Make: Walther, imported by Navy Arms

Model: PP

Serial Number: 11961

Year of Manufacture: 1952-1953

Caliber: .32 ACP, 7.65mm

Action Type: Single/Double Action Semi-Auto Pistol fed by Removable Magazine

Barrel Length: 3 7/8"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short blade with a recessed dot integral to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a "U"-notch with a vertical square aiming reference dovetailed into the slide. The top of the slide has a thin rib that has fine wavy serrations to reduce glare.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black plastic with Walther banner logos at their tops. The grips show even light-moderate handling wear. There is scattered light scuffing with some nicks and scratches. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original. The slide and frame are serial-matched.

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is scattered light erosion and stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 7/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 65% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The balance is mostly in the right slide flat and each side of the frame behind the trigger where it appears that previous markings were scrubbed and the serial number was reapplied. These areas are in the white with light oxidation, there is other scattered minor oxidation with more notable oxidation in the grip areas. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw head is lightly disfigured with a usable slot. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: A single 8-round Mec-Gar magazine is included.

Our Assessment: The Walther PP, or Polizeipistole, was introduced in 1929 and found great success both commercially and with law enforcement agencies. While the Walther factory in Zella-Mehlis was liberated by American forces in 1945, the region found itself on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain after the war with the company relocating to Ulm. It took some time not only to set up the new factory, but to receive authorization from the Allied powers to produce firearms, with the PP starting to be made again in 1952, with much of the production being parts sent to Manurhin in France to finish and assemble into complete guns. There were, however, some produced in Ulm by Walther and this is an odd example.

The pistol's serial number puts it in the earliest post-war production, 1952-1953, which started with serial 10501. What is odd about this example is that the frame serial number is marked in three places, on each side behind the trigger and on the barrel housing visible through the ejection port. Both of the side markings and the slide serial marking are struck in areas that have had previous markings scrubbed, but all of the markings are in the same font and appear to be genuine Walther markings. Even more strange is the complete lack of German proof marks on the slide or frame, though the barrel has a proper Eagle/N nitro proof. The import marking on the frontstrap is through the finish, and indicates that this is how the gun was imported. This intriguing Modell PP would make a neat addition to a Walther or Cold War-era pistol collection and should make for a fun research project. Please see our photos and good luck!