If you join the P.38 Forum, there is a Serial Number Chart in the informational section of the Al PP & PPK - World War 2 subforum.

If you just want an approximate build date, put up up your serial number, to include the suffix if any, and I can go to the forum and look it up for you.

 

Greetings. I inherited my fathers PPK and am trying to reference when it was manufactured
based on it's serial number which is 228117. I was told it was used in the war by my grandfather in Germany. I will post some pictures for you here.
Thank you in advance for your help.

based on it's serial number which is 228117. I was told it was used in the war by my grandfather in Germany. I will post some pictures for you here.
Thank you in advance for your help.

 

Thank you. The PPK I am looking at is said to be a 1939. Serial #186277.

Another question if you don't mind. I also am looking at a PPK with the RZM marking. It's a good price because it has after market grips. Is it possible to find period grips for a PPK made in 1939?

 

If the PPK with that serial number also has a K-suffix, then yes, it is 1939.

The RZM has had a few fakes. But the position of the characters on the slide address should confirm real or not.

The original grips on the RZM could be a long shot. These have the early grip design with the screw going from left to right. I haven't looked for a grip for mine in several years now. But I couldn't find a proper grip when I looked.

Almost every original grip which is for sale is the design with the grip screw from the right to the left.

My RZM below, quite rough, but I still like it.

 

The bottom picture is of the RZM with so called "Party Leader" grips described in my OP. Pretty sure not original to the gun. As you said, would be difficult to find the proper original grips. Price: $1,650.00.

The other three pictures are of a PP, with RFV marking on the inside strap. It's in a Cabela's near a friend of mine, who sent it to me today. It does look a little rough, but Price is $1,099.00, plus tax. May get it for a little less. It's more cost effective for sure.

 

martin08 ---- I don't really care to join another forum but would like to find out the approx. date my wartime PPK was made. Its serial number is 389421k. There are machine marks on the slide and frame that have not been polished out so I'm thinking my piece was produced some time from mid war to late war time. The grip panels are gray plastic with streaks of black. It has an eagle c stamp on the frame just behind the trigger and it came with a pressed paper cardboard holster with a magazine pocket on the front. The high spots of the holster have ware spots on it like it was worn under a rough coat or jacket. Thanks for your help.

 

You have a late 1942 PPK, Big Coulee

 

martin08 ---- Thanks for your timely and quick reply.

 

The picture for the RZM PPK is far too small to observe any great detail. About the only feature which can be confirmed to be correct for the early production pistol is the 90deg safety lever travel. Later production shortened the safety lever travel to approximately 70deg.

My expertise at detecting original vs repro party leader grip via photograph is not good. So I can't help much there. But an RZM at under $2,000 is a hint that the party leader grip is 99% likely to be modern replacement

 

Contact Legacy Collectibles. He has an extensive database of WWII and earlier PP and PPK serial numbers. He also has a You Tube channel where he features various collectible WWII and earlier guns, mostly German, along with the history associated with them.

 

Martin 08——The serial on my PPK 774882 does not have a prefix or suffix, also grip screw travels from right to left, replacements....year of manufacture?

 

Your serial falls into no-man's-land, as the last serial noted for 1931 is 770,5XX, and the first serial for 1932 is 774,9XX. There is also a caveat that the dating list is compiled from collected serial data. My guess? You have an early 1932. Yours should also have the 90deg safety on the left side.

 

Try this link.

https://forums.gunboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=328248&d=1278093017

 

Martin, Yes does have the 90 degree safety, I thought the pistol was close to the beginning of production..thanks for the help.

 

The box is post war, the '68 (1968) by the proof date on the barrel along with what looks like (it's hard to see from your picture) a post war German proof on the frame by the serial number all show that your PPK was made in the late sixties. Walther moved to Ulm/Do after WWII because their old plant at Zella/Mathis was in the Russian zone of occupation. I have one that was also made in '68 with a serial number that is 96K numbers earlier. I'm sorry, but family lore aside, there is no way that your gun was used in WWII.

 

It’s a 1968 Interarms import featuring their eagle grips with import info. These were the last imports before GCA of 1968 kicked in. I have it’s PP big brother with the same eagle grips in black.

 

Here is a PP & PPK serial number list I copied many years ago. I don't recall where I found it. It isn't extensive but it should help.

 

Hi.
I would like to know the year of manufacture for my PPK serial number 760539

 

Look at the table in Post # 19.

 

It’s a PPK but the table does not show SN before 1932

 

It also has an N with a crown on the left. The stamping on the gun says waffenfabrik walther zella-Mehlis (Thur). 760539. The number is before the first number 770xxx on the chart. I’m new to this and don’t know what I have but I am trying to figure it out. There are no police or military markings I think.

 

have a walther ppk sn# 796101 in side holster written by friends dad was brought back nov.22.1945 name of german town he was overseeing Marshall law after war
any information would be helpfull..some bluing wore from being in holster

 

Try the book 'Axis Pistols' by Jan Still. There is a section on PPKs.

 

From the records I have, the PPK with serial number 796101 was produced in late 1933,

 

hi everybody, i just got a Walther PP serial #109245P, i can't find any info about it, just, it may be from 1940's, but i think its older than that, can anyone help find some date or value on it.

 

Try the book 'Axis Pistols' by Jan Still. There is a section on PPs.

 

The frame dates to 1938.

 

I found these lists years ago for post war PP and PPKs.

 

My 1968 PPK does not have any reference to Interarms importation lacking the info on the bottom of the American eagle grips as depicted by two other posters. Must have snuck in before the infamous act by ATF.

 

My 1968 PPK does not have any reference to Interarms importation lacking the info on the bottom of the American eagle grips as depicted by two other posters. Must have snuck in before the infamous act by ATF. View attachment 3911318

Somebody sanded the bottom of the grip to remove the Interarms name. It would have been imported by Interarms just before October 1968. And, just to be clear, "the infamous act" was not "by" ATF; the '68 law was enacted by the U.S. Congress, and signed by the then-President, Lyndon B. Johnson. Blame them.

M

 

I have a PPK I got from my grandfather. Trying to find some info about. It has a serial number of 187443 W. Would like to get some info about proofmarks that I might find a where to look and what those might mean. Any help would be appreciated.

 

W suffix PPK is very uncommon. Post a few pics if you can.