KnucklesL said:
My question is are the magazines interchangeable between manufacturers? My pistol only came with 1 mag and I want to buy several more, but I don't necessarily need to buy German magazines, do I?
Yes, they are interchangeable, and no, you don't necessarily need to buy German ones. My WWII era PP functions perfectly with some stainless steel S&W-made PPK/S magazines I picked up a few years ago.
However, PP series pistols are a little fidgety about mag release engagement if the engagement surface on the mag body isn't "just so." Unless you're handy with a file and some fine-grit sandpaper, I would recommend picking up new mags from a quality manufacturer; IOW don't expect immediate perfect function from a dirty magazine fished out of someone's Box'o'Random Parts at a gun show.
Ed4032 said:
...for the PPK/s you must get either the PP mags or the PPK/s mags. The PPK mags don't work. They are too short.
Additionally—unlike with some other older European pistols—the .32/7.65mm and .380/9mm mags are substantially different and supposedly do NOT interchange. (I've not personally tried it, however.) Aside from the markings and packaging, .380/9mm mags are readily identifiable by the crimped seam on the LH side.
Lastly, PP and PPK/S mags were made both with and without plastic pinky rests. The pinky-rest mags seem to command higher values on the used market simply because many shooters like the additional grasping surface; there is no difference in function or capacity.
[EDIT TO ADD] Also, just so it's clear, there is no difference between PP and PPK/S mags other than the markings, if even that. The PPK/S was created by combining a PPK barrel and slide with a PP frame to skirt import restrictions in the Gun Control Act of 1968 that made it unlawful to import the PPK due to its small size. Since they share the same frame, the PP and PPK/S have identical magazine well dimensions.
