1573

Special Order Pre-war Commercial Walther PP Pistol In 22 LR with Special Order Extended Checkered Wa

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Special Order Pre-war Commercial Walther PP Pistol In 22 LR with Special Order Extended Checkered Wa
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Estimate: $5000 - 10000
This is another excellent example of a scarce and desirable later production Walther PP pistol in the very desirable 22LR that has been fitted with a set of the special order, extended length, checkered walnut Walther grips to include two special blued magazines, one that also has the matching, special order, extended walnut finger grip base plate with the second one has a special order aluminum base with curved aluminum finger rest, base plate. The extended grips were a special order item that enabled the owner to better use it for target shooting. The serial number range of this Walther PP pistol, falls right in line with other Walther PPs also produced in 22 LR as shown on pages 72-75, of Volume I, of the excellent book on Walther PP and PPK pistols by James Rankin, with one example shown, having the same exact style of grips as this specific pistol. Accompanying this lot is a letter from the original owner to the consignor stating that he obtained this pistol and holster from a US Army T/Sgt, that was assigned to the Military Government Office in Offenback Germany. The original owner states that the T/Sgt obtained this pistol directly at the Walther factory in 1945 at the end of WWII. These 22LR pistols were produced throughout production for both the PP and PPK models and are always considered highly desirable as they have a common, easy to obtain ammunition, however the extended grip versions are considered very rare as they were produced only on special order directly from the Walther factory. This pistol has the standard fixed sights, with the left side of the slide marked with the Walther Banner followed by "Waffenfabrik Walther, Zella-Mehlis (Thur)/ Walther's Patent Cal.22" followed by "Mod PP". The right side of the slide, chamber area and front end of the barrel are correctly stamped with the "crown/N" commercial proofs. It has a matching partial serial number (265) hand scratched on the inside the slide. Also accompanying this pistol is a very RARE second model Luftwaffe type I, leather "PPK" holster that has had the end of the holster, modified and extended to accommodate the extra length of the PP pistol slide. A PPK holster was chosen, as it's basic form could accommodate the extended grip for the Luftwaffe pilot who wanted it for his personal sidearm. The work was professionally done and was no doubt modified at the Lerch holster factory in Berlin as the stitching and leather are identical throughout the entire holster wtihout any break. The PPK holster was utilized because it would accommodate the extended grip. Inside the flap of the holster it is correctly ink stamped: "fur Walther Pistolen, Mod. PPK 7,65mm" and farther down it is stamped with the makers mark "hck/41" (George A Lerch Gmbh Leader Waren Fabrik Berlin C2, Leipziger strasse, 75-76) next to the Luftwaffe Eagle acceptance proof.
BBL: 3 1/2 inch
Stock:
Gauge: 22 LR
Finish: blue
Grips: walnut checkered
Serial Number: 102265P
Condition: Excellent with 98% plus of the original bright blue finish overall with minor holster wear present on the edge and high spots. The walnut grips are also in excellent condition with a nice natural walnut color with no cracking or damage anywhere with only some minor handling marks on the left side with nice sharp checkering overall. The leather holster is also in excellent condition overall with a nice medium brown color overall with minor handling marks and light scratches from actual use and carrying, with some minor wear on the closure strap. The ink markings on the inside of the flap are clear and so is the Luftwaffe proof. The extension or modification on the lower portion of the holster was very professionally done and as noted above, this describer feels it was performed by the holster factory as the stitching is exactly the same throughout and the additional leather piece matches the original holster leather. An excellent example of a very scarce and desirable pre-war Walther PP pistol in 22LR with the special order extended Walther grips (for a Luftwaffe pilot).