Reblue/shoot a pre-war PPK 320?

[Paddle]

Need some considered advice.

I inherited a 1937 PPK 320 that my uncle brought back from the war. The slide cycles, and the trigger releases the hammer (lowered gently with my thumb). Posted a couple of pictures a month or two ago, and someone said it was fairly unremarkable, had cheap aftermarket grips and someone had done something terrible to the slide. They didn't, I just took the pictures in harsh light with a flash. The slide does have a good deal of holster wear, and the blueing is very worn/light.

Thought about selling it for a modern auto, but it was my uncles, and then my dads. I'd like a carry pistol... and something fun for the range.

Here's what I need help with:
1) Is the weapon capable of shooting modern ammunition safely? Not high volume, but 100 rounds a month or so?
2) I'm an aircraft mechanic, but not a gunsmith. Can I tear it down, clean and inspect the frame, barrel and components, put a new set of Wolff springs in it and reassemble with a high probability of success? I don't know what "reasonable" bore wear looks like... Would I be better off taking it to a gunsmith? I'm near Tacoma, WA; anybody know of a Walther specialist in this area?
3) Found a really nice set of grips on Grips4U. Right now I plan to keep the weapon, but what's better in terms of value, a high quality replacement set of wooden, or the bakelite originals?
4) The slide and frame blueing is very faded, but I think it sort of gives the pistol character. Am I doing damage if I have it re-blued?

Sorry this is so long, but I'm worried about doing things to a piece of history that can't be undone. Thanks for any help.

[Paddle]

Sorry, should have looked more closely, just noticed the PP FAQs. Lots of reading for the afternoon.

Still curious about reblueing...

[MGMike]

Well, since I am the sob who made the disparaging comment about your slide, I ought to explain.

What struck me from your photos is the stark difference between the blue wear on the slide, which is practically bare, and on the frame, which shows solid color and little wear. The mottled color of the slide left me with an impression of cold blue. From those two factors I drew a not unreasonable conclusion that at some point the slide got rusty, and somebody cleaned it off and cold-blued it, which never lasts very long and soon develops the look of a bad Easter egg.

Now photos are deceptive and don't necessarily tell the truth, so my suggestion is to take the gun to a reputable gunshop or to a serious collector and ask him if he thinks the slide has been cold-blued. (The smell would probably give it away.) If it has been, there is no original finish left on the slide to preserve. If the frame still has its original finish, I'd leave the frame alone, but nothing would be lost by VERY carefully rebluing the slide.

Finally, I went back to see your previous posts, and this is the first time you have mentioned the fact that your uncle brought this gun back from the war. Insofar as you have raised the question of whether to sell it to buy something else to carry, etc., I think that fact puts a wholly different complexion on it.

M

[mike9905]

I would not reblue this pistol. On top of the cost collector value is gone, so you would be paying to reduce the value. And I don't agree that a pre-war PPK is nothing special.

[gene 1]

Paddle, I have a 1940 PPk that I have shot a lot. I also put Grips4U wood grips on it & they requre very little to make them fit. There are several excellent posts on stripping the gun down to clean & check it. Both are photos & instructions. I did like the YouTube one the best although Tanfoglios is also very good.

As Mike said a gunsmith to check it is a good idea, but stripping to clean is also fine. You don't have to take it all the way down. The wood grips will save your original grips which can be worth $300. Blueing is up to you , but I did have mine done because it had very little slide blueing left. I am also 81 , & wanted to enjoy it & did not worry about investment. I had banddr2 from this forum do it & he did not hurt the lettering at all. That is his specialty,to not bother the markings. I shoot mostly Fiocchi FMJ 32 in it & that works best. They like a little hotter load & that brand works well in al my 32's.

[imashooter2]

Guns are for shooting. My FIL gave me this PP before he passed. According to one of the web sites in the FAQ, it is 1930 manufacture. I've put thousands of rounds through it. Modern FMJ, Winchester Silver Tips and lead bullet reloads. I carried it for a bit back when it was my only pocket sized pistol.

I don't abuse it, but with use someday it might break. If it does I'll fix it if it can be or put it on the shelf if it can't. I cannot picture denying myself the years of pleasure from enjoying this pistol in order to add a few dollars more to my estate.

That is my personal philosophy. Others feel strongly about preserving the old guns and would never shoot it. Only you can decide what is right for you.

I would not change your uncle's pistol in any way except to add my own honest wear on top of that provided by the previous owners.

[gene 1]

imashooter, I agree completely with your thoughts on shooting a gun like that. I have always shot most anything I had & have gotten a lot of pleasure from them. To my knowledge I have never hurt a gun shooting it & that goes back to the 1950's & civil war guns.

I know reblueing is wrong ,but in some cases I think it is worth doing. Your PP is a beautiful gun, & I would never refinish one that looks like that.

[hearsefan666]

i agree with imashooter also. guns are for shooting. that being said, i don't think i would re-blue it. let it wear as it was intended. if someday you decide to sell it, the new owner can decide if it will be a "restore and never shoot it" gun. as far as the grips go, keeping those in storage and wearing nice wood grips does nothing to collector value except maintain value. store the original grips and read up on hints to keep bakelite stored safely. if i'm not mistaken, its a form of celluloid and degrades over time. have it looked at by a smith and enjoy it. pass it on to your kid someday with its family history and memories. my 2 cents.

[BlueMax]

I shoot my pre-war "K" every so often and have no problems with it; aside from the odd slide jam which I suspect, has something to do with the ammo I use (American Eagle .32). It hates reloads as I only tried them out once since a friend lent me a few at the range.

One thing I did notice is that it likes to be well oiled and clean otherwise the frequency of jamming seem to occur more often than usual. I've stretched the spring a tad which seems to help somewhat.

Adding a new-style finger-rest to the magazine also helped eliminate slide-bite that the PPK is so notorious for.