Collim1 Posted November 4, 2018 Share Posted November 4, 2018 My father has wanted a PPK .380 for as long as I can remember. He will never buy one for himself, so I am planning to buy him one for Christmas. I want a made in Germany PPK. I also want an actual PPK and not the PPK/s. I don’t care about any of the collector valued guns like the pre-war and Nazi Germany era guns. I’m also not interested in the made in USA S&W guns. I just want him to have a legit shooter he can be proud of and maybe even carry. I’m watching a few auctions on GB, and searched for recent completed auctions to get an idea of pricing. Other than that, what do I need to know? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collim1 Posted November 4, 2018 Author Share Posted November 4, 2018 BTW......All this really has me pining for a .32 PP. I doubt I’ll be able to resist that in the future. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Historian Posted November 4, 2018 Share Posted November 4, 2018 Great pistols. I have had two and carried one a a backup on patrol. They are super thin and carry well. Skip an interarms. Smith makes a good one but they are pricey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyofforty Posted November 4, 2018 Share Posted November 4, 2018 Long, heavy first double action pull. In .380, for some reason, it's recoil bothered me more than most 9mms of comparable size, like the G43. I think it just focused the recoil all in one spot on my hand. And the slide rode the top of my shooting hand, leaving railroad tracks. I think I had a grip too high on the pistol for how it's designed. Traded mine a while back. Great historical weapon, of course. Disassembly procedure unlike anything I'd experienced before, and I hated the idea of "metal on metal" contact during disassembly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T Smith Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 My memory may be a bit addled but wasn't the ppk/s created for the US market, since the Gun Control Act of 1968 meant the original ppk didn't earn enough "points" to be imported here? If that's the case, I would imagine your search for a German made Walther ppk would limit you to guns imported more than 50 years ago. I've owned four of the ppk/s models (would want one, sell it, miss having it, buy another...) so I can appreciate the interest your father has in owning an original. You may want to check to see if that option is practical or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crockett Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 On my list as well, for a long time. I might look into a stainless steel for Christmas. My name is Bond. James Bond. That's all I've got. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sticks Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 In 1978 Ranger Manufacturing of Gadsden, Alabama was licensed to manufacture the PPK & the PPK/S; which was distributed by Interarms of Alexandria, Virginia. Starting in 2002, Smith & Wesson began manufacturing the PPK & PPK/S under license until 2017 when Walther began producing them again at their new US manufacturing plant in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyjr Posted December 20, 2018 Share Posted December 20, 2018 Great pistols. I have had two and carried one a a backup on patrol. They are super thin and carry well. Skip an interarms. Smith makes a good one but they are pricey. I also carried one as a BUG on duty. My partner and I both had Interarms stainless PPK (no S) and they were superb. Two things to note: - this pistol does much better with a well done ramp & throat polish. - if carrying for self defense I suggest several rounds to ensure reliability, as the PPK can be sensitive to billet profile on some of the more squared-off hollow point ammo. Were I to carry one today, I’d run the CorBon PowRBall ammo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borg warner Posted December 20, 2018 Share Posted December 20, 2018 (edited) On 11/3/2018 at 5:07 PM, Collim1 said: BTW......All this really has me pining for a .32 PP. I doubt I’ll be able to resist that in the future. I prefer the PP to the PPK. I wouldn't carry either one for self defense, however. They're both underpowered and they're both the size and weight of a small 9mm and they have the awful DA/SA triggers. I think they're also not drop-safe and have to be carried either with the safety on or with no round in the chamber. I may be wrong about that but I still don't like any gun that has a 10 pound crunchy trigger pull for that all-important first shot. For small back-up gun I'd much prefer a Sig 938 or a Kimber micro9 that could be carried cocked and locked or a Kahr PM9 that was DA only or even a G43. Edited December 21, 2018 by Borg warner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Historian Posted December 20, 2018 Share Posted December 20, 2018 3 hours ago, hoppyjr said: Two things to note: - this pistol does much better with a well done ramp & throat polish. - if carrying for self defense I suggest several rounds to ensure reliability, as the PPK can be sensitive to billet profile on some of the more squared-off hollow point ammo. Were I to carry one today, I’d run the CorBon PowRBall ammo. Spot on! They are tight little pistols and as a result are sensitive to bullet profiles. The one i have no is more of a safe queen. I carry it when i wear a tuxedo for obvious reasons. Seriously, i'm involved in some charity work that involves a tux and a rubber chicken dinner. Mine was made in Germany in 1954. Lovely pistol. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moshe Posted December 21, 2018 Share Posted December 21, 2018 You might find some on GB. The James Bond pistol that gained popularity because of the movies. Just like everyone wanted the Colt .44 Magnum because of the Dirty Harry movies. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyofforty Posted December 25, 2018 Share Posted December 25, 2018 On 12/21/2018 at 10:50 AM, Moshe said: You might find some on GB. The James Bond pistol that gained popularity because of the movies. Just like everyone wanted the Colt .44 Magnum because of the Dirty Harry movies. I think it was the Smith & Wesson Model 29, not a Colt, but the point is valid. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heisenberg Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 On 11/3/2018 at 6:12 PM, Historian said: Great pistols. I have had two and carried one a a backup on patrol. They are super thin and carry well. Skip an interarms. Smith makes a good one but they are pricey. Utter nonsense to suggest such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heisenberg Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 On 12/20/2018 at 1:29 PM, Borg warner said: I prefer the PP to the PPK. I wouldn't carry either one for self defense, however. They're both underpowered and they're both the size and weight of a small 9mm and they have the awful DA/SA triggers. I think they're also not drop-safe and have to be carried either with the safety on or with no round in the chamber. I may be wrong about that but I still don't like any gun that has a 10 pound crunchy trigger pull for that all-important first shot. Clearly you've never fired one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Historian Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 1 hour ago, Heisenberg said: Utter nonsense to suggest such. I guess we have a difference in experience on this matter. I presume you enjoyed yours. I had a difference experience with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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