Jun 7, 2013 - I know Smith acquired Walther a little while back, but it was only. Or what this serial number means as far as when the gun was made? It would appear this is pre-Houlton with left-over Ranger (Alabama) Interarms parts.
Can you please post clear pictures showing the serial number? Also please show overall length view of the complete pistols - the serial numbered side of the guns. This is something unusual which should help GVB members like myself get you an accurate valuation. From my understanding of how Interarms serial numbered their guns, the PPK stainless start(ed) with 'A' and the blued steel PPK's start with 'K'. But I suspect there are exceptions. It sounds like you have a couple.
![Interarms walther ppk serial numbers Interarms walther ppk serial numbers](/uploads/1/2/5/5/125511747/512774048.jpg)
However I have never heard of only a two digit serial number Interarms PPK/S. These are very intriguing pistols. Well that explains part of the mystery - or what was not clear to me. You actually have a six digit serial numbered blued steel version. (Don't forget that zero is a digit also) ? And a six digit serial number plus a prefix letter 'S' for the stainless steel variant. That makes a lot of sense to me, which did not before. With that said, the real issue is what, or more specifically how much of a premium a 'collector' would pay for these guns - due to their very low serial number.
And unfortunately that is only a question a collector interested in purchasing these guns would know. Or how much they are willing to pay for them. If I may, I'll offer my best guess. That is about $800-$900 for the blued steel version and $850-$950 for the stainless steel version. This takes into consideration their low serial number - but again that is an added value issue only a purchasing collector will consider. Frankly I would not be shocked if some diehard Walther (PPK/S) fan would be willing to pay a little over 1K for each. Hope that helps, at least some.
Maybe another GVB member will stop by and offer their thoughts. Very nice guns and thanks for posting quality pics.
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. As MGMike has said previously: Extrapolation to arrive at annual figures is dangerous. It presumes steady production, which is seldom true. 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 PPK Blued K000562 11/5/1986 PPK Blued K014121 PPK Stainless A068995 7/28/1993 PPK Stainless A0 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). 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. 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.
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 PPK Blue.380 K014121 PPK Stainless.32 B0 PPK Stainless.380 A043149 11/7/1989 PPK Stainless.380 A0509xx 1990 purchase PPK Stainless.380 A058xxx 6/19/1991 PPK Stainless.380 A0 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 0 TPH Blue.25 G00035x TPH Stainless.22 LR T030630 5/3/1996.