Reported Interarms/Ranger Serial Numbers/Dates

[searcher451]

As many of you know, we've had a number of posts asking for help with placing a manufacturing date on one of the Interarms/Ranger pistols. The posts are always frustrating because, unlike when requests come in for information on the Walther and Manurhin pistols, we can't be of much help.

To the best of our knowledge, Interarms never released a listing of serials numbers/dates that corresponded to the firm's production; as a result, the best that owners who want to place a date on their guns can do is to see if the test target that's sometimes included with the gun has a date marked on it.

In the interest of trying to help out with the date process for the Interarms pistols, let's use this Sticky as a place to post a serial number and the date on its test target; if the list grows, it would help provide a general idea about when a specific gun was made.

Here are two to kick off the list:

Interarms PPK/S Serial Number: 031790 Test Target Date: 1/28/83
Interarms PPK/S Serial Number: 035118 Test Target Date: 1/28/83

Please check your Interarms-made Walthers and chime in if you can help. Thanks in advance.

A couple of other notes here:

1. Dates also can sometimes be determined by having the original bill of sale. It's also important to keep in mind that the gun could have sat on the shelf for a year or three before being sold.

2. As MGMike has said previously: Extrapolation to arrive at annual figures is dangerous. It presumes steady production, which is seldom true.

[searcher451]

I've fished back through some previous threads and found these reported guns from a couple of different forum members:

PPK Interarms manufacture dates:

PPK Blued K003641 10/24/1987
PPK Blued K000562 11/5/1986
PPK Blued K014121 12/13/1994

PPK Stainless A068995 7/28/1993
PPK Stainless A067365 1993 purchase
PPK Stainless A079617 2/2/1995
PPK Stainless A0509xx 1990 purchase

PPK/S Serial Number S1598** Date 6/24/99
PPK/S Serial Number 067*** Date 1/31/97

Much of this information comes from this thread (and thanks, Craig):

http://www.waltherforums.com/showthr...+serial+number

[lunde]

I have an Interarms PPK Stainless in .32 Auto bearing serial number B005339. Its test target is 1998, but I will need to wait until I get home this evening to check the exact date.

[jsbethel]

Interarms Stainless PPK/S Serial Number: S101380 Test Target Date: 2/25/93

[searcher451]

Here are two more reports that were posted online:

A058*** PPK/S .380 with a test target dated 6/19/91
A024936 PPK/S .380 with a test target dated 12/24/93

Can't vouch personally for these; I've found them reported on various gun boards while running a search and am at the mercy of the folks who own them or have listed the information. As Craig points out in the post below, both seem to be off a bit.

[MN_Swede]

Originally Posted by searcher451

Here are two more reports that were posted online:

A058*** PPK/S .380 with a test target dated 6/19/91
A024936 PPK/S .380 with a test target dated 12/24/93

searcher451,
Great stuff. Hope to see more info posted - every little bit helps. But in regard to the quote above, shouldn't the "A" prefix serial numbers be attached to stainless PPK's, not PPK/S's? And, of course the sequence is inconsistent; A024936 should predate A058xxx. Maybe?
If I get any spare time soon, I'll try to sort the info I've collected into order by reported dates, and we'll see if the serials follow. If ands when I get around to that project, I'll post it of course. I suspect there's a LOT of misinformation posted online.
I don't want to discourage anyone from posting info though, please keep the serials and test target dates coming!
Thanks,
Craig

[lunde]

Here is mine:

PPK Stainless B005339 08/14/1998

[searcher451]

Interarms/Ranger stainless .32 ACP PPK/S.
Serial Number W0058**
Test target date: 8/5/98

[MN_Swede]

If you see anything wrong, please let me know. This is info I believe MAY be correct. Where the dated says "purchse" I'm asuming it was a new pistol purchase date, and the owner no longer has the target. I've seen targets that weren't dated too...

Model Finish Caliber Serial Test target date

PPK Blue .380 K000562 11/5/1986
PPK Blue .380 K003641 10/24/1987
PPK Blue .380 K014121 12/13/1994

PPK Stainless .32 B005339 1998

PPK Stainless .380 A043149 11/7/1989
PPK Stainless .380 A0509xx 1990 purchase
PPK Stainless .380 A058xxx 6/19/1991
PPK Stainless .380 A067365 1993 purchase
PPK Stainless .380 A068995 7/28/1993
PPK Stainless .380 A079617 2/2/1995

PPK/S Stainless .380 S101380 3/25/1993
PPK/S Stainless .380 S1598xx 6/24/1999

PPK/S Stainless .32 W0058xx 8/5/1998

PPK/S Blue .380 000895 1978

TPH Blue .25 G00035x 10/12/0998

TPH Stainless .22 LR T030630 5/3/1996

[lunde]

PPK Stainless .32 B005339 1998

This one now has a date, which was taken from its test target: 08/14/1998.

(Sort of off-topic, but what's up with the lack of ability to edit one's posts?)