Tac,
That is a great story about your father's Walther and your wife's expertise.
My wife (who easily out-shoots me) fancies the latest S&W contracted Walther PPK/S in 9mmk for her weapon-of-choice. I tried to interest her in a WWII era Walther PPK (I think it was K) we saw in the shop that sold us the first Luger. No, she wants the lighter modern model. She can't understand why I like these old, heavy, used guns.
It's a crying shame that in your country all those great old guns must meet with the fate you describe or worse.
If saner heads someday prevail in the UK is it possible to re-activate any?
Russell