[cratz2]

Anyone have any information on the Czech Duo pistol? How many were made or what a Nazi stamped 1942 model would be worth etc?

Nice little gun. I think there's only a couple parts in there that aren't machined. Makes my P32 look like a pre-school toy. ;)

Thanks.

[Jagermeister]

Don't have anything on the "Duo" model. If you could provide the markings on the pistol, or a photo, possibly we could help you. Most Czech pistols are marked CZ or VZ. "Duo" doesn't ring a bell.

TG

[Steven Mace]

http://www.czub.cz/obsah/images/pistole_DUO-m.jpg

cratz2, production on the CZ Duo started in 1926. At 100% with Nazi markings the current Blue Book would list it at $315 and about $240 in 95% condition. Sorry I don't have any production numbers for you.

Steve Mace

[Jagermeister]

Steve:
thanks for the photo:

That model is the Model Z, better known as the the Duo (q.v) and was originally made in the Strakonice CZ factory shrotly after the Communist takeover. Dulek's business had been seized by the State. The slide of post 1948 guns was marked Z ATUO PISTOL R 6.35 MADE IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

hjn

[C.R.Sam]

So wonderfully good to have Harley here.

Sam

[cratz2]

Thanks for the replies. A friend's mother has one that he's trying to sell for her but no one was exactly sure what was a good honest price.

Nice quality piece... thanks again for the responses.

[gunrunnerjohn]

DUO, let's see, I have one of those somewhere... Here it is, a 1944 Nazi marked one.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/johnwill10/album/images/DUO.jpg

[Jim K]

The man's name was Dusek, not Dulek. The pistol is a close copy of the original FN Browning .25/Colt Vest Pocket Model. They are well made and one of the more reliable .25 autos. They sell for around $250+ in top shape and about $75-100 more with the German issue holster.

Jim

[HVH]

Does anyone know where parts or a diagram for a DUO .25 Auto may be found?

Mine is chromed with white grips from F. Dusek, Tovarna NA Zbrane Opochno

[Jim K]

Someone may have other info, but I have never seen a DUO in chrome or nickel or with white grips, and don't think any came from the factory that way.

They were quite common souvenir guns in WWII and I suspect yours was plated and the new grips put on here. Franzite (Chicago) made grips for them.

I don't know of a diagram but they are almost identical to the old Colt .25 auto, the so-called Model 1908. IIRC, some parts will even interchange or can be fitted.

Jim

[Buck Nekkid]

Do you have a pic of your plated DUO? Mine is kinda sad and I was thinking of having it engraved and nickel plated. Here's my 1948 DUO

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/ottonsure/MyDUOA.jpg

You might check with Marstar in Canada. They have some parts, etc. for the CZ 45 (also in .25 acp) and might have some stuff for the DUO. I bought a factory magazine from them about a year ago.

[ruppking]

Hi , I'm new to The Highroad. I have a Duo 6.35 pistol and want to know what year my pistol is.
It is marked "AUTOMATICKA PISTOLE , DUO" - CAL 6.35
F.DUSEK, TOVARNA NA ZBRANE OPOCNO
Under the insignia where the date of manufacture should be, is two sets of numbers
51
38
This is on the left side of the slide. No numbers on right hand side of the side.
It has the number 319 on the inside of the slide, on the barrel, and on the right hand side of the frame. I have looked at just about everything online about these and was thinking maybe this was a 1938 because the series number is so low and it has "OPOCNO" as the location. I will try to include some pics of it.

[Buck Nekkid]

My best guess is that it was made in 1951, but I have no idea what the 38 represents.

[Jim K]

Just FYI, "TOVARNA NA ZBRANE" means "Factory of Arms" and Opocno is the city. The marking under German occupation is ""AUTOMAT. PISTOLE "DUO" CAL. 6.35" over "F. DUSEK, OPOTSCHNO". Note the German spelling of the city name.

That marking in Czech indicates manufacture before the German takeover, so 1938 would be a logical year, while 1951 would be during Communist rule when production was given to CZ.

The grips on the gun pictured by Ruppking are not original and appear to be home made.

Jim

[ruppking]

Thanks for the info. I have another tidbit to ask about. On my Dou 6.35 it has 25 grooves on the slide pull. I have noticed 1948 to 1954 have 9 grooves on the slide pull. 1945 has 12 grooves. 1940 to 1944 have 14 grooves. Also the serial numbers seem to go up as the years progress. Has anyone seen such a low serial number?

