James Bond's Walther PPK?

Bond has used a number of weapons over the years, but is best known for the Walther PPK in 7.65 MM. It replaced his Beretta in "Dr. No." However, he has used many pistols including the superior Walther P-5 and more recently P99. The PPK would not be my choice for any kind of roll in my arsenal.
 
zenheretic said:
The PPK is a flawed near obsolete design.
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Just because it isn't tupperware doesn't make it flawed or obsolete.


The infamous PPK "bite", where the slide cuts the hand webbing, was "solved" by adding an extra long beaver tail. This renders its ccw status less than the older models.
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Slide bite is not a universal problem. People with big paws probably aren't going to like the older walthers, but people with small hands arent going to like glocks. Thats the nature of the beast.

As far as the extended tail making a difference in ccw, you really need to pull out the ruler because the difference just isn't significant at all for carry purposes.


The safety's operation is backwards for anyone used to the common sense 1911 safety design
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So then the berettas are flawed and obsolete corrrect?

and the safety nob is small and easy to miss when operating under pressure (like in a self defense scenario).
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Then carry it with the safety off.

Unless the latest version has been changed, the single action is near dangerously too light in my opinion.
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As you said below, its 6lbs in single action. Thats way on the heavy side for semiauto handguns.


Also as was already mentioned, it is quite heavy for what it is.
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True, however as I'm sure you are aware the heavier a gun the less perceived recoil there is. So, a walther is going to be a softer shooter than any of the plastic fantastic marvels that are out there.
 
SkinnyJoe said:
Do you have more info on that comparison?

Thanks.
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Both the Mauser HsC and the Sauer 38H were developed specifically to compete with the Walther PP/PPK.

The HsC was one of the first pistols to employ easily produced stamped steel internal components to ease and speed up manufacture. Incorporating a shrouded hammer that "sealed" the action lockwork, the HsC was specifically designed to be easy to draw from concealment. Another feature over the Walther included an internal slide hold open that would also automatically drop the slide when the magazine was reinserted. Mauser continued production of the HsC until the late 1970's, and the pistol was the basis of the design of both the H&K P4 pistol and a high capacity Italian made "clone" made by Gambia in the late 1990's. However, Walther's established reputation with the PPK, the odd “art deco” styling of the Mauser, and the fact that the HsC had a heel of the butt magazine release (not popular outside of Europe) limited the pistol's popularity.

The Sauer 38H (mentioned in “Dr. No”) was arguably the most highly advanced design of the three, having a much lighter trigger pull than either the Walther or Mauser, and incorporating a novel lockwork mechanism that allowed the shooter to both decock AND cock an internal hammer. This mechanism, modified to only drop the hammer, along with the 38H’s separate pinned breech block design was later used on the SIG series of pistols. The Sauer factory fell behind the Iron Curtain in 1946, and the pistol was never put back into production.

All three pistols highly influenced the manufacture and design of later guns.

TR Graham
The Glocksmith
 
STAGE 2 said:
Just because it isn't tupperware doesn't make it flawed or obsolete.




Slide bite is not a universal problem. People with big paws probably aren't going to like the older walthers, but people with small hands arent going to like glocks. Thats the nature of the beast.

As far as the extended tail making a difference in ccw, you really need to pull out the ruler because the difference just isn't significant at all for carry purposes.




So then the berettas are flawed and obsolete corrrect?



Then carry it with the safety off.



As you said below, its 6lbs in single action. Thats way on the heavy side for semiauto handguns.




True, however as I'm sure you are aware the heavier a gun the less perceived recoil there is. So, a walther is going to be a softer shooter than any of the plastic fantastic marvels that are out there.
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Usually you are just ignorant, today you are downright dangerous.

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
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.
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Nothing like advising to carry a non drop safe firearm with the safety off. :rolleyes:

http://www.universalexports.net/00Walther.shtml

Flawed and obsolete, no need to bother addressing the rest of your ignorance...
 
My customized S&W/Walther PPK/S is carried (when it goes out in public) with the hammer down and safety off. That's the ready to go method.
I don't consider myself particularly ignorant, but I freely admit I can be dangerous if necessary. :)

Denis
 
I have a KBI/FEG Hungarian copy of the PPK with an aluminum alloy frame. Lightweight, fits the hand great, super natural indexing for the short distances at which it is intended to be used, and with Cor-Bon ammo the .380 can be quite respectable. I checkered the de-cocking/safety lever and now it is very easy to get the necessary traction.

I also have a Kahr TP9 which I prefer for SD but which, although small and thin, is WAY more of a hassle to tote around than the PPK - considerably heavier and bulkier, whereas the PPK disappears, you just forget about it. Now that's just me, some people happily carry 1911s around concealed every day, but it is a legit factor to consider.

