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  #1  
Old 03-23-2020, 02:34 PM
JayFramer JayFramer is offline
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Default East German Makarov

Picked this up today:



A 1962 dated East German Makarov PM 9x18mm. Made at the Ernst Thaelmann factory. Exquisite specimen in like-new condition inside and out. Looks barely handled or fired. 9x18mm is one of the few ammos still on store shelves. I use a Bulgarian Makarov for defense, these are great guns. This one’s a bit too pretty for daily use.

-Jay
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Old 03-23-2020, 03:00 PM
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I have one very similar. Great shooters, simple and reliable. I bought it from my late brother in laws estate. He paid $115 for it back in the day. It came with a threaded 380 barrel also. I bought a barrel press and changed the barrel because 380 has been more available, I might have to rethink that strategy.
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Last edited by storyman; 03-23-2020 at 05:49 PM. Reason: Add pictures
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Old 03-23-2020, 03:41 PM
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Nice! Those East German models are definitely the best of the bunch.
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Old 03-23-2020, 03:44 PM
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Nice! Your FFL is open?
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Old 03-23-2020, 03:54 PM
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Very classy. I did carry a Bulgarian for quite a while, but moved to a Bersa .380 for the alloy frame.
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Old 03-23-2020, 04:09 PM
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Very nice! I have the CZ and love to shoot it.
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Old 03-23-2020, 04:16 PM
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Careful of the safety. IIRC its backwards from a 1911 or BHP. A buddy shot himself in the thigh with one.
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Old 03-23-2020, 04:17 PM
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I have both a Bulgarian and a Chinese. If I could get a German one at a reasonable price I would jump on it. The Chinese one turned out to be OK once I put a set of German springs in it.
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Old 03-23-2020, 05:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SC_Mike View Post
Careful of the safety. IIRC its backwards from a 1911 or BHP. A buddy shot himself in the thigh with one.
Nope, as you can see it is down for fire, just like a 1911.

The gun is a DA/SA design and is extremely safe. These have passed the brutal California state drop tests with flying colors.

You’d really not have to know what your were doing or just demonstrate gross negligence to accidentally shoot yourself with a Makarov PM.

There are a plethora of guns chambered in 9x18mm Makarov from the Warsaw Pact and Soviet sphere of influence. There may well be some that operate like that or have safety issues. But not all such guns are true “Makarov PMs”. Many get confused and will call a pistol a “Polish Makarov” or “Hungarian Makarov”, but in reality none of those countries ever really made a Makarov PM.

A bit confusing! But think of it like this, we have the .45 ACP with the “C” meaning “Colt”. But, that doesn’t mean every gun that fires .45 ACP is a Colt. Over there, they have the 9x18mm Makarov, but that doesn’t mean all guns firing that cartridge are a Makarov PM.

Last edited by JayFramer; 03-23-2020 at 06:05 PM.
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Old 03-23-2020, 06:11 PM
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Beautiful. To this very day I regret passing on an opportunity to purchase a very nice Makarov PM for $150, as well as an FEG PA-63.

At the time I was dead set on getting a Walther PPK/S and thus didn't want to set myself back $150, not even for an excellent firearm of derivative design, but little did I know at the time that it would be over a year before I found a good PPK/S for sale, so I could have bought both and still had enough to buy the PPK/S the next year.

Lesson Learned: Don't hold off on buying a great firearm at an excellent price just because you're looking to buy something else.
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Old 03-23-2020, 07:10 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JayFramer View Post
There may well be some that operate like that or have safety issues.
Many get confused and will call a pistol a “Polish Makarov” or “Hungarian Makarov”, but in reality none of those countries ever really made a Makarov PM.
I have 3 of the P64 Radoms (Polish Pounders). They do operate identically to the Walther manual of arms. The difference is that single action hammer fall comes when the trigger is only halfway to the rear. Walthers, S&Ws, and PA63s fall with the trigger fully to the rear. This is a potential danger for P64s and can cause an ND if you're not familiar.
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Old 03-23-2020, 07:32 PM
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I have an East German as well, great handgun and it shoots well!
Looks like you picked a winner with that one!
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Old 03-23-2020, 07:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JayFramer View Post
A 1962 dated East German Makarov PM 9x18mm. Made at the Ernst Thaelmann factory....
The East Germans first imported Russian pistols and then started production of their own licensed copy in 1958.

The “Ernst-Thälmann“ gun factory was the old Haenel factory in Suhl, renamed after the Communist take-over.

The official East German name for the gun was Pistole M. They did not use PM as an abbreviation. Below the cover of the official manual from the Ministry of National Defense.

