Magazine extensions
The Walther PP and PPK, made in Zella Mehlis, come in many different variations of grips, parts, and magazine extensions. In this post, I want to focus on the magazines and their extensions.
Below I will list every single PP and PPK magazine extension from Zella-Mehlis that is known, what guns it was used on and what dates they were in service, to buy any of these extensions, just click on which one you want!
- 1929-1945 White no lip (presentation and engraved guns)
- 1929-1945 White ivory no lip (presentation and engraved guns)
- 1929-1939 Box mag extension PP (from start of production until the end of the war)
- 1929-1931 Slab side solid black (PP)
- 1931-1931 Slab side solid brown (with the introduction of the PPK in 1931, and on Reichsbank PPK’s)
- 1931-1931 Slab side solid red (with presentation guns and Reichsbank 7,65mm PPK’s)
- 1931-1938 Indented no lip solid black (PP)
- 1931-1934 Indented no lip solid/ marbled green (.22 PPK Reichsbank guns only)
- 1934-1939 Box mag extension marbled brown/ black PPK (from start of production until the end of the war)
- 1934-1934 Indented no lip solid brown (PPK)
- 1934-1938 Indented no lip marbled brown/ black (PPK)
- 1938-1939 Indented thin lip solid black (PP)
- 1938-1939 Indented thin lip marbled brown/ black (PPK)
- 1939-1945 Indented thick lip solid black (PP)
- 1939-1944 Indented thick lip marbled brown/ black (PPK)
- 1943-1944 Indented thick lip marbled grey/ black (PPK)
- 1943-1944 Box mag extension marbled grey/ black PPK (from 1943 until the end of the war)
White and ivory magazine extensions also exist, but they were only used on presentation guns specifically requested with ivory or white Bakelite grips. Therefore, dates vary and can’t be pinpointed like other variations that only appeared on certain guns, which, according to their serial numbers, were produced in specific years. However, an observation I’ve made is that most white/ivory magazine extensions were the slab side or indented no lip variation, meaning they were most likely made between 1931 and 1934. I believe the slab side ivory variation was only a slab side because the indent and lips were too hard to produce out of ivory regardless of manufacture date.
Magazine tubes
The magazine tubes also varied. Pre-war magazines have only a Walther banner near the bottom of the tube, while wartime magazine tubes have the Walther banner and the caliber of the round that the magazine tube is made for. A good rule of thumb to distinguish wartime and post-war magazines is the way the “m/m” is shown.
Pre-war magazine tubes have a single Walther banner right above the magazine bottom, While wartime magazine tubes have the walther banner, with a caliber indication underneath. The “m/m” is shown with the first m slightly higher then the second m and a slash in between.
Post-war magazine tubes will almost always have the Walther banner, and in some cases the Manurhin logo, with the caliber indication underneath. The “m/m” will always be the same font size and have no slash in between. This is the easiest way to tell apart wartime and post-war magazine tube.