World War II Vintage Walther PPK Bears an 'Eagle C' Stamp

Question: I read your Gun Room column in the May 2021 issue. The story about a German pistol traded for cigarettes reminded me of my friend’s pistol. I asked her about it and she told me that her father brought it home at the end of World War II. He served under Gen. George S. Patton in the Third Army. She said that he traded some cigarettes for the small pistol, which included a holster. He kept the pistol in the holster, and both in a closet. He never shot it and she didn’t know what ammunition it used. Some years ago, her father gave her the pistol and holster, and she kept them in a drawer. She wondered when they were made and what the value might be. She allowed me to photograph the pistol, too. I have found that the gun was made in 1941. Would you be able to tell me what they are worth?

 -M.S. Asbury, Iowa

Answer: The only thing I can add to your research is that the piece was issued to police as indicated by the “eagle C” acceptance stamp. Condition of your friend’s pistol seems to be in the 90 to 95 percent range. As such, according to the new “Forty-­Second Edition Blue Book of Gun Values” (bluebookofgunvalues.com, 800-­877-­4867), it’s valued in the $900 to $1,250 range. The holster, too, is not in bad shape, and it does have good markings. I’d throw $150 to ­$175 on that. 

-Garry James