Interarms Walther PPK/S .380 American Limited Collector Gold Pistol
SOLD FOR: $2525
LSB#: 230401JA006
Make: This pistol was manufactured under license to Walther by Interarms of Virginia
Model: PPK/S Limited Collector Series
Serial Number: C225 (of 500)
Year of Manufacture: circa 1987 (Blue Book of Gun Values gives this as the last date of manufacture.)
Caliber: .380 A.C.P. (9mm Kurz)
Action Type: Single or Double Action Semi-Auto with 7 Round Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked with the Walther “Banner” logo over “MADE IN U.S.A.”, and “UNDER LICENSE OF / CARL WALTHER WAFFENFABRIK ULM/DO. / Modell PPK/S Cal. 9mm kurz/.380ACP”. The right side of the slide is marked with “Interarms / Alexandria, Virginia”. The right side of the frame behind the trigger is marked “C225”. The right side of the barrel at the port is marked “VA” in a box. The gun is elaborately engraved with a floral motif: please see our pictures!
Barrel Length: 3 ¼”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a low-profile blade with a white dot in its rear face that is fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a square notch with a square below the notch, and is dovetailed into the slide. The top of the slide is serrated to reduce glare.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered black polymer panels with Walther banner logos at their tops. The grips show some light handling marks along the smooth borders. There are also a couple of faint marks on the bottom of the left panel. The checkering is sharp and there are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips rates in about Fine-Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Gold Plated Steel
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 99% of its metal finish. There are a few faint freckles on the left side of the slide. Otherwise, only light handling marks are present. The grip screw is sharp and the markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The double-action trigger pull is a little stiff and the single-action pull has a small amount of creep. This pistol has a de-cocker. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with three 7-round gold-plated magazines, factory matching hard case, a leather-covered presentation case, and factory paperwork including the manual and a letter of authenticity. The left sides of the magazines are marked with a Walther Banner logo and “Cal. 380 ACP” and on the right sides with a Walther Banner logo and “Cal. 9mm kurz”. Two of the magazines have a black plastic finger extension floorplate and the other magazine has a gold-plated flat floorplate. They are all in Excellent condition. The case is marked on the lid with a Walther banner logo in gold, and the back side of the bottom section is marked “GENUINE LEATHER”. The inside of the lid has a brass-colored plaque marked with an Interarms logo and “PPKS AMERICAN / Limited Collector’s Series / Number / C 225 of 500”. The outside of the case is covered in dark brown leather with dark felt covering its bottom surface, and the inside is lined with dark blue velvet, with the bottom of the case fitted for this pistol and a spare magazine. The case is in about Fine condition. The paperwork is a proclamation by Interarms that this pistol is hand engraved, gold plated and produced as a limited run of 500 PPK/S pistols to honor their association with Walther and the birth of their new production facilities.
Our Assessment: Because of the Gun Control Act of 1968, the importation of the Walther PPK was disallowed, and Walther enlarged the pistol to the PPK/S model to get around the restrictions. The PPK/S was made by Walter in the ’70s and then by license to Walter by Interarms in the 1980s and 90s, and later by Smith & Wesson. This is a beautiful hand-engraved and gold-plated PPK/S American made by Interarms under license to Walther. It was made to commemorate Interarms’ long association with Walther and the birth of their new production facilities used to manufacture the PPK/S pistols here in America. This pistol comes with a leather-covered presentation case and two gold-plated magazines and appears unfired since it left the factory. The grips are beautiful carved laminated rosewood. This is a beautiful pistol that anyone with an appreciation for fine weapons will want to add to their collection. Please see our photos and good luck!
-Greenfield
