Classic .32 ACP Pistols

Status
Not open for further replies.
Wisco

Wisco

member
Joined
Dec 13, 2013
Messages
1,239
I bought a Savage 1907 at a gunshow this past weekend as my first foray into collecting .32 autos. I'm going to start with the classics before I get into anything newer or current production like Kel-Tec, newer PPKs, North American Arms, etc.

This is what is on my list, in no particular order, but what am I missing?

Colt 1903
FN 1910
CZ 27
Remington 51
German PPK (pre-68?)
Sig P230

What other 32 and 7.65 pistols are out there? What are you experiences with any of these - feel free to ramble, I'm looking to learn whatever I can.
 
Since you mentioned the CZ-27 how about this one? It's a WWII version that was brought back from the war by my uncle. You can tell it was made during the was because all the parts are, well, rough. The finish is also not as nice as the pre-war CZ-27s. I'm happy to have the original holster too...

CZ-27-1s.jpg

CZ-27-2s.jpg

CZ-27-3s.jpg
 
The CZ50 / CZ70 pistol design is one that I would add to your list. They are inexpensive well-made reliable handguns. The steel receiver and slide seem to absorb a lot of the recoil and make them enjoyable to shoot. Did I mention they are accurate? I never had a problem with the decocker, but then I do not trust it either and always decock it with the muzzle pointing safely down range (just like I do with any other pistol decocker).
 

Attachments

  • CZ50_1312a.JPG
    CZ50_1312a.JPG
    69.1 KB · Views: 34
There are dozens, scores, maybe hundreds of .32 autos to look for.
Here are a few I could think of that would not be too hard to find, stuff I have actually seen.

A Savage 1907, 1912, or 1917 would be nice.

It is not a fine gun, but you need a Spanish Ruby (at least one of the four main contractors or 44 minor) to complete a collection.

Beretta 1935, 70, 90, 81.

FEG P37m

JP Sauer 38H

Earlier Walther, Mauser, and Sauer .32s

MAB Model D

H&R or the parent Webley.
 
I like the Ortgies in .25, .32, and .380 ACP.

Also, like Mauser 1914, 1934, and HSc in .32 & .380, but don't like the Gamba so called Mauser (jam-er-matic) .

The Sauer & Sohn .32 DA was innovative and unusual .
 
Last edited:
Cz 27

I have a cz 27 made in Prague 1939 with the Nazi stamps.
Very accurate. Pitted badly. Fun to shoot.
Careful as many older 32s may not have a drop safety. :eek:
 
Why not the first? Browning (FN) Model 1900s turn up from time to time and often at reasonable prices. A friend got one in very good condition at a gun show for $400 from a dealer who had no idea what it was except that it was "funny looking."

Jim
 
I'm a huge lover and aficionado of the .32 acp and have shot Walthers, various Berettas, Mausers, and of course the Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless. I like the Pocket Hammerless so well I own 4 of them...one of them comes home tomorrow from a major upgrade including a "Street Tune" trigger and action modification and Hard Chrome finish.

I personally like the .32 acp as a plinker, training caliber/transition for new shooters after the .22 and as an under rated concealed carry round. Enjoy the classic .32's - there are few modern pistols that fill that niche' any more.

VooDoo
 
.32 acp

Vodoun da Vinci said:
I'm a huge lover and aficionado of the .32 acp and have shot Walthers, various Berettas, Mausers, and of course the Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless. I like the Pocket Hammerless so well I own 4 of them...one of them comes home tomorrow from a major upgrade including a "Street Tune" trigger and action modification and Hard Chrome finish.

I personally like the .32 acp as a plinker, training caliber/transition for new shooters after the .22 and as an under rated concealed carry round. Enjoy the classic .32's - there are few modern pistols that fill that niche' any more.

VooDoo
Click to expand...

Hello Voo ! I was sure you'd make a visit to this thread .

Ladies and gentlemen, when I think of .32 ACP, I think of Mr. Voudoun da Vinci .

