Radom P-35(p) [Pistole Modell 645(p)]
Polish designation = Pistolet wz. 35 Vis
(Mfg by Fabryka Broni w Radomu, assembled by Steyr-Daimler Puch A. G.)
(Click PIC to Enlarge)
Note: Pics of rifle provided courtesy of Milsurps.com member 'Claven2'.
Borrowing design characteristics and features of pistols designed by John Browning and Dieudonne Saive such as the M1911 and the Hi-power, the Radom wz. 35 VIS was first tested in 1931 in Poland. Originally referred to as the WiS (an acronym of the Polish designers' names), the pistol was renamed VIS, meaning 'power' in Latin. The wz designation being used with all Polish arms, standing for wzór (model).
At the time, the VIS was generally regarded as one of the best military pistols available when series production started at the State Armory in Radom in late 1935, while the following year it was adopted as the standard weapon of Polish infantry and cavalry officers. Early guns were milled in the mainspring housing to accept a shoulder stock that though designed and prototyped, in practise was never issued.
Before the 1939 Invasion of Poland (by Nazi Germany), approximately 49,400 (out of 90,000 ordered) were delivered to Polish forces. After the Polish defeat that same year, the Germans took over the Radom factory and continued production of the gun, assigning it the standardized name of 9 mm Pistole 645(p) which is often referred to as the P 35(p). Up to 1945, between 312,000 and 380,000 were produced for the German Reich, where they were issued primarily to the SS, the Fallschimjager (paratroopers) and police.
Soon after occupation of factory, the Germans moved production of P35(p) barrels to the Steyr works in Austria in an effort to prevent complete pistols from falling into the hands of the Polish resistance. As a result, resistance forces were obliged to manufacture crude barrels in underground shops - ultimately several hundred VIS pistols were smuggled from the factory, fitted with barrels, and provided to the Home Army for use in the Warsaw Uprising.
In 1944 as German forces were in retreat to the advancing Soviets, all production was moved to the Steyr works in Austria where the VIS remained in production until April 1945.
Pistols made after 1939 (under German occupation) were manufactured in three distinct variations, each with small modifications to simplify production. Generally, the wartime German-produced VIS pistols were of much lower quality than the pre-war Polish made guns. By the end of the war, quality dropped off rapidly and the pistols became very crude, though still functional.
Poland did not restart production after the war. The country had fallen under the Soviet sphere of influence and forces in Poland adopted a Polish-built version of the Tokarev TT-33 to serve as the issue sidearm.
Collector's Comments and Feedback:
1. When looking at acquiring a Radom VIS for your collection, it is wise to first determine wha variant you are looking for and whether the available piece will match your expectations or not. As mentioned in the Observations write-up, there are really four distinct variations out there.
The first pistols, made before the German takeover, were marked on the left side of the slide with a fairly large Polish eagle. On either side of the eagle are two line markings - F.B.Radom over the date on the left side, and 'VIS-wz 35' over a patent number on the right side. These pre-war guns (at the time of this writing in 2008) can (and do) bring upwards of $3000 in North America, depending on condition. The same gun with legitimate German markings added (indicating it was captured at the factory or depot level) can bring even more, if in top condition. These Radoms are commonly referred to as 'Polish Eagle' or 'Polish Eagle, Nazi capture'. Some Polish references call these two 'pre-war' versions 'Group One.'
The guns bearing a single line rollstamp on the slide without the Polish eagle was manufactured during the period of Nazi occupation. There are three recognized types of occupation-made VIS pistols (The Polish reference material designations are in brackets); Type I (or Group 2) has the slide stop , decocker (on the slide) and the takedown lever(on the frame) and is sometimes referred to as a 'three lever gun'. These also have the mainspring housing milled for a shoulder stock which, to the best of my knowledge, was never issued in service.
Type II (Group 3) pistols have the shoulder stock cut eliminated and some other changes, including elimination of the grip screw bushings. The depicted pistol is a Type II.
Type III (Group 4) pistols have the takedown lever eliminated. Instead of using the lever to lock back the slide for disassembly, the decocker is pushed down so its tail rests in a notch in the hammer. There are many other minor changes to speed up production, including much sacrifice in fit and finish. Type II and III guns are by far the most commonly encountered variants, though Type II, being better made, are generally more sought after.
