Henry Brown
Well-Known Member
The German Democratic People's Republic, otherwise know as the DDR or East Germany, probably adopted the Makarov pistol in 1957 as the Pistol M. While a few very scarce pictures exist of 1958 dated examples the earliest dated example actually held in a collection is 1959. Quantity production began in 1960 and continued until 1965. These pistols were made under Soviet Russian license at VEB Ernst Thalmann-Werk in Schul, Thuringia. (Both before 1957 and after 1965 Soviet and even Bulgarian Makarov pistols were purchased to meet the needs of the East German police state.) After the fall of the DDR a small batch of pistols were produced at Simpson Schul in 1994 for the commercial market based upon left over parts. While a commercial rather than a military pistol these post unification Simpson Schul Makarovs command a premium price.
The Pistole M bears the reputation of being the best finished of all the Makarovs produced in the world. The actions are silky and the level of polishing is first class.
Enjoy, Henry
The Pistole M bears the reputation of being the best finished of all the Makarovs produced in the world. The actions are silky and the level of polishing is first class.
Enjoy, Henry
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