Walther West German Proof Marks

twistedbrilliance

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I have been trying to find some info on my Walther PPK just for fun. The markings on it consist of :
Carl Walther Waffenfabrik Ulm/Do.
Modell PPK Cal. 7,65mm
Made in W. Germany

the multiple proof marks on it are crowns with the number 952 inside.

I have tried google and not found any info.
 
Your Walther PPK should have a number stamped on the barrel cowling in the ejector port. Probably next to an antler, indicating the date it was proofed, and where (most were proofed in Ulm, hence the antler which is the code for Ulm). That would be the date of manufacture. If there isn't one, tell us the first few digits of the serial number and then ### the rest and I'll look it up.

Your pistol was made in the 60s or 70s when there was a West Germany. 50's guns were "Manurhin" / French marked, just over the border from Ulm. They're nice pistols, more than 90% of them were made in .32 / 7.65, the rest in .22 and 9mm K or .380. The .32 is accurate, pleasant to shoot, and, as long as you touch your thumb to your "driver greeting finger" when you grip the pistol, safe. If you have bigger or meaty hands, you should either learn how to hold it (thumb to which finger?) or not shoot it, since you'll get a very painful groove carved into the web of your hand.

I will dig out my books to see what postwar crown proof marks mean. Prewar, they all got Crown over N proof marks.
 
Your pistol should be from about 1972 when they changed the firing pin design at around 272,000. If you have pictures of the pistol, that would clearly help. It should have a date stamped in the barrel cowl visible through the ejector port. A picture of both sides would help, especially the proofs. There were various crown proofs, some for Danish and other militaries, which may also account for the missing year code. Are there letters under the crowns?
 
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