Czech Duo Pistol Info?
- Thread starter cratz2
- Start date
- Status
Dusek Duo
Wow. So much good info here.
I just came across one of these cool little pistols, a friend had it, and it's missing magazines. I think I have that figured out, a place called sarcoinc.com has them.
Here's my problem:
When my friend showed me the gun, the action was jammed back. I researched and found that the barrel needs to be twisted 1/4 turn to unlock it so the slide can come off. Easy.
I intend to give it a good cleaning, but I can't seem to reassemble. I looked at manuals for the Browning 1906, but this Dusek copy has far fewer parts. In fact, I have the frame, the barrel, the slide, the firing pin and the recoil spring.
I can't seem to reset the barrel so that I can twist it back and lock it. Also, since the gun was jammed open first time I saw it, I don't know that I"m putting the firing pin back in correctly.
This gun appears to be nickel plated, and the markings are different than anything I've seen on the web. The name of the town, Opocno, is spelled just like I wrote it with the curet above the "c".
Any comments/help are appreciated, thanks! If anyone is interested I can post pics.
Wow. So much good info here.
I just came across one of these cool little pistols, a friend had it, and it's missing magazines. I think I have that figured out, a place called sarcoinc.com has them.
Here's my problem:
When my friend showed me the gun, the action was jammed back. I researched and found that the barrel needs to be twisted 1/4 turn to unlock it so the slide can come off. Easy.
I intend to give it a good cleaning, but I can't seem to reassemble. I looked at manuals for the Browning 1906, but this Dusek copy has far fewer parts. In fact, I have the frame, the barrel, the slide, the firing pin and the recoil spring.
I can't seem to reset the barrel so that I can twist it back and lock it. Also, since the gun was jammed open first time I saw it, I don't know that I"m putting the firing pin back in correctly.
This gun appears to be nickel plated, and the markings are different than anything I've seen on the web. The name of the town, Opocno, is spelled just like I wrote it with the curet above the "c".
Any comments/help are appreciated, thanks! If anyone is interested I can post pics.
gyvel
Member
Nickel plating was generally a cheaper finish to put on a gun in that time period. (1870s-early 1900s), since it didn't require as careful a buffing job. Some manufacturers of that era such as H&R and Iver Johnson actually charged more for a blue gun.
Hi to all, apologize my poor English.
Allow me some remarks to DUO pistols:
The name of the manufacturer is Dušek - "š" sounds like "sh" in "ship".
The name of the town is "Opočno" - "č" sounds like "cz" in "czech" or "ch" in "check".
Nickel plated pistols are original from the factory (nickel, NOT chrome plated). According to propagation materials of the Dušek factory, "luxurious" pistols should be made in pre-war years, nickel plated and with mother-of pearl grips. No such pistol is known until now. Also from the year 1941 only black pistols are known until now. Nickel plated pistols are known from the year 1945 and later, they were more common from the year 1946. To a nickel plated gun allways belongs a nickel plated magazine. Grips exists in black, reddish-brown and white. Until 1948 black and brown grips were used, also on nickel plated pistols. White grips appears on nickel plated pistols from the year 1948.
My DUO is from the year 1951, originally with reddish-brown grips, but I think, that it looks better with the white ones...
Field stripping an reassembling (for MNBinPDX):
1. Remove the magazine. (pict.1)
2. Turn safety lever backwards. (pict.2+3)
3. Push the slide backwards, until the safety lever "snaps" into it. (pict.4+5)
4. Turn the barrel 1/4 turn. (clockwise from front) (pict.6+7)
5. Push slide a bit back, pull safety lever a bit down and let the slide come to front. (pict.8)
6. Pull the slide down and remove the springs. (pict.9)
7. Remove the firing pin. (pict.10)
8. Remember the correct position of the firing pin - "square pin" in the slide. (pict. 11+12)
9. Turn the barrel 1/4 turn (ANTIclockwise from front) (pict.13+14)
10. Lift the back end of the barrel (maybe with a screwdriver) and push the barrel backwards from the slide. (pict. 15)
11. You´re finished... (pict. 16)
Reassembly:
Barrel into the slide, turn it clockwise so, that the back "teeth" comes correct into the slide window. Insert firing pin correctly into the slide, then the firing spring. Insert the main spring into the body. Turn the safety lever backwards. Insert the slide to the body, control the position of springs and push the slide backwards, until it "snaps" to the safety lever. Turn the barrel anticlockwise, until the "teeth" comes into the body. Push slide a bit back, turn safety lever to front and let the slide come to front.
