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Wartime Radoms - Opinions Wanted

fishermankw

fishermankw

Senior Member
Local guy has two Radoms that he wants to part with, I really only need one, he’s letting me have my pick of either for the same price. Both have matching barrels and nice rifling, curious on opinions. I’m leaning toward Pistol #2.

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I've owned a couple of these pistols with the features of the ones you are considering. I'm anything but knowledgeable about these, but yours look like the typical mid-war pistols. All I think I'm totally safe in observing is that they aren't the last of the Radom run which I think omitted the safety lever. Unless there are some markings that would make one more more valuable than the other, I'd pick the one in the best condition.

I'll defer to others who can speak with authority about these.
 
R.W. Parker said:
I'd lean the same way. Better finish on #2.

Richie
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Thanks Richie - the odd brown mark on the reverse of #3 seems like an eye sore to me. Like you say, all others being equal I think it’s the better looking gun


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Cololab said:
I've owned a couple of these pistols with the features of the ones you are considering. I'm anything but knowledgeable about these, but yours look like the typical mid-war pistols. All I think I'm totally safe in observing is that they aren't the last of the Radom run which I think omitted the safety lever. Unless there are some markings that would make one more more valuable than the other, I'd pick the one in the best condition.

I'll defer to others who can speak with authority about these.
Click to expand...

Agreed - mid war three levers. Had a couple of late war as well, but I like the look of the three lever best myself. That being said, two levers are still very nice guns.


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This is who I ended up with. Pulled them apart and the other had a mismatched barrel which made the decision easy at that point. Still happy with what I got (apologize in advance for the bad lighting).

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L is the first block where there the finger relief cuts went away. First E, the slot went away intermittently. Three levers continued into Z block intermittently. I would have said the E but a mismatch hurts. If it had a slot, that late, I would still have gone with the E block. Fit and finish was better too. Regardless, you did well and the VIS is my favorite Nazi full sized gun. Every WW2 collector needs at least 3, early, mid with no slot and 3 levers and 2 levers, phosphate preferred but opinions are that. Then you have a three lever with no relief cuts making it 4, not to mention a Polish made gun before 39000 serial. I have a couple dozen and give me one every day over a P-38, IMO.
 
mike radford said:
L is the first block where there the finger relief cuts went away. First E, the slot went away intermittently. Three levers continued into Z block intermittently. I would have said the E but a mismatch hurts. If it had a slot, that late, I would still have gone with the E block. Fit and finish was better too. Regardless, you did well and the VIS is my favorite Nazi full sized gun. Every WW2 collector needs at least 3, early, mid with no slot and 3 levers and 2 levers, phosphate preferred but opinions are that. Then you have a three lever with no relief cuts making it 4, not to mention a Polish made gun before 39000 serial. I have a couple dozen and give me one every day over a P-38, IMO.
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I agree, I had an early “C” slotted that was really nice, except for a mismatched barrel. Sold it probably a little too cheaply and foolishly thinking I wouldn’t miss it when I bought my STEN. I think I missed that more than having owing a STEN ha. This will fill the void for now, picked it “reasonably” considering what they are going for now. But would ideally like to find another slotted at some point.


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I like the shape of the back of the pistol but I have never seen such a Prototype, never say never, with the an early pistols(before L block) without finger relief cuts. The best source is over on on Jan's forum, a Pole. Possibly a rejected frame used after Nazi production but I am doubtful.? Some weird stuff happened with these pistols, the most interesting Nazi used pistols of WW2 IMO and have collected them since 1981. If not for the M1911 and A1, then a shift to snipers, I would have over 100 of the 1911s and Radoms. You can not own them all.

I have another friend, beside cpw, who has 2 or 300 of these and I have helped him display them at the APCA show. He has nothing like this. He does have the only 2 second A blocks with phosphate finish I have seen and I want one. He was my mentor long before any official book was out and I learned from him initially, early 80s. These guys are elderly and fading. Many of Francis's pistols are in AV's book since cpw would not work with AV. I hope he documented and pictured them.
 
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