I posted it for sale for the sole reason that I have fat webbing between my thumb and index finger, so the slide bit is a serious PITA. But if I had smaller hands I'd never consider selling it.
 
it is possible for the PP series to fire if off safe and dropped, maybe, possibly lol, i carried mine like that literally for yrs and never had a problem, YMMV though. i generally try not to drop my stuff, but it happened a time or 2.

is there better stuff available now? certainly, i havent carried a walther PP series pistol in yrs, 10 or 15 to be exact.

when i was growing up i learned to shoot pistols with a PP, PPk and P38, so i got used to the DA/SA early on, and it helped me thru the yrs as i progressed thru all the later model stuff like that, berrettas, S&W's and such,
 
TR Graham said:
All three pistols highly influenced the manufacture and design of later guns.
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Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. :thumbup:

How would you compare the modern Sig P232 with the modern Walther PPK (made by S&W now?)? Also, how would you compare the Makarov design with the mentioned pistols? Any South American designs that you recommend, similar to these guns?

Thanks.
 
I have a stainless PPK/S in .380 which is an excellent firearm. The stopping power is adequate for concealed civilian carry if you use the proper ammo. Hornady makes a round called Critical Defense which should give you enough stopping power for concealed carry.

Obviously, .380 is not the choice for military or law enforcement. But this is an old debate: stopping power/caliber vs. ability to hit your target. My Walther is smooth as silk and I can group pretty good with it. I'd rather be able to hit with a slightly smaller caliber than miss and make a bigger noise. :)

Home defense? .38 +p minimum or shotgun.
 
Pilot1 said:
Bond has used a number of weapons over the years, but is best known for the Walther PPK in 7.65 MM. It replaced his Beretta in "Dr. No." However, he has used many pistols including the superior Walther P-5 and more recently P99. The PPK would not be my choice for any kind of roll in my arsenal.
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Bond was a secret agent. Guile, disguise and deception were his main weapons, his sidearm was ancillary. The Beretta he had was a .25 caliber, which according to the plot failed him on a previous mission (feed jam or some other malfunction), so they gave him the Walther. He had no need for a hand cannon.

I also own the .25 Beretta. It's a solid performer and the tip-up barrel and half cock make it very safe. Yes, it's a pocket gun or "mouse gun", but that's what it is designed for. I live on Long Island and wear a suit most days. Strapping a 1911 to my hip just isn't practical, and most of my employees would head for the exit. :D The Beretta literally fits in a pocket, and is very suitable for self-defense outside the home since I'm neither military or law enforcement. A quick double-tap and then extricate myself from the situation. I've no interest in "one-shot stops" outside my home. The myriad of legal issues and gray areas can be troublesome, although most people agree that a wounded felon is often a rich felon after the lawsuit. :mad:

Home defense is a different story. My use of deadly force is much more justified, and I want as much stopping power as I can get without over-penetration. Neither the PPK/S or the Beretta is suitable there.
 
OKAY, OK, is the Bersa firestorm a PPK replica? What are the pro's to con's of this one compared to the PPK. I know that some people get this as an affordable option to the PPK. Seems like people like the hand fit of the PPK the most.
 
Planterz said:
That made me so happy. Not that there's anything wrong with the P99, it's just not the sexy kind of gun Bond should use. The P99 is a large, full sized gun, way less concealable, plastic, dull, and lacking any style.
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If you want dead sexy in a full sized cartridge, check out the P5, which is actually a modernized version of the P38 in a shorter package.
 
PV29 said:
I have a stainless PPK/S in .380 which is an excellent firearm. The stopping power is adequate for concealed civilian carry if you use the proper ammo. Hornady makes a round called Critical Defense which should give you enough stopping power for concealed carry.

Obviously, .380 is not the choice for military or law enforcement. But this is an old debate: stopping power/caliber vs. ability to hit your target. My Walther is smooth as silk and I can group pretty good with it. I'd rather be able to hit with a slightly smaller caliber than miss and make a bigger noise. :)

Home defense? .38 +p minimum or shotgun.
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A .380 is at least the equal of a standard .38 Special load. 9mm and .380 are to the old .38 caliber black powder loads what .45 ACP is to .45 LC. Similar, or in the case of 9mm, superior performance out of a much smaller package designed for early smokeless powder. NATO spec 9mm sub gun ammo will hang with any .38 Special +p round, as will standard pressure .38 Super.
 
FWIW i had an HSc at one time and thought it was ok but didnt really like it as well as the walthers, IIRC mine was a .32, accuracy and reliablity was ok, i dont know how they would handle modern HP ammo back when i had the thing ball was it, i always like the way the HSc looked for sure.

mine (well it technically was my dads) was stolen out of my dads car (along w/a winchester pump 12 gauge, a old navy arms 1851 colt replica, and a ruger blackhawk .357) never to be seen again, ya woulda thought one woulda showed up thru the yrs, never have though.
 
I would strongly disagree with the broad statement that a .380 is at least the equal of a standard .38 Special load.
Denis
 
Didn't H&K come out with a small pistol to compete with the PPK?
No matter what is said, the PPK is a classic, pistol.
 
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