PPK -West German Luftwaffe 1956

[lithgow]

This is my PPK-made 12/1956 by Manurhin in Alsace, France (as all the postwar PPKs were)-when the West German (FGR) armed forces were reformed in 1955, the PPK was adopted as the P21 PPK-L ('Leicht/Light') in 7.65mm/.32 ACP for the new Luftwaffe as an aircrew self defence/survival pistol, much as it was used in WW2-it later was also issued to senior officers and military police-the total numbers ordered were relatively small-some 5,568 steel framed and 1,889 dural framed examples for a total of 7,457. These remained in service until the late 1980s saw most sold off and the final examples removed from use recently.

The NATO stock code number '1005-12-120 0893' is engraved on the front right side of the slide as is the French St Etienne proof mark and month/year of manufacture. The German E/227 acceptance stamp is on the left side of the frame near the trigger guard ('227' indicating a steel frame).

Also included: the spare mag without grip finger extension, leather mag pouch, brass cleaning rod and Walther handbook.