Czech Duo Pistol Info?

[cratz2]

Anyone have any information on the Czech Duo pistol? How many were made or what a Nazi stamped 1942 model would be worth etc?

Nice little gun. I think there's only a couple parts in there that aren't machined. Makes my P32 look like a pre-school toy.

Thanks.

 

[Jagermeister]

Don't have anything on the "Duo" model. If you could provide the markings on the pistol, or a photo, possibly we could help you. Most Czech pistols are marked CZ or VZ. "Duo" doesn't ring a bell.

TG

 

[Steven Mace]

cratz2, production on the CZ Duo started in 1926. At 100% with Nazi markings the current Blue Book would list it at $315 and about $240 in 95% condition. Sorry I don't have any production numbers for you.

Steve Mace

 

[Jagermeister]

Steve:
thanks for the photo:

That model is the Model Z, better known as the the Duo (q.v) and was originally made in the Strakonice CZ factory shrotly after the Communist takeover. Dulek's business had been seized by the State. The slide of post 1948 guns was marked Z ATUO PISTOL R 6.35 MADE IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

hjn

 

[C.R.Sam]

So wonderfully good to have Harley here.

Sam

 

[cratz2]

Thanks for the replies. A friend's mother has one that he's trying to sell for her but no one was exactly sure what was a good honest price.

Nice quality piece... thanks again for the responses.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

DUO, let's see, I have one of those somewhere... Here it is, a 1944 Nazi marked one.

 

[Jim K]

The man's name was Dusek, not Dulek. The pistol is a close copy of the original FN Browning .25/Colt Vest Pocket Model. They are well made and one of the more reliable .25 autos. They sell for around $250+ in top shape and about $75-100 more with the German issue holster.

Jim

 

[HVH]

DUO Pistol Cal. 6.35

Does anyone know where parts or a diagram for a DUO .25 Auto may be found?

Mine is chromed with white grips from F. Dusek, Tovarna NA Zbrane Opochno

 

[Jim K]

Someone may have other info, but I have never seen a DUO in chrome or nickel or with white grips, and don't think any came from the factory that way.

They were quite common souvenir guns in WWII and I suspect yours was plated and the new grips put on here. Franzite (Chicago) made grips for them.

I don't know of a diagram but they are almost identical to the old Colt .25 auto, the so-called Model 1908. IIRC, some parts will even interchange or can be fitted.

Jim

 

[Buck Nekkid]

Do you have a pic of your plated DUO? Mine is kinda sad and I was thinking of having it engraved and nickel plated. Here's my 1948 DUO



You might check with Marstar in Canada. They have some parts, etc. for the CZ 45 (also in .25 acp) and might have some stuff for the DUO. I bought a factory magazine from them about a year ago.

 

[ruppking]

Duo 6.35 cal pistol year ID?

Hi , I'm new to The Highroad. I have a Duo 6.35 pistol and want to know what year my pistol is.
It is marked "AUTOMATICKA PISTOLE , DUO" - CAL 6.35
F.DUSEK, TOVARNA NA ZBRANE OPOCNO
Under the insignia where the date of manufacture should be, is two sets of numbers
51
38
This is on the left side of the slide. No numbers on right hand side of the side.
It has the number 319 on the inside of the slide, on the barrel, and on the right hand side of the frame. I have looked at just about everything online about these and was thinking maybe this was a 1938 because the series number is so low and it has "OPOCNO" as the location. I will try to include some pics of it.

 

[Buck Nekkid]

My best guess is that it was made in 1951, but I have no idea what the 38 represents.

 

[Jim K]

Just FYI, "TOVARNA NA ZBRANE" means "Factory of Arms" and Opocno is the city. The marking under German occupation is ""AUTOMAT. PISTOLE "DUO" CAL. 6.35" over "F. DUSEK, OPOTSCHNO". Note the German spelling of the city name.

That marking in Czech indicates manufacture before the German takeover, so 1938 would be a logical year, while 1951 would be during Communist rule when production was given to CZ.

The grips on the gun pictured by Ruppking are not original and appear to be home made.

