Walther PPK

Full assembled model of German pistol and its 7,65x17mm bullet.

The most common variant is the Walther PPK, a smaller version of the PP with a shorter grip, barrel and frame, and reduced magazine capacity. It features an exposed hammer, a traditional double-action trigger mechanism, a single-column magazine, and a fixed barrel that also acts as the guide rod for the recoil spring. The series includes the Walther PP, PPK, PPK/S, and PPK/E models. The Walther TPH pocket pistol is a smaller calibre pistol introduced in 1971 identical in handling and operation to the PPK. A new, two-piece wrap-around grip panel construction was used to conceal the exposed back strap.The smaller size made it more concealable than the original PP and hence better suited to plain-clothes or undercover work. It was released in 1931. PPK is an abbreviation for Polizeipistole Kriminal (literally police pistol criminal), referring to the Kriminalamt crime investigation office. While the K is often mistakenly assumed to stand for kurz (German for short), as the variant has a shorter barrel and frame, Walther used the name Kriminal in early advertising brochures and the 1937 GECO German catalog.The fictional secret agent James Bond used a Walther PPK in many of the films and novels: Ian Fleming's choice of Bond's weapon directly influenced the popularity and notoriety of the PPK.