes to mind, I have seen a PPK with a Kentucky Highway Patrol number engraved on the frontstrap) so this may be a police trade-in. Ken Strayhorn Hillsborough NC

February 27, 2001, 09:30 PM	#5
marsh Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 1999 Location: New Mexico Posts: 126	Thanks very much. marsh