C&R pistols

[pterrell]

So what's the consensus on the pistols that seem commonly available? I've seen polish p64s, polish and Romanian tokarevs a couple Spanish stars and some Berretta 92s.

What's the good, the bad and the ugly here? What did I miss that is commonly available in the same range?

[ziconceo]

Walther p38's, they are great shooters and have really high tech features for the time.

[morrcarr67]

CZ-82 in 9X18 Mak

[iMigraine]

Tagged

[81turbota]

For readily available pistols under $400, I would suggest a Tokarev. The round is very high velocity and shoots flat. The pistol itself is simple and very strong.

Second would be a Makarov IMHO.

[Black Majik]

I think the Walther P1 is still available less than $400 and is c&r status?

Lots of gun for so cheap.

[pterrell]

I hadn't seen any P38s for sale for less than $700 but maybe I'm not looking in the right place. I've been wanting to get a Tokarev, but I can't find any of the C&R Yugos (Somehow I ended up building a collection of Yugo rifles haha). Makarov being the P64?

[Capybara]

I have:

Romanian TTC Tokarev
Best under $200.00 pistol on the market. I agree with what everyone else says about them, the round is fun to shoot, loud as hell and high velocity. Simple, reliable, easy to clean, accurate.

Walther P38
Great pistols that ooze history. Good shooters with a non-weird, common 9mm chambering. The C&R pistol to get if you don't want anything unusual as far as ammo availability and cost.

Bulgarian Makarov/CZ82/Radom P64
I have all three of these 9x18 Makarov pistols. All are fun to shoot. Bulgarian looks the coolest, CZ82 has the best DA trigger of any C&R pistol but is kind of big and heavy for what it is, P64 I actually shoot the best, even though it is the smallest and the sights suck. Any C&R collector should own all three.

Astra 600
This is an odd, heavy, blowback 9mm. It has a pretty amazing recoil impulse for an all metal full sized pistol. Made by Spain for the Nazis, most of them were never delivered and ended up either in a warehouse or in use by branches like the Portuguese Navy. I think they are ugly cool and are great shooters, but a PITA to take down and clean. I don't shoot it often but it is a fun C&R.

1895 Nagant Revovler
Terrible DA trigger, weak round and funky looking. But historically, a very interesting pedigree and it is the only gas sealed revolver that I know of. Used to be dirt cheap but are going up in cost almost monthly. I paid $150.00 for my like new 1944 Izhevsk re-arsenal, they are now selling for double that on Gunbroker. Just a few years ago, they were $69.00 for a like new sample.

Of course, there are a ton more interesting C&R pistols. The WWI era S&W and Colt revolvers, the funky and interesting CZ52, the WWII well crafted little CZ27, the list goes on and on. Just depends on what appeals to you. The history, shootability, caliber, etc.? The WWII era 1911s are so appealing but are now pretty costly. I wish I would have grabbed a few in the 80s when I first got into guns but I was young and dumb and bought new stuff (which I still have) but a WWII 1911 would have been a much better investment.

[highpower]

Don't forget that C&R is anything over 50 years old. That leaves a lot of American made handguns that are eligible for C&R status. My Python is now over 50 and I have Smith and Wessons and Colts that are double that age.

WWI and WWII handguns while a bit pricy, are interesting and available, but not generally cheap. I have been trying to justify buying one of the currently available P64's, Tokarev's etc. but every time I think I am going to get one, another WWII 1911-A1 turns up and I am broke again.

[81turbota]

Capybaras advice is sound. Makarov being the Bulgarian, East German or Russian IJ70 variants.

C&R opens up another world of commercial handguns as High Power mentioned, but I got the impression you want to keep it military.

My sub $400 C&R pistols are:
Romanian Tokarev
Nagant 1895
Colt Army Special .38SPC (not military as the name may suggest, it was the predecessor to the Police Positive)

The Colt is by far the best shooter, but the Tokarev is a robust utilitarian pistol that shoots an excellent cartridge.

[highpower]

C&R opens up another world of commercial handguns as High Power mentioned, but I got the impression you want to keep it military.

There are several military versions of civilian guns out there. I recently picked up this S&W Second Model .44 Hand Ejector that was made under contract for England during the first world war. All things considered it has FAR more military panache than a Polish P64. And it wasn't all that expensive, I paid about six bills out the door from a LGS.

[81turbota]

Nice catch High Power! I would have bought it too. It isn't my realm of collecting, but I assume those military marked commercial guns are pretty rare?

Pterrel, I also forgot about the Webley. I have a Mk.4 in 38-200 (38S&W works) that's a fun pistol as well.

[pterrell]

Thanks for the input guys! As much as I'd love to be able to afford a Python, I think that is solidly out of my price range. Number 1 on my list right now is a 1917 but I really want a S&W rather than a Colt.

[highpower]

Nice catch High Power! I would have bought it too. It isn't my realm of collecting, but I assume those military marked commercial guns are pretty rare?

Pterrel, I also forgot about the Webley. I have a Mk.4 in 38-200 (38S&W works) that's a fun pistol as well.

They aren't terribly rare, but finding one that hasn't been converted to .45 Colt or .45 Auto is kind of tough. This is still chambered in it's original .455 caliber and I have found the ammo available online for about the same as .45 Colt.

[Paulie Lugnuts]

Enfield revolvers, bottom gun in the pic, can be found for under $400. It also shoots .38 S&W.
I would agree that a Romanian Tok is the best cheap handgun.