Just picked this pistol up looking for some more info. The serial number is in the 1,000,000 I’m not familiar with this any additional info is greatly appreciated thank you
Walther PPk seeking more info
- Thread starter Gman06
- Start date
Muncher 1953
Senior Member
that the left side says Zella-Mehlis = pre 1945, proofs on right side below the ejection port & on breech block look like crown N, so civilian proofed but I didn’t see any references online to 7 digit, all numeral serials. one reference shows a transition from mid 900,000s all numeral marks to 6 digits + lower case letter k in the 120,000k range between ‘37 & ‘38.
Kind of their own cool little variation!
Dm1
Well-known member
The million series is a desirable variation as they only made around 7,000 +- of these, they are commercial proofed and high polish finish which would mean earlier production, 37-38 As said nobody has came up with any solid info as to what the production run was meant for. Just another niche in the world of Walthers. Same as the W suffix serials as mentioned. Hoping that time and more research could reveal some more answers, but highly unlikely being that the factory records were destroyed at the end of war.
Actually both “variations” have logical scenarios for explanation. As noted by noted Walther expert Dieter Marshall, as total Walther pistol production approached consecutively numbered 1000000 pistols in 1938, the company scrambled to create a different production numbering system. The numbering of PPKs was continued into the million number, while PPs in the high 900000 range received only five digits of the serial nummber. Another variation?
The numbering problem was solved with new serial numbering starting in the 100000 range for the PP/PPKs but with the addition of suffixes to denote all their commercial weapons: P, K, A (for Model 8s), N (for Model 9s), W and K (for certain rifles). Serial numbering was done in one place and itvhas always been my theory that the numbering crew screwed up and forgot to change the suffix when switching from some rifles to PPKs. No proof but seems logical.
The numbering problem was solved with new serial numbering starting in the 100000 range for the PP/PPKs but with the addition of suffixes to denote all their commercial weapons: P, K, A (for Model 8s), N (for Model 9s), W and K (for certain rifles). Serial numbering was done in one place and itvhas always been my theory that the numbering crew screwed up and forgot to change the suffix when switching from some rifles to PPKs. No proof but seems logical.
I agree 1938 sometime, but I believe it is proofed Crown/N which is also commercial but pre-January 1940.