I was in a gun store in my home town in MI that has been there since before I can remember, and that is longer than I'd like to admit - the current owner is the third generation. My dad, bought a lot of guns of various sorts there. Nice, knowledgable folks in that store.
They had a Blued Walther PPK/S in 380 made in W. Germany and imported by Interarms of VA. I have no idea when it was made other than it was after 68 and before Interarms went out of business. The fit, finish, the bluing, smoothness of the action, and the feel of it were just plain irresistable.
They also had a stainless S&W PPK/S of recent manufacture. The S&W gun is a fine piece, and may have a better tang on it, but there was no comparison in the look and feel. The particular PPK/s I liked (fell in love with would be more accurate) was from a collection they had on consignment. Looking at it, both the dealer and I came to the conclusion that, while we couldn't prove it, sure looked like it hadn't been fired since the factory test. The magazine follower was pristine in both magazines. The barrel was perfect. No wear on the slides or frame, or on the barrel from the spring sliding on it. The signed factory test target (~2.5" group at 15 meters) was still in the box.
It is only a 380, but I just had to have it, and now I do.
I called my friend and FFL in PA, and he had the signed FFL faxed to the dealer before they could finish writing it up. Had to wait till I got back here to take delivery of it.
I stopped at the Cabela's in Southern MI, since I was driving right by it on the way here, and picked up a set of carbide RCBS dies to reload practice ammo for it. I found 2,000 95-gr. Winchester FMJ bullets for a hundred bux from a guy at the club so I picked those up. Also ordered some 90gr lead bullets for it so I can use it on steel plates at the club.
Range report:
First trip to the range I put 100 rounds of WWB from Wal Mart through it (a guy has to find brass someplace!). No jams, no malfunctions of any kind. I also put 50 rounds of Federal HS through it with no problems of any kind. Federal HS will be the SD and carry ammo. I don't want to shoot +P COR-BON in it. I have that for the 9mmP G19, but that is not blowback and of recent design.
This little Walther is a shooter. It will group 8 shots (7 in mag, one in chamber) in one ragged quarter sized hole at 12' slow fire if I shoot them all S/A. It shoots well at all the ranges I tried out to 25' (which is as far as I think it needs to shoot).
I picked up an IWB when I bought it and find it quite comfortable to carry after about a week of experience with it - though I think I'll have a holster built for it with a better tilt.
The pistol was originally designed, late 1920s or thereabouts specifically to be a CCW weapon for plain clothes policemen and others with the need for a concealable pistol. It has a very nice shape, slide is thinner at the muzzle end, handle is also quite thin with a taper to the butt so it lets the back of the slide sit close to the body. It is much easier to conceal on me than anything else I've tried so far. I am able to place shots pretty much exactly where i want them with it, so I think this will become my carry piece, especially in the summer.
Fitch
They had a Blued Walther PPK/S in 380 made in W. Germany and imported by Interarms of VA. I have no idea when it was made other than it was after 68 and before Interarms went out of business. The fit, finish, the bluing, smoothness of the action, and the feel of it were just plain irresistable.
They also had a stainless S&W PPK/S of recent manufacture. The S&W gun is a fine piece, and may have a better tang on it, but there was no comparison in the look and feel. The particular PPK/s I liked (fell in love with would be more accurate) was from a collection they had on consignment. Looking at it, both the dealer and I came to the conclusion that, while we couldn't prove it, sure looked like it hadn't been fired since the factory test. The magazine follower was pristine in both magazines. The barrel was perfect. No wear on the slides or frame, or on the barrel from the spring sliding on it. The signed factory test target (~2.5" group at 15 meters) was still in the box.
It is only a 380, but I just had to have it, and now I do.
I called my friend and FFL in PA, and he had the signed FFL faxed to the dealer before they could finish writing it up. Had to wait till I got back here to take delivery of it.
I stopped at the Cabela's in Southern MI, since I was driving right by it on the way here, and picked up a set of carbide RCBS dies to reload practice ammo for it. I found 2,000 95-gr. Winchester FMJ bullets for a hundred bux from a guy at the club so I picked those up. Also ordered some 90gr lead bullets for it so I can use it on steel plates at the club.
Range report:
First trip to the range I put 100 rounds of WWB from Wal Mart through it (a guy has to find brass someplace!). No jams, no malfunctions of any kind. I also put 50 rounds of Federal HS through it with no problems of any kind. Federal HS will be the SD and carry ammo. I don't want to shoot +P COR-BON in it. I have that for the 9mmP G19, but that is not blowback and of recent design.
This little Walther is a shooter. It will group 8 shots (7 in mag, one in chamber) in one ragged quarter sized hole at 12' slow fire if I shoot them all S/A. It shoots well at all the ranges I tried out to 25' (which is as far as I think it needs to shoot).
I picked up an IWB when I bought it and find it quite comfortable to carry after about a week of experience with it - though I think I'll have a holster built for it with a better tilt.
The pistol was originally designed, late 1920s or thereabouts specifically to be a CCW weapon for plain clothes policemen and others with the need for a concealable pistol. It has a very nice shape, slide is thinner at the muzzle end, handle is also quite thin with a taper to the butt so it lets the back of the slide sit close to the body. It is much easier to conceal on me than anything else I've tried so far. I am able to place shots pretty much exactly where i want them with it, so I think this will become my carry piece, especially in the summer.
Fitch