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Last edited by Absalom; 03-23-2020 at 07:48 PM.
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Old 03-23-2020, 07:40 PM
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Had a Chinese Makarov and a Russian one, both were quite rough with many sharp edges, also even the nickel one turned a white rag orange when wiping it down.
The East German version has the reputation of being the best fit n finish but..
I have never handled a Makarov that came near the fit n finish of my Polish P63 Makarov....btw my Polish Radom made Tokorov is also excellent fit n finish.
Them Poles make good guns n Perogis.
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Old 03-23-2020, 07:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Engine49guy View Post
Had a Chinese Makarov and a Russian one, both were quite rough with many sharp edges, also even the nickel one turned a white rag orange when wiping it down.
The East German version has the reputation of being the best fit n finish but..
I have never handled a Makarov that came near the fit n finish of my Polish P63 Makarov....btw my Polish Radom made Tokorov is also excellent fit n finish.
Them Poles make good guns n Perogis.
I assume you mean P64. Nice guns! They are unfortunately not drop safe, though, so not ideal for carry. Pretty little things though, and snappy! Their perogis and vodka are great from Poland!
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Old 03-23-2020, 08:15 PM
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The Germans have always been great gun makers. That is a beautiful Mak.
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Old 03-23-2020, 08:21 PM
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Great little guns. I had a Chinese, Russian, Bulgarian, and East German. The East German was the nicest finished by far.
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Old 03-23-2020, 08:32 PM
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I got my C&R license to get an. EG mak.
Ended up with Bulgarians and a Russian
IJ-70. Still want the German.
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Last edited by serger; 03-23-2020 at 08:35 PM.
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Old 03-23-2020, 08:50 PM
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Wish I'd bought one back when they were cheap, excellent pistols by all accounts. Another opportunity missed. The OP's is as nice one as I've seen. I don't remember if E German ones were being imported at that time.
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Old 03-23-2020, 09:55 PM
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Beautiful gun!

I've had an IJ-70 since the 90s, and I have to say it's a heck of a gun. The trigger is outstanding, and it's easily the best shooting blowback gun I have owned, to include my PPK/S.

I always hoped I'd find a German version for a good price, but no luck.

The P64 was always very tempting, but I've tried to stay away from blowback guns because I hate to shoot them and won't own a gun I don't shoot.
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Old 03-23-2020, 10:18 PM
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That is a beautiful EG Mak. Congrats on that find.

Dr.Mordo, as for the P64, they're good little guns but the factory double action is murder. The wolf kit can help a lot on double action, but it makes the single action then very light. Bit of a pain to put in too if you dont know a couple tricks. I don't shoot mine a ton though because the slide bites my hand on the way back, and I have small hands. I have two permanent P64 scars on my right hand from where its nicked me more than once.
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Old 03-24-2020, 12:01 AM
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I had a senior moment... yes I meant P64 lol...
Also yes they definately need the Wolf spring kit to make them useable.
Immediately put the Wolf kit in mine years ago after realizing the stock trigger pull was ridiculously stiff.
Afterwards the P64 is identical in feel to my Walther PPK.
No high marks for styling but great guns with the Wolf spring kit.
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Old 03-24-2020, 11:46 AM
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I bought a the Russian commercial IJ-70 back when they were under $100. Found an East German at the LGS some years ago with holster and extra mag for $300.. Bought a Bulgarian to round out the collection. All excellent firearms, never a malfunction with any of them.
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Old 03-25-2020, 06:15 PM
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Had an EG Mak for years. Got it for $105 bucks. Traded it even for an excellent S&W 3953 DAO 9mm.
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Old 03-25-2020, 11:53 PM
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I picked up an 1961 EG Mak back in 1993 and still have it. I've shot a lot of rounds through it but it still looks great. I need to dig it out and take some photos of it.
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Old 03-26-2020, 01:15 AM
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I don't know much about them but that is good looking and I understand there is plenty of available ammunition.
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Old 03-26-2020, 06:28 AM
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Back in the 90s when the Bulgarians were imported I was at a gun show and a dealer had a rack of guns marked "made in Bulgaria". I picked up one and on close inspection noticed that while so marked it actually was made in the USSR based on hallmarks. So I have a true Soviet military Makarov and not one of the ones with the adjustable sights made for commercial sale,
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Old 03-26-2020, 08:26 AM
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I love Makarovs! I have an EG, but it gets left in the safe, too. I carry a Bulgarian and I have a Russian Commercial in .380 that’s a stand in for my carry gun. And of course, a couple more Bulgarians for good measure!
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Old 03-26-2020, 08:58 AM
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What are Maks going for realistically? I have an EG, Bulgarian and Russian IJ hi cap that I’ve never shot since I bought them. I didn’t think there’d be much demand for them. I also have CZ (82/83?)in .380. I had one years ago that I sold and instantly regretted. I ran into one at my LGS in the plastic case manual and test target for $275 if I remember correctly and bought it. That one is staying.
I seem to recall that Makarov.com thought possibly all EG Maks were made at the Ernst Thaelmann Werkes but not all were marked as such.
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Old 03-26-2020, 09:19 AM
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Really nice. A few years back, I purchased an "unissued" Bulgarian; the complete set with the holster and red grips. Then in just another of my many idiotic trades ( usually a losing effort) I lost it. I'll never learn.
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