I thought you might be interested in seeing a Polish P.35 9mm Radom pistol. At first glance it might appear homely, but the Radom is considered by many experts as one of the best pistols to come out of the WWII period.

• Radom Vis P35 Serial Numbers
• Polish Radom P35 Serial Numbers

Buymilsurp.com Polish Radom VIS Model 35 9mm Pistol. Those made during German Blitzkrieg has non-matching serial numbers.22 LR Vis: One known to exist. Brad, Lapin's book suggests that a Polish Vis (also known as a P35(p) or 'Radom') with a serial number prefix of 'H' was made in 1942. The pistols made for the Germans used the same serial numbering system used by other manufacturers.

It was well made and robust. Poland produced this pistol, which had a blend of features from the M1911 pistol and the Belgian 9mm High Power. It has a grip safety like the M1911, and the barrel is unlocked via a cam like the High Power. The lever on the slide is a decocker - it retracts the firing pin into the slide and drops the hammer on the hammer retaining plate. The lever to the rear of the grip frame is not a safety - it's a slide retaining latch to aid in disassembly. The slide release is just above the trigger on the left side.

There is no manual safety; the design relies solely on a half-cock notch or the floating firing pin which allows safe carry with the hammer down. The decocker was put on the gun in response to a request by the Polish cavalry to help in operating the pistol one-handed; the other hand had to control the reins of a horse. Men on horseback wielding pistols were not a good match for German tanks, however. When Germany overran Poland in 1939, it took over the Radom plant and began to produce the pistol for its armed forces, including the Navy, fallschirmjaegers (paratroopers), police and the SS. The native Polish workers promptly began smuggling parts of the pistol out of the plant to arm resistance forces.

When the Germans found out about this practice, they executed a dozen plant workers in front of their co-workers. Later, to stop sabotage, the Germans started making barrels for the pistols in Austria, and later moved all the machinery to Austria. This particular pistol was made in Poland in 1942, and bears the German waffenamt acceptance stamps. Later guns dispensed with the takedown latch. Earlier ones were slotted for a shoulder stock.

The 'VIS' on the right grip panel is Latin for 'power' or 'force.' The 'FB' on the left grip panel stands for Fabryka Brony (Weapon Factory), the Polish government manufacturing facility in Radom, Poland. This gun is in excellent shape for being 70 years old, and could still give good service. It will fire any commonly available 9mm Luger ammo. Luckily for collectors, Germans have always been meticulous about marking their firearms, both military and commercial. It's fun to 'read the marks' that can tell you a lot about firearms made in or accepted by Germany. Here are the marks on a Polish P.35 Radom pistol made in 1942.

In this picture you will see the 'Eagle over WaA77' mark on both the slide and the frame. This waffenamt codes the pistol as being made at the Polish weapons factory in Radom. The next mark (somewhat indistinct) 'P.35(p)' is the official German designation for the Radom P.35. The (p) stands for polnische, the German word for 'polish'. The Eagle over Swastika indicates ownership by Nazi Germany. The 'Eagle over 623' stamp indicates that the pistol was given its final acceptance at the Steyr plant in Austria. From there it was likely shipped to the German armed forces, likely paratroopers, police or SS.

The markings on the barrel camming lug are fairly straightforward. At the top are the last three digits of the serial number, insuring that the proper barrel is mated with the proper slide and frame. Next are two 'Eagle over 623' acceptance stamps by the Steyr plant in Austria.

Probably dimension checks and a proof load. And finally, the 'Eagle over swastika' ownership stamp of Nazi Germany. Again, the history of a German firearm can be read if you know their marking customs and codes.

Although this is a Polish-made firearm, if the Germans used it, it was marked per their protocols. Hope you found this as interesting as I did. Luckily for collectors, Germans have always been meticulous about marking their firearms, both military and commercial.