[ruppking]

Perhaps I wasn't very clear in what I was looking for , but I would be very interested in any info ( or pics with serial numbers) on pre 1939 Duo 6.35 pocket pistols. I believe mine is a 1938 vintage, with a serial number of 319. I would love to see some pics of some early Dou's. if any one knows of a source for some early Duo grips, please pass the info along.Thanks, Jim My E- mail is ruppking@rocketmail.com

[rb47e]

I also have a factory chrome plated, white plastic gripped Duo with a 6 digit serial number. It is a AUT. Pistole "DUO" R.6.35mm Made in CZECHOSLOVAKIA proof mark with a number 49. It shoots great and I have found that most parts interchange with the Colt .25 pocket pistol.

[Jim K]

I very much doubt that the chrome plating and white plastic grips are factory original, if that matters. That pistol was apparently imported after WWII, not a GI bringback, since it has the country of origin on it.

I may be wrong, but I think the only company that made "pearl" or "ivory" grips for the DUO was the Franz company in Chicago, which used the "Franzite" trade mark.

Jim

[rb47e]

Jim, I trust your opinion. I really know nothing about the DUO. I did look at the grips and find no trade marks. I was wondering. If the factory did not nickle plate the DUO, who did and why are so many (well, a few) DUOs showing up as nickle plated? The finish on mine is so good it just doesn't look like it was an after market nickle finish job. You are right. Where it was plated does not matter to me.

[Buck Nekkid]

I wish I could find one of those nickel/chrome plated jewels...especially if it was made in 1948!

[Jim K]

As I said above, I have never seen a DUO either chrome or nickel plated, and that is true. But as to the likelihood of a plated one being original, I admit I was thinking of pre and during WWII production. However, they were imported for a short time in the post-WWII period and I have now been told that some of those were nickel plated and had white grips, so that appears to be the case with that one, which was made in 1949, as shown by the proof date.

Jim

[rb47e]

Jim, thanks for the updated info. My last question was going to be, "Is there a technical/business reason why the post war DUO factory would not offer a nickle plated white/ivory gripped pistol?" Too bad the records are not available. It really doesn't matter but wondering/wandering minds would like to know.

[Jim K]

I don't know why they would not or could not. I had never seen one, but as I said, someone e-mailed me that they did make them. My guess would be that they were for the American market, as by that time nickel plating had pretty much gone out of style in Europe. Usually, the U.S. importer will ask the maker for those features he considers will sell best on the American market (or are needed for importation). The customer is always right, so the importer gets what he asks for.

As to chrome, I don't recall any what I would call "quality" gun that was chromed. Many inexpensive guns have been chromed (chrome is cheaper than nickel) but to me they look garish.

Jim

[rb47e]

Jim, thanks for the info. Unfortunately your last post tickles another question (for me anyway). How do we determine chrome from nickle?

[Jim K]

I'll have to reply with what some Supreme Court justice said about pornography - "I know it when I see it." Really, look at nickel plated guns and at chrome plated guns and you will see the difference. In words, nickel tends to have a yellowish or "warmer" look, while chrome has a bluish or "colder" look. At one time, around the 1890-1900 period, nickel plating was so common in the gun industry that the majority of some S&W models were nickel plated, and some other companies made whole lines only in nickel. Nickel plating was new at the time and made things look "high class". This was true of not only guns but hundreds of other items (Google "nickel plate line" for one interesting story).

Later, nickel plating was common on guns to be used around salt water or carried in a shoulder holster where perspiration would ruin the finish on a blued gun. Today, stainless steel has taken the place of plating for protection of the finish, and nickel plating has gone out of style, though S&W and some other makers will still do it on special order.

Chrome plating is fairly recent, and was uncommon on guns until the advent of cheap handguns when it was used to give a flashy look, appealing to some people. It is cheaper than nickel plating and easier to do.

Jim

[rb47e]

Jim, thanks for the education.

[MNBinPDX]

Wow. So much good info here.

I just came across one of these cool little pistols, a friend had it, and it's missing magazines. I think I have that figured out, a place called sarcoinc.com has them.

Here's my problem:

When my friend showed me the gun, the action was jammed back. I researched and found that the barrel needs to be twisted 1/4 turn to unlock it so the slide can come off. Easy.

I intend to give it a good cleaning, but I can't seem to reassemble. I looked at manuals for the Browning 1906, but this Dusek copy has far fewer parts. In fact, I have the frame, the barrel, the slide, the firing pin and the recoil spring.

I can't seem to reset the barrel so that I can twist it back and lock it. Also, since the gun was jammed open first time I saw it, I don't know that I"m putting the firing pin back in correctly.

This gun appears to be nickel plated, and the markings are different than anything I've seen on the web. The name of the town, Opocno, is spelled just like I wrote it with the curet above the "c".

