Makarov Decocker safety?

[AbrahamBurden]

Just picked up both an East German Makarov and a Russian military Makarov, and noticed the safeties work a little differently between the two pistols.

On the Russian Makarov, the safety decocks the hammer when engaged. The slide is locked out (can't pull it back to chamber a round), and so is the trigger - pulling it won't cock and drop the hammer.

On the East German Makarov, the safety also decocks the hammer when engaged. However, I can still pull back the slide to chamber a round, and even pull the trigger to cock and release the hammer - though the safety blocks it from contacting the firing pin. When I pull the slide back and return it home, the hammer falls down. I've only dry fired it and can see that the safety blocks the hammer from the firing pin, though.

My question is - is my East German Makarov's safety broken? Should it be behaving this way, or should I visit a smith?

[hambam105]

Ivan doesn't read Guns & Ammo. So the 1950s Soviet pistols designers must have
been a bit confused as to where the proper placement of pistol lever should be installed.

[Grendl]

I've read that the hammers on commercially assembled EGMs were modified to allow the slide to be retracted while the safety is engaged.

If I have time tonight, I'll try to dig mine out of the safe and check.

[Grendl]

Here's one of the sources: https://makarov.com/suhl/

It looks like stock pistols were also "upgraded" to include this feature and this outfit sold safeties and published instructions.

[crufflers]

I have an EG... will check it out later.

[crufflers]

Forgot to look, but IIRC slide lock sounds real familiar. Pretty sure my EG decock safety goes down and the slide is locked, can't retract. Mine was from when EG's were around, but just drying up from the importers... a guy on the old CR FFL email list sold me one of his for $140. Nice gun. I'll really look this time, hahah.

[crufflers]

Just picked up both an East German Makarov and a Russian military Makarov, and noticed the safeties work a little differently between the two pistols.

On the Russian Makarov, the safety decocks the hammer when engaged. The slide is locked out (can't pull it back to chamber a round), and so is the trigger - pulling it won't cock and drop the hammer.

On the East German Makarov, the safety also decocks the hammer when engaged. However, I can still pull back the slide to chamber a round, and even pull the trigger to cock and release the hammer - though the safety blocks it from contacting the firing pin. When I pull the slide back and return it home, the hammer falls down. I've only dry fired it and can see that the safety blocks the hammer from the firing pin, though.

My question is - is my East German Makarov's safety broken? Should it be behaving this way, or should I visit a smith?

My EG is like your Russian one... deckock safety rotates up, decocks and locks the slide as long as it is in the safe position.

Your EG is different than mine.

[General Kronstadt]

My EG works the same as my Soviet. But what Gendl said sounds likely.

I have spare parts/work on maks if you're in the bay area. I can take a look.