[spocahp anar]

I have located an F Dusek (DUO) Pistol complete with leather holster. Its serial is in the low 150xxx. I would like to know what a good price to offer for it.

The dealer believes it was issued to nurses in the military. He has no value as to its worth and told me to make a fair offer. The condition appears to be good with minor scratches that I am sure I can buff out. It has a chrome or stainless finish, not blued.

Anything else you know about this pistol is appreciated. :banghead:

[Jim K]

As far as I know, no DUO pistols were factory plated, so that is an after-market job. As for "issued to nurses in the military" maybe, but not our military; the pistol is Czech. Manufacture began about 1926; the guns were made through the war under German occupation and after the war under the communists. They were made until quite recently, but were banned for import by the 1968 Gun Control Act.

They are excellent guns, however, and very reliable. I consider them right up there with the Colt 1908 Vest Pocket and the original Browning .25 for solidness and reliability.

They usually go for $200-250 in original good condition, more for wartime production; plated, maybe $100+. That story gets the dealer nothing.

Jim

[spocahp anar]

Jim I went back and looked at the pistol again and it had stamped into the holster "Army Nurses Corps" and a lady's name below it. This was stamped in English.

The holster appears to be military style (like a makarov) and seems to be made for the pistol.

[gamachinist]

The small Colt pistols issued to higher ranking officers may fit that holster,and are about the same size as the DUO.

[Jim K]

A holster made for the Colt Vest Pocket Model (1908 .25 caliber) would be perfect for the DUO, and the Colts were issued to nurses, along with the Model 1903/1908 .32 and .380 hammerless models.

It is possible that some nurse chose to carry a personal gun, but I think I am pretty safe in saying that the DUO was never issued to U.S. personnel. More likely, the nurse carried a Colt in that holster, then turned in the gun but kept the holster. At some later time, the DUO found its way into the holster.

Jim

[spocahp anar]

Jim that actually makes alot of sense and is probably the most logical explanation. Thanks for your help.

[JardaXor]

Pistols DUO are never served in military or police. Officialy never this gun used of them and never ordered "military" holster. Many of them are used in many organizations, but like a private guns. Very small of them ordered at the end of WWII for ministry of financial (germany).
On the other side, time to time was produced series with nickel finish.
Serial number 150xxx are post-war production, I thing about 47-48.

[gamachinist]

Thanks for the additional info JardaXor ,
And welcome to THR !

[JardaXor]

Thank you, gamachinist.
Old czech pistols are one of my interests and whatever I don't know, I know where to find ... mostly :)
Excepting pistols for collection. ;)
These DUO's/Z's (WWII and younger) is widely accesible here and production are good (not perfect) documented from 36' to now.
Pre-war production (as I said on the other forum) consist from series of pistols used tradenames DUO, SINGER, IDEAL (YDEAL) and JAGA. They have little different frame under the grips and they are shaped on the top.
If somebody have one of them (pre-war or war), tell me.
Small serie (from this factory) of copy of FN Baby exist with name PERLA and small serie produced in the .22 (Z). Tell me too :)