Any comments/help are appreciated, thanks! If anyone is interested I can post pics.

[gyvel]

At one time, around the 1890-1900 period, nickel plating was so common in the gun industry that the majority of some S&W models were nickel plated, and some other companies made whole lines only in nickel.

Nickel plating was generally a cheaper finish to put on a gun in that time period. (1870s-early 1900s), since it didn't require as careful a buffing job. Some manufacturers of that era such as H&R and Iver Johnson actually charged more for a blue gun.

[czech13]

Hi to all, apologize my poor English.
Allow me some remarks to DUO pistols:
The name of the manufacturer is Dušek - "š" sounds like "sh" in "ship".
The name of the town is "Opočno" - "č" sounds like "cz" in "czech" or "ch" in "check".
Nickel plated pistols are original from the factory (nickel, NOT chrome plated). According to propagation materials of the Dušek factory, "luxurious" pistols should be made in pre-war years, nickel plated and with mother-of pearl grips. No such pistol is known until now. Also from the year 1941 only black pistols are known until now. Nickel plated pistols are known from the year 1945 and later, they were more common from the year 1946. To a nickel plated gun allways belongs a nickel plated magazine. Grips exists in black, reddish-brown and white. Until 1948 black and brown grips were used, also on nickel plated pistols. White grips appears on nickel plated pistols from the year 1948.
My DUO is from the year 1951, originally with reddish-brown grips, but I think, that it looks better with the white ones... ;)

Field stripping an reassembling (for MNBinPDX ;)):
1. Remove the magazine. (pict.1)
2. Turn safety lever backwards. (pict.2+3)
3. Push the slide backwards, until the safety lever "snaps" into it. (pict.4+5)
4. Turn the barrel 1/4 turn. (clockwise from front) (pict.6+7)
5. Push slide a bit back, pull safety lever a bit down and let the slide come to front. (pict.8)
6. Pull the slide down and remove the springs. (pict.9)
7. Remove the firing pin. (pict.10)
8. Remember the correct position of the firing pin - "square pin" in the slide. (pict. 11+12)
9. Turn the barrel 1/4 turn (ANTIclockwise from front) (pict.13+14)
10. Lift the back end of the barrel (maybe with a screwdriver) and push the barrel backwards from the slide. (pict. 15)
11. You´re finished... (pict. 16)

Reassembly:
Barrel into the slide, turn it clockwise so, that the back "teeth" comes correct into the slide window. Insert firing pin correctly into the slide, then the firing spring. Insert the main spring into the body. Turn the safety lever backwards. Insert the slide to the body, control the position of springs and push the slide backwards, until it "snaps" to the safety lever. Turn the barrel anticlockwise, until the "teeth" comes into the body. Push slide a bit back, turn safety lever to front and let the slide come to front.

Sorry for the big amount of pictures, will send it in two parts. I wil send also the original material with parts list - this belongs to the pistol DUO "Z", but is the same as the old DUO, only the grips are the "modern" ones.

I can send to You scans from the book "Československé pistole 1918-1950" (Czechoslovak pistols 1918-1950) - Mladá Fronta 2006, ISBN 80-204-1550-5, from Jan Skramoušský and David Pazdera, and also scans from "Střelecký magazín" (Shooters Magazine), all concerning the DUO pistol, where You can find a lot of informations and pictures, but this is all in Czech language...:confused:

[czech13]

Numbers:
Pistols from the first years have the last three digits from the number also "inside" - common is on the barrel and on bottom of the slide, but may be also on other parts.
Until 1942 the number was on the left side of body (frame), from this year on the right side. Until 1946 the numbers were serif ("Times New Roman"), in the year 1946 it changes to 3mm high sans serif ("Arial").

And the other picts...

[czech13]

And the rest...
Look to the last line on picture 1...:D

[czech13]

ruppking, I believe Your pistol is from 1938 and was "re-tested" in 1951. Your magazine is a pre-war model - the feeder is flat and also the bottom is different (with rivets) - here is my post-war magazine.

[Buck Nekkid]

Czech13 Thank you so much!! Great information!

[Jim K]

Fantastic information. Note that even though the ads are in English, importation into the U.S. was not allowed for most of the post-war period since Eastbloc arms could not be imported. There may have been pre-war imports, but all the Duo pistols I have seen or know of in the US are wartime bringbacks, not imports. (Imports would bear the COO marking "Czechoslovakia".) By the time trade was again allowed with Czechoslovakia, the pistol could not meet the requirements of GCA 68 and so is still in the "forbidden" category. Too bad - it is far from the cheap "Saturday Night Specials" at which the law was aimed.

