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The Walther PP (Polizei Pistole) came into being in 1929. The PP was at first designed for the police market. When it was first introduced, it was available only in .32 ACP calibre. Later on, it became available in both .22 LR and .380 automatic. The PP can be found in a wide variety of markings and finishes. It has been made in both steel and in lightweight versions. In the post war period the patents covering the various features of the ‘PP’ were still valid and Walther negotiated a licensing arrangement whereby the PP was made by Manurhin in France. When the US importation was acquired by Interarms, the French-manufactured Walther was renamed “the MkII” and was given full pre-war markings, with an Ulm, Germany address. Although the original was in 7.65 mm calibre, it was also made in .22LR, 6.35mm, and 9 mm short. The 6.35 mm is the scarcest as it was only made until 1935. This example of the PP model was marked Ulm, East Germany. The Walther PP is an unlocked blowback, double-action, hammer fired, semi-automatic pistol with a detachable box magazine. Like with most of Walther’s small pistols, the recoil spring is located around the barrel. Other innovations were a signal pin mounted in the slide to ride on the rim of a chambered cartridge, from where it protruded from the rear of the slide to indicate the loaded condition. The magazine latch is located behind the trigger guard and not at the heel of the grip. The safety catch turns the firing pin out of reach of the hammer and block the trigger and firing pin. It was the first mass-production double action pistol and one of the most successful pistols ever made. It was copied by lots of manufacturers. These pistols were very robust with an excellent design and were copied by many other companies and inspired others like: the Makarov, FEG PA-63, Sauer 38H, CZ50, Mauser HSc, SIG P230. It was taken into use by the German military foces, notably the Luftwaffe. (ref. ‘Famous pistols and handguns’ - A J R Cormack, ‘Pistols and revolvers’ by Maj F Myatt p174 p175, ‘Pistols and revolvers’ - JE Smith, ‘Price guide for collector handguns’ by R H Balderson, ‘Pistols of the world’ by Hogg and Weeks p14/257)

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