Walther PPK
The Walther PP series pistols include the Walther PP, PPK, PPK/S, and PPK/E. They are blowback-operated semiautomatic pistols manufactured by Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen in Germany and under license from Walther in France and the United States. These pistols feature an exposed hammer, a double-action trigger mechanism, a single-column magazine, and a fixed barrel which also acts as the guide rod for the gun's single recoil spring.
On This Page: History | Specs | Design and Use | PPK in the USA | Links
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The PPK in the Bond Series:
After Bond's Beretta misfired and nearly left 007 dead in the novel From Russia With Love, M insisted that he use a new gun. Later, in Dr No, Major Boothroyd presents Bond with his new Walther PPK shortly before he leaves for Jamaica. For 33 years, the PPK would be Bond's gun of choice until Tomorrow Never Dies when it was replaced by the Walther P99. Still, despite Bond's new gun, the PPK will forever remain an icon in Bond tradition along with the Aston Martin and the Vodka Martini.
Specifications:
| Model: | Walther PPK
| | Caliber: | 9x17mm (0.380 ACP, 9mm Short)
| | Capacity: | 6 round magazine
| | Action: | straight blowback operated semi-automatic with
traditional DA/SA (double-action/single-action)
trigger mechanism
| | Construction: | stainless steel slide and frame
| | Sights: | front post with rear notch
| | Grips: | black polymer wraparound with curved backstrap
| | Barrel: | 3.2"(*)
| | Length: | 6.1" (*)
| | Height: | 3.93" (*)
| | Weight: | 21 oz (*)
| | Safeties: | external hammer-dropping safety on left side and
internal 'automatic safety' (see text)
| | Misc.: | pistol comes with 2 magazines, black plastic box,
instruction/safety manual, test target, warranty card and
black plastic cleaning rod
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(*) from user's manual
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PPK History:
The most common variant is the Walther PPK. Its German acronymous name stands for Polizeipistole Kriminalmodell (Police Pistol Detective Model - implying it was more concealable than the original PP model and hence better suited to plainclothes or undercover work). Sometimes, the backronym Polizeipistole Kurz (Police Pistol Short) is given, but this interpretation is incorrect. Nevertheless, it is a smaller version of the PP (Polizeipistole) and has a shorter grip and barrel as well as a lower magazine capacity.
The PP was released in 1929 and the PPK followed in 1931. Both pistols were popular with European police and civilian shooters. The pistols were reliable and easy to conceal. During World War II both variants of the pistol were issued to German military police, Luftwaffe, and other support personnel, as well as officials of the Nazi Party. Adolf Hitler used his PPK to kill himself as Soviet forces closed in on the Führerbunker in Berlin. The PPK pistol is the signature gun of fictional secret agent James Bond, having been chosen by Ian Fleming for his novels and used in most films. Use of the PPK by Fleming had a direct influence on the PPK's notoriety.
The PP and PPK were some of the world's first successful double action semiautomatic pistols and not only were they widely copied, but they are still produced by Walther. The Walther design has inspired several other pistols including, but not limited to, the Soviet Makarov, the Hungarian FEG PA-63 and the Czechoslovakian CZ50. Although it was an excellent semi-automatic pistol, the Walther had competition in its time. The Mauser HSC pistol and the Sauer 38H pistol (a.k.a. model "H"), were both successful in their own right. Sauer pistol production ceased at war's end, but the refined SIG P230, and later the P232, owe much to the earlier Walther weapon.
PPK Design and Use:
The PPK has trim dimensions and is very flat, making it an ideal pistol for
deep concealment or when something larger cannot be carried due to clothing
restrictions. The PPK's finish is a uniform, polished stainless steel with no
tooling marks or scratches. The frame is made of a slightly different alloy of
steel than the slide to prevent galling, but the color matches the slide. A
wavy pattern has been machined on the top rib of the slide to prevent glare
when sighting. The rest of the slide's top surface has a matte finish to
further reduce glare.
The PPK's sights are the standard Patridge type (front post with a notch
rear). The front sight has an orange dot and the rear sight is colored orange
in the lower part of the notch. The rear sight is drift adjustable for windage.
The trigger guard is smooth and rounded. Vertical grooves on the trigger
serve to improve finger friction during the double action pull. The hammer
spur is round to prevent catching on clothing.
On the left rear of the slide is the PPK's hammer-dropping safety lever.
When the lever is pushed down, the pistol is on 'safe' and the hammer is
safely decocked. The lever is pushed up for the 'fire' position.
The PPK safety lever blocks the firing pin from moving. There is no passive
firing pin block. There is one other internal safety that the manual calls an
'automatic safety' - this safety is independent of the position of the safety
lever and is always engaged unless the hammer is cocked or the trigger is
pulled all the way back. The 'automatic safety' prevents the hammer from
contacting the firing pin when the hammer is at the rest position.
A World War II Walther PPK
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If the resting hammer accidentally receives a blow from the rear, it
cannot hit the firing pin and fire the pistol. If the pistol is dropped
muzzle down and 'safety off', only the inertia of the firing pin against
its return spring might cause it to fire.
The double action trigger pull of the PPK is quite stiff and the recoil spring
spring is also quite stout since it is a blowback pistol. Some people with
weaker fingers may have trouble racking the slide or pulling the double
action trigger. The single action pull is very crisp and has almost no slack.
Like many other straight blowback 0.380 ACP pistols, the PPK has a
surprisingly snappy perceived recoil.
The PPK has a 'loaded chamber' indicator in the form of small round pin
that protrudes from the rear of the slide just below the rear sight when the
chamber is loaded. The hammer has an ample clearance cut in it to prevent
contact with the chamber loaded indicator. Of course, the user should check
the pistol to verify its unloaded state and not rely solely on a mechanical
indicator.
The magazine release is on the left side, and is located near the top front
of the grip. The slide will lock back when the magazine is empty, but there
is no external slide stop/release lever. To close the slide, a loaded
magazine is inserted and the slide pulled back slightly to release the
internal catch and chamber a round. Alternately, the empty magazine can be
removed entirely and the slide pulled back slightly to release the slide stop
to close the slide on an empty chamber.
Pierce Brosnan with his Walther PPK in GoldenEye
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The PPK comes with two 6-round magazines. One has a flat metal floorplate
and another has a polymer finger rest floorplate. The magazines
have stainless steel bodies and followers. They can be disassembled for
cleaning if needed.
There is no external takedown lever. Field stripping the PPK involves
pulling the trigger guard down and pulling the slide back and lifting it off
the frame. It is a simple process that is easily learned.
The PPK in the USA:
In 1978, Ranger Manufacturing of Gadsden, Alabama was licensed to manufacture the PPK and PPK/S; this version was distributed by Interarms, based in Alexandria, Virginia. This license was eventually cancelled. As of 2007, Smith and Wesson is licensed to manufacture the PPK and PPK/S. Additionally, Walther's 2008 worldwide defense product catalog indicates (although this is not explicitly stated) that, with the exception of the PP and the new PPK/E model (see below), the United States is the current sole source for new PPK-type pistols.
PPK Links:
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