Biweekly Gun Shots 5 - Polizeipistole Kriminalmodell

I have always wanted a Walther PPK or PPK-S. Maybe it is the influence from all of those spy movies when I was a kid, I mean didn't James Bond carry one of these for a few movies/books! Then again there is the Walther name that is imbued with quality - well at least such was the case years ago. If I understand correctly they are now being produced for the U.S. market by Smith & Wesson and sadly I feel the quality is just not the same as it once had been. I have not heard too much about Walthers as of late except for when their products fail. For example there is currently a recall on some models of Walther PPK and PPK-S pistols; and I have heard they make a pistol in .22LR that is - well let's just say I would not own it.

Nonetheless, I would still like to own a Walther PPK or PPK-S. Preferably an older PPK in either .32 auto or .380 auto, and not a PPK-S as pictured (note this was in in .32 auto) since someone who is just dreaming can afford to be choosy. Since I do not own any pistols in .380, that would probably be my caliber of choice for one of these pistols although the .32 auto would also be okay by me. The Walther PPK was introduced in 1931. The PPK-S was introduced subsequent to the enactment of the Gun Control Act of 1968 in order to comply with anti-gun laws within the USA. There were those Democrats screwing us over even way back then! There is not much difference between a PPK and a PPK-S except for weight and as I understand an additional one round capability of the PPK-S; but you can bet I'd prefer the PPK - one that was made in the Deutschland, one that was unfettered by gun control laws.

The current production specs for a PPK in .380 follow:

Model: PPK
Caliber: .380ACP
Barrel Length: 3.35"
Dimensions: 6.1"L/3.8"H/.98"W
Weight (without Mag): 20.8 oz.
Sights: Fixed
Magazine Capacity: 6 Rounds
Trigger: DA/SA
Trigger Pull: 13.4 lbs./6 lbs.
Internal Safety: Firing Pin Safety
External Safety: Manual Safety with Decocking Function
Action: Double and Single Action Trigger

The specs for the PPK-S in .380 are as follow:

Model: PPK/S
Caliber: .380ACP
Barrel Length: 3.35"
Dimensions: 6.1"L/4.3"H/.98"W
Weight (without Mag): 22.4 oz.
Sights: Fixed
Magazine Capacity: 7 Rounds
Trigger: DA/SA
Trigger Pull: 13.4 lbs./6 lbs.

The Walther PPK is quite concealable and is a good candidate for either on the belt in a holster carry, or for carry in a pocket. Personally I do not like carrying pistols in my pockets, and much prefer and feel safer with one in a holster on my strong side hip. They are available in blued or stainless steel finishes. I like the look of blued steel guns better and would probably but not necessarily go with that. Stainless has the added advantage of being much more corrosion resistant so I would have to consider such when making up my mind. As for carrying it using mags with the thumb extension, as pictured above, no thanks, I could do without and prefer flat bottomed magazines.

Though small pistols, they do not have a small price tag. The suggested retail price for either of the PPKs mentioned above is $605.00. My guess would be that currently they may be somewhat more expensive what with the anti-gun crowd we now have in Washington, DC.

All the best,
Glenn B

My Glock 26...

...arrived today. There I was sitting at the duty desk in my office when in walked the FedEx lady. I had to sign for two packages for folks in my office. Once I signed, she asked me how to spell my last name for input on her keypad. As I was telling her, I looked at the packages and surprise, one was for me. What a coincidence! I showed her how to spell it; then I checked out the return address. It was - Smyrna, GA, home of Glock USA.

Well yippee, the Glock 26 had arrived, only about a month and a half, at most, after I had sent in the order, though it seems like less time. Not bad at all considering it has taken months for others in my office to receive their pistols ordered likewise.

Now the one n the picture, is not the exact same one I received, but it will have to do for now. Virtually the same pistol, so not much else to show by me posting a pic of the actual one I just got, but I'll take a pic tonight when I get home and post it anyhow just because that way I will have shown you my actual Glock 26. For now though it remains in the box, unopened. Well I opened the shipping box, but not the actual plastic gun case that Glocks markets with these pistols. I'll wait til tonight to do that, when I am home and relaxed. if I get the chance, I'll take it out over the weekend and shoot it at a range, you know just to make sure there are no glitches, bugs or kinks that need to be worked out of it. I imagine that about 400-500 rounds of 9MM should do the trick, you know- to break it in - so to speak.

All the best,

Glenn B

Glock 26

Okay, I have another offer to purchase a pistol direct from the manufacturer through my employer. This time it is for a Glock 26, 9mm pistol. This is the so called 'Baby' Glock. It is going for $477, with 2 magazines and Trijicon (or is it Tritium?) night sights. This offer seems more tempting than the ones I can get through my job for a SIG or an HK. Why, well because both the SIG and the HK are offered only in a law enforcement configuration which means both have a double action only trigger pull, and that trigger pull is horrendous. At least on the Glock I have a choice of the 5 lb.or 8 lb. trigger pull. This beats the HK by at least 4 pounds, and by 7 pounds if I get the lighter of the two offered on the Glock.

The Glock I think is also the smallest of the three pistols I have been considering. It is also the least expensive. I have also carried a Glock 19 for about the past 15 years; man it has been a long time. I am very familiar with it, and have had no major problems with it in all that time. There have been magazine exchanges where Glock has sent new mags to my employer to replace old ones, but they took care of problem mag designs very well in that regard. They now seem to have gotten it right. I also probably have a few of my own spare Glock magazines around. They are usable in the Glock model 26.

Now of course, the Glock 26 does not come in .40 S&W caliber, it is a 9mm. That will have to do, as for some reason my job did not authorize a personally owned Glock 27 in .40 S&W to be carried. That is strange since the HK and the SIG have to be in .40 S&W. Go figure, but that is the goobermint. Despite that, I have to tell you, this one is really tempting. It would be a great gun for retirement if only because of its small size thus making it quite concealable. In addition, I shoot very well with it (I carried a model 26 as backup on my job for several years and shot better with it than with the larger model 19). Yep, I think this may be the one. I have scrimped, and saved, and sold things I already owned to gather the cash (and payday is Monday) toward the purchase of a new pistol, and I think I may have to act before they pull the deal or raise the price.

Now for the tough decision - Olive Drab or Black? Basic Black has always suited me in my Glocks, so I suppose I'll stick with it. Tomorrow I will fill out the order form and the required purchase letter from my office. I already did that for the HK, but trashed that letter once I saw the deal on the Glock 26. This is going to be the one - really - it is the one.

All the best,
Glenn B