It's fun to 'read the marks' that can tell you a lot about firearms made in or accepted by Germany. Here are the marks on a Polish P.35 Radom pistol made in 1942. In this picture you will see the 'Eagle over WaA77' mark on both the slide and the frame. This waffenamt codes the pistol as being made at the Polish weapons factory in Radom. The next mark (somewhat indistinct) 'P.35(p)' is the official German designation for the Radom P.35. The Eagle over Swastika indicates ownership by Nazi Germany. The 'Eagle over 623' stamp indicates that the pistol was given its final acceptance at the Steyr plant in Austria.

From there it was likely shipped to the German armed forces, likely paratroopers, police or SS. The markings on the barrel camming lug are fairly straightforward. At the top are the last three digits of the serial number, insuring that the proper barrel is mated with the proper slide and frame.

Next are two 'Eagle over 623' acceptance stamps by the Steyr plant in Austria. Probably dimension checks and a proof load. And finally, the 'Eagle over swastika' ownership stamp of Nazi Germany. Again, the history of a German firearm can be read if you know their marking customs and codes.

Although this is a Polish-made firearm, if the Germans used it, it was marked per their protocols. Hope you found this as interesting as I did. John John- The same is true of their wine labels, which are very informative. It's well worth learning to read them. Great pics, as usual.

A high school buddy had one of these, but I never got to shoot it. I think he paid $17.50 for it, in NRA Very Good condition.That was back in the 1960's, though.

They've gone up. Archimedes penta outboard parts. My first handgun was a Webley MK VI converted to.45 ACP. Back then, I didn't know the pressure issues in a gun proofed for.455. But it never blew a chamber.

My mother had to sign the paperwork, as I was just 13. Father got me a Colt M1917 a couple of Christmases later. The Webley cost $13.88, the Colt three bucks more. 4 SMLE by Savage arrived about then, too, but I don't know the price. Probably $14.95 at a famous department store. The Webley came from Montgomery Ward's. Can you imagine dept.

Stores selling guns now?! I like the way the Radom fits my hand, but never bought one. The lack of a conventional 1911 style safety bothered me, and I put my meager funds into a real Colt.45 auto. The Germans made wide use of them, probably in part because they took the standard 9mm round. I've seen a photo of one on a Jerry in North Africa. I thought you might be interested in seeing a Polish P.35 9mm Radom pistol. At first glance it might appear homely, but the Radom is considered by many experts as one of the best pistols to come out of the WWII period.

It was well made and robust. Poland produced this pistol, which had a blend of features from the M1911 pistol and the Belgian 9mm High Power. It has a grip safety like the M1911, and the barrel is unlocked via a cam like the High Power. The lever on the slide is a decocker - it retracts the firing pin into the slide and drops the hammer on the hammer retaining plate. The lever to the rear of the grip frame is not a safety - it's a slide retaining latch to aid in disassembly. The slide release is just above the trigger on the left side. There is no manual safety; the design relies solely on a half-cock notch or the floating firing pin which allows safe carry with the hammer down.

The decocker was put on the gun in response to a request by the Polish cavalry to help in operating the pistol one-handed; the other hand had to control the reins of a horse. Men on horseback wielding pistols were not a good match for German tanks, however. When Germany overran Poland in 1939, it took over the Radom plant and began to produce the pistol for its armed forces, including the Navy, fallschirmjaegers (paratroopers), police and the SS. The native Polish workers promptly began smuggling parts of the pistol out of the plant to arm resistance forces. When the Germans found out about this practice, they executed a dozen plant workers in front of their co-workers.

Later, to stop sabotage, the Germans started making barrels for the pistols in Austria, and later moved all the machinery to Austria. This particular pistol was made in Poland in 1942, and bears the German waffenamt acceptance stamps. Later guns dispensed with the takedown latch. Earlier ones were slotted for a shoulder stock.

The 'VIS' on the right grip panel is Latin for 'power' or 'force.' The 'FB' on the left grip panel stands for Fabryka Brony (Weapon Factory), the Polish government manufacturing facility in Radom, Poland. This gun is in excellent shape for being 70 years old, and could still give good service. It will fire any commonly available 9mm Luger ammo.

