[Navy87Guy]

I’m looking at two different Radom Vis pistols. One is pre-war Polish and the other is Occupation produced with German proofs and waffenamts. Both are three-lever versions.

If you could only pick one (No, buying both isn’t an option!!), which would you choose and why?

Thanks!

 

[pwcosol]

The "Polish Eagle" is as fine a pistol as was ever made in 9mm for a military sidearm. The quality is outstanding as well. The Poles only made just under 50,000 and the survival rate is only a small percentage of that number. Factor in the high-grade original, 2-cell magazine pouch holster with cleaning rod and you have quite a rig. I would add if only the original shoulder stock had been made in quantity, that would be the cherry on the sundae! BTW, there was a very good write-up on the Polish P35 in the 41st/1987 edition of Gun Digest, by Jim Thompson (pages 17-21). He discusses the pistol from many aspects, including the metallurgy of the components... something not typically brought into perspective in most writings on the pistol. His article "The Radom...toughest 9mm ever." is well worth the read. Lastly, addressing the OP's query, originality, condition, and price are all major considerations to selecting any arm...

 

[pcke2000]

Choosing a pre-war with Polish markings is a no-brainer

 

[martin08]

Both guns of equal condition, the pre-war is the ONLY choice.

A war-time gun will come along most any time. The former is hen's teeth.

 

[BlackPowder]

Agreed. Get the Prewar Polish if you can possibly swing it.

 

[krukster86]

I’d trade all my 3 German occupation VIS 35’s for a pre-War Polish eagle VIS 35. That one that Legacy has is tempting, but I can’t afford it, even with a layaway plan.

 

[Northyuma]

Can you post pictures please.

 

[pwcosol]

I think this recent auction says it all...
Polish Pre-War VIS-35 Radom Pistol
I believe the fact this particular P35 was a 1937 definitely factored into what it went for (excluding the 15% buyer premium too boot)...

 

[Navy87Guy]

Wowza!! I had no idea they ran that much…I guess I’d better prepare to be disappointed. 😳

 

[mike radford]

A 38 or 39 will be a little more affordable, in the neighborhood of half that much.

 

[Northyuma]

Two 37s went up at Bruneau and then Morphy’s (I beleive). I know both buyers. Bruneau 9.5 and Morphy’s 10.5. There were only 3k made of the 37’ as the factory was busy making rifles for the Spanish civil war. The 37’ is the rarest of the PEs. 5k 36s were made but many more 38’ and 39s’ were produced. Expect to spend 6-8 on 38’, 5 to 6 plus on a 39’. 7 for a 39’ delta and north of 10 for a 37.

 

[Navy87Guy]

Can you post pictures please.

I will once I get it in hand…I won the auction!

 

[pwcosol]

Expect to spend 6-8 on 38’, 5 to 6 plus on a 39, 7 for a 39’ delta and north of 10 for a 37.

Could you elaborate on the pistols hi-lited in red? The first P35 I ever owned was 40420 delta back in the mid-70's. Unfortunately, the entire top end was off a German P35(p). I knew nothing about such pistols back then. Do recall it shot well and ended up trading it off for a P.38 a couple years later. About ten years passed and was at my family home when I received a call from the Police department of a nearby city. The officer asked if I owned a RADOM pistol 40420. I replied "With a triangle behind the serial number?" He replied in the affirmative. Told him where/when I had bought the pistol, when I had traded it off, the subsequent owner was now deceased (true) and why the request? The officer said they had picked up a illegal whom had been going around pointing it at people! My response was, after informing me I was the registered owner of record, since that was the case, could I not have the pistol back? He said unfortunately no and the pistol was likely going to be destroyed. My reaction to that was something to the effect, why not get rid of the illegal instead and keep the pistol? The officer guffawed and said he agreed as well...

 

[Northyuma]

Sure, the “Delta” 39 has a lot of theory behind it, some say they were inspector rejections, assembled out of those parts as the Germans were “at the gates”, others that they were repaired pistols sent back from the front. In either case, they’re rare. More so than the 39’ and as such command a higher value from a standard 39’. I’ve seen them go for as high as 9k. You can find them for 7k from time to time but they don’t come up often and beware of fakes. I’ve attached a couple of pics of my Delta for review.

 

[pwcosol]

Thanks for both info and photos! Always wondered what the deal was, because until your photo, had neither seen nor heard of another so marked.

 

[mike radford]

Years ago we beat the Delta thing pretty hard on Jan Stills forum.

IIRC, the serial numbers are no where near sequential and all on 1939 slides. I have a late serial numbered frame with a later Nazi slide that Gary Cole supposedly bought in a lot from the museum at Kolblitz. It is not a Delta. The slide is renumber to match. It had an Eagle mag in it. He also had a 39 eagle that was a Russian capture?? Regardless, it had little finish and some pitting but was completely matching and also had an Eagle mag so I bought them both. Apparently Dennis K. bought all the pistols but these two which Gary thought he would not want. I was looking at a box full of Radoms, I would guess 50 in a big box, and picking out as fast as I could. Gary was busy sitting up at NGD. I ask him how much for this and that and he says" talk to that guy, he bought them all". That is when I met Dennis and he had not looked at them close enough to price them. He just bought them in the lot with just a quick glance.