You might say, "When I think of .32, I think of Mr. Voo ".:D

Welcome, my friend !:)

By the way, Voo, what do you think of the Melior .32 ACP ?:confused:
 
Enjoy the classic .32's - there are few modern pistols that fill that niche' any more.
Click to expand...

That's very true from what I've seen. I could complete a collection of current production .32s with just a few models.

Is the Colt 1903 generally considered the "best" of this type of pistol?
 
il.bill said:
The CZ50 / CZ70 pistol design is one that I would add to your list. They are inexpensive well-made reliable handguns. The steel receiver and slide seem to absorb a lot of the recoil and make them enjoyable to shoot. Did I mention they are accurate? I never had a problem with the decocker, but then I do not trust it either and always decock it with the muzzle pointing safely down range (just like I do with any other pistol decocker).
Click to expand...
I don't trust the decocker on mine anymore. An example of a real AD. A mechanical failure resulting in an unintended discharge...and one angry wife.
 
I second Jim Watson and the MAB Model D. A great full size .32 produced from the 20's onward I believe. My grandfather's war bring back MAB was my first pistol. It fit my hand perfectly and is a joy to shoot. Also have a Beretta 1935 that jams like nothing I've ever seen, but i like to think mine is just a lemon and they're otherwise good guns.
 
Gun Master said:
By the way, Voo, what do you think of the Melior .32 ACP ?:confused:
Click to expand...

Never shot one, only saw one in my life...but I may now need to find me one and check it out. They look....interesting! :evil:

DSC09306.jpg

Anybody here shoot one of these?

As far as "The best of this type" I think the Colt Pocket Hammerless could very represent the epitome of a "classic .32 pocket pistol" but the Browning variant and the Mauser HSc are pretty much in the same category IMO. I'm biased as I inherited a beat up Colt PH and had never seen nor shot one before but this one sucked me in mostly because my Father in law had a bunch of antique ammunition for the one I inherited which I promptly used to test it. It was love at first bang for me....

I'd like to see a modern, polymer framed pistol (like a Glock....) with a full length barrel (4" or so) a and locked breech come out in .32 acp. I know it won't happen but the Glock 42 my Wife has adopted handles *HOT* .380 handloads to the point it has really amazed me....it truly earns the name "9mm short" as the .380 loads I shoot in this pistol are just short of being a 9mm in terms of SD. I am extremely curious about a modern .32 acp done the same way. It'll never be a Barn Burner but I think a hot .32 acp 75 gr. bullet load in a modern locked breech pistol with a long enough barrel to not make the gun a hideout/toy might be interesting.

But I'm biased and delusional/foolish and have that "cognitive dissonance" problem so I'm probably the only one who'd like to see that.... :cool: :neener:

Ooohhhh...maybe a Glock 42 drop in .32 option? I wonder if a barrel and mag could make a .32 acp G42? :confused:

VooDoo
 
Last edited:
agent109 said:
What part of .32 Auto COLT Pistol did you seem to miss?:eek:
Click to expand...


The FN Model 1903 chambered in 9x20 Browning and the Colt Model 1903 chambered in both .32 Automatic Colt Pistol and .380 Automatic Colt Pistol are pistols designed by John Moses Browning. They are not the same design and are derived from different prototypes. There is no such thing as a “Browning 1903 .32 Auto Colt Pistol”. Get your facts straight agent109 before questioning anyone’s comprehension of your statements. .32 Automatic Colt Pistol is the designation of a pistol cartridge.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

E
  • Locked
In Praise of the CZ .... CZ 27 that is.
Replies
7
Views
3K
Buck Nekkid
B
D
  • Locked
Which .32 ACP?
2
Replies
28
Views
2K
paul45
P
Redcoat3340
  • Locked
Help picking a .32 acp
2 3
Replies
52
Views
7K
modifiedbrowning
M
Onmilo
  • Locked
For all the folks who like .32 acp pistols
Replies
12
Views
3K
Jason Demond
Jason Demond
Ivy Mike
  • Locked
pocket guns
Replies
24
Views
1K
Drjones
D
Back
Top