Jim

[Buck Nekkid]

Jim, I don't mean to disagree, but my DUO is marked "48" so it's not a bring back, per se.

See my pic on Page 1 of this thread.

[Jim K]

I can't read the markings on your gun; does it have "Czechoslovakia" or "Made in Czechoslovakia" stamped on it, either as part of the factory marking or separately? If not, it was not a commercial import.

I am not sure exactly when the U.S. ban on Eastbloc imports went into effect, but Czechsolvakia went Communist in February 1948. Your gun might have slipped in before the ban, or it might have been bought in another country and brought into the US by the owner. This was and is technically illegal without an import license, but was common before intensive security checks came into use.

If you have the box, papers, parts list, or any information on the importer, I would be interested in pics.

Jim

[czech13]

Excuse me, Buck Nekkid, could You write exactly, what is written on the slide of Your pistol? I could then maybe help You - it is possible to establish roughly the year of manufacturing from the signature.

[Buck Nekkid]

I'm currently away from my home where the DUO resides in my safe. I'll check it out as soon as I get back.

[DasFriek]

I know this thread started long ago,but has seen recent action.

Today i put a gun in layaway until i could get the rest of the money and pay it off tomorrow.

What i picked up is a CZ .25 blued in about 90% condition,it looks like it may have fired 20 rounds if that.
It does say made in "Czechoslovakia" and also clearly stamped "CZ" and has a mark of "47" also.
The shop had it tagged as a "CZ NP-Pocket Duo" they are very reputable and pretty good at knowing their guns.

If anyone has anything they can tell me from that info id appreciate it,ill add a pic tomorrow once its picked up.
Oddly enough i have no use for this gun,but its sooooo cute and in such good shape i knew i could give it a good home.And if i dont like it as much as i think i will,ive seen enough CZ nuts around here im sure i can get my money back.

[Buck Nekkid]

Depending, I'll volunteer as the first CZ nut who might be interested :D

[DasFriek]

Ill post back once i have definite confirmation on just what the pistol is,im referring to the comment about it being rare and collectible.
Its not so much about the money is i dont want to destroy or devalue something of this age.
I think i said above but i actually kinda hope its not more valuable than what i paid for it,id really like to shoot and possibly carry it.

[DasFriek]

Double post,sorry.

[DasFriek]

I have the gun in hand and will post pics this evening once i can clean the gun up,it wont take long since its in such good shape.

From what i can tell it truly is a "NP" which stands for "Narodni Podnic" wich is stamped on the side.
It appears to be made in 1947 also.
"Ceska Zbrojovka" and "Strakonice" "6.35" and made in "Czechoslovakia" are all stamped on the left side with a 5 digit seriel number on the right side.

Im pretty sure this webpage tells the story of the gun:
http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:UXj_x62CHDIJ:www.freeexistence.org/vz45.html+narodni+podnik+6.35&cd=10&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=opera

The model i take it is the CZ vz45 -NP
I will not shoot this gun until im more clear of its historical value or rarity,id hate to destroy that by using it if thats the case.
But i did buy a box of ammo,so im ready to try it out when i can.

[DasFriek]

Take a look at the pics and look at how nice this 62 year old gun is.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/deathstar13/CZvz45NP003.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/deathstar13/CZvz45NP007.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/deathstar13/CZvz45NP010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/deathstar13/CZvz45NP012.jpg

I have a feeling its worth 2x what i paid as i found one just like it that sold for $425 on Gunbroker.At least i thing this may be worth that.
Not shooting and carrying it may not be an option now.

[gyvel]

ruppking, I believe Your pistol is from 1938 and was "re-tested" in 1951. Your magazine is a pre-war model - the feeder is flat and also the bottom is different (with rivets) - here is my post-war magazine

As I recall from a post on another forum, your gun would be the 51st gun submitted for proof in 1938.

[Irememberjeep]

Hello Everyone

I am new to THR so please bear with me. I do realize this thread is fairly old but I am looking for info on this Duo pistol I was given after my grandfather passed away. Attached are some photos. I am wondering what year it was made, it's value, and if the quality is such that it would still be shootable after some proper cleaning. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[ruppking]

From the date stamp it looks like it was 1943. As with any old gun a proper disassembly, cleaning/ oiling, inspection, re-assembly should indicate if it is in proper working order. If you are not up to it you should have a gunsmith evaluate it to be safe. The Duo is a very good pocket pistol and seems to have a nice little following from collectors.

[Irememberjeep]

Thank you for the information. I'm looking forward to taking this to the range, if it checks out that is.