PPK RZM High Leaders W/SS Holster

[Alan Smith]

Here is the former SS enplacement where the Russian diggers found the pouch.

I have no idea whether SS markings on a 98k pouch have any relevancy whatsoever to the PPK holster at issue, but I found the ground-dug 98k pouch interesting and thought that others might also.

[JoeW]

Alan, the RZM/SS manufacturer stamp isn't unusual to find on leather goods such as that mag pouch, vertical dagger hangers and other items. It is the appearance of an RZM and SS stamps together that gives one pause.

That early RZM PPK predates the PL grips by a few years.

[mrcrtm]

Ppk

Back to the PPK itself, If the gun pre-dates the grips are they correct for that gun or no? Also, what is the TRUE story behind PL griped RZM PPK's? As i stated erlier there is much confusion in what i have found in Books so far. In James Rankin's Book " Walther PP/PPK" he states that the NSDAP Catalog of 1934-36 shows the PL PPK and RZM PPK as two seperate guns with no mention of any RZM PL PPK.

[Johnny Peppers]

Joe can probably explain it better than I can, but it is my understanding that the political leader pistol pre-dates the introduction of the "Party Leader" grips by s few years. The Political Leaders had to purchase their own weapon, and the Party Leader grips became available to add to their PPK.

There is discussion that Walther did not produce the Party Leader grips, but as explained above, became available to add to a pistol already owned, or added to a newly purchased pistol.

[JoeW]

Super condition on your RZM Johnny. You photo is in natural light?

The RZM PPK was introduced in 1934. The PL grip PPK was introduced in 1938. While some believe the PL grips could have been purchased separately by Political Leaders owning an RZM, there is no documentation indicating the availability of these grips by themselves. And there is documentation that they were not available: the 1939 Akah catalog offered for sale the PL holster that had been introduced at the same time as the PL grip PPK, yet did not advertise the PL grips. This indicates that Political Leader who might have owned an RZM PPK with an earlier unmarked holster could purchase a new PL marked holster, but grips were not available from Akah to add to their RZM PPK.

[Mr.Jerry D]

There were certainly SS stamps on all sort of leather things; boots, bayonet frogs, ammo pouches, holsters, etc. But as we have seen this is an example of a wrong kind (no Mfgr info/year code) of SS stamp done, and multiple times, (which also makes no sense)/. while there are many inconsistencies with german markings, there were reasons for them.

[Johnny Peppers]

Super condition on your RZM Johnny. You photo is in natural light?

Yes, the photograph was made in bright shade. The splotches are where I didn't get all the oil off. This was the one I bought in a generic black pebble grain holster that didn't fit. As the seller was about to walk away he ask if I needed a spare holster, and pulled an Akah holster out of his jacket pocket. He made an even swap on the holsters, and after I got home found the capture papers and a small ID card in the magazine pocket. The collector gods smiled on me that day as the original holster and documentation came within a split second of being separated forever.

[pdawg1911]

Joe can probably explain it better than I can, but it is my understanding that the political leader pistol pre-dates the introduction of the "Party Leader" grips by s few years. The Political Leaders had to purchase their own weapon, and the Party Leader grips became available to add to their PPK.

There is discussion that Walther did not produce the Party Leader grips, but as explained above, became available to add to a pistol already owned, or added to a newly purchased pistol.

Absolutely stunning ! Great photos !

Thanks
Pat

[Johnny Peppers]

Absolutely stunning ! Great photos !

Thanks
Pat

Thanks. While I have pistols that are more valuable, it is one of my favorites and I think I attribute that mostly to the fact that it was "rescued" before the pistol and holster with the documents were forever lost to each other.

[rajko84]

Joe can probably explain it better than I can, but it is my understanding that the political leader pistol pre-dates the introduction of the "Party Leader" grips by s few years. The Political Leaders had to purchase their own weapon, and the Party Leader grips became available to add to their PPK.

There is discussion that Walther did not produce the Party Leader grips, but as explained above, became available to add to a pistol already owned, or added to a newly purchased pistol.