I have a Walther PPK, in .380, purchased about eight years ago.
I've had about 1,500 rounds through it since, perhaps 2,000.
Takes about 500 rounds to smooth it out. But then, that's true of most semi-autos and some revolvers.
Mine is very reliable. No problems.
The .380 caliber has a rather hefty recoil spring. This is required beacuse it's a blowback design. The .32 and .22 versions of the same pistol have noticeably lighter recoil springs and are easier to cycle the slide.
The Walther PPK also has a strong hammer spring, so it hits primers with a solid smack! Some years ago I bought a box of Swedish military .380 ammo, made in 1943. Man, those cartridges had hard primers! A couple required recocking the PPK again for a second smack, but nearly all went off.
The PPK is noted for its solid smack on primers, thus aiding reliability.
As for longevity ...
I have a cousin who put 8,000 rounds through his in about 3 years. He was a volunteer at a large gun club shooting range and shot it every weekend. After 8,000 rounds a tiny part broke off somewherre inside it. When he called me to report it, he wasn't certain or clear about its orgiin.
Something around the trigger housing, I think. Anyway, it continued to fire just fine.
He's probably got 10,000 rounds through it by now.
He was going to semi-retire, last I heard.
I also own a wartime P-38, given me in 1973.
After receiving it, I did a little research and it became abundantly clear to NEVER engage the safety when the hammer was back, thereby dropping the safety.
Though Walther claimed this practice was safe, a number of wartime P-38s fired and went into full-auto mode as they continued to cycle. Seems that the ledge on the firing pin that prevents it from going fully forward is rather sparse on the P-38, or something like that.
Anyway, I learned enough early on not to rely on the safety, to prevent the hammer from reaching a primer.
When I got my PPK, I adopted the same philosophy.
I don't care how well-designed, I would never allow a hammer to fall forward and expect a mechanical device to unfailingly catch it.
Safeties are mechanical devices, and mechanical devices fail.
I have utter confidence in my Walther PPK. It predates Smith & Wesson's involvement with the PPK.
The PPK design dates to 1929, with the introduction of the PP. It's a proven design, tested on ranges, streets and battlefields around the world.
Resplendent in his black tuxedo, Gatofeo reaches under his jacket to adjust his Walther PPK in its Bianchi X-15 shoulder holster. He introduces himself to a beautiful woman at the roulette table ...
"Feo .... Gato Feo ... "