Sorry for the big amount of pictures, will send it in two parts. I wil send also the original material with parts list - this belongs to the pistol DUO "Z", but is the same as the old DUO, only the grips are the "modern" ones.
I can send to You scans from the book "Československé pistole 1918-1950" (Czechoslovak pistols 1918-1950) - Mladá Fronta 2006, ISBN 80-204-1550-5, from Jan Skramoušský and David Pazdera, and also scans from "Střelecký magazín" (Shooters Magazine), all concerning the DUO pistol, where You can find a lot of informations and pictures, but this is all in Czech language...
Allow me some remarks to DUO pistols:
The name of the manufacturer is Dušek - "š" sounds like "sh" in "ship".
The name of the town is "Opočno" - "č" sounds like "cz" in "czech" or "ch" in "check".
Nickel plated pistols are original from the factory (nickel, NOT chrome plated). According to propagation materials of the Dušek factory, "luxurious" pistols should be made in pre-war years, nickel plated and with mother-of pearl grips. No such pistol is known until now. Also from the year 1941 only black pistols are known until now. Nickel plated pistols are known from the year 1945 and later, they were more common from the year 1946. To a nickel plated gun allways belongs a nickel plated magazine. Grips exists in black, reddish-brown and white. Until 1948 black and brown grips were used, also on nickel plated pistols. White grips appears on nickel plated pistols from the year 1948.
My DUO is from the year 1951, originally with reddish-brown grips, but I think, that it looks better with the white ones...
Field stripping an reassembling (for MNBinPDX
): 1. Remove the magazine. (pict.1)
2. Turn safety lever backwards. (pict.2+3)
3. Push the slide backwards, until the safety lever "snaps" into it. (pict.4+5)
4. Turn the barrel 1/4 turn. (clockwise from front) (pict.6+7)
5. Push slide a bit back, pull safety lever a bit down and let the slide come to front. (pict.8)
6. Pull the slide down and remove the springs. (pict.9)
7. Remove the firing pin. (pict.10)
8. Remember the correct position of the firing pin - "square pin" in the slide. (pict. 11+12)
9. Turn the barrel 1/4 turn (ANTIclockwise from front) (pict.13+14)
10. Lift the back end of the barrel (maybe with a screwdriver) and push the barrel backwards from the slide. (pict. 15)
11. You´re finished... (pict. 16)
Reassembly:
Barrel into the slide, turn it clockwise so, that the back "teeth" comes correct into the slide window. Insert firing pin correctly into the slide, then the firing spring. Insert the main spring into the body. Turn the safety lever backwards. Insert the slide to the body, control the position of springs and push the slide backwards, until it "snaps" to the safety lever. Turn the barrel anticlockwise, until the "teeth" comes into the body. Push slide a bit back, turn safety lever to front and let the slide come to front.
Sorry for the big amount of pictures, will send it in two parts. I wil send also the original material with parts list - this belongs to the pistol DUO "Z", but is the same as the old DUO, only the grips are the "modern" ones.
I can send to You scans from the book "Československé pistole 1918-1950" (Czechoslovak pistols 1918-1950) - Mladá Fronta 2006, ISBN 80-204-1550-5, from Jan Skramoušský and David Pazdera, and also scans from "Střelecký magazín" (Shooters Magazine), all concerning the DUO pistol, where You can find a lot of informations and pictures, but this is all in Czech language...
Attachments
Continue..
Numbers:
Pistols from the first years have the last three digits from the number also "inside" - common is on the barrel and on bottom of the slide, but may be also on other parts.
