anyone ever see a spoon defaced like this before?

[azasadny]

This is my friend's Manurhin manufactured Walther PP. The defaced slide and grip completely remove any reference to "Walther" and they experts on the Walther forum told me this was done because of a contractual dispute between Manurhin and Walther. Apparently, Manurhin manufactured the pistols for Walther and then a contractual dispute caused Walther to demand that Manurhin not sell any more guns with the Walther name on them, so the factory removed the Walther markings. I've never heard of such a thing and find it difficult to believe that any firearm company would sell a gun that has been defaced like this. Why would anyone buy a gun that was defaced like this? It's now a "shooter" because it certainly doesn't have any value as a collectible, what a shame!







Sure, the grips could be replaced for $50, but the slide is horribly damaged and I don't think it could be fixed. A replacement slide would be at least $200, which is more than the Walther is worth. A guy on the Walther forums suggested that I carefully cold blue the damaged portion of the slide. What do you guys think? Besides that obvious defacement, the gun is in really nice shape and shoot well. I need to get a few mags for it, as my friend lost them (how does that even happen?). Thanks!

[Joeaksa]

Am guessing that this could have been a German Police weapon (they used this model for undercover work) and the owner at one time did not want the police markings on the gun, so took them off. Have seen this done numerous times with former police guns in Germany.

Agree with you that they did a terrible thing. Would just blue it and have it for a shooter.

[Rikao4]

a dressed up hoe with a title..
is still a hoe..
don't care about the clothes or title...
does she deliver..
make you smile..

Rika

[azasadny]

Rika,
I think I understand your message. I like the gun and it shoots well, but I'd like to try and make the gun look a little better, or more like it looked prior to someone defacing it like this. Besides the damage indicated, the gun is in great shape and has almost 100% of the bluing intact.

[azasadny]

Joe,
Your theory was also brought up on the Walther forums, so it very well could be the case. I just cannot understand why anyone would do this to a Walther PP. It's like putting a small block Chevy engine in a Porsche 911... sacrilege...

[cashflyer]

Based on my complete lack of knowledge in this area, I say BS.

Try reading these:
The 'Manurhin myth' explained - WaltherForums
PPK/s DOB - WaltherForums

It sounds to me like no Manurhin made guns bore the Walther banner. Ever.

And this:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/171770-walther-ppk-need-some-schooling-3.html
After the war Germans were not allowed to manufacture arms. Walther therefore licensed the French company Manufacture de Machines du Haut-Rhin, shortened to Manurhin, to produce PP and PPK pistols. These were produced in the factory at Mulhouse-Bourtzwiller, France not very far from the Walther factory in Ulm, Germany. These guns were clearly identified as being made in France under licence. They did not show the Walther banner.

Later, German companies were allowed to re-commence production of arms. For some time after this Walther made the forgings which were sent to Manurhin for machining. The soft or unhardened slides were then returned to the Walther factory at Ulm where they were roll marked and hardened. They then completed the final assembly, testing and proofing. Under German law, because the final work was completed in W Germany, they were entitled to mark the guns as having been made by Walther in Germany.

Possibly at the same time, Manurhin continued making pistols entirely in France, and these were tested and proofed in France. They will have the St Etienne proof mark. French made guns were not entitled to show the Walther banner.

Tabs will come along soon and correct me.

[Jim Bremner]

just gun-coat it and move on. I have a Colt 1911a1 that I want to smooth out the slide on. I'm not into markings.

Yesterday I was driving along "That Guy" he had a M3, with a license plate that had M# in the letters, M3 license plate frame, M3 Hat, & I think M3 jacket on.

[cashflyer]

Starting in 1978, a licensing disagreement began between Walther and Manurhin.

Walther had issued a contract with Ranger Manufacturing in Gadsden, Alabama for the production of the PPK and PPK/s models and distribution by Interarms in Alexandria, Virginia as a work-around for importing the PPK which was banned by the 1968 Gun Control Act.

This was interpreted by Manurhin as a breech of their license with Walther for exclusive manufacture for the pistols. Manurhin continued to produce the PP series until 1986 when the license with Walther was finally pulled. In spite of this, Manurhin continued to make and distribute Walther PP pistols under their name for sale in Europe.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

just gun-coat it and move on. I have a Colt 1911a1 that I want to smooth out the slide on. I'm not into markings.

Yesterday I was driving along "That Guy" he had a M3, with a license plate that had M# in the letters, M3 license plate frame, M3 Hat, & I think M3 jacket on.

Did he have the "M" tie and shoes? If not what a loser

[azasadny]

Why would somebody go to the trouble to deface the slide and grips? I'm still confused about that...

[azasadny]

The Manurhin I have has the "Made in France" and St Etienne markings on it. The grips say "Manurhin", but the bottom of the grip that had a Walther ID on it was ground off very neatly.

[tabs]

If the markings had been removed at the factory it would not have been left in the white, but blued over? Somebody did take the trouble of using a milling machine to professionally remove the marks. One would think that the person or people who did this MIGHT have had an animoisty towards Walther and the Nazis?

I would also want to have the date of mfg on the pistol...that might give some clues as to the rational for removing the Walther logo...

[304065]

I think that used to say "License Excl WALTHER MOD PPK Cal 7.65mm" - if you google image search for simlar spoons.

Why would anybody feel strongly enough to mill that off?

[azasadny]

I'm confused, if someone didn't like Germans, Walthers , etc..,. why would they even keep the pistol? Why go to the trouble of defacing it? I sent an email to Walther asking them to date the gun for me based upon the serial number. I'll post the results as soon as I receive them. Hopefully, the manufacture date will help solve this mystery...

[Jim Bremner]

IFit really bugs you. I'll give you $200 for it!

[Mike C]

Should be able to have the slide refinished with no problems. Nice spoon! I have a PP in .32 that looks like new.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by azasadny

I'm confused, if someone didn't like Germans, Walthers , etc..,. why would they even keep the pistol? Why go to the trouble of defacing it? I sent an email to Walther asking them to date the gun for me based upon the serial number. I'll post the results as soon as I receive them. Hopefully, the manufacture date will help solve this mystery...

The Israelies...

Usually U can find a date of mfg on the spoon...

[A930Rocket]

A black permanent marker is your friend here!

[azasadny]

No mfg date on the gun, but the guys on the Walther forum said that Walther will provide the manufacture date if you send them the serial number, which I did... I'll get the cold bluing kit and cover up the defaced slide ASAP.

[azasadny]

I can't sell the gun as it isn't mine! My friend may give it to me and if he does, I'll try to find a replacement slide or have this one repaired, if it's even repairable. I need to get some magazines for it as I've taken it to the range and I really, really like shooting it!