NRA Gun of the Week: Walther PP

by
posted on May 20, 2017

The first double-action pistol that really worked, the Walther PP (for Polizei Pistole) changed how semi-automatic triggers would operate. Originally a police and pocket pistol, the double-action trigger mechanism would translate to other designs, as would its decocker. Oh, and the James Bond thing with the later PPK doesn't hurt either.

But not all Walther PPs were made for Polizei or personal protection. No, the beautifully made Walther PPs were also made as a training and plinking guns in .22 Long Rifle not long after the .32 ACP was introduced, and the rimfires went back into production after World War II.

Although the diminutive .22 TPH would come later, full size PPs with 3.86” long barrels and well-polished blued steel slides and barrels and 10-round-capacity magazines were imported by Interarms in Alexandria, Va., starting in 1963, and for a time (before the fall of the Iron Curtain) they were actually marked “Made in W. Germany.” This is one classy vintage rimfire pistol.

Latest

NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, Atlanta
NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, Atlanta

The Rifleman Report: New Developments

Our official coverage of new products for the current year is set for next month, but we included two substantial new developments in this issue that have the potential to make significant ripples in the firearm business even before then.

Arkansas To Begin Mandatory Gun Safety Lessons In Schools

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law requiring public and open enrollment public charter schools to provide age-appropriate firearm safety instruction beginning during the 2025-2026 school year.

Adams Arms Set To Relaunch

Alexandria Pro-Fab, a contract machine shop based in Minnesota, announced that it has purchased the assets of Adams Arms, along with all of the company’s intellectual property, and it plans to relaunch the company in the second quarter of 2025.

I Have This Old Gun: Bayard Auto Pistol

The Herstal, Belgium, firm of Anciens Etablissements Pieper was apparently expecting big things when, in 1908, it named its new semi-automatic pocket pistol “Bayard.”

The Armed Citizen® March 31, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

New For 2025: Benelli USA Nova 3 Tactical

This latest update to Benelli’s pump-action shotgun gives users a few upgrades over previous generations, making the new NOVA 3 the most exciting pump-gun yet to come from the Italian maker.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.