Jim

 

[ruppking]

Thanks for the info. I have another tidbit to ask about. On my Dou 6.35 it has 25 grooves on the slide pull. I have noticed 1948 to 1954 have 9 grooves on the slide pull. 1945 has 12 grooves. 1940 to 1944 have 14 grooves. Also the serial numbers seem to go up as the years progress. Has anyone seen such a low serial number?

 

[ruppking]

Duo 6.35 cal pistol year ID?

Perhaps I wasn't very clear in what I was looking for , but I would be very interested in any info ( or pics with serial numbers) on pre 1939 Duo 6.35 pocket pistols. I believe mine is a 1938 vintage, with a serial number of 319. I would love to see some pics of some early Dou's. if any one knows of a source for some early Duo grips, please pass the info along.Thanks, Jim My E- mail is [email protected]

 

[rb47e]

I also have a factory chrome plated, white plastic gripped Duo with a 6 digit serial number. It is a AUT. Pistole "DUO" R.6.35mm Made in CZECHOSLOVAKIA proof mark with a number 49. It shoots great and I have found that most parts interchange with the Colt .25 pocket pistol.

 

[Jim K]

I very much doubt that the chrome plating and white plastic grips are factory original, if that matters. That pistol was apparently imported after WWII, not a GI bringback, since it has the country of origin on it.

I may be wrong, but I think the only company that made "pearl" or "ivory" grips for the DUO was the Franz company in Chicago, which used the "Franzite" trade mark.

Jim

 

[rb47e]

Jim, I trust your opinion. I really know nothing about the DUO. I did look at the grips and find no trade marks. I was wondering. If the factory did not nickle plate the DUO, who did and why are so many (well, a few) DUOs showing up as nickle plated? The finish on mine is so good it just doesn't look like it was an after market nickle finish job. You are right. Where it was plated does not matter to me.

 

[Buck Nekkid]

I wish I could find one of those nickel/chrome plated jewels...especially if it was made in 1948!

 

[Jim K]

As I said above, I have never seen a DUO either chrome or nickel plated, and that is true. But as to the likelihood of a plated one being original, I admit I was thinking of pre and during WWII production. However, they were imported for a short time in the post-WWII period and I have now been told that some of those were nickel plated and had white grips, so that appears to be the case with that one, which was made in 1949, as shown by the proof date.

Jim

 

[rb47e]

Jim, thanks for the updated info. My last question was going to be, "Is there a technical/business reason why the post war DUO factory would not offer a nickle plated white/ivory gripped pistol?" Too bad the records are not available. It really doesn't matter but wondering/wandering minds would like to know.

 

[Jim K]

I don't know why they would not or could not. I had never seen one, but as I said, someone e-mailed me that they did make them. My guess would be that they were for the American market, as by that time nickel plating had pretty much gone out of style in Europe. Usually, the U.S. importer will ask the maker for those features he considers will sell best on the American market (or are needed for importation). The customer is always right, so the importer gets what he asks for.

As to chrome, I don't recall any what I would call "quality" gun that was chromed. Many inexpensive guns have been chromed (chrome is cheaper than nickel) but to me they look garish.

Jim

 

[rb47e]

Jim, thanks for the info. Unfortunately your last post tickles another question (for me anyway). How do we determine chrome from nickle?

 

[Jim K]

I'll have to reply with what some Supreme Court justice said about pornography - "I know it when I see it." Really, look at nickel plated guns and at chrome plated guns and you will see the difference. In words, nickel tends to have a yellowish or "warmer" look, while chrome has a bluish or "colder" look. At one time, around the 1890-1900 period, nickel plating was so common in the gun industry that the majority of some S&W models were nickel plated, and some other companies made whole lines only in nickel. Nickel plating was new at the time and made things look "high class". This was true of not only guns but hundreds of other items (Google "nickel plate line" for one interesting story).

Later, nickel plating was common on guns to be used around salt water or carried in a shoulder holster where perspiration would ruin the finish on a blued gun. Today, stainless steel has taken the place of plating for protection of the finish, and nickel plating has gone out of style, though S&W and some other makers will still do it on special order.

Chrome plating is fairly recent, and was uncommon on guns until the advent of cheap handguns when it was used to give a flashy look, appealing to some people. It is cheaper than nickel plating and easier to do.

Jim