Until 1942 the number was on the left side of body (frame), from this year on the right side. Until 1946 the numbers were serif ("Times New Roman"), in the year 1946 it changes to 3mm high sans serif ("Arial").
And the other picts...
Numbers:
Pistols from the first years have the last three digits from the number also "inside" - common is on the barrel and on bottom of the slide, but may be also on other parts.
Until 1942 the number was on the left side of body (frame), from this year on the right side. Until 1946 the numbers were serif ("Times New Roman"), in the year 1946 it changes to 3mm high sans serif ("Arial").
And the other picts...
Attachments
Last edited:
Buck Nekkid
Member
Czech13 Thank you so much!! Great information!
Fantastic information. Note that even though the ads are in English, importation into the U.S. was not allowed for most of the post-war period since Eastbloc arms could not be imported. There may have been pre-war imports, but all the Duo pistols I have seen or know of in the US are wartime bringbacks, not imports. (Imports would bear the COO marking "Czechoslovakia".) By the time trade was again allowed with Czechoslovakia, the pistol could not meet the requirements of GCA 68 and so is still in the "forbidden" category. Too bad - it is far from the cheap "Saturday Night Specials" at which the law was aimed.
Jim
Jim
Buck Nekkid
Member
Jim, I don't mean to disagree, but my DUO is marked "48" so it's not a bring back, per se.
See my pic on Page 1 of this thread.
See my pic on Page 1 of this thread.
I can't read the markings on your gun; does it have "Czechoslovakia" or "Made in Czechoslovakia" stamped on it, either as part of the factory marking or separately? If not, it was not a commercial import.
I am not sure exactly when the U.S. ban on Eastbloc imports went into effect, but Czechsolvakia went Communist in February 1948. Your gun might have slipped in before the ban, or it might have been bought in another country and brought into the US by the owner. This was and is technically illegal without an import license, but was common before intensive security checks came into use.
If you have the box, papers, parts list, or any information on the importer, I would be interested in pics.
Jim
I am not sure exactly when the U.S. ban on Eastbloc imports went into effect, but Czechsolvakia went Communist in February 1948. Your gun might have slipped in before the ban, or it might have been bought in another country and brought into the US by the owner. This was and is technically illegal without an import license, but was common before intensive security checks came into use.
If you have the box, papers, parts list, or any information on the importer, I would be interested in pics.
Jim
Buck Nekkid
Member
I'm currently away from my home where the DUO resides in my safe. I'll check it out as soon as I get back.
I know this thread started long ago,but has seen recent action.
Today i put a gun in layaway until i could get the rest of the money and pay it off tomorrow.
What i picked up is a CZ .25 blued in about 90% condition,it looks like it may have fired 20 rounds if that.
It does say made in "Czechoslovakia" and also clearly stamped "CZ" and has a mark of "47" also.
The shop had it tagged as a "CZ NP-Pocket Duo" they are very reputable and pretty good at knowing their guns.
If anyone has anything they can tell me from that info id appreciate it,ill add a pic tomorrow once its picked up.
Oddly enough i have no use for this gun,but its sooooo cute and in such good shape i knew i could give it a good home.And if i dont like it as much as i think i will,ive seen enough CZ nuts around here im sure i can get my money back.
Today i put a gun in layaway until i could get the rest of the money and pay it off tomorrow.
What i picked up is a CZ .25 blued in about 90% condition,it looks like it may have fired 20 rounds if that.
It does say made in "Czechoslovakia" and also clearly stamped "CZ" and has a mark of "47" also.
The shop had it tagged as a "CZ NP-Pocket Duo" they are very reputable and pretty good at knowing their guns.
If anyone has anything they can tell me from that info id appreciate it,ill add a pic tomorrow once its picked up.
Oddly enough i have no use for this gun,but its sooooo cute and in such good shape i knew i could give it a good home.And if i dont like it as much as i think i will,ive seen enough CZ nuts around here im sure i can get my money back.
Buck Nekkid
Member
Depending, I'll volunteer as the first CZ nut who might be interested
Ill post back once i have definite confirmation on just what the pistol is,im referring to the comment about it being rare and collectible.
