East German Makarov? Get it if there's one for sale?

Buy it...the East German Maks I have seen lately have been running 500-600 bucks.

Take cash and you might be able to talk him down more .

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

Not unless the country of origin really means that much to you. $380 for a used blow back pistol in an uncommon caliber is a bit high to me. Jmho, if you like the pistol and caliber then go ahead. And merry Christmas!

Buy it.

When the (German) Makarovs were first imported and selling for $100 I said this is a $400 gun selling for $100.

I like Makarovs. I have 17 now.




This is the last EG Makarov I bought, about 3-4 years ago, for $340.

Sounds high to me when you can get a shield for $400. Look on Classic firearms or Weapons world, they usually have them for 250. That stainless one is worth 400 but not a chipped up banged up one.

The $250 Makarovs at Classic Firearms and others are typically Bulgarian, not E. German. The Bulgarian guns, while not bad, are typically considered to be of lower quality than the German versions, hence the price difference.

OP: If you like the Makarov, I would definitely get that one. That's a very good price for a E. German in good condition.

A rugged, simple, bet your life on it reliable pistol. Easily concealed and accurate, and made in E. Germany....buy it.

I buy 9mm Mak by the case, mail order. It usually lasts me a year or so and is no trouble to find.

A few years ago I set out to make a new out of the box Bulgarian Makarov malfunction within the first 1,000 rounds of Barnaul JHP and FMJ ammo.

The tests were "normal" problems that might happen, but carried to extreme.
All tests started with a full magazine, chambered round, hammer cocked.
The gun was not oiled or cleaned, unless you count when it was left under water for a day.

You draw your Makarov but you drop it in the mud.


You only have time to grab the gun and shake it one time before pulling the trigger.
The mud blocks the hammer on the single action trigger pull.
You immediately pull the trigger double action and the gun fires and you shoot the magazine dry.



Some people have a thing about pocket lint or a dirty gun malfunctioning.
I filled the inside of the dirty gun with "pocket lint".
No problem.



Your Makarov is a car gun that spends the cold winter in the car.
I over greased the gun and left it in the freezer.
The only problem was the gun was a little cold to shoot without gloves.



I did a number of other tests, in which the Makarov functioned perfectly.
There were two "malfunctions". The first when the mud blocked the hammer on the first trigger pull and a dud primer.


I finished up with a accuracy test, in which the limit to the accuracy was the shooter, not the gun.

My expert tells me that the East German guns are the best of the lot.

My expert tells me that the East German guns are the best of the lot.

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Yes.
Generally the East German fit and finish is the best but every EG Mak I've seen was a used gun showing a little finish wear.

They all are accurate and reliable.

I came by a Bulgarian Mak that has a LOT of wear. I think it was probably a range gun. It was shot so much I had to replace the worn sear and hammer because the gun "doubled".
But still the gun is totally reliable and as accurate as a new one.

This is standing and plinking with a Makarov at 100 yards. The excessive spread and 7 misses is the shooter, not the gun.

M2 Carbine....you would be a great guy to have along at a gun show looking at these babies.

That's good to know about the E german guns. I thought they were like AK's the Polish and Bulgarian guns are usually better. I would love to have one like that stainless one, and often thought about re-doing one, but never followed up. I would bet you spent a pretty penny on that gun, or at least would have to now a days. What work was done to it besides the finish?

M2 Carbine said:

Yes.
Generally the East German fit and finish is the best but every EG Mak I've seen was a used gun showing a little finish wear.

They all are accurate and reliable.

I came by a Bulgarian Mak that has a LOT of wear. I think it was probably a range gun. It was shot so much I had to replace the worn sear and hammer because the gun "doubled".
But still the gun is totally reliable and as accurate as a new one.

This is standing and plinking with a Makarov at 100 yards. The excessive spread and 7 misses is the shooter, not the gun.

Click to expand...

The fact that you got on paper with that little gun is impressive enough.

You will not find a better pistol for that price with the same history as the East German Mak.

"That's good to know about the E german guns. I thought they were like AK's the Polish and Bulgarian guns are usually better. I would love to have one like that stainless one, and often thought about re-doing one, but never followed up. I would bet you spent a pretty penny on that gun, or at least would have to now a days. What work was done to it besides the finish?"


I bought the gun June, 2006, at a Dallas gun show.

A dealer had it but it was his personal gun. He said after having it finished he never used it or shot it. (it looks even better in person).
I don't know that anything else was done to it, other than the magazine. I haven't shot it either.

It was $340. I jumped at the price.

I have an East German Makarov that I truly love. The finish is beautiful, well polished with beautiful bluing. It is very accurate, has never jammed, and the trigger pull is so smooth that it puts every Walther I have ever fired to shame. I would never part with it. That said, I almost never carry it - that's what my Bulgarian is for. It may not be the latest or greatest, and some may think it is obsolete, but it is a beautiful gun.

Now here's a Makarov you don't see every day.



It's a Bulgarian Makarov with a Bulgarian 22LR conversion.

I bought the conversion from the web site, Makarov.com.
The site is no longer in business but I think there's still a lot of Makarov information there.

I hated to see them close because they had a lot of good Makarov stuff.

gym said:

Sounds high to me when you can get a shield for $400.

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I don't believe the OP was expressing an interest in a "shield", was he?

Now that you have an E. German Makarov to compare others to, you will see the difference. You will notice the other Maks are not nearly as well finished and have some sharp edges, although all makes are really reliable. I have always thought the East German Makarov is like a Makarov finished at a reputable Custom Shop.
Anyway, good choice and good luck, I am sure you will enjoy it!

My brother has an older East German Man that he picked up when they were first being imported. Fit and finish, especially the bluing, were first rate and this particular one looked to be near mint with no signs of any wear on the gun. Compared to other countries Make that I have looked at over the years, I would say an East German model would make for a great addition to your gun collection.

Fremmer said:

Not unless the country of origin really means that much to you. $380 for a used blow back pistol in an uncommon caliber is a bit high to me. Jmho, if you like the pistol and caliber then go ahead. And merry Christmas!

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While these are fine shooting pistols, and the best Makarovs for fit, and finish, they have become collectors items. I have one, and it is probably the last Makarov I'd sell.

$380 is a good price, so yes, buy it.

Yup sounds like you got a nice one, post a pic!