[Simson-Suhl]

DDR Makarovs usually have the last two numbers of the serial number engraved by electro-pen on certain parts as: hammer, sear, safety, and trigger bar. Some of my DDR's have the numbers that appear to be applied after the parts were blued, as the scratchings are white metal. I have others that have the correct serial two diget numbers, however, the parts seem to be reblued as the numbers blue rather than white. Some of the numbers are very difficult to read without a magnifying glass. The Germans were very through in the maintenance of their Makarovs, did they reblue these parts for a reason?? Also I have a 65 DDR that is very near mint that the parts do not have a number of any type engraved on them. I believe the parts in the 65 to be German as the German made parts usually have what I would call an I.D. as the circle small case "f" on the ejector, small case "c" in a circle on the hammer, etc. Main springs may or may not have the two digit numbers, the 65 slide and frame serial numbers match, as do the assembly number (or whatever it is) on the trigger guard and frame. The grips are in the best condition of any DDR that I have purchased, near mint. They also have the hole drilled in the back of the grip for the lanyard so that means it is possible that they are the orginal grips and not a new replacement. Any thoughts or ideas?

 

[North Bender]

S-S, I k now that in some instances EG Makarovs went through a "re-arsenaling" before export. Certainly not all of them did, but I have one that was and others have reported on EG Maks similar to mine. In some cases when they did that they stripped the guns and didn't put the correct numbered parts back into the correct pistol, or used new parts that were not numbered. The EG I have that was re-arsenaled had the finish modified (stripped) - it's now a dull matte finish. So I venture to guess that in some cases a pistol may have been re-blued after that stripping.

 

[russb]

I would agree with North Bender and would also suggest that there are too many unknowns that prohibit any sort of definitive answer. For example, 1) a part might have a number that corresponds to the serial number or some arbitrairy number that means nothing to us at this point in time. I think it more likely that the number corresponding to the serial number might be an original part to the pistol. The arbitrairy number could be that, at some point in time, an armorer received a number of new parts such as a sear assembly and numbered them consecutively. He then replaced the out of spec sear (numbered to the pistol) with these replacement (numbered) ones. I think only an armorer's log book would confirm this hypothesis. It seems to me that the Com Bloc countries kept tight control of firearms and parts. How would you account for a part with the same number? This is pure speculation on my part. 2) Much time, 47yrs for a '65 Makarov, has passed and who knows what a previous owner or even the original importer and/or distributer did to them. I just think there are too many unknowns at this time for a definitive answer to the OP's questions. Simson-Suhl's questions remind us there is too much historical information missing regarding these wonderful little pistols. This is also evident in the many unknowns (or speculations) one encounters when reading Marschall's book which, at this time, seems to be the benchmark for historical information on EG Makarovs. Hopefully one day someone will be able to provide a more scholarly and definitive historical treatise on this particular Communist Bloc pistol.

 

[TENNESSEEAN]

SS if I'm reading this right you're saying the frame assembly number under the grips matches the serial number on the frame and slide is that right?
One more question does it have a inspectors mark?

 

[Simson-Suhl]

No, I said the assembly number, (or whatever it is) on the trigger guard matches the frame number that is under the grips. They are not the same as the serial number of the pistol. Probably was not too clear in my post. Slide and frame serial numbers match, 4 diget, number on trigger guard and frame match 5 diget. I have some DDRs that the trigger guard numbers match the frame number, (under the grips), and some that do not. We have had this post before as we are really not too clear as to just what the numbers on the trigger guard and frame stand for. They are NOT the pistol's serial number.
I will try to make this post a little more clear in my questions.
DDR #1 All matching numbers as: complete serial # on frame and Slide, last two digets of the serial number safety, hammer, sear, and triggerbar, numbers appear to be electro-penned after parts were blued. Numbers are scratched white metal.
DDR #2 The same as #1 except the parts with two digets have been reblued. They still match the serial number. No white scratches,
The '65 frame and slide serial numbers match, hammer,safety. sear and trigger bar, no two diget numbers.
I think North Bender is on the right track as the frame of the '65 does not seem to be as bright of a finish as the slide, not dull, just not as bright as compaired to the slide. He is probably correct about the reblueing of the parts also.