Remove the magazine, Pull the trigger guard down and pull the slide FIRMLY ALL THE WAY to the rear and lift up at the rear.
Some of these are difficult and you have to be sure you get the slide all the way back.
Also, if someone has possibly installed the recoil spring backward on the barrel that may interfere with slide removal.

 

I have tried all that you suggest.
The slide appears to be going back all the way, but the slide will not lift off the frame.
Any other ideas?
Gregg

 

Try lifting the rear of the slide as you pull back.

 

Re try a few more times making sure the trigger guard is down as far as it needs to be...

 

The recoil spring on backwards could possibly prevent you from taking the slide off. Not necessary to remove the slide to clean the pistol anyway, unless you dropped it in the mud.
What do you mean "W" series??? Been collecting Walthers for many years, don't think I've ever heard that before.
Sarge

 

Well, in the high 180xxx range there were some PPKs that had a 'W' as a suffix instead of a 'K' as a suffix. I have two of them.

 

There is a capital "W" stamped in front of the serial number.
Blue Book indicates this was something different, and worth more than pre war PPKs with out the W.
The pistol has "Crown - N" proofs.

As to taking it apart, I would like to do so to really clean it, as it appears it has not been cleaned well for a very long time.

I'm beginning to believe this "recoil spring on backwards" thing.
Is there any way to get the slide off, if the recoil spring is on backwards?

Finally, I'm going to need a new set of grips for it, as the original set are very warped.
Someone in the past assembled the grips on the pistol with the locking tabs on the outside of the frame.
This caused the forward upper and lower edges if the grips on both sides to bow outwards.

Any ideas where I could pick up an original set?
They are the tan-ish brown color, one piece grips.

Gregg

 

As to getting grips, contact Tom Whiteman - Legacy Collectables. (He has an ad/website link on Jan's forum.)

The 'W' should be in the rear (as a suffix) of the serial number.

 

As for the side disassembly problem, I'd hesitate to use tools to force the slide to the rear and possibly damage it.

I don't know if Earl's will offer any advice, but you could call and ask if he has any suggestions:

http://www.carlwalther.com/

 

The SN on this PPK is - W763xxx

Thanks for the ideas and leads.

Gregg

 

If it is a prefix, then most likely a post war PPK. Pre war it was a suffix. Actually when they started using letters -- K. W, or A (pre 1946) at the factory, they were suffixs.