Walther PPK

Hello All.  Sorry for the long absence.  Been busy with the family and all that goes with it.

It has been asked how the spring repairs went and did they solve the misfire issue in totality.  The repairs went very well and were accomplished rather quickly.  The firing pin spring replacement did work as the indicator now functioned properly.  However, I was still having problems with the Walther PPK/S misfiring.

Frustrated by the lack of  success, I took a good look at the Walther PPK/S when firing.  It turns out that the slide would slightly rub the tops of the custom wood grips installed on the gun.  This rubbing would then cause the safety to release while firing.

In order to rectify this issue I decided to hone the bottom of the slide and simultaneously sand down the wood grips, paying special attention to the grip cut-out near the safety release.  The slide was honed on a stone with some oil.  This was done slowly by hand as only a slight bit was needed to be removed.

The wood grips were then sanded with a file on the tops and the section around the safety release button was sanded down with a round file to open the area around the safety release button up a bit more.  This was also slowly carried out with a hand file.

The results were good and I now question the worth of custom made grips.   I like the feel of the wood grips, but may buy Walther factory produced custom grips in the future to avoid any issues.

I am thinking about purchasing another firearm and the Walther P5 is on the radar.  The 9mm is nice size ammo that is available at a decent price.  Even better, the 9mm is almost always able to be located for sale.

These guns are older and hard to find, but they do come to market time to time.  As I learn more about the Walther P5 I am thinking of creating a page about them in the future.  

If I find the right Walther at the right price then I will make the move.  Stay tuned….

Well, the time had finally come to decide what to do with two PPK handguns.  For those who have read every post, it is no surprise that I owned two PPK’s.  When the Smith & Wesson version I purchased for concealed weapons carry (CWC) needed to go back into the factory for the recall I was defenseless.  While I waited for the return of the gun, some two months, I decided to buy another PPK/S.

The second PPK was an older Interarms version.  Both PPK’s were manufactured in the USA and share interchangeable parts.  However, there is a slight difference in the tang (beaver tail) size.  The Smith & Wesson version has a bit bigger tang than the older Interarms product.  That said, both PPK/S handguns shot well.

So, what version did I sell and why?  Drum roll please….

In the end I decided to sell the Smith & Wesson PPK/S version that had just been returned by the factory.  I personally believe that the slightly smaller tang on the Interarms PPK/S was better for CWC.  This was more noticable when the holster used was a DeSantis IWB nylon version.  Additional reasons included that the newer gun had the factory hard plastic case and all paperwork included.  Also, the Interarms PPK has custom wooden grips that I have grown fond of gripping.

There you have it. Now, the question is what will I buy next?

There have been a few questions as to how the process was undertaken.  This post is to try and help, but please do not attempt if you are not qualified.

Again, please do not try this if you are not mechanically inclined.  My friend, a former engineer, assisted me in the replacement work.

Take a look at the exploded view page to familiarize yourself with the parts.  Remove magazine and check the chamber to be sure the PPK is empty of all bullets.  Never, ever, work on a gun with bullets loaded.

With the Walther PPK stripped down and the slide removed you are able to see the firing spring and firing pin.  The firing spring can be compressed and the safety catch can be removed.  Then the spring and pin can then be taken out.

Be careful that you do not lose the extractor (part no. 2).  I was able to remove just the extractor piece and after both springs were replaced re-insert it before replacing the safety catch in the final step.

Next, the cartridge indicator and indicator spring can be removed with small needle nose pliers or tweezers.  Pay attention to the orientation of the spring as it only fits in properly one way.  Place the new spring in the same orientation that the old spring was removed.

You install the new springs in the reverse order that they were removed.  Thus, the indicator set-up is replaced first, then the firing spring portion is completed.  Finally you place the extractor piece in position and replace the safety catch (it will slide back and snap into place).

This is a rough guide to what I did.  No photos are available and if you are unsure after reading this overview do not attempt the replacements on your own.  There is no shame in visiting a qualified gunsmith.

I have finally found some free time to work on resolving the spring issues on the Interarms Walther PPK/S.  The firing pin spring and the signal indicator spring were ordered directly from Smith & Wesson.

There was some debate over whether or not the Smith & Wesson springs would work in the Interarms PPK/S.  As I found out, both versions are USA models and therefore the springs are interchangeable.  Yes, that’s right, the Smith & Wesson springs fit into the Interarms PPK/S version without incident.  The entire procedure took less than 5 minutes to complete.

