Sigh. Remember the days when Bond was a man, played by Sean Connery, and not the emotional train-wreck that Daniel Craig turned him into? Back in the era of good Bond films, the hero carried the iconic Walther PPK, because it "has a delivery like a brick through a plate glass window."
OK, that may have been a bit of over-statement, or "industry puffing", but it's still a nifty little gun that I tend to carry myself from time to time when I'm forced to carry a small handgun or just want a pocket gun. Mine is a Smith and Wesson-produced version in .380. I picked it up some years back, cheap because it was broken. My plan was to fix it then sell it, but by the time I'd finished test-firing it, I'd decided that it was a keeper. And here it is:
OK, he didn't really break it. He was just the one handling it when the left-side factory plastic grip shouted "I'm coming, Ethel!" and cracked in half. But it's more fun blaming him than not.
A replacement set should have been no big deal, one would think, but most of the aftermarket replacement grips out there are made for the Walther PP or PPK/s, and ones that fit the smaller-gripped PPK are difficult to find and pricey when you do find them.
Fast-forward to a couple of weeks ago when I looked on Flea-bay and happened to find a nifty wood set offered for sale at a decent price indeed. One close look at the grips and I knew that I had to have them. Can you tell why?
The fit is great, and the grips are just a bit thicker than the factory plastic, giving me a better grasp of the pistol with my large hands. The checkering is deep and should make retention easier than the slick plastic ones that these are replacing.
I'm happy. And as much as I don't like to dowdy up a perfectly good weapon, these grips be stylin'. And I think that Sean Connery and Roger Moore would approve. (Screw the rest of em, especially that Craig toad.)
Now I'm all set for nights on the River Walk and strolls through Jackson Square.
It's a nifty pocket pistol, as you say, and at point blank range it's a tried-and-true winner. I like your new Big Easy grips.
ReplyDeleteHey, it's America, you go to your church and I'll go to mine, and all that, but I had a Walther-made PPK/S back in the 80s and I hated it. It was all right, except for the million-pound DA trigger and the fact that the slide made railroad tracks on my hand every time it went bang.
ReplyDeleteBut, if you like yours and it works for you, go for it.
This version by S&W has an extended beavertail to prevent the slide bit that the PPK was famous for. And this one isn't bad with DA and it's SA trigger is just beautiful. I likes it lots.
DeleteI have an Interarms PPK/s. It did the same thng to my hand as Old 1811 complains of. I used a mill file to round off the bottom of the slide. Problem solved.
ReplyDeleteDo those grips have a brand on them? I seem to remember Altamont Grips making a grip for a J-frame with fleur-de-lis on them. At any rate, they look great!
ReplyDeleteNope. No brand that I can see...but thanks.
DeleteI've always wanted a PPK.
ReplyDeleteThey just "look right".....
Sweet grips
ReplyDeleteLike the grips a lot. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI have a pair Radom P-64's. Basically a Polish PPK. They are chambered in 9mm Makarov. They kick like mules but are tack drivers. Wish I could get grips like that.
ReplyDeleteLook here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.marschalgrips.com/hires-p64/P64.HTM
Those will work nicely!
ReplyDeleteWunderbar!
ReplyDeleteSome years ago, eye'd a pre-war Walther (with reddish Bakelite stocks) in .32 IN THE BOX at a gun show.
Sadly, the price was prohibitive.
Yours looks great though!
gfa
Good find!
ReplyDelete