New member looking for some help in identification of a Walther PPK.32 auto.I've hit a ton of websites trying to identify this pistol, and while I've found a lot of info, I can't find a picture like it.Has some holster wear on slide, but other than that, pretty clean with original bluing.The serial number is 383199P, and is also stamped 'ac' under the serial on the slide, but not by the handle. There is nothing on the left or right side giving any information as to make, model, caliber, locations, anything. I've also taken it down and see no factory marking anywhere in the slide. Does have nice looking checkered grips with the Walther flag at the top.
I'm more curious about identification than value, but value would be nice also.Story from Dad was that it was pre-war and has been in known possession of the family since the late 40's or early 50s. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Proof and Police MarksModel PP and PPK pistols are found with a variety of markings.
Some of these are merely factory serial numbers and proof marks indicating that the gun has functioned safely when fired with high pressure cartridges.In addition to the serial number and proof marks, Model PP and PPK will often be found with Nazi party abbreviations and insignia. Still others will be found with Army acceptance marks in the form of an eagle, Swastika, and Waffenamt numbers. The Waffenamt mark indicates that the gun has been accepted by the government inspector at the plant. The German GI usually referred to this ever present mark as the 'Pleitegeir' which means the 'Bankrupt Vulture.' Crown over N is a German pre-war proof mark used before April 1, 1940. 'N' indicates that the gun has been proofed with 'nitro' or smokeless powder. Foun on early PP and PPK's.In April of 1940 the Germans replaced the crown over N proof mark wiht the eagle over 'N'.
PP and PPK's carried this proof mark after April 1, 1940.Post-war PP and PPK's carry the new eagle over N, indicating that the gun was proofed for nitro or smokeless powder.Post-war PP and PPK's manufactured at Ulm by Walther for commercial sale carry the antler proof mark of the Ulm proof house. The year of the proof test is also indicated i.e. 68 means 1968. There are other proof houses, but these have different symbols such as a bear for Berlin, a horse for Hanover, an oak leaf for Kiel, and a shield for Munchen.The police acceptance mark is similar to the Army mark but the swastika was replaced by a cross and sub-letter C, F, L, or K.Eagle over WaA359 is the most common Waffenamt pistol stamp. It is found on all Walther PP's and PPK's accepted by the military.
Another version of the 'Pleitegeirer' shows the eagle over 359.The RZM insignia on the left is found engraved on the slides of early PPK's. It is found on the left hand side of the slide between the Mod PPK and the slide serrations.The NSKKJ (Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps) was the party branch entrusted with transport of party and military supplies. Their pistols were generally Model PP's wht NSKK insignia engraved on the left side of the slide but some PPK's have been noted with the NSKK insignia on the right side of the slide.SA der NSDAP Gruppe Mitte Nazi SA sections of the NSDAP were issued Model PP pistols in the prewar era. These pistols were generally engraved on the front of teh grip strap as shown. The SA was divided into 28 areas so the Gruppe (group) name will vary.RFV 13311WPDM 1337RRZRJDRP.
Hello,Your pistol was manufactured in late 1945, close to war's end. It really should have wood grips to be correct, but that does not hurt the value, as alot of officers would change out grips. As the other members pointed out, Walther started using a code of AC on all their weapons. Mauser was byf & so on. The late JP Sauer 38h pistols dropped everything, except for the cal marking. I suppose all of them were afraid of Neurenberg?
Most of these late war pistols are mismatched, meaning the slide number did not match the frame. There are collectors seeking these late war pistols & your's being in such fine condition should fetch 12-15 hundred. Oh yes I forgot, on the spline of the magazine you should see a small W. That signifies soft metal and will be only found on these late war pistols, PPKs included. Hope this helps ya?Kind RegardsDanny.
Ok, I guess all these postings still leave me with questions. Sounds like there's still a discrepancy on when this pistol was made, late war or post war.
Are serial numbers researchable. I've read some places that they aren't, but Danny seems quite specific about manufacture time.Another question is that this is referred to as mismatched, or pieced together pistol. What does that mean? Slide and frame have matching serial number, but the frame does not have the 'ac' under the number.
Where would this gun have been manufactured? Germany, France,????Everyone seems to have their own opinion to pricing.
I'll never sell, as this piece is a family hand me down, having been my grandfather's, father's, and now mine.so more curious for insurance purposes.Thanks again for the input. OK, sorry if we have you confused. The parts of this pistol were made during the war, just before Germany surrendered. These parts were numbered and sitting in parts bins, ready to be assembled and test fired. At the end of the war the US forces took control of the factory. The GIs wanted souvenir pistols, so they slipped the workers a pack of cigarettes or a few candy bars, and the workers assembled them from the parts bins. No attention was paid to trying to grab the matching slide from a slide bin to make a matching pistol.
The Germans knew it was wrong, but the GIs neither knew nor cared about matching parts, so they were just slapped together with random parts. And this satisfied the GIs. None of these were factory inspected or test fired. So that's what you have, a GI souvenir from a defunct non-operating factory.
Walther Pp Serial Number Chart
They are of some small interest to knowledgable collectors, but have no military history, as they were never issued. Their low prices reflect this diminished collectibility. These are often palmed off on novice buyers as military Walthers at inflated prices. Wonder that is a war trophy period. When the plant was captured, the GIs found crates of assembled P-38's and the PPs & PPKs.
The Army was in such deserpate need of weapons they did not care if they matched or not. They just wanted something to arm their men with and in a hurry.
Your opinion is well recognized about the troops having getting some put together, however the pistol in question has both the frame & serial # matching which is odd for a late war unit. Thats why I gave the apprasial of the amount. Before the plant was captured all records of serial numbers were destroyed. In reality the numbers were based on the PP in 1929 and the PPK in 1931. Most of the prewar numbers on both handguns were in the same proximity with numbers only a few thousand apart. However at the beginning of WW2 there was a bigger demand for the PP and thats when the numbers showed the difference of production for the PPK.
Remember the PP held one more round than the PPK also.Kind RegardsDanny.The Firearms Forum is on online community for all gun enthusiasts. Join us to discuss firearms of all kinds, gun accessories, legal issues and more. Membership is free and we welcome all types of shooters, whether you're a novice or a pro. Come for the info, stay and make some friends. Site Functions.
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