After the Soviets over-ran the Radom factory, Type III Radom production was moved completely to the Steyr works in Austria. Most of this late-war Steyr production run was issued with crude wooden grips. Fully Steyr-produced guns are rarer and more valuable than production at Radom under Nazi occupation, and a few VERY rare pieces marked with the 'BNZ' in lieu of the Radom rollstamp are worth even more. The BNZ code (as used on Steyr made K98k rifles) was only applied to less than 1000 pistols while the machinery used for slide rollstamp was undergoing installation at the Steyr Works. The standard slide rollmark was then used until end of the war. ..... (Feedback by 'Claven2')![P35 P35](https://lsbauctions.com/wp-content/uploads/Radom.jpg)
![Diagram Diagram](https://forums.gunboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=2546594&d=1506302324&thumb=1)
Polish designation = Pistolet wz. 35 Vis
(Mfg by Fabryka Broni w Radomu, assembled by Steyr-Daimler Puch A. G.)
- Vis Radom P35 Serial Numbers Chart
- Radom P35 Serial Production Date
- Radom Vis 35 Serial Numbers
- Vis Radom P35 Serial Numbers List
(Click PIC to Enlarge)
Others identify by the First Alphabet and Second Alphabet serial number series. And still others call them Slotted and Non-Slotted, or Three Lever and Two Lever. By mid to late 1944, the Soviets were advancing toward Poland, and the Germans began moving the entire VIS 35 production from the Radom Arsenal in Poland to the Steyr Arsenal in Austria. On either side of the eagle are two line markings - F.B.Radom over the date on the left side, and 'VIS-wz 35' over a patent number on the right side. These pre-war guns (at the time of this writing in 2008) can (and do) bring upwards of $3000 in North America, depending on condition. Jan 22, 2018 Rasom VIS 35 Serial Number 599 No Prefix. Well, lots of the markings are roll-stamped, and it has plenty of Nazi W-amts, so it was definitely made under occupation. However, it still has a stock slot and what appears to be a very early occupation serial number. Condition looks to be very good.
RADOM VIS Mod. Finish: military-finish; blued. Grips: black chequered Bakelit grips. Veeam backup license keygen learning. On left side FB logo. On right side VIS logo. Serial number: 4-digit number with prefix on right frame. 4-digit number with prefix inside slide. 3-digit number on barrel. Acceptance stamp: E/77 left on slide. E/77 left on frame. E/77 right on.
Caliber: ............ 9mm Parabellum
Rifling & Twist: ....... 6 groove, right-hand twist
Barrel Length: ........ 4.72 in. (120mm)
Overall Length: ....... 6.93 in. (176mm)
Weight: ............ 2.5 lbs. - 1.123 kg (loaded), 0.950 kg (unloaded)
Magazine Capacity: .... 8 rounds
Qty Mfg: ............ Approximately 400,000
Source: .. www.gunsworld.com', Vis (weapon) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Radom VIS35
(16 picture virtual tour)
Observations: (by 'Claven2')Rifling & Twist: ....... 6 groove, right-hand twist
Barrel Length: ........ 4.72 in. (120mm)
Overall Length: ....... 6.93 in. (176mm)
Weight: ............ 2.5 lbs. - 1.123 kg (loaded), 0.950 kg (unloaded)
Magazine Capacity: .... 8 rounds
Qty Mfg: ............ Approximately 400,000
Source: .. www.gunsworld.com', Vis (weapon) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Radom VIS35
(16 picture virtual tour)
Note: Pics of rifle provided courtesy of Milsurps.com member 'Claven2'.
Borrowing design characteristics and features of pistols designed by John Browning and Dieudonne Saive such as the M1911 and the Hi-power, the Radom wz. 35 VIS was first tested in 1931 in Poland. Originally referred to as the WiS (an acronym of the Polish designers' names), the pistol was renamed VIS, meaning 'power' in Latin. The wz designation being used with all Polish arms, standing for wzór (model).
At the time, the VIS was generally regarded as one of the best military pistols available when series production started at the State Armory in Radom in late 1935, while the following year it was adopted as the standard weapon of Polish infantry and cavalry officers. Early guns were milled in the mainspring housing to accept a shoulder stock that though designed and prototyped, in practise was never issued.
