Whats It Worth::: PPK/S made by Walther USA LLC

[hilfigjp]

PPK/S .380, Stamped Walther USA LLC Springfield, MA
Color: Stainless
Condition: Excellent
Serial: ends with AAA

I understand these were Transitional Guns, made after Interarms, but before S&W took over production. There are much less of these floating around.

What value would you put on this?

Thanks!

 

[Independent George]

As far as I know, it's worth exactly the same as any other used PPK/S - probably in the $400 range. It's not a collector's item - rarity doesn't mean anything if the demand is not there.

 

[hilfigjp]

I find that hard to believe. For a quality, sought-after gun, rarity will always increase the value. If there are 100k stamped interarms, and only 10k stamped with Walther USA LLC, its only common sense that something harder to find will be at a higher value.
Rarity=demand=higher resale value.
Plus, these sell on GB between 550-700 all day.

 

[jasmith85]

Plus, these sell on GB between 550-700 all day.

Why are you even bothering asking here since you know what they sell for on gunbroker? Average gunbroker sale prices are a much better barometer of a gun's value than the opinion of a few people on a message board. As long as the $550-$700 for similar guns that you mentioned are for completed auctions and not listed auctions then you have your value. Now if that price range is for active auction then I would not consider it quite as reliable. The higher price could just be what the sellers want for their guns and may never actually sell.

 

[Claude Clay]

wasted some time going on GB'er while I un-sweat in front of a fan:

one --- 1-- item that was reposted 8 times and sold finally for the reserve price of $550.

one is a really tiny statistical universe.
and nowhere recent did I see $$ above that, much less $700

but you are Entitled to feel whatever value you wish...
though your most likely buyer resides in a mirror.

 

[carguychris]

You are most likely going to get a more informative answer at www.waltherforums.com.

The Transitional / AAA / Walther USA LLC / "Gadsden S&W" Walthers are a tiny subset within the wide spectrum of collectible Walther pistols, and they're relatively recent. It's hard to say if a definitive value trend has emerged, and if it has, it's likely that only a few people can discuss it with authority. I'm not one of those people.

As far as I know, it's worth exactly the same as any other used PPK/S...

I find that hard to believe. For a quality, sought-after gun, rarity will always increase the value. If there are 100k stamped interarms, and only 10k stamped with Walther USA LLC, its only common sense that something harder to find will be at a higher value.

One potential issue is that many diehard Walther fans regard German or transitional postwar German/French PP-series pistols as prized collectibles, while American-produced versions are seen as utilitarian "shooters" that may be useful for SD (i.e. to supplant a German gun that has become too valuable to haul around in a holster), but have little or no collector value on their own merits.

The collector community is beginning to warm up to the idea that the Gadsden, AL guns are becoming collectible, but this trend hasn't necessarily gelled to the point that the general gun-trading community recognizes it.

Also, as with many newer (i.e. less than 30-year-old) guns that are becoming potential collectibles, you're likely going to see a steep value drop between a legit LNIB or 98%+ Excellent condition gun, and anything that shows significant wear. To cite an example that I'm more familiar with, I've seen LNIB S&W Model 439s sell for $700+, but an 85-90% M439 with no box is generally a $350 gun.

 

[TxFlyFish]

Couple things: /S, stainless, Walther USA, 380. It will be harder to increase in value since that is not what most are looking for when it comes to collecting. You could appeal to the crowd that has to have the whole gamut of transitionals, but it's not that rare to command a significant increase in value

 

[carguychris]

It will be harder to increase in value since that is not what most are looking for when it comes to collecting. You could appeal to the crowd that has to have the whole gamut of transitionals...

+1. The bottom line is that there are probably only a few dozen buyers in the entire USA who both (a) recognize the difference between this pistol and a garden-variety Gadsden Interarms or Houlton S&W, and more critically (b) care enough about the difference to pay a significant premium for it.

If you expect to get more out of this pistol than a regular Interarms or S&W PPK/S in equivalent condition, you're probably going to have to wait for that special buyer to stumble across it, and this may take a while. The example cited by Claude Clay is a case in point.