Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
When it comes to pistols chambered in 380 Auto, own exactly zero at this point in my life. However, there was a time when I was very involved with the 380 Auto [AKA 9mm Kurz, 9x17, 9mm Browning Short, etc.]. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the Walther PPK verses the SIG P230 debate was the firearm’s equivalent of the Gilligan’s Island, Mary Ann verses Ginger debate.
Avoiding the PPK/P230 debate for now, allow me to concentrate on the Walther PPK. We all know the history of the Walther PP and PPK models. We all know the effect of the 1968 GCA and the changes that resulted from that legislation, including the creation of the PPK/S and the domestic production of the PPK. A lot of folks see the “Interarms, Alexandria, Virginia” markings on Walther pistols and assume Interarms made the gun. That isn’t completely accurate. The guns were made for Interarms by U.S. based manufacturers. (Ranger being the most prevalent name). These Interarms era PPK pistols were the most encountered PPK pistols in the U.S. during the 1980’s and early 1990’s. Walther collectors can fill pages with all the pre-war and post war history of the Walther pistols but let’s keep this manageable.
The Interarms’ era PPK pistols broke down into two categories: those that functioned flawlessly from the start, and those that didn’t. I encountered both types. I owned both types, I saw other people with both types, I shot both types. For the life of me, I cannot fathom why some brand new Interarms era PPK pistols would function perfectly right out of the box and consistently shoot tiny groups while others were destined to be problem children. To be fair, I saw more that worked well than ones that didn’t. The old jokes about not wanting a car that was built on a Monday morning or Friday afternoon were applied to those guns. Maybe it was tooling wear? Maybe it was quality control? I don’t know. The ones that were good, were really good.
Later, Smith & Wesson got into the PPK game and that was a different situation altogether. The Interarms era PPK pistols represented an interesting time in history. The U.S. made PPK could be had in stainless steel, something not available in the older European made models. The U.S. made PPK got around the 1968 GCA import restrictions and most of the U.S. made PPK pistols were outstanding guns. The German, West German and French made Walther’s will always be a different part of the Walther family, but the Interarms’ era PPK pistols deserve their place in history.
Avoiding the PPK/P230 debate for now, allow me to concentrate on the Walther PPK. We all know the history of the Walther PP and PPK models. We all know the effect of the 1968 GCA and the changes that resulted from that legislation, including the creation of the PPK/S and the domestic production of the PPK. A lot of folks see the “Interarms, Alexandria, Virginia” markings on Walther pistols and assume Interarms made the gun. That isn’t completely accurate. The guns were made for Interarms by U.S. based manufacturers. (Ranger being the most prevalent name). These Interarms era PPK pistols were the most encountered PPK pistols in the U.S. during the 1980’s and early 1990’s. Walther collectors can fill pages with all the pre-war and post war history of the Walther pistols but let’s keep this manageable.
The Interarms’ era PPK pistols broke down into two categories: those that functioned flawlessly from the start, and those that didn’t. I encountered both types. I owned both types, I saw other people with both types, I shot both types. For the life of me, I cannot fathom why some brand new Interarms era PPK pistols would function perfectly right out of the box and consistently shoot tiny groups while others were destined to be problem children. To be fair, I saw more that worked well than ones that didn’t. The old jokes about not wanting a car that was built on a Monday morning or Friday afternoon were applied to those guns. Maybe it was tooling wear? Maybe it was quality control? I don’t know. The ones that were good, were really good.
Later, Smith & Wesson got into the PPK game and that was a different situation altogether. The Interarms era PPK pistols represented an interesting time in history. The U.S. made PPK could be had in stainless steel, something not available in the older European made models. The U.S. made PPK got around the 1968 GCA import restrictions and most of the U.S. made PPK pistols were outstanding guns. The German, West German and French made Walther’s will always be a different part of the Walther family, but the Interarms’ era PPK pistols deserve their place in history.