Before the 1939 Invasion of Poland (by Nazi Germany), approximately 49,400 (out of 90,000 ordered) were delivered to Polish forces. After the Polish defeat that same year, the Germans took over the Radom factory and continued production of the gun, assigning it the standardized name of 9 mm Pistole 645(p) which is often referred to as the P 35(p). Up to 1945, between 312,000 and 380,000 were produced for the German Reich, where they were issued primarily to the SS, the Fallschimjager (paratroopers) and police.
Soon after occupation of factory, the Germans moved production of P35(p) barrels to the Steyr works in Austria in an effort to prevent complete pistols from falling into the hands of the Polish resistance. As a result, resistance forces were obliged to manufacture crude barrels in underground shops - ultimately several hundred VIS pistols were smuggled from the factory, fitted with barrels, and provided to the Home Army for use in the Warsaw Uprising.
In 1944 as German forces were in retreat to the advancing Soviets, all production was moved to the Steyr works in Austria where the VIS remained in production until April 1945.
Pistols made after 1939 (under German occupation) were manufactured in three distinct variations, each with small modifications to simplify production. Generally, the wartime German-produced VIS pistols were of much lower quality than the pre-war Polish made guns. By the end of the war, quality dropped off rapidly and the pistols became very crude, though still functional.
Poland did not restart production after the war. The country had fallen under the Soviet sphere of influence and forces in Poland adopted a Polish-built version of the Tokarev TT-33 to serve as the issue sidearm.
Collector's Comments and Feedback:
1. When looking at acquiring a Radom VIS for your collection, it is wise to first determine wha variant you are looking for and whether the available piece will match your expectations or not. As mentioned in the Observations write-up, there are really four distinct variations out there.
The first pistols, made before the German takeover, were marked on the left side of the slide with a fairly large Polish eagle. On either side of the eagle are two line markings - F.B.Radom over the date on the left side, and 'VIS-wz 35' over a patent number on the right side. These pre-war guns (at the time of this writing in 2008) can (and do) bring upwards of $3000 in North America, depending on condition. The same gun with legitimate German markings added (indicating it was captured at the factory or depot level) can bring even more, if in top condition. These Radoms are commonly referred to as 'Polish Eagle' or 'Polish Eagle, Nazi capture'. Some Polish references call these two 'pre-war' versions 'Group One.'
The guns bearing a single line rollstamp on the slide without the Polish eagle was manufactured during the period of Nazi occupation. There are three recognized types of occupation-made VIS pistols (The Polish reference material designations are in brackets); Type I (or Group 2) has the slide stop , decocker (on the slide) and the takedown lever(on the frame) and is sometimes referred to as a 'three lever gun'. These also have the mainspring housing milled for a shoulder stock which, to the best of my knowledge, was never issued in service.
Type II (Group 3) pistols have the shoulder stock cut eliminated and some other changes, including elimination of the grip screw bushings. The depicted pistol is a Type II.
Type III (Group 4) pistols have the takedown lever eliminated. Instead of using the lever to lock back the slide for disassembly, the decocker is pushed down so its tail rests in a notch in the hammer. There are many other minor changes to speed up production, including much sacrifice in fit and finish. Type II and III guns are by far the most commonly encountered variants, though Type II, being better made, are generally more sought after.
