Interarms/Ranger PPK/S Question

Sure looks stainless to me. It looks too good to have been blued. Nothing against blue but when you strip the blue the stripping chemicals leave a finish on the bare metal that is a little less lusterous. There a method for confirming stainless that I haven't used in a long while and it escapes my old brain, maybe another here remembers. Usually test on a spot none will see like the mag well. -Bill


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My guess from the pics is that it has been buffed, perhaps to remove some scratches.
A dab of cold blue (inside the slide, etc.) should give you an answer. If it doesn't react, it's stainless.
Moon
ETA-
Had a look at mine to be sure; the top of the slide should be a bead blast finish, and the buffing marks on the sides of the slide should be parallel to the slide itself. Somebody has been at it with a buffer.
M

Thank you both for the information. I place a dab of cold blue on the inside of the slide and it did not take. I then placed some on the area near the bottom of the part of the slide where the firing pin is located and it took some of the cold blue.
I then placed a dab on the side of the slide and on the front strap of the frame, neither one took. So, either stainless that someone polished at some point or a refinishing was done some time in it's life. Either way now, I know it's not bare metal.
It will be used and enjoyed.
Thank you again for the information.

It's not stainless, as the serial number would have an "S" prefix if it were. It was originally a blue gun; probably it's been plated.

M

MGMike said:

It's not stainless, as the serial number would have an "S" prefix if it were. It was originally a blue gun; probably it's been plated.

M

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I have a stainless PPK from Interarms and its serial number starts with "A" - is the "S" only for PPK/S models? This pistol sure looks stainless to me!

Pat

plunk111 said:

I have a stainless PPK from Interarms and its serial number starts with "A" - is the "S" only for PPK/S models? ....

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The stainless PPK did not have the S, neither did the stainless PPK/S in .32.

There are a couple of threads in the PP/TP FAQs about this:

https://www.waltherforums.com/forum...-usa-made-ppk-ppk-s-serial-numbers-dates.html

plunk111 said:

...This pistol sure looks stainless to me!

Pat

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Examine more closely.

Stainless PPK/s pistols made in the USA for Interarms all have an "S" prefix. Blue versions have none, just the number.

PPK pistols are different.

M

plunk111 said:

I have a stainless PPK from Interarms and its serial number starts with "A" - is the "S" only for PPK/S models? This pistol sure looks stainless to me!

Pat

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Yes the s is only for PPK-S in stainless. No PPK was ever made in stainless until recently.

Twobits said:

No PPK was ever made in stainless until recently.

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Time is always relative. In this case, until recently would probably mean since about 1986.

Balogh said:

Time is always relative. In this case, until recently would probably mean since about 1986.

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I stand corrected Interarms did make some but not as many as the made in the PPK-S.

The PPK/s was greeted with some unhappiness when first produced for import, but many liked the longer PP grip.
So the PPK/s was often made by Interarms/Ranger after the GCA of '68; since they resumed making the importable /s version, it was likely economics (cheaper to make them here).
Moon
ETA-hate to disagree with Mike at this late date; didn't check at the time. Perhaps all .380 stainless guns had an S prefix, but the stainless .32s do not; neither PPK or /s.

M

Twobits said:

I stand corrected Interarms did make some but not as many as the made in the PPK-S.

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That's correct. Interarms manufactured almost twice as many PPK/S as PPK in the stainless steel variant. For the blued versions, the numbers for the PPK were even as low as about 20%.

halfmoonclip said:

Perhaps all .380 stainless guns had an S prefix, but the stainless .32s do not; neither PPK or /s.

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The following prefixes were used by Interarms for their stainless models:
A: PPK in .380
B: PPK in .32
S: PPK/S in .380
W: PPK/S in .32

Balogh said:

The following prefixes were used by Interarms for their stainless models:
A: PPK in .380
B: PPK in .32
S: PPK/S in .380
W: PPK/S in .32

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Now that we have that down. Just how many PPK-S did Interarms make in stainless. Next is it worth it to put an unfired PPK-S stainless that has been left in unfired condition away as an investment. Mine has a serial number S001189 and has never been fired outside of factory test firing.

Twobits said:

is it worth it to put an unfired PPK-S stainless that has been left in unfired condition away as an investment.

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I don't think so. Maybe an unfired NIB Colt's or Smith & Wesson would bring a return after many years but not an Interarms. I'm also sceptical of using firearms for investment purposes.

Redcat94 said:

I don't think so. Maybe an unfired NIB Colt's or Smith & Wesson would bring a return after many years but not an Interarms. I'm also sceptical of using firearms for investment purposes.

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I discount your answer as Colt never made a PPK-S and S&W PPK-S was far inferior than the ones made by Interarms.

Twobits, you're kinda missing the point. The Interarms/Ranger pistols are fine guns, but are relatively recent and not especially uncommon guns. Even the much rarer .32 iterations aren't especially valuable.
So enjoy your pistol, use it in some moderation; it won't really effect the value.
Carry will show some scuffs and wear, even on stainless.
I vote with Redcat; guns aren't an especially good investment. Be satisfied to own and enjoy such, and assume your family will recoup at least some of the money you've spent.
Moon

Twobits said:

I discount your answer as Colt never made a PPK-S and S&W PPK-S was far inferior than the ones made by Interarms.

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I don't believe that any Interarms PPK will ever appreciate in value enough to justify keeping it unfired. Other brands yes, but not Interarms. Colt and S&W have a stronger following in the US than Walther. The only Walther pistols that I would consider even remotely as "investment grade" are the pre-1945 guns.

If you want to try your hand at investing in a PPK then I would recommend an example made in Zella-Mehlis. Either a boxed commercial model or a Party Leader rig might be a good choice to start with.

Colt Snake guns if you can find cylinder not turned , Pythons, Anaconda 45 long Colt and the likes if your young, you will make money 30 years from now at their current cost. Had 2 Pythons paid 675.00 each cylinders never turned purchased in 70s and early 80s , Sold for 5800, on one and 8200 on other, pick up 2 like that and in 20 years you will double your money, other than that, 95 percent of other guns you will loose money on or maybe break even if lucky.