Help ID'ing this handgun, please.....

Mason-Dixon Baseball · Nov 24, 2011

What I know: This gun belonged to my oldest brother's father who flew B-26's in Korea ( a friend of my father who was killed in an accident back in the states---Dad later married his widow--our Mom). Apparently it was a bring back and his back up pistol when flying, as my mother thinks he got it in Korea. It is marked by brand only with "Z" on the grips. Made in Czechoslovakia . Aut. Pistole . It is .25 ACP caliber.

All I can find out is these guns were widely made and probably produced in the late '40's... Any additional info is appreciated. Thanks in advance! (Calling Pistol Joe???)

rpker · Nov 24, 2011

could be

Dušek Duo pistol

František Dušek ran the largest private gun factory in Czechoslovakia before World War II. Based in Opočno in northeastern Bohemia, Dušek achieved a high degree of vertical integration in order to minimize dependence on other companies.

When Germany invaded Czechoslovakia, Dušek refused to cooperate with them, and the factory operated without him for the remainder of World War II.

In 1948-1949, the Czechoslovakian government nationalized (a.k.a. stole) Dušek's company. This particular Duo pistol (one of the higher quality descendants of the Browning Model 1906) was manufactured in 1949, during this crossover period. Note the "ČZ" stamp in a different font and strike depth than the surrounding text, yet the "Duo" name is still present in several places on this pistol. Within a few years, the government had changed the name of the pistol to the "Model Z," thus distancing the operation from its creator. The nationalized factory was also used to make CZ vz. 45 pistols.

The Duo and Model Z pistols were preferred by members of the Transportation Service Police (a division of Czechoslovakia Public Security (VB), the uniformed branch of police), who often carried them as personal sidearms while on duty.

http://www.freeexistence.org/images/guns/#Czechoslovakia

Lou45 · Nov 24, 2011

rpker said:
could be

Dušek Duo pistol

František Dušek ran the largest private gun factory in Czechoslovakia before World War II. Based in Opočno in northeastern Bohemia, Dušek achieved a high degree of vertical integration in order to minimize dependence on other companies.

When Germany invaded Czechoslovakia, Dušek refused to cooperate with them, and the factory operated without him for the remainder of World War II.

In 1948-1949, the Czechoslovakian government nationalized (a.k.a. stole) Dušek's company. This particular Duo pistol (one of the higher quality descendants of the Browning Model 1906) was manufactured in 1949, during this crossover period. Note the "ČZ" stamp in a different font and strike depth than the surrounding text, yet the "Duo" name is still present in several places on this pistol. Within a few years, the government had changed the name of the pistol to the "Model Z," thus distancing the operation from its creator. The nationalized factory was also used to make CZ vz. 45 pistols.

The Duo and Model Z pistols were preferred by members of the Transportation Service Police (a division of Czechoslovakia Public Security (VB), the uniformed branch of police), who often carried them as personal sidearms while on duty.

http://www.freeexistence.org/images/guns/#Czechoslovakia

Good job with the history............

rpker · Nov 24, 2011

Lou45 said:
Good job with the history............

I'm just good at googl-fu :rolleyes:

fivepointstar · Nov 24, 2011

nice looking pocket gun!!! its a keeper if its yours now

woodstock · Nov 24, 2011

this is one of the reasons i come here... so much information. thanks for the education.

Mason-Dixon Baseball · Nov 24, 2011

rpker said:
could be

Dušek Duo pistol

František Dušek ran the largest private gun factory in Czechoslovakia before World War II. Based in Opočno in northeastern Bohemia, Dušek achieved a high degree of vertical integration in order to minimize dependence on other companies.

When Germany invaded Czechoslovakia, Dušek refused to cooperate with them, and the factory operated without him for the remainder of World War II.

In 1948-1949, the Czechoslovakian government nationalized (a.k.a. stole) Dušek's company. This particular Duo pistol (one of the higher quality descendants of the Browning Model 1906) was manufactured in 1949, during this crossover period. Note the "ČZ" stamp in a different font and strike depth than the surrounding text, yet the "Duo" name is still present in several places on this pistol. Within a few years, the government had changed the name of the pistol to the "Model Z," thus distancing the operation from its creator. The nationalized factory was also used to make CZ vz. 45 pistols.

The Duo and Model Z pistols were preferred by members of the Transportation Service Police (a division of Czechoslovakia Public Security (VB), the uniformed branch of police), who often carried them as personal sidearms while on duty.

http://www.freeexistence.org/images/guns/#Czechoslovakia

I saw that also, but did not see anything about the date when they changed to the "Z" model....

Mason-Dixon Baseball · Nov 24, 2011

fivepointstar said:
nice looking pocket gun!!! its a keeper if its yours now

Not going to be for sale-ever.... And it is a nice pocket gun indeed--- Mom gave it to me at dinner tonight and I put it in my back pocket in the holster and forgot about it until we got home and I took my jeans off... woops

rpker · Nov 24, 2011

how about the internal parts....look something like this?

http://en.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/p/383555

I have a couple of books at home that may help with the dates that the name was shifted from "duo" to model Z. I will look it up when I get home in a few days.

Mason-Dixon Baseball · Nov 24, 2011

rpker said:
how about the internal parts....look something like this?

http://en.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/p/383555

I have a couple of books at home that may help with the dates that the name was shifted from "duo" to model Z. I will look it up when I get home in a few days.

Yep-- that looks like the same model, although blued instead of nickel plated....
The nickel is in pretty good shape except for a spot on the slide and across the backstrap--- all obviously holster wear....

montoya32 · Nov 24, 2011

Looks exactly like a Browning my FIL has.

Mason-Dixon Baseball · Nov 24, 2011

montoya32 said:
Looks exactly like a Browning my FIL has.

It has a very similar look the Colt 1906/1908 models that J.M. Browning designed...

teratos · Nov 25, 2011

Mason-Dixon Baseball said:
It has a very similar look the Colt 1906/1908 models that J.M. Browning designed...

Similar. I have a 1908 vest pocket. Looking at them side by side they are not identical, so I don't think it is a knock off.

Mason-Dixon Baseball · Nov 25, 2011

Firing pin is broken.... The search begins......

rpker · Nov 25, 2011

Mason-Dixon Baseball said:
Firing pin is broken.... The search begins......

http://www.wisnersinc.com/pistols/C_Hpistol.html

Mason-Dixon Baseball · Nov 26, 2011

rpker said:
http://www.wisnersinc.com/pistols/C_Hpistol.html

You da man, rpker!!!! Thanks-- I didn't even have time to check Numrich ( and they don't have it) before you posted this--- Calling them Monday!!!

Mason-Dixon Baseball · Dec 14, 2011

rpker said:
http://www.wisnersinc.com/pistols/C_Hpistol.html

$23 bucks later, I got the firing pin from Wisner's, put it in last night and got her shooting again at Freestate today!!! Well worth it!!

Thanks for all the help guys!!! Owe ya a beer, rpker!!!

Help ID'ing this handgun, please.....

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