yep- from what I can tell, you just found yourself a super rare pistol. SS contract gun according to John Pearson's research.

 

Tom

Thank you for your imput.

Doug

 

Very nice pistol,only one problem,it has the wrong grips on it.The screw should enter from the left not right.They started this change around 850000 serial number block.
Regards
Danny

 

Danny

This is the way the gun was returned to the United States and this is the way it will stay. Thanks for your observation.

 

Danny, All the muzzle numbered RZMs I have seen have

a right entering grip screw which leaves me to believe

they were made after the switchover to the right entering

grip screw.

Bob

 

DTW,

I think the numbering on the muzzle looks right. I have two muzzle numbered PPK's and will pull those out to compare the numbering and let you know if they match the style of yours.

I do question the numbered magazine though, as I've not seen one quite like that for a PPK. Normally the base numbered magazines will have the full serial, but not a 1 or 2. At least not from what I've seen.

Nice PPK!

Richard

 

Danny.... My RZM (840246) with numbered muzzle also enters from the right hand side.

 

RSHA/SS contract PPK magazines are factory numbered along the rear spine with serial and mag numbers. This one is not original to the gun.

 

The numbers on the muzzle appear to be correct, however i cannot say one way or another on the mags (never saw this type marking,myself.)This does Not mean that they are incorrect. The ones with the serial numbers on the spine of the magazine are also accompanied by the number 1 or 2 depending on which magazine that it is, finger rest or flat bottom, there ARE exceptions, ie Reich Bank magazines were NOT numbered on the spine, and had 2 finger rest mags. that came with them, they were numbered on the plastic part of the finger rest itself. Magazines on PPK pistols were numbered in various different locations, I hope that this can be some help to you. I am NOT an expert, i am just pointing out what i have observed in several years of gathering info & collecting PPK'S Thanks & Good luck, Tim.

 

The subject of discussion was the numbered magazine that accompanied this SS/RSHA range PPK. Here are a couple from that early SS/RSHA purchase courtesy of the AutoMag Forum. As pointed out in John Pearson's series of articles interpreting the information published in the Gortz/Marschall Red Book, the magazines accompanying these contract pistols are marked similarly along the rear spine. Other contract PPK magazines may be numbered in different locations, but the SS/RSHA issue magazines are numbered in a like manner.

Download Attachment: ss_ppk_mags.jpg
22.54 KB

 

You are exactly right, i have a few marked in the manner depicted above and they are SS/RSHA, the pistol is also marked under the muzzle like the one picture provided by dtw. What a difference a couple of years make, everyone is familiar with these markings now, and they immediately associate these markings as being SS/RSHA. A while back (in 2004) several people on this very forum told me that all i had was a commercial pistol with a Party Leader Holster and Grips, this is why research is so very important. Thanks, Tim

 

PPK RZM - Numbered Muzzle and Magazine

Recently there have been some discussions regarding numbered magazines for SS Walther pistols and the different variations, factory original and NON factory.

Last week I enjoyed a nice conversation with John Pearson. During that conversation we talked about my PPK RZM #840572, it's magazine and the post I made about this gun in 2007......... which is the thread I attached this post to.

He brought up that the numbering style and placement for this magazine has not been observed or recorded by him before. Since the time he published his excellent articles on SS Walther pistols, "boosters" have made several of the versions described in the articles to "force" match these guns.... but not in this style. The fact this is different than known variations made it more interesting to John.

When I purchased this gun, it was not hyped because of the magazine nor was I charged a premium for this feature.

The picture shows that the numbers are stamped with a die and "through" the blue as shown by the halo's.

In the picture, I placed the base next to the serial number to show you how similar the numbers are.

John referred to this as another (unknown) NON Factory variation of a numbered SS magazine.

I am not trying to validate this magazine but his interest in the configuaration made it worth noting again.

He encouraged me to make this post and share the information.

 

Doug,
Very interesting and thank you for posting. This particular RZM SS Issued PPK and its numbered magazine becomes much more interesting after reading back to your first post in 2007.

This was several years after the Pearson Articles were published, describing the spine marked magazines. So in my opinion, if yours was speciously stamped after that time to boost the value of the SS issued RZM, it would have been spine marked. That plus the fact that you purchased with no premium attached to the marked magazine (or muzzle numbers) leads me to believe that this is yet another version of the possible prewar hand numbered magazines of various styles done by parties unknown.

I'm sure others will have thoughts on your gun.

All of these pieces to the puzzle hopefully, will lead to more being found with possible provenance back to their origin.
Regards,
Steve

 

PPK RZM - Numbered Muzzle and Magazine

Steve,

I apppeciate your comments regarding the magazine.

I also want to thank you for all the extra time and research you've done for your SS PP/PPK book, "The Black Book". Very informative and another great addition for any gun library especially for Walther collectors.

Doug

 

Doug... Back on 12/2/1989 I bought an RZM with muzzle numbers and it was 840543. It came with a finger extension mag and my notes from 1989 said it was stamped with 543. I wrote this gun up in Automag in August of 1998 (31-5) in response to something that John Pearson has written about. My recollection was that it was stamped on the spine and obviously was not stamped on the bottom due to the finger extension.

I had sold the gun before 1998 and do not recall where it went and unfortunately do not have any pictures of it. Would be interesting to be able to see that mag again as it would certainly fall into the non-factory markings..... I hope that if any of the members have it they would dig it and add some info on it.

 

Dave,
Fascinating post. Yet another hand marked variation. Spine marked and three digits! It almost appears as if the RSHA may have been experimenting with different options for numbering their equipment.
Thanks Dave,
Steve

 

Hello,
I acquired Muzzle numbered PPK Sn 840543 in January of 2009. Still own. It came with a HP banner only mag with FE. Magazine is NOT numbered, spline or elsewhere.

tom

 

Adding:
840543 Grip screw is left to right.
tom

 

Tom.... How about that........ Thanks for joining in......

PM sent......

 

While things are getting all confused I might just as well toss this one in also.......

Sure could use a WIZ to bring back some of the old pictures.......

http://luger.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=9515&highlight=5265

 

Dave,
If you were certain enough of the mag three digit number in 1998 to write it up in AutoMag, then it must have found its way into another gun before Tom took possession. It likely is still out there somewhere.
Steve