lsudave
Member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2007
- Messages
- 1,042
Ok, this is just an exercise in fun. I have all the firearms I need for carry and defense, these are "just because" guns.
So now, I'm looking into .32 acp pistols from the past. These are coming from pre WW2 era, so the guns are interesting and odd (I think they were having to work around various patents, and everyone was still figuring out the designs). Classy, blued steel, compact but big enough for the rd, comfortable shooters. And best of all, not in demand, so the prices are low.
Here's what I have found so far:
CZ-27
This was my entry into the field. My son found the brown gripped one at a LGS when I was completing a transfer, and it was his birthday so it became his present. I later came across the black gripped version online for a steal (sold under $140 + shipping), and since I liked his, I got this for me.
The brown is late pre-war, with Czech markings, and German acceptance proof (and German DR stamps). This baby had to be coming off the line about the time the Germans rolled in. Has the slanted slide serrations.
The black has German markings and vertical slide serrations. Both have nice polished blue finishes, I think the black one has been redone since it appears that the Nazi proof marks have been scrubbed.
Very comfortable shooter, accurate and easy to aim, sights are small but visible. Comes back on target nicely. Takes down easy. Good bit of parts available if you know where to look.
Savage 1907
This was my 2nd pistol in this caliber, again came across a nice price, and other than worn finish, the gun just had a missing grip (vintage replicas are available). This guy holds 10 rds in a doublestack magazine, dispelling the myth that the Hi Power was the origin of such mags. Very unique design, with a rotating barrel, and a striker with a "hammer" present (it's an indicator, not a real hammer). You can't decock it safely. All sorts of weirdness in this; the mag release is in the toe, not the heel of the magwell.
Tiny sights, I've braced this gun on a sandbag and found it to be very mechanically accurate, but it is challenging to shoot offhand at a distance (for me). With lots of concentration and discipline, I'm bringing the groups into a reasonable range, but initially the odd grip and tiny sights had me spraying it all over.
Mauser 1914
My latest foray into the field, just picked it up yesterday.
Again, stumbled across a nice price (this is a recurring statement
). From what I can tell, I may not have the correct issued magazine (but the one that came with it runs great). And I'm missing a grip screw; but the grip is a 1 piece wraparound, so while I look, the gun is still shootable. And it shoots great, btw. The sights are the largest of this collection, with a big front blade and nice notch. A prior owner painted the front blade red, and it stood out, so I will leave it. Gun seems to be early WW1 vintage, intact and matching. Has a proof mark that I think means it was issued to the military. Looks funny, but feels very good in the hand. Solid and tight. Easy to shoot and groups well.
It appears that the Mauser inspired the CZ at least a little, since they share the same safety design, one I'd never seen before these guns. There's a lever rear of the trigger, you push down for safe, press the button to release the safety. The CZs are in Fire, the Mauser is in Safe in the pics. Although they feel nice to engage, I had to fiddle with the CZ's a little, and after seeing the layout, I wouldn't trust that too much. But they work. The Savage has a safety on the rear of the frame, which is really better to lock the slide back for takedown. I find it pretty tough to manipulate.
Both the Savage and the Mauser are striker fired, with the Savage (as noted) having a "hammer" to show it cocked. The Mauser is set up so you see the rear of the striker when it's cocked, a pin that is both visible and palpable on the rear of the slide.
I've used both Fiocchi 73 gr FMJ in the red box, and PPU 71 gr FMJ. Both work great, clean and consistent. And as I've been fortunate to learn, affordable too (I found the PPU for $10.95 a box, or practically 9mm price, so I went ahead and bought a case). The PPU has a neat package, instead of a 50 rd plastic holder, it has 2 25 rd plastic ammo holders in each box.
This are all very comfortable shooters- I'm 5'7 with small/average hands, and I can just barely get my pinky on each. Recoil and flip is minimal to nonexistent. The Mauser and CZ in particular point well, whereas the Savage is a little more awkward (and the smallest grip too). But then, the Savage gives you 10 shots quick (their slogan), and the grip isn't noticeably fatter than the others. Both the CZ and Mauser have wraparounds, and are VERY comfortable and ergonomic. The magazine release is in the magwell for all 3, the toe in the Savage, the heel in the others. The Mauser's is VERY tight and secure, and I have some difficulty removing it while keeping the gun safely downrange ( I think the technique might be to push the mag up into the well to loosen the tension some, pry back the release, and then pull the mag out). The Savage's mag release is in the front, and easy to engage, and the mag falls free.
I think I will continue to look for older, odd designs (and obviously a Colt 1903 if the price is right), before I start looking at the more modern Walther PPK and similar styles.
