Makarov Price "OMG"

[ampdog]

I was watching this Auction cause I have been looking to pick up one of these for a long time. But, this has gotten out of control IMHO....

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=283631612

 

[futureseabee]

WTF?

 

[Heist]

Is there something particularly special or limited edition about this one outside of the second mag never being opened?

I don't get it. Unless two bidders are having some kind if penis jousting competition with their bid buttons.

 

[Inigoes]

It says "Special Edition" right there on the slide...

 

[coopermania]

This is what i found.



Miltex Special Edition Makarovs

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Around 1998, Miltex was working with the Bulgarian Arsenal factory that produced Makarovs to modernize the Makarov and offered the pistol in a variety of finishes and with value added features.


Miltex sent us a special edition Makarov for evaluation. We evaluated the external features.



Appearance
Our test gun came in a brushed chrome finish. The other choices are polished blue and polished chrome. Most surfaces on our pistol are a non-reflective chrome. Exceptions are the sides of the slide (polished chrome with inscription-see pictures), and the trigger, sights, safety, slide release, hammer, and magazine (blue/black). The standard grip is a plastic target grip with thumbshelf, as required for importation by BATF.



What's Included
The pistol came with two matching magazines inscribed with the serial number and a plastic extended floorplate on each, cleaning rod, instruction booklet, and plastic internally-padded carrying case.



Construction
We found no machining marks or imperfections in the finish on any of the external surfaces. The finish appearance resembles the more polished name brand pistols typically found in the US. The trigger guard did have some finishing imperfections on the portion that is normally inside the frame; we had to pull the trigger guard down (as done for field stripping) to see these. The slide bears the inscription "Makarov Special Edition", "Cal 9x18", the Arsenal trademark, and "Made in Bulgaria" on the left side; "Miltex, Inc", "LaPlata, Maryland, USA" on the right side. The serial number is engraved on both the slide and the frame.


The inside of the pistol had the typical machining marks found on nearly all Makarovs. Presumably, the design and manufacture of the interior has not changed in the last 40-some years.


Overall the quality of construction seems to have improved over the already fine Bulgarian pistols previously available.



What's special about the "Special Edition"?
The distinguishing features of this pistol over standard Makarovs are:


Availability of different finish options
Squared trigger guard, possibly making trigger guard mounted lasers easier to install
White dots on front and rear sights
More comfortable factory grip; other grip options
Magazine extended floorplates standard
We liked the brushed chrome finish, which highlights the beauty of the design. The squared trigger guard is a simple but effective modernization of the lines. The slightly enlarged trigger guard inside space might be enough for a gloved hand.


While the sights do not offer the same instant visibility of the custom-installed sights, the white dots are a definite improvement of the standard Makarov sights. Night sights or phosphorescent sights would be a welcome addition.


The included grip is much better than the original red star grip. However, it does have the required thumbshelf; this seems to be a love or hate option for most people. The grip has more meat and as such is bulkier. Again, some people like this; some hate it.


As many people have already discovered, extended floorplates can be a good thing. This is especially true if you have large hands and your pinky tends to slide over the edge of the grip. Of course, standard Makarov magazines will work in this Makarov, so if you are concerned about bulk or sharp corners for concealed carry applications, this can be remedied by a magazine change.



Options
Miltex also sent along several other grips now available from the factory. The standard red star grip is actually a much better quality molding than the surplus offerings. The two wooden grips included looked remarkably similar, until one looked inside. The first is similar to the Commercial walnut grips, except that it also has a right-handed thumbshelf. The other wooden grip is actually bonded to the outside of a plastic or bakelite Makarov grip, which vastly improves the structural integrity. The US Postal service managed to snap quite a few of the walnut grips we sent to customers in padded envelopes. It may also be the solution for the walnut grips changing shape internally from repeated firing, necessitating custom fitting with shims, etc.




Pricing
The polished blue finish Miltex Special Edition Makarov had a suggested retail price of $250. The other finishes were $10-$20 more. The burning question most "Makarovniks" will have is "is it worth it?" If you consider how little $250 buys you these days in terms of a quality reliable autoloading pistol and its collectible status, the price of the Miltex Makarov is more than fair.


How to get yours
Miltex unfortunately stopped the whole Makarov program, but a few of these pistols are still out there. Primarily in collector and small dealer hands, they can sometimes be seen for sale at firearms auction sites like www.gunbroker.com or www.auctionarms.com. .


Pictures
Click on the thumbnails to get larger picture of each.

 

[futureseabee]

I have an inkling this is penis jousting at its finest. MAYBE a $350 mak

 

[yellowsled]

someone is on crack

 

[HappyCamper]

This is why you never go on Gunbroker when you have been drinking.

You will find when you wake up the next morning you have bid over a thousand dollars on a Mak. LOL!!!

 

[Neot]

I had to sit there for a minute and let it sink in. That's crazy talk for a Mak and it still has 3 days left!

 

[Demoneyes86]

Is made here in md that is pretty cool. Also its new. But i do agree price is high.

 

[ampdog]

I am glad I am not the only one... I though maybe I was missing something.

I am kind of into these, but when it topped $800 I couldn't believe it.

 

[iSHOOT]

Reserve met....hahahaha really?! i hope so!

 

[fivepointstar]

I have a Miltex....they are finished right here in MD. i'm sorry its not worth taht much

 

[Blaster229]

if the bidders are millionaires, why should they care?? A typical hard working blue collar person working paycheck to paycheck wouldn't bid this amount.

 

[Inigoes]

Okay,

Which one of you are the highest bidder?

 

[browning guy]

Okay,

Which one of you are the highest bidder?

not me!! they don't make that much Jim Beam

 

[Blaster229]

I got something etched into the side of my gun down in La Plata and I didn't pay nearly that much.

 

[wilcam47]

wtf...

 

[lkenefic]

WOW... it's not even the ruby encrusted, gold inlay-ed version... but it is "Special"...

 

[Bob A]

I got something etched into the side of my gun down in La Plata and I didn't pay nearly that much.

Yeah, but how much did you have to pay for the antibiotics?