Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1115818
I n 1999 Polish Armed Forces started to issue a first Polish-de- signed military duty pistol cham- bered in 9 mm Para, the WIST-94 polymer frame striker-fired pistol. WIST-94 was chosen over the FB Radom MAG-95 recoil operated semi-automatic pistol with stainless steel frame. MAG was heavier and bigger than required. Pistol quickly became highly criticized by users, the disassembly was complicated, the trigger wasn't smooth, maga- zine base pads broke during use, magazines fell due the badly de- signed holster, sights were falling off F or abovementioned reasons and the political situation (Poland was a part of War- saw Pact for many years) after WW2 the standard military duty pistol was Soviet 7.62x25 To- karev TT-33 (also produced locally from 1947 to 1959). In 1960s, the first locally designed and manufac- tured pistol chambered in 9 mm Ma- karov was adopted, the P-64 CZAK with 6 round magazines, a mix of So- viet Makarov PM and German Wal- ther PP and PPKs. There were two variants of P-64 developed, military one with longer barrel and extended magazine and police one. Due the unknown reasons, the smaller po- lice version was finally selected and adopted. Another gun adopted to re- place P-64 was 9 mm Makarov P-83, bit improved and cheaper in produc- tion. It featured longer barrel, ex- tended grip and 8 round magazines. Eventually, P-83 never fully replaced the earlier model and both guns were used simultaneously for many years. Polish soldiers used these weapons both in country and when deployed to foreign operations. Per- haps P-64 can be still found some- where in army stocks. www.fragoutmag.com