1497 SELDOM ENCOUNTERED POLISH PRE-OCCUPATION

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,000.00 USD
Estimated at 2,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
F.B. RADOM "1938" DATE WZ.35 SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL. Cal. 9x19mm Parabellum. S# 23805. Bbl. 4 5/8". Beginning production in 1935, the wz.35 pistol served as Poland's standard military-issue sidearm until the country's subsequent defeat and occupation by Germany in 1939. Of the 90,000 wz.35 pistols ordered by the Polish military, only approximately 49,000 were delivered prior to the German invasion and occupation. This example, mfg. in 1938, is marked "F.B. RADOM/ 1938r", followed by the Polish eagle coat of arms and "VIS-wz.35/ pat. Nr. 15567" on the left side of the slide. A small Polish eagle acceptance proof is stamped just forward of the hammer drop catch lever on the slide, as well as on the left side of the bbl. lug. Left side of the frame exhibits a "B/ 8" within an oval proof, with a "G/ 2" oval proof present on the floorplate of the mag. Metal components exhibit a blued finish, with the bbl. exhibiting a polished in-the-white finish. Frame is mounted with 2-piece checkered black plastic grips, with "FB" on the left panel and "VIS" on the right. Blade front sight with a V-notch rear sight. Slotted frame. All numbers are matching and include the frame, slide (interior), and bbl. MAGS: 1 8-rd. CONDITION: very good overall, with metal components retaining the majority of their original arsenal blue finish, exhibiting light to mild edge wear, some mild areas of wear and thinning that show through to gray patina, as well as some scattered marks from handling and storage overall. Very bright bore, exhibiting consistent light pitting and retaining strong rifling throughout. Grips show some scattered marks from handling and storage but otherwise remain sturdy and serviceable. A very nice example of a seldom encountered pre-war wz.35 pistol that is rarely seen outside of private collections. PROVENANCE: the collection of Curtis H. Halvorson. (23-5818/MLW). CURIO. $2,000-4,000.