Nope--Just "obsolete" designs.
Waitone---
I'll give MY answer to your question, but first need to define a couple of working presumptions. You don't mention any particular model Walther pistol for concealed carry. I imagine you would have stated if you meant something large, like a P-38 or P5, so I'll talk about the medium pocket pistols, the PPK and PPK/S, in .32 and .380 ACP.
What I've seen of recent US production looks good. Few companies produce ANYTHING with as fine a fit and finish as "Away back when." The hand fitting and polishing just costs too much, unless you're willing to pay extra. A LOT extra.
Also, the US consumer seems to want stainless steel, and this just doesn't look as good as highly polished carbon steel with a top quality rust blue finish. Never mind that the blue finish is not very sturdy compared to Stls.
My personal observation is that the Walther PP and PPK were, at one time, state of the art concealment pistols. Safe, accurate, convenient, top quality, and all the rest of those desirable factors. Many persons, both men and women, who carried hidden pistols didn't care to go through extensive training in safe and proper handling of a pocket pistol, so the double action mechanism appealed to them. The competing single action auto pistols such as Colt Model M, Remington 51, and some others, just faded away, and the PP series remained.
But they were unchanged since their inception. I don't know why the "dural," alloy framed models went away, but when I felt a burning need for the best powerful hideout pistol available back n the mid-1960s, I couldn't find a dural PPK .380 for love nor money, so I settled for a brand-new one made in 66.
It was good, accurate, "attractive" in my eyes, and overall, quite satisfactory. I shot it a lot, handloaded for it (unusual back then,) and was pretty good with it. My only complaint with it was that it was HEAVY for its size and power. I still carried it a lot, mostly in an ankle holster, for the next ten years or so, finally replacing it with an Airweight Chiefs Special for "always gun" use.
I still have the PPK, but it lives in the safe. There are 9x19mm pistols which are smaller and lighter, so why bother with the older design? No mistake, here--Just because something's old doesn't mean it is not still the best tool for a certain job. I carry a 1911 variant almost daily, because it is best for ME, in the service pistol category. But the Kahr or Kel Tec suits me better for medium-bore, deep concealment. If you are wed to the idea of .380, you might look at the SiG P230 or its successor--Don't recall the model number. About same size as PPK/S but much lighter, with excellent product support.
I think of the medium-size Walthers in the same way as the Colt Single Action Army revolver: At one time, IT was state of the art for its particular job. That time is long past, and now it is still a very desirable item from a nostalgic and historical standpoint. Entirely capable of serving, in a pinch, but long superceded as a primary choice.
I am ignorant concerning the Walther connection with S&W, unless you mean the collaboration on one service pistol design. I'd forgotten that.
You mention "ergonomics second to none." Much of this is subjective, of course. I think the PPK and Beretta 1934 both impart more "kick" to my hand with the .380 cartridge than either the Kahr or Kel Tec do with the far more powerful 9X19 round. I can understand the differences in power here, as well as the Heavier vs. Lighter platform, so that MUST be a matter of ergonomics. And, I'm not the only pistolero who's made this observation.
Sorry to be so long-winded on the subject. I am NOT AT ALL opposed to the little Walthers. I just feel you might want to shoot a few other pistols of the same general size, before you make a sizeable investment in your concealed carry piece.
Whatever your choice, I wish you great satisfaction, and the best of luck.
Johnny
