The Walther PP

There's a noise that old pistols make. It's distinctive, metallic "ka-chink" sound that newly-designed guns no longer make. It must have something to do with the all-metal, semi-heavy design of the gun frame and slide. The Walther PP is one of those few weapons that has not changed since it was introduced. Sure, you've got different models (PPK, PPK/S, etc) but all in all, they have remained the same. The PPK that you can buy today is the same one that was on the shelf in the 1930s. And yes, it still makes that glorious sound when fired.

The Walther PPK is a very recognizable weapon. I can honestly say that it's one of my favorite-looking guns. It feels very good in the hand and it's all-metal design makes you feel like you're holding a high-quality item that you can depend on. Of course, being a metal gun makes the PPK heavier that other sub-compact pistols on the market, but the weight soaks up the recoil of the .380 round very nicely and follow-up shots are quick and accurate. The only big question you have to ask when buying a Walther PPK, is whether to get the stainless or blued steel.

I try my best to remain non-biased, so here are few things that you need to know about the PPK before picking one up. These aren't really negatives, just some things that could be a deal breaker for a few individuals. First item on the list is the stiff slide. This has been a constant thing with all of the PPKs that I've handled. While the stiff slide isn't really a problem, it could keep those with delicate hands from choosing this as their carry gun. You might be thinking, "well, it'll loosen up after a few hundred rounds." I thought that too - but two of the PPK pistols that I shot were both over 10 years old and both of them still had VERY stiff slides. This might be able to be fixed with a softer recoil spring, but then you might compromise the Walther's reliability. Another item that needs to be taken into consideration is the take down of the weapon. It isn't easy. If you don't look up a "how-to" video on YouTube, you'll probably be lost. The third item on the list is the magazine baseplate. For me, shooting this gun without the extended pinky baseplate would be uncomfortable. But using the magazine with the extended baseplate give you an additional round of ammunition, so, win-win.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with the Walther PPK. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a solid and dependable carry gun, that wouldn't mind taking the time to get used to it's little quirks.

Please let me know your opinion of the Walther PP!