Posted: 9/2/2026 8:05:33 AM EDT
[Last Edit: wagsfn][Edited]
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I've been offered a East German Makarov pistol from a deceased friends estate. The caretaker, another trusted friend who is gun knowledgeable but not with Mak's. In our brief conversation all I know is the pistol is East German, high blue finish, one magazine & holster, sounds to be in excellent condition. Honestly I'm not up on Mak's, but will probably purchase to fund late friends estate. Last night I spent over 2hrs looking at and reading up on East German Makarov pistols. Manufactured from 1958 to 1965 (stay away from 1958-59), high blue finish, plastic black grips, K100 or K106 stamped on slide. Since I haven't seen pistol in pictures I have plenty of questions to ask on just about everything. Is there anything I should be aware of or question to ask other than bore condition, etc. Price being offered to me is really low. Thanks! |
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Originally Posted By spmx7777: Get on the phone and tell them you'll buy it. They are excellent Makarovs, probably the best ones ever made. Some jokers on GunBroker and GunsInternational try to sell them for $2000 but they're trolling for a whale. Buy it. Buy it now. Just received pictures of this Makarov Pistol. Turns out it's commercial East German made in 1976. Has the brown bakealite grip with Star. Serial No. TB 2XXX with a Circle & Triangle in center. Getting it for under $300. My friend who's in charge of estate says the barrel is bright, possibly chrome lined he said? What do I have? I was hoping for a 1960-65 pistol, but this one is made from Arsenal left over parts from what I understand. Appreciate anything someone can add. Thank you! LATE: And it comes with two magazines and a brown holster. Is this a Russian frame due to the Circle with Triangle in it? But strange on right side you see Germany. Plus, is it a East German side? I thought EG slides have 10 groves on left side & 17 grooves on right side like this one. Importer is not legible either. Am I over thinking this? Attached File Attached File |
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FWIW, https://grok.com/share/c2hhcmQtMg_c9d744f1-611a-4434-b9f0-ea88aec90ff2 -- Realistic value for this pistol as pictured is roughly $750–$1,100. That is a 1976 Izhevsk military PM with German TRA proofs and a “Made in Germany” sneak stamp. Those mismatch-mark examples bring more than a plain Bulgarian or commercial IJ-70, but less than a mint East German or a matching-mag, holster-complete Russian. -- If you don't want it, I'll buy it. Not kidding. |
| Ok, total newbee here when it comes to Makarov pistols. Was told by executor of deceased friends estate he had a East German Makarov if I was interested. Reason he thought it was East German was because it had Germany on side of frame. The proof mark Circle with Triangle gave it away immediately once I looked them up. Plus a couple other proof marks. Russian all the way. The GERMANY he saw on frame actually says 9mm GERMANY (which is lite and almost wore off). Pistol was made at Izhevsk Arsenal (Izhmech) factory. But it's all original and matching. I'm still trying to figure out who the importer was. All I can make out is the TRA (see above pictures). Should be a month or so once everything is settled and I can bring this pistol home. Again, so for misinformation on manufacture. Thanks.... |
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Originally Posted By spmx7777: FWIW, https://grok.com/share/c2hhcmQtMg_c9d744f1-611a-4434-b9f0-ea88aec90ff2 -- Realistic value for this pistol as pictured is roughly $750–$1,100. That is a 1976 Izhevsk military PM with German TRA proofs and a “Made in Germany” sneak stamp. Those mismatch-mark examples bring more than a plain Bulgarian or commercial IJ-70, but less than a mint East German or a matching-mag, holster-complete Russian. -- If you don't want it, I'll buy it. Not kidding. No, I'm not selling it. It's a keepsake from a respected deceased friend. We shared firearms information for over 40yrs together. He was smarter than me....... But damn, it's worth this much? A Sneak gun? Honestly, I believe it says 9mm GERMANY not Made in Germany on right side of frame. See pictures. Plus I saw on guns international a better picture as well. But it is a 1976 Izhevsk pistol. And good to know about the German TRA proof marks. Until I actually hold this puppy in my hands I'll quit guessing. But you've been very helpful, spmx7777! Thank you! |
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Originally Posted By chemcmndr: Very nice Russian military Mak! The grips appear to be Bulgarian. The markings on the left side would be what they left the Russian factory with. All of the markings on the right side would have been put on afterwards. What makes the grips appear to be Bulgarian? Maybe I've been looking at to many Makarovs today and can't tell any differences. And I believe you're correct on the right side markings were added once pistol ended up in Germany. Great story on that sneak entry. |
| The circle around the star on the grips on a Russia grip is thicker than a Bulgarian. I have a 1983 “no import marked” Russian that has a thick circle. I also have a few “Bulgarian Sneak” Russian Maks that have the thin circle grip like you show. I can’t seem to post pictures, otherwise I would show you. |
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Originally Posted By chemcmndr: The circle around the star on the grips on a Russia grip is thicker than a Bulgarian. I have a 1983 “no import marked” Russian that has a thick circle. I also have a few “Bulgarian Sneak” Russian Maks that have the thin circle grip like you show. I can’t seem to post pictures, otherwise I would show you. Interesting. I do notice from Russian Makarov pictures that the circle around star is thicker on majority of models shown. The Bulgarian pictures I'm finding are both? Mainly plain black though. But never say never in the firearms world. Once I acquire my Russian Mak it'll be easier to inspect. Appreciate the heads up! |
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Discovered a little more about this new to me Russian Makarov. If you look above the TRA 05 on right side of frame you can see some more markings (marked over the German proof marking). Turns out it's the importer from Ohio. You'll have to look closely, but this is what it says: C.K.C. PORTS.OH45662 C.K.C. Is Christopher K. Cross a now out of business Importer from Portsmouth, OH 45662. Still would like to know story on how pistol made it's way from Russia (Izhevsk Arsenal) to Germany (TRA i.e. Transarms Worms, Germany near the 2005 time frame). Ok, enough useless information. Thought I'd share. |