Walther RJ R.J. Marked PP .32 ACP/7.65mm Semi-Automatic Pistol, 1937 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1750
LSB#: 210608MW93
Make: Walther
Model: PP (Polizeipistole, Police Pistol)
Serial Number: 946769
Year of Manufacture: 1937
Caliber: .32 ACP (7.65mm)
Action Type: Single/Double Action Semi-Auto Pistol with Removable Magazine
Markings: The right side of the frame is marked “946769”. The right of the barrel and slide each have an crown over “N” commercial proof. The left of the slide is marked with a Walther banner logo, “Waffenfabrik Walther, Zella-Mehlis (Thur) / Walther’s Patent Cal. 7,65m/m” and “Mod. PP”. The frontstrap is marked “R. J.”. The inside of the slide has “M69” hand-scribed.
Barrel Length: 3 7/8”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short blade integral to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a “U”-notch dovetailed into the slide. The top of the slide has a thin rib that has fine wavy serrations to reduce glare.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black plastic with Walther banner logos at their tops. The grips have a few minor nicks and scuffs. There are more notable tool marks around the grip screw on the right panel and the right panel has a crack along the front edge toward the bottom, which oddly doesn’t extend to any edges. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips. Overall, the grips are in about Good-plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 93% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are some scattered minor nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some finish wear at the bottom of the backstrap. There is infrequent minor oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw head is tool marked with a strong slot. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. This pistol has a de-cocker safety. We did not fire this handgun. As with all firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a single 8-round magazine with pinky-extension floorplate. The magazine has operational wear, some minor oxidation, intact feed lips and a strong spring, in about Very Good condition.
Our Assessment: The Walther PP, or Polizeipistole, was introduced in 1929 and found great success both commercially and with law enforcement agencies, with variants still in production today. This model PP was made in 1937 and has “R. J.” marked on the frontstrap. This marking is most frequently associated with the Reichs Justiz Ministerium (Rech Ministry of Justice), though there is some speculation that it refers to the Reich Jugend (Hitler Youth). In either case, the RJ marked PPs are one of the least common variations. The pistol is in Very Good-plus condition, showing light wear with a great bore and strong mechanics. This will make a great addition to a Walther pistol collection. Please see our photos and good luck!