After the Soviets over-ran the Radom factory, Type III Radom production was moved completely to the Steyr works in Austria. Most of this late-war Steyr production run was issued with crude wooden grips. Fully Steyr-produced guns are rarer and more valuable than production at Radom under Nazi occupation, and a few VERY rare pieces marked with the 'BNZ' in lieu of the Radom rollstamp are worth even more. The BNZ code (as used on Steyr made K98k rifles) was only applied to less than 1000 pistols while the machinery used for slide rollstamp was undergoing installation at the Steyr Works. The standard slide rollmark was then used until end of the war. ..... (Feedback by 'Claven2')
Vis Radom P35 Serial Numbers Chart
![P35 P35](https://lsbauctions.com/wp-content/uploads/Radom.jpg)
(Redirected from Vis pistol)
Pistolet wz. 35 Vis | |
---|---|
Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
Place of origin | Poland |
Service history | |
Used by | Poland Germany Polish Underground |
Wars | Invasion of Poland, World War II |
Production history | |
Designed | 1935 |
Manufacturer | FB Radom |
No. built | more than 360,000 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 1.123 kg (loaded) 0.950 kg (unloaded) |
Length | 205 mm |
Barrel length | 120 mm |
Cartridge | 9×19mm Parabellum |
Action | Recoil-operated, closed bolt |
Muzzle velocity | 345 m/s (1131.6 ft/s) |
Feed system | 8-round box magazine |
Vis (Polish designation pistolet wz. 35 Vis, German designation 9 mm Pistole 35(p), or simply the Radom in English sources) is a 9×19mmcaliber, single-action, semi-automatic pistol. Its design was inspired by American firearms inventor John Browning's 9mm 'Browning GP' pistol which was completed after Browning's death by designers at Fabrique Nationale in Herstal Belgium. Production of the Vis began at the Fabryka Broni arms factory in Radom in 1935, and was adopted as the standard handgun of the Polish Army the following year. The pistol was valued by the Germans and towards the end of the war issued to German paratroopers. Largely based on the Browning Hi-Power and using 9 mm rounds, the Vis is highly prized among collectors of firearms.[1]
History[edit]
VIS Pistol construction
The pistol bears many internal and external similarities to the famous Colt M1911A1, to the point that some parts are almost interchangeable (ie. frame, main spring, trigger, screws in the exact same places and kept in the same (non-metric) diameter etc.). Some could argue, that the design was generally based on American firearms inventor John Browning's Browning Hi-Power, as adapted by Piotr Wilniewczyc and Jan Skrzypiński in 1930 at the Fabryka Broni (Arms Factory) in Radom under Director Kazimierz Ołdakowski. But Colt 1911 resemblance is much more striking.[2][3] It operated on the short-recoil principle, with the barrel being cammed down and away from the locking lugs in the slide.
This later John Moses Browning design, unlike the M1911, was not cammed by a link, but by a ledge of sorts, which contacts a portion of the barrel and forces it down as it is moved rearward with the slide by the recoil force. It shares some similarities to the Spanish Ruby .45 ACP.[4] Like the 9mm Browning GP, a characteristic feature was a trapezoid grip shape, wider at the bottom, offering good ergonomics and firm grip.[1] On the right side grip cover, the Polish copy pistol had letters VIS in a triangle, on the left side—FB (for Fabryka Broni—'Arms Factory').The handgun was prepared in late 1930, and at the beginning of 1931 the first pistols were ready for testing. Initially it was named WiS (an acronym of the Polish designers' names), later the name was changed to Vis, meaning 'force' in Latin, with the wz. abbreviation for wzór ('model').[5]
The tests proved that the handgun was very accurate and stable (due to its size and mass, most stresses are absorbed and not passed on the shooter), while at the same time remaining reliable after firing more than 6,000 rounds.[1] The Vis was generally regarded as one of the best military pistols of that period.[by whom?]
Production started in the state armory Fabryka Broni in Radom in late 1935, and the following year it was introduced as the standard weapon of Polish infantry and cavalry officers. Successively, other units were to be equipped, and by 1932 all other handguns were scheduled to be withdrawn from service. By mid-1938, it was introduced to the armored and air forces. Before the invasion of Poland, approximately 49,400 (out of 90,000 ordered) were delivered to the army.[6]
Sony vaio vgn p25g drivers for mac. In addition to the 9mm, there was also a small information series of .45 ACP version, with 7-round magazine, but they were not produced in greater series.[6] Most probably only for the Argentinian competition the wooden stock-shoulder was issued but it has not survived.[4] A .22 LR variant also existed, but no details are known, and its series was not produced in great numbers.[6]
After the Polish defeat in 1939, the Germans took over the Radom Armory and continued production of the Vis under the new name of 9 mm Pistole 645(p), which was for some reason often rendered as P 35(p) (the suffix 'p' means 'polnisch')[5] (the German pistols of the first series had inscriptions VIS Mod.35 and P.35(p) on the left side[6]). Up to 1945, between 312,000 and 380,000 were produced and used by the German paratroopers and police.
Fearing that Polish technicians working in the armory might supply the Home Army with the weapons, the Germans moved production of barrels and final assemble to Steyr-Daimler-Puch in the 'Ostmark' (Austria). However, underground production of Vis barrels was started in Warsaw and Kielce-based Huta Ludwików, and several hundred Vis pistols were assembled of parts smuggled from the factory, delivered to the Home Army and used extensively during the Warsaw Uprising, among others. Hp un2420 broadband module.