John I have really appreciated reading this thread. I have a Mod 35 VIS 9mm. It has a serial number starting with a P. It has solid pins. It has a white barrel. It does have the take down lever.

All numbers matching. It has all the acceptance marks. It is approximately 85 to 90%. Speaking of the acceptance marks; this is what I have been trying to learn is exactly what they all mean. This thread finally gave me that information! I have been considering selling my Radom, but the more I learn about it, the less I want to sell it.

It does shoot very nicely. Economics still might force me to sell it.

However, I don't really know for certain what it is worth. I have heard as low as $300 and as high as $1200. I will not give it away.

If all I can get is $500 or less - I will definitely keep it. I will post pictures of it when I get a chance.

Any advise from you, since you really seam to know this gun and it's values? One big sin I committed years ago was selling one I had inherited from my uncle. He was in the 82nd AB with the gliders. He said he and his buddys found a crate of I think 14 of them in a wharehouse.

He said they were all new in the holsters with the extra magazines and tools. They all split them up. When he died I also inherited a luger, a.32 browning etc. I did shoot it a little. I planned on keeping the luger but later that was stolen too. I hate myself for it. It still looked brand new in the holster.

The serial # is H 1535. The first toy gun that I can remember: Uncle eldon came home from the war with the random I wrote of earlier on this thread. I was 5 years old, saw him get out of a car in front of our store with his war bag. He came in and mom and aunt isla went nuts kissing him. I wondered about that. Dad that night told me to look through his guns and pick one. I picked the random.

Dad traced it on a board, sawed it out and carved some highlights on it and gave it to me. The next day I took it to school and some older boys put me up to showing the teacher 'my pisso' as I called it.

Looks like I found the experts here. I've attached a photo of a 1937 Vis 35.serial 6081. My police department recovered the firearm in the possession of a foreign national. I'm trying to locate an owner. I was very surprised to find this firearm when most of the people I deal with carry Jennings, Phoenix, or Bryco pistols.

The photo on the handle is very interesting and appears to be a 1940's era photo. You have a treasure there. It's an early Radom with the Polish Eagle on the slide, made in 1937, before the German invasion in 1939. These pre-war examples have the best finish and are highly desirable collectibles. The photo under the plastic (non-standard) grip piece does appear to reflect some 1940s-era women.

If only the gun could talk! The magazine appears to be one from a German P.38. Looks like I found the experts here. I've attached a photo of a 1937 Vis 35.serial 6081. My police department recovered the firearm in the possession of a foreign national.

I'm trying to locate an owner. I was very surprised to find this firearm when most of the people I deal with carry Jennings, Phoenix, or Bryco pistols. The photo on the handle is very interesting and appears to be a 1940's era photo. Scoutwookie: I recently read a book about a young American officer in WW-II who took a piece of plexiglass off of a downed aircraft and made grips similar to yours for his issued 1911. He then placed a photo of his wife and child under the plexiglass grips and carried it that way throughout the remainder of the war. If I can find the book again (it was from the public library) I will post a reference to it. To me, I think the original or previous owner of your Radom did a very similar thing.

Regards, Dave.

This is a late-war production (c. 1944-1945) Radom pistol, correct? My recollection is that KM property markings ceased around 1941, so even if this pistol were procured by the KM, I would not expect it to have KM property markings applied at such a late date in the war.

Radom Vis P35 Serial Numbers

Sorry the Radom that is shown here is not a late war production. It looks more like a 1940 or 1941. I'm not 100% convinced that a real KM. The Radom banner is not sharp and crisp. I do not have such a sloppy Radom banner on any of my Radoms looks un even.

Polish Radom P35 Serial Numbers

Far to many were KM marked that in the late 70-80's. I remember a fellow at a gun show had 15 so called KM Radoms not one was original. About 90% of all oroigianl KM went down wth the ship/subs Look at the crisp banner posted, and a K block late war issued.