Newbie Question - War Time PPK?

[Sarge125]

Hi Folks,

Hi Folks,

I'm a newbie to everything Walther, so please take it easy on me!

I'm posting for a friend who's father took the gun from a German officer in WWII. It originally had a holster and two magazines, but only the pistol and one mag are still around.

I appreciate any info that the experts can offer!

Thanks,
C

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[Wilhelm]

The first thing I would do is get a nice oily rag and wipe off the finger prints. Needs a good cleaning.

[ValhallaMilitaria]

Those proofmarks with the 'N' are not something that I have seen before. Looks like a wartime gun to me though.
And yes, I'd get those prints wiped off ASAP.
I just looked up that proofmark made in April of 1940. Nice piece.
Shame about the holster and spare mag.

[JoeW]

Hi Folks,

Hi Folks,

I'm a newbie to everything Walther, so please take it easy on me!

I'm posting for a friend who's father took the gun from a German officer in WWII. It originally had a holster and two magazines, but only the pistol and one mag are still around.

I appreciate any info that the experts can offer!

Thanks,
C

Your friend's PPK was produced some time in the year 1935. The German commercial proof Crown/N proof mark was used until January 15, 1940. The pistol could have been purchased by an officer earlier and carried by him in WWII or by any other German civilian who secured the proper permits from police authorities. There is no way to determine if it was taken from a German officer, but that always makes for a good story. It has some pitting and blue wear consistent with storage in a holster. The grip is badly damaged. A period replacement will cost at least $250. I would classify the gun as a shooter.

[vitts]

Just replaced a broken grip on one cost me $220 good luck though it will take a good hunt to find one. Looks like it was cracked do to over tightening. It looks like a nice pre 1940 due to the crown proof rather than the eagle . Let me know .if interested in selling it Frank. V.h

[JoeW]

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[MP41]

I agree with Joe. Finding period grips for these that are not cracked is extremely correct.difficult, and will be costly, as Joe and Frank mentioned.

Matt

[geefal]

Those proofmarks with the 'N' are not something that I have seen before.

surprising as they are extremely common, in any random month, do a gunbroker search on PPK and you will turn up dozens of prewar that have them

[Wilhelm]

May want to check out the P38 PPK Forum. A good place to look for grips.

[Sarge125]

Thanks very much for the replies!

[tiapat]

Ppk

...check with Legacy Collectibles....they have many original brown PPK grips.....not cheap, but available. If you replace grips, be careful not to add too much tension to the grip screw. This most often is what makes them crack.

[jsd1318]

Definitely a shooter. Legacy does have some nice grips, but pricey. You can also check eBay for some repo Party Leader grips. I got a pair to shoot my 1935 PPK and they look pretty good. With the finish problems I'm not sure it's worth putting nice ones on it.

[Alan Smith]

My thoughts are the same as the above post . . regardless of cost consideration, I'm not sure (given its condition) that this particular PPK is worthy of putting a nice set of original grips on. Spare sets of nice original grips (IMO) ought to be held back and reserved for special occasions.

With the PPK in question, a nice set of reproductions would seem to be entirely appropriate (that is, assuming that the owner is dead set on swapping out the grips). Keep in mind that the original grips currently on it are . . well . . the "original grips" and seem to pretty much match the condition of the gun. My vote would be to just leave it alone (as, if you swap out the grips, chances are high that, with the passage of time, the original grips are going to get separated from the gun).