Hope y'all enjoyed this, let's see some of yours!
So now, I'm looking into .32 acp pistols from the past. These are coming from pre WW2 era, so the guns are interesting and odd (I think they were having to work around various patents, and everyone was still figuring out the designs). Classy, blued steel, compact but big enough for the rd, comfortable shooters. And best of all, not in demand, so the prices are low.
Here's what I have found so far:
CZ-27
This was my entry into the field. My son found the brown gripped one at a LGS when I was completing a transfer, and it was his birthday so it became his present. I later came across the black gripped version online for a steal (sold under $140 + shipping), and since I liked his, I got this for me.
The brown is late pre-war, with Czech markings, and German acceptance proof (and German DR stamps). This baby had to be coming off the line about the time the Germans rolled in. Has the slanted slide serrations.
The black has German markings and vertical slide serrations. Both have nice polished blue finishes, I think the black one has been redone since it appears that the Nazi proof marks have been scrubbed.
Very comfortable shooter, accurate and easy to aim, sights are small but visible. Comes back on target nicely. Takes down easy. Good bit of parts available if you know where to look.
Savage 1907
This was my 2nd pistol in this caliber, again came across a nice price, and other than worn finish, the gun just had a missing grip (vintage replicas are available). This guy holds 10 rds in a doublestack magazine, dispelling the myth that the Hi Power was the origin of such mags. Very unique design, with a rotating barrel, and a striker with a "hammer" present (it's an indicator, not a real hammer). You can't decock it safely. All sorts of weirdness in this; the mag release is in the toe, not the heel of the magwell.
Tiny sights, I've braced this gun on a sandbag and found it to be very mechanically accurate, but it is challenging to shoot offhand at a distance (for me). With lots of concentration and discipline, I'm bringing the groups into a reasonable range, but initially the odd grip and tiny sights had me spraying it all over.
Mauser 1914
My latest foray into the field, just picked it up yesterday.
Again, stumbled across a nice price (this is a recurring statement
). From what I can tell, I may not have the correct issued magazine (but the one that came with it runs great). And I'm missing a grip screw; but the grip is a 1 piece wraparound, so while I look, the gun is still shootable. And it shoots great, btw. The sights are the largest of this collection, with a big front blade and nice notch. A prior owner painted the front blade red, and it stood out, so I will leave it. Gun seems to be early WW1 vintage, intact and matching. Has a proof mark that I think means it was issued to the military. Looks funny, but feels very good in the hand. Solid and tight. Easy to shoot and groups well. It appears that the Mauser inspired the CZ at least a little, since they share the same safety design, one I'd never seen before these guns. There's a lever rear of the trigger, you push down for safe, press the button to release the safety. The CZs are in Fire, the Mauser is in Safe in the pics. Although they feel nice to engage, I had to fiddle with the CZ's a little, and after seeing the layout, I wouldn't trust that too much. But they work. The Savage has a safety on the rear of the frame, which is really better to lock the slide back for takedown. I find it pretty tough to manipulate.
Both the Savage and the Mauser are striker fired, with the Savage (as noted) having a "hammer" to show it cocked. The Mauser is set up so you see the rear of the striker when it's cocked, a pin that is both visible and palpable on the rear of the slide.
I've used both Fiocchi 73 gr FMJ in the red box, and PPU 71 gr FMJ. Both work great, clean and consistent. And as I've been fortunate to learn, affordable too (I found the PPU for $10.95 a box, or practically 9mm price, so I went ahead and bought a case). The PPU has a neat package, instead of a 50 rd plastic holder, it has 2 25 rd plastic ammo holders in each box.
This are all very comfortable shooters- I'm 5'7 with small/average hands, and I can just barely get my pinky on each. Recoil and flip is minimal to nonexistent. The Mauser and CZ in particular point well, whereas the Savage is a little more awkward (and the smallest grip too). But then, the Savage gives you 10 shots quick (their slogan
), and the grip isn't noticeably fatter than the others. Both the CZ and Mauser have wraparounds, and are VERY comfortable and ergonomic. The magazine release is in the magwell for all 3, the toe in the Savage, the heel in the others. The Mauser's is VERY tight and secure, and I have some difficulty removing it while keeping the gun safely downrange ( I think the technique might be to push the mag up into the well to loosen the tension some, pry back the release, and then pull the mag out). The Savage's mag release is in the front, and easy to engage, and the mag falls free. I think I will continue to look for older, odd designs (and obviously a Colt 1903 if the price is right), before I start looking at the more modern Walther PPK and similar styles.
Hope y'all enjoyed this, let's see some of yours!
