[Oregunner]

Greetings all, just found this forum today and as a long time
Walther fan it looks like I'll be spending some time here.

A few weeks ago I bought a .22 cal. PP. It has a black painted
finish with many paint chips and scratches. I wanted it for a shooter and trail gun, and the price was right so I bought it.

Researching it's history I find it's a British Contract PP as listed
in Dieter Marsehall's book Walther Pistols, on pages 33, 34, and 35. FYI, this book is full of info on older Walthers. It looks
exactly like the picture on page 35 but does have a small
Interarms import stamp on the right side of the frame.

My question is how valuable is this pistol? I'll probably never
sell it, she shoots great, but is a little ugly and I'm thinking
of having it reblued. I don't want to ruin it's collector value,
if there is any, by having it refinished.

For my first post I've rambled on long enough.  

                Thanks guys. what do you think?

 

[RCK]

Welcome to WaltherForums!

I'd probably periodically check the "usual suspects" on the 'net: gunbroker, auciton arms, and guns america.

I have a similar situation in that I own a Smith M27-2 nickel, with a 3.5" barrel, target hammer / target trigger, pinned and recessed.  Plenty of models with longer barrels, but it's rare to find mine.  I have no intention of selling it, but I'm curous to know what it's worth from an appraisal standpoint.

Poke around there to see what you can find, and in the meantime, hopefully one of our "resident experts" can answer.

 

[P88]

My question would be has it already been refinished once already? Weren't the British PP's parkerized and not blued?

I'll have to look in my Dieter Marshall book tonight when I get home.

 

[JMT]

Oregunner

I have the exact B. C. PP .22 that you are asking about. Mine also is exact to Dieter's description and S/N range. Mine is new in box and is blued as all other com. Walthers. Dieter makes no mention of any different finish, so I would assume they had standard Walther blue finish. Mine, in addition to the lanyard loop also has an Interarms Import stamp. I'd have it blued and get it closer to original

 

[Oregunner]

Thanks for the info guys.
On page 33 of Marschall's book he states, "these caliber .22lr
British pistols were first delievered with a blue finish, but later
they were reworked (sand blasted?) and spray painted with
"suncorite" which was a black matte, oil resistant lacquer
finish."
The fact that mine has a nicely blued trigger, hammer, and
safety makes me think it would look sharp all blued.
If I recall correctly Adams Guns had one on Guns America a
while back, I think it went for $495 but was nicer than mine.
JMT, I'm thinking you may have a rare pistol there. Possibly it
is a late BC PP that they never got around to refinishing.
If I do have it reblued it won't be till this winter, I'm having
too much fun shooting it now.
Keep those opinions coming.

 

[Dieter H. Marschall]

Hello,
I would recommend to leave that PP as it is - with matte-black suncorite finish, even if it is a bit worn.
Dieter H. Marschall.

 

[Oregunner]

If "The Walther Man" himself says leave it as is, that's probably good advise. Lord knows I'm into saving a buck and
a new finish won't make it shoot any better.
Thank you Mr. Marschall for posting an answer.

 

[Herr Walther]

I'm with Dieter. Never touch a collectable.