After the replacement work was done it was time for the range.  After shooting a couple of boxes of bullets I knew the replacement work had gone well.  There was a new issue with the custom wood grips, but that is a story for another day.  If you need to replace your Interarms PPK or PPK/S springs like I did, do not hesitate to order from Smith & Wesson.

My Walther PPK/S has finally been returned from the Smith & Wesson factory located in Houlton, Maine.  The overall timeframe turned out to be 8 weeks.   The Walther PPK was sent back to Smith & Wesson on June 26, 2009.  The Walther was delivered to me on August 21, 2009.  That timetable is right in line with the dilatory letter from Smith & Wesson.

What work was performed?  The Factory polished the ramp and repaired the decock lever system.  This is according to the letter that was enclosed with the Walther Pistol.

Now I need to get it to the range for some target practice.

I will post some photos soon.

As you all know, I have sent my Smith & Wesson version of the Walther PPK/S back to the factory for the needed recall repair.  In the meantime, while I was awaiting the return of the Smith & Wesson Walther PPK, I purchased an older Interarms version. 

There is a slight difference in the size of the tang (beaver tail) as the Interarms version is a bit smaller.  Other than that the Walther PPK/S models produced by Smith & Wesson and Interarms appear similar.

Today, I went to the range to fire my Interarms version and was very disappointed.  The gun would occasionally misfire as the gun would not always fire when the hammer fell.  This was a big letdown for the day at the range to say the least.  When it did fire properly, the Interarms Walther PPK/S was accurate and stable.

After the range failure I pulled the gun apart with a friend and we discovered that the firing pin spring and the signal indicator spring were both in need of replacement.  At this point a call was made to Smith & Wesson Walther America to order the parts.

Unbelievable as this may sound, the customer service representative relayed that the Smith & Wesson parts would not work with the Interarms Walther PPK/S.  I was actually advised to call Germany!  Thankfully, I spoke to Earl’s Gun Repair in Tewksbury, MA and was told the truth about the parts situation.

According to Earl, who is very knowledgeable in the Walther arena,  all the American made Walthers share the same parts heritage.  All the castings are made by Pine Tree Castings in Newport NH and the springs are made by Connecticut Springs.  Evidently, both companies produced parts for Interarms in the past and presently for Smith & Wesson Walther PPK and Walther PPK/S models.

With this knowledge in hand, I finally ordered both parts from Smith & Wesson.  The firing pin spring part number ordered is 33025.  The signal indicator spring ordered is part number 500349.  Add to this the minimum shipping charge and the grand total was $12.76 delivered.  The order should arrive by next Thursday.  I will post how the parts install and work in the Interarms Walther PPK/S when the repairs have been completed.

I just received a letter from Smith & Wesson that stated the return time for the Walther PPK/S recall repair is going to be 8 weeks.  This is longer than the original 4-6 time period that I was hoping for.  Hopefully the delay will be no longer.  Time will tell.

Please feel free to take a look at the letter here Walther Delay PPK Recall

The Walther PPK/S was received by the factory at the end of June 2009. It has now been one month and I am anxiously awaiting the return of my pistol from the factory in Houlton, Maine.

In the meantime, while I wait, Smith & Wesson sent me a nice piece of literature that encompasses the new Walther PK380 as well as the PPS, PPK + PPK/S, P99, SP22, P22 and G22. Walther has a nice selection of guns and I am looking forward to buying a different caliber weapon in the future.

The new Walther PK380 is an intriguing gun that is nearly the same size as the popular Walther P22, but with more power.

I will get some images up and discuss in more detail in a future post.

The Walther PPK/S was received at the factory earlier this week and the countdown has begun.

I have read and heard about Walther PPK/S return times ranging from several weeks to many months.  I am hoping that my return time will be 4-6 weeks.  If in fact it was 4-6 months, I would be hugely disappointed in Smith & Wesson.

In the meantime I may need to purchase another .380 caliber handgun while I await the return of the Walther PPK/S – my one and only concealed weapon carry.

By the way, after speaking with Smith & Wesson  about the Walther PPK/S Recall I received a large envelope in the mail.  I had no clue what it might be and was in for a nice surprise.  When the package was opened I found the 2009 Smith & Wesson Product Guide.  This color glossy magazine has several nice articles and a complete 60 page product listing.

Smith & Wesson produces some incredible pistols, revolvers, rifles and more.  The Walther Firearms they manufacture are just the  starting point.