Radom P35 Serial Production Date
Vis pistols made after 1939 were issued in four different series, each with small modifications to simplify production. In late 1944, all production was moved to the Steyr works in Austria, where the last simplified model of the fourth series was produced (with no inscriptions at all, apart from bnz signature). The Vis remained in production until April 1945. Generally, the wartime Vis were of much lower quality than the original, and further degrading towards the end of the war.
After the war, production of the pistol was not continued, as the Army of the People's Republic of Poland used the SovietTT-33 pistol, produced in the former Fabryka Broni in Radom due to Warsaw Pact regulations. It was considered much inferior to the Vis, especially in ergonomics and reliability,[1] but political considerations and Soviet influence were decisive.
In August 1997, the Łucznik Arms Factory in Radom reintroduced the Vis pistol and produced a small series of some 27 pistols[1] on the basis of the original plans and specifications, mainly for the US collectors' market. But it differed from the original pre-war pistols with the shape of the rear sight notch and the Eagle on the slide.[4] In 2010 another short series was manufactured.[7] In 2012 IWA Radom Factory has presented the piece dated 2010 that was chromium coated instead of proper bluing.
In December 2017, FB Radom's chairman, Adam Suliga, confirmed to the Polish magazine MILMAG that the Vis would be returning to production, and is planned to be available for retail in the second half of 2018. This will not be a single commemorative series, but rather, according to MILMAG, FB Radom reportedly hope to continually offer the wz.35 for the export market.[8]
Overview[edit]
The Vis pistol is a single-action, hammer-fired, locked-breech design. The control on the slide is a decocking mechanism that releases the hammer while camming the firing pin up into the slide. There is a grip safety blocking the sear unless fully compressed, but the control in the same position as a thumb safety on a Browning Hi-Power or M1911-style pistol is not a safety.
The take-down lever is used to lock the slide back (as the Browning Hi-Power safety is used) during disassembly to allow removal of the slide release lever. In later variants, this lever is omitted and the slide must be manually aligned to remove the slide release lever. Once the slide and frame are aligned (by the disassembly lever or manually), the recoil guide is pulled forward to release the slide release lever and allow it to drop free. The slide will then be free to run forward and be removed from the frame.
The magazine catch is to the rear of the trigger guard and not at the heel of the grip in the typical European fashion of the time. A pistol lanyard is installed in the heel position for pistol retention. There is no magazine safety.[5]
Users[edit]
- Poland - Polish Army
- Nazi Germany - factory captured in World War II, used primarily by the Fallschirmjäger
- Polish Underground - specifically during the Warsaw Uprising
References[edit]
- ^ abcde(in Polish) Twardoch, Szczepan, VIS-a-VIS in Broń i Amunicja nr. 3/2007, p.48–51, ISSN1644-339X
- ^http://www.muzeumwp.pl/emwpaedia/pistolet-vis-wz-35.php
- ^https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSnEVHCpggk
- ^ abcYork, William J. (2011). VIS Radom, A study and photographic album of Poland's finest pistol. Printed and bound in the USA. pp. 22–24. ISBN0-9707997-8-0.
- ^ abcBishop, Chris (2006). The Encyclopedia of Small Arms and Artillery. Grange Books. pp. 13–14. ISBN978-1-84013-910-5.
- ^ abcd(in Polish) Weiler, Wojciech: VIS in: Przegląd Strzelecki Arsenał nr. 2/2004(4), p.51–60, ISSN1731-190X
- ^Remigiusz Wilk, Bez nowości, ale z Bumarem, „Raport-WTO” nr. 03/2011, p.46 (in Polish)
- ^Remigiusz Wilk, 'Vis na rynku od 2018', MILMAG website, available at [1] (in Polish)
Radom Vis 35 Serial Numbers
- Lapin, Terence W. (2004). Vis: The Model 35 Radom Pistol. Arlington: Hyrax Publishers. ISBN0-9676896-4-3.
- Andrzej Ciepliński, Ryszard Woźniak (1996). 9 mm pistolet samopowtarzalny VIS wz. 1935. Warsaw: Bellona. ISBN83-11-08604-4.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pistolet wz. 35 Vis. |
- Polish patent filed on January 15, 1931.[permanent dead link]
Vis Radom P35 Serial Numbers List
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