I’m a full size gun guy, I never buy the compact version of a gun, like a 1911 commander instead of a Gvt model, or G19 instead of a G17. It’s probably linked to my own size, 6’3 and 250 lbs, made in Germany.
However I did buy just a few pocket size pistols over the years
It started with the Walther PPK in 7.65 Browning, or .32 ACP. As I was hanging around the LGS back in 1992, I saw it in a cabinet. Mmh, the James Bond pistol I thought. The owner further triggered my curiosity by explaining it is a Zella-Mehlis model, so built before the end of WWII, in what then became East Germany under soviet domination (Walther transferred its activities in Ulm). It was built in 1939.
The second one in a Bulgarian made Makarov, built in 1987. The reason I bought it at a gun show was the price : I was amazed that one could buy a 9 mm semi auto steel pistol for $ 160 (9 mm Makarov). And it was the official sidearm of the Eastern bloc.
The Beretta 1934 (made in 1937) was found in an acquaintance’s grandpa attic. It’s a very well made gun, solid, heavy and reliable. It also has the open top slide like the 92 series. It’s in .380 ACP, which we call 9 mm short in Europe.
The last two I bought to fill the third line on my permit. In Switzerland you may put up to three guns on the same permit but those have to be bought the same day from the same seller. That leads to some compulsive (and sometimes cheap) purchases that would not have been done otherwise.
A Colt Mark IV series 80 GM .380 auto. I really like this little gun. Made in 1992
I tried those whitish grips, but was never convinced so I’ll revert to the original ones in Black.
The last one is a toy really, I would not even shoot a cat with it from fear to piss off the cat. A Beretta 950 B in .22 short. It’s a fun gun though, minuscule and light, and it’s been reliable so far. I also like the tilting barrel. And it was $ 80 at an auction, opening bid.
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Originally Posted by Ron3
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