Firearms of the Clandestine Culture

[danno50]

    Just something different. Clandestine weapons have been around for centuries, depending on what you might consider Cloak and Dagger? In discussions about covert weapons in the clandestine world, one might think of James Bond's who first uses a Beretta .25 auto and later is made to change to the Walther PPK chambered in .32 ACP. The .32 ACP had a great reputation and in the hands of an expert like him, it was more than sufficient for his purposes. Wait, what great reputation?
    The following article came out in 2020 in the American Rifleman magazine and explains the reputation of the .32 ACP in a time of war. (and after)
   
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjfu6u2qtCAAxXklGoFHWFUCx0QFnoECAoQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americanrifleman.org%2Fcontent%2Fthe-welrod-pistol-a-silent-arm-for-the-soe%2F&usg=AOvVaw2nlBHSngaYa1L5skusST_K&opi=89978449

[Grouchy]

Interesting! I have every 007 movie made so far!The last ones had him with a SIG 226 in 9mm.

[TexWeatherby]

The PPK is a beautiful classic pistol and I'd love to have (a good) one. Quality and reliability however, are all over the map. Manufacturing moving around to various locations I think is why. Recoil is bad for an all-steel .380 pistol (because of the blowback design), trigger pull is heavy, and many of them must be kept well cleaned and oiled to function reliably. Generally, not the best choice for a carry gun. Negative comments aside, I still wouldn't mind owning a good version for a range toy and just to have one. Great looking classic for sure.

[Grouchy]

Yup, the triggers suck on the PPK and the PPKS. Friends have them both. 

[danno50]

     The older .380 design is blowback, but the trend with currently manufactured .380's has been to the locked-breech design. (recoil operated) With these, slide velocity is lower and felt recoil is less. Recoil springs don’t need to be so strong either, making the slide easier to retract. A locked-breech .380 is much more pleasant to shoot compared to the blowback designs.
     The PK .380 is DA/SA so the first DA shot will be hefty between 9-11 lbs.(reading different reviews)The single action seems to be consistent from review to review breaking at 4 to 4.2 lbs. Here's a short review from American rifleman. There are a few other reviews that appear to be compatible with this info.

     https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwj8mOKiitaAAxVWlGoFHRBkDlwQFnoECCUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.americanrifleman.org%2Fcontent%2Fnra-gun-of-the-week-walther-pk380-pistol%2F&usg=AOvVaw3V_RLK5WC55Ch-y8i7VxDp&opi=89978449
     

[zoniezonie]

Our old friend Roger (terminator)  use to carry a little 7 oz Kel-Tec P32 , 32 acp in his pocket,  I really wouldn't mind having one,  there are times when wearing summer clothes (shorts) that little lightweight pistol would sure be comfortable.  Yea it's a last ditch effort and that's what it's made for.  There a couple other guns out there that would fit the bill imo, something like a little NAA revolver in 22 mag,   maybe get a spare cylinder just in case. 

[Grouchy]

I had a Seacamp 32. It would only chamber 1 brand. NAA 22 mag is one I carry occasionaly, My Ruger380 isn't much bigger.

[danno50]

Our old friend Roger (terminator)  use to carry a little 7 oz Kel-Tec P32 , 32 acp in his pocket,  I really wouldn't mind having one,  there are times when wearing summer clothes (shorts) that little lightweight pistol would sure be comfortable.  Yea it's a last ditch effort and that's what it's made for.  There a couple other guns out there that would fit the bill imo, something like a little NAA revolver in 22 mag,   maybe get a spare cylinder just in case.

           Zonie, I did a search and before Roger started caring the Kei-Tec P32, he said he carried a little NAA 22 mag mini revolver. 

[zoniezonie]

Danno  I didn't know he had a little NAA , nothing surprises me with Roger he was one of a kind.    I knew he carried the P32 in his pocket didn't know he carried it until he showed it to me.   lot of different options out there  I kind of like flat (not very wide) lightweight belly guns basically pocket guns that don't seem to alarming to folks (not like reaching for a gun which is pretty obvious to most anyone)

[Grouchy]

The NAA 22 mag I have has a pocket clip that makes it very concealble in the triple heat indexes. They are pretty cheap to buy and accurate enough for 20 feet. Somebody with smaller hands could improve on that.

[danno50]

Roger was one of a kind alright.

[TexWeatherby]

Roger was the best. When I first signed up here (2012, I think), Roger took a liking to me and we became friends, talking a lot. Wonderful guy who shared a lot of knowledge (I even taught him a couple things, but he was awesome). He passed (way too soon) a few days before we were supposed to meet for lunch at the Olive Garden in College Station (he liked that place).

[224KING]

Never liked Olive Garden from way back.Then Roger told me about the seafood alfredo.Now my Wife and I go a few times a year.Wish I had gotten to meet him in person.Wanted to meet Ruger too.We'll get together one of these days.

[zoniezonie]

When we were hunting antelope in Wyoming in 2011  me, my wife and  son with Roger and Mark,  Rogers friend from TX, he did bring up Ruger the dog, we brought up our 2 Labs,   Me my son and Roger had Weatherby Nation members rifles in 257 Wby,  perfect rifle for Antelope.  one thing with Roger and Mark they liked to drink and I mean they liked to drink whiskey it was before noon each day and it stated from there on and these weren't little drinks  about the size of a 16 oz tumbler or larger.  I knew he liked whiskey so I brought up a couple of 5 ths which only lasted a few days.  We camped where there wasn't even a tree around although we did have antelope pretty much within shooting range near camp every day it seemed.  What we did do is EAT he brought up a fish fryer and a bunch of catfish,  blues and channel, he cooked up a bunch of fry's and fish and we ate till we were stuffed.  my wife is Mexican  her family is from Texas you would never know it talking to her on the phone anyway we brought up  TX/AZ Mex food,  good salsa,  home made tortillas ,  elk meat from home, hatch green chili's ,  I think we used one 25-06, 257's and my wife shot a 243 and got the nicest antelope buck,  darn grouse were running around and I think we could have hunted them we just never thought about it or brought up any shotguns,   seen some nice heavy bodied mule deer, some nice elk and several coyotes,   it doesn't get any better.   Yep he will be missed.   I wouldn't mind going up to Wyoming again for antelope that was a great relaxing hunt.