AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG SEPTEMBER (^201971)
pistols were manufactured by Manurhin up until 1986, with a
total output numbering 1.2 million.
In addition to the German Intelligence Service (BND),
the PPK was used by France’s intelligence agency (SDECE),
Israel’s Mossad and Switzerland’s Intelligence and Security
Service, along with the UK’s MI5 and MI6. The success of the
PP and PPK as double-action semi-automatic pistols inspired
the design of other pistols, including the Soviet Makarov, the
Hungarian FEG PA-63, the Polish P-64, the American Accu-Tek
AT-380 II and the Argentinian Bersa Thunder 380. Even the
Chinese intelligence service issued a PPK clone.
In the United States, the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA)
was enacted as a federal law aimed at regulating the rearm
industry and rearm owners by restricting interstate com-
merce in rearms. The transfer of guns could only be done
by federally licensed manufacturers, dealers and importers.
There were also limits placed on imported rearms coming
into the United States based on certain criteria. Under the
GCA legislation, a pistol intended for import had to earn a
minimum number of points for various “sporting” features,
and the PPK failed to qualify. Size, weight and magazine
capacity issues resulted in the GCA prohibiting the PPK from
being imported—it was an ounce too light and carried too
few rounds in the magazine to satisfy import restrictions.
In order to continue PPK sales in the United States,
Walther overcame the restrictions by developing the PPK/S,
Gun Fit For A King
T
he PPK’s prominent placement in the
James Bond franchise and other spy lms
has contributed greatly to its high visibil-
ity and popularity. Among its millions of fans,
none other than The King himself, Elvis Presley,
was a big admirer. Elvis owned at least two
PPK/S pistols; one gold-plated and intricately
engraved and the other featuring a nickel n-
ish with ornate engraving on the slide, frame
and portions of the grip, which included his
name and Elvis’ trademark “TCB” (Taking Care of
Business) and lightning bolt. The interplay of
the intricate engraving on the nickel surfaces
and the “TCB” medallion inlaid in the handsome
wooden grip offer an impressive presentation.
The gun was produced in West Germany in
1974, and as one of Elvis’ favorite pistols, it
sold at auction in 2015 for a reported $62,500.
none other than The King himself, Elvis Presley,
name and Elvis’ trademark “TCB” (Taking Care of
MANUFACTURER: WALTHER ARMS, INC. (DEPT. AR), 7700 CHAD COLLEY BLVD.,
FORT SMITH, AR, 72916; (479) 242-8500; WALTHERARMS.COM
6.1"
3.8"
ACTION TYPE:
BLOWBACK-OPERATED,
SEMI-AUTOMATIC
CENTER-FIRE PISTOL
CHAMBERING: .380 ACP
SLIDE: STAINLESS STEEL
FRAME: STAINLESS STEEL
FINISH: STAINLESS OR BLUE
MAGAZINE: SEVEN-ROUND
DETACHABLE BOX,
EXTENDED OR FLAT
BASEPLATE
SIGHTS: LOW-PROFILE, FIXED
TRIGGER:
DOUBLE-ACTION,
13-LB., 6-OZ. PULL;
SINGLE-ACTION, 6-LB.,
2-OZ. PULL
WIDTH: 1 "
WEIGHT: 24 OZS.
ACCESSORIES: OWNER’S
MANUAL, PLASTIC
CASE, EXTRA MAGA-
ZINE, CLEANING ROD
MSRP: $630
WALTHER PPK
3.3"
71
with the assassination of Park Chung
Lee by the head of the Korean Central
Intelligence Agency. This ultimately
led to the beginning of democracy in
South Korea.
Following World War II, the Soviet
Union occupied East Germany, neces-
sitating a move from Walther’s factory
in Zella-Mehlis to Ulm. However, for
several years following the war, the
Allied powers prohibited all arms
manufacture in Germany. Given the
lack of production capacity with the
prohibition of manufacturing, Walther
decided to grant licenses for the pro-
duction of its various products.
Walther began manufacturing again
in 1952, when it licensed production of
its PP/PPK series pistols to the French
rm, Manfacture de Machines de Haut-
Rhin, commonly known as “Manurhin.”
All postwar European-made PP series
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