wwII ppk gold engraved in display case

[recjr28]

This was my grandfathers gun brought back from Germany in 1945. I'm in possesion of it from my father doing some research. In the last few days I've gained some knowledge, but there is a lot out there. Here is what I think I know. s/n 408107 is from late 43 or early 44. The eagle over n is stamped in two spots. My father was thinking about selling the gun. I can't let that happen and want to purchase it from him. The prices and skepticism are all over the map. The value question is almost secondary. I'm more interested in the history. This gun has trememdous sentimental value to me. I found a pair of consecutive serial number guns 22 s/n away from this gun a couple of nights ago and was pretty excited. I wondered if grandpa new the guys that took those guns. Not that I expect that kind of information, but any bits of history would be appreciated. This gun is not for sale!

I will post more pictures after some feedback. The manual is also included.

[recjr28]

Regarding more pictures

Sorry, some of my pic files are too large and I need to resize to a larger view. When I get things figured out I'll post better pictures. Should be later tonight.

[recjr28]

more pictures

2 more

[recjr28]

more pictures

Here are a couple more. Thanks again.

=Ron

[JoeW]

Nice gun with flower engraving and factory special order case. You know what it is and approximately when it was produced. But I am afraid you have hit the wall. There are no factory purchase records to be found for these commercial guns.

[recjr28]

care questions

I want to properly preserve the piece. How should I clean the gun? Can I polish it up? Is there anything I should absolutely avoid? Is it real gold plating?

[blitzkrieg gsd]

If it was mine I would not try to polish it any at all its got a nice look as is. It very well be real gold and gold is soft and easy to damage. I would wipe it off with a silicone cloth after you touch it get all the prints off and put it back in box. Other people will say there is better things then silicone but me and my dad have used it for decades and never had any issues.

[jh-ss44]

nice custom ordered item ! prices do seem to be suggestive on these , hence all over the map.
I would worry about cleaning it. maybe a tooth brush (soft bristles) with some light oil to clean out the engravings , then wipe it all off.
remember , oils from your hands will do damage to it also.
Thanks for showing us !!!
jeff

[jh-ss44]

Ron ,is it possible for you to take a few more photos of this gun ?
interested in seeing the engraving on on the front & back side of the grip area.
photos look very good.
I ask ,because I want to draw out this engraving pattern , like a template.
many different types were offered by them.
thank you . jeff

[Douglas Jr.]

I strongly suggest you to join the P38 forum. There is a section about Wartime PP/PPK pistols, and some people there can help you with more detailed information. Steve Stepan and Dieter Marschall are two names that come to my mind in order to give you further help.

http://www.p38forum.com/

Nice catch by you Grandpa. You're doing right trying to keep it.

Good luck!

DOuglas

[ValhallaMilitaria]

Nice and what a bring back that is! value? those vary depending on the market used and the whims of the buying public but at least 15,000 USD is what I see in my 2009 price book.

[recjr28]

Doug, thank you for the suggestion. I registerd on p38 the same day that I registered here and I'm still waiting for them to activate my account. As soon as they do I will be getting some pics on there also.

Jeff, I will try to get some more pics on there tonight. Glad I could help you catalog.

=Ron

[Andy Van...]

Ppk

Beautiful piece, DON"T touch it. NO polish, NO scrubbing with a tooth brush, just a light wpie down is all it needs.

If you are going to store it in the case get a piece of acid free gun paper and wrap it in that to keep it out of contact with the case linning, not only will it keep it from touching the case but will help with mositure.

As another member said oil form your fingers will damage it, we have all seen finger prints on guns that just will not come off... so every time you touch it wipe it down. Get in a habbit of holding just the grip when showing it.

And always always most important...keep a drool cloth under your chin or others when inspecting or showing. You may have it undercontrol because it's been in you family so long but any other Walther guy you show it to will not.

Again...Beautiful piece of history.

[james m]

A friend of mine has a very similiar PPK that was presented to someone in the Reich Finance Ministry. Unfortunately there's no remaining gold finish on his example as whoever owned it previously "cleaned" it in some way. If this were mine I would keep it in it's case with the lid down unless you're showing it to someone and then only handle it with cotton gloves. Since it's stayed the way it is now since the War I would NOT attempt to clean it in any way.
Jim

[JoeW]

You have received a lot of good advice here. You are lucky to have most of the gold wash remaining on yours. My two were not so lucky. I don't keep mine in their presentation cases. They are in gun rugs. I don't think a soft tooth brush to clean the slide crevices would hurt and it could help expose any potentially damaging material there.

And you found the two consecutive engraved PPKs on Legacy's web site. As a matter of fact, there are a few other engraved PPKs in that 408 xxx K serial range, some of which have a gold wash. One reported is very close to your gun, but with different grips and also in a red case. I recall seeing photos of another similarly engraved PPK that had mismatched slide and frame within ten of Legacy's. Value? There are estimates and there are auctions. Ask the fellow who came across one of the 1939 Party Leader PPK Gau shooting prize pistols. He had estimates and then it ended up on RIA. It pulled $28,000. Of course it was a guaranteed authentic PL PPK.