WWII Radom Vis Model 35

brucecolgate

November 03, 2002 03:05

Thanks in advance on any information you can give me on a F.B. Radom 9mm auto handgun I have. I believe it is Polish. It has the patent number and seriel number and includes a holster and magazine.
Also, where can I find information on the laws regarding selling firearms? Thanks for any help you can give.

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  Xracer

  November 03, 2002 03:46

  What you have is a VIS (the initials of the two Poles that invented it) Model 1935 built in the armory in Radom, Poland.
  
  It's based on the Browning M1911 design, and was the primary sidearm of the Polish Army prior to WWII.
  
  During the German occupation it continued to be built as a secondary sidearm for the German Army, and those will have German proofmarks.
  
  The pre-WWII VISs were well-made and finished. The wartime manufactured ones were of lesser quality....and the ones made during the latter part of the war were pretty crude.

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  competentone

  November 03, 2002 12:31

  I'll make a comment on second part of your question.
  
  First if you're planning on selling the Radom know that some of them can have some collector's value--especially if this is something which somebody brought back soon after WW2. It's value probably won't be anything extreme, but there could be a difference of as much as a few hundred dollars.
  
  Firearm laws vary from State to State. (And in some States can vary from municipality to municipality.) Federal laws govern the sale or transfer of firearms between States.
  
  Your best bet would probably be to talk to some local firearm dealers in your State (which from your profile appears to be CT), BUT be aware that I have found plenty of dealers who do NOT know the details of the laws of their own State. Most good firearm dealers will know the law, but like everything, there are those who won't.
  
  For "general Federal laws" regarding the sale of firearms, read the "For Sellers" and "For Buyers" sections on the Auction part of this site.
  
  And if you re-ask your question with a title something like: Firearm sale laws in CT? Someone here might be able to direct you to a CT website with your State's, and local government's laws.

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  brucecolgate

  November 03, 2002 18:14

  Thanks much to both of you gents for your helpfull replies.
  I want to be sure to follow all the rules, especially these days with so many people blaming guns for problems caused by people.

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  Xracer

  November 04, 2002 04:23

  Bruce....here's a bunch more info on the VIS:
  
  http://kalashnikov.guns.ru/foreign/hem2.passagen.se/dadkri/Vis35.htm

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  brucecolgate

  November 04, 2002 14:08

  Xracer-The link is very interesting-I believe my dad brought this VIS back from the war although he was in the Pacific theater so perhaps he got it from someone else. He has passed away so I can't get any of the details now. He always told me that he had a "45 cal." auto that he was going to leave me. Obviously he was mistaken as to the caliber, but it is an interesting piece. I have several more modern handguns that I use for target practice so I have no interest in actually trying to fire it. Perhaps sometime I can bring it to a show or a dealer to see if it would be worth putting it together. Thanks again to you and Competentone for your kind responces to my post.

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  Xracer

  November 05, 2002 04:01

  Bruce....I'd take it to a gunsmith and have him check it out.
  
  Those old VISs are fine shooters....if safe. Many were built with forced Polish labor during the German occupation. In some cases, the Poles deliberately sabotaged some of these guns.
  
  Have it checked out, shoot it occasionally, and don't refinish it.
  If it's in original condition, you've got a piece of WWII history.

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  competentone

  November 05, 2002 08:24

  Bruce,
  
  The 1987 issue of Gun Digest (41st Annual Edition) has a nice few page article on the Radom.
  
  If you can't put your hands on a copy, email me your address and I'll send you a photo copy of the article. (With my apologies for any copyright laws I might be violating...)
  
  Joe
  
  competentone@hotmail.com

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  win37

  November 09, 2002 16:55

  Depending on what variation you have the price could be anywhere from $300 up to $2000. Definitely have it checked out before trying to sell it.
  
  The Curio and Relic Firearms Forum

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  rikkstrat

  March 01, 2003 21:18

  I have a Vis that has a few markings on it that I can find no reference to anywhere. The hammer has what looks like a cursive H or K on the left side and the right side of the hammer as a fish symbol on it. The left side of the trigger guard has a M or W with an S under it and another mark I cannot read.
  
  It has the black grips, 3 levers on one side, is an H serial number and also has the eagle over WaA 77 on the slide and below. It also has the "P35(p)" under the name and model, 15567.
  
  It is in extremely good shape and looks like it may have originally been nickeled? Any help would be great from the experts!
  
  RICK STRATTON

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  Xracer

  March 02, 2003 04:19

  The markings indicate that you have a Nazi production VIS, made during WWII.
  
  I've seen some of these that have been nickle plated, but I don't believe that any ever left the factory that way....so I doubt if it has any collector value.
  
  I'd suggest that you take it to a gunsmith and have it checked out for safety....if it checks out, you've got a darn nice 9mm shooter.

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