Its not so much about the money is i dont want to destroy or devalue something of this age.
I think i said above but i actually kinda hope its not more valuable than what i paid for it,id really like to shoot and possibly carry it.
Its not so much about the money is i dont want to destroy or devalue something of this age.
I think i said above but i actually kinda hope its not more valuable than what i paid for it,id really like to shoot and possibly carry it.
I have the gun in hand and will post pics this evening once i can clean the gun up,it wont take long since its in such good shape.
From what i can tell it truly is a "NP" which stands for "Narodni Podnic" wich is stamped on the side.
It appears to be made in 1947 also.
"Ceska Zbrojovka" and "Strakonice" "6.35" and made in "Czechoslovakia" are all stamped on the left side with a 5 digit seriel number on the right side.
Im pretty sure this webpage tells the story of the gun:
http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache...k+6.35&cd=10&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=opera
The model i take it is the CZ vz45 -NP
I will not shoot this gun until im more clear of its historical value or rarity,id hate to destroy that by using it if thats the case.
But i did buy a box of ammo,so im ready to try it out when i can.
From what i can tell it truly is a "NP" which stands for "Narodni Podnic" wich is stamped on the side.
It appears to be made in 1947 also.
"Ceska Zbrojovka" and "Strakonice" "6.35" and made in "Czechoslovakia" are all stamped on the left side with a 5 digit seriel number on the right side.
Im pretty sure this webpage tells the story of the gun:
http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache...k+6.35&cd=10&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=opera
The model i take it is the CZ vz45 -NP
I will not shoot this gun until im more clear of its historical value or rarity,id hate to destroy that by using it if thats the case.
But i did buy a box of ammo,so im ready to try it out when i can.
Take a look at the pics and look at how nice this 62 year old gun is.
I have a feeling its worth 2x what i paid as i found one just like it that sold for $425 on Gunbroker.At least i thing this may be worth that.
Not shooting and carrying it may not be an option now.
I have a feeling its worth 2x what i paid as i found one just like it that sold for $425 on Gunbroker.At least i thing this may be worth that.
Not shooting and carrying it may not be an option now.
gyvel
Member
As I recall from a post on another forum, your gun would be the 51st gun submitted for proof in 1938.
Irememberjeep
Member
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2011
- Messages
- 2
Hello Everyone
I am new to THR so please bear with me. I do realize this thread is fairly old but I am looking for info on this Duo pistol I was given after my grandfather passed away. Attached are some photos. I am wondering what year it was made, it's value, and if the quality is such that it would still be shootable after some proper cleaning. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I am new to THR so please bear with me. I do realize this thread is fairly old but I am looking for info on this Duo pistol I was given after my grandfather passed away. Attached are some photos. I am wondering what year it was made, it's value, and if the quality is such that it would still be shootable after some proper cleaning. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Attachments
From the date stamp it looks like it was 1943. As with any old gun a proper disassembly, cleaning/ oiling, inspection, re-assembly should indicate if it is in proper working order. If you are not up to it you should have a gunsmith evaluate it to be safe. The Duo is a very good pocket pistol and seems to have a nice little following from collectors.
Irememberjeep
Member
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2011
- Messages
- 2
Thank you for the information. I'm looking forward to taking this to the range, if it checks out that is.
stonemovies
Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2013
- Messages
- 3
Finding Magazine and firing Pin
Hey I just bought a 42 duo 3.65mm at an auction and got it relatively cheap b/c it needs a magazine and firing pin. I read through this thread a few times and someone mentioned that some Colt .25 Model 1908 parts are interchangeable. Does anyone know if the firing pin and magazine are?
Or maybe someone has an extra magazine and/or firing pin they would be willing to part with? Or even a "scrap" duo that could be used for parts?
Any info/leads would be appreciated.
Also sarcoinc.com still has grips if anyone is interested.
Hey I just bought a 42 duo 3.65mm at an auction and got it relatively cheap b/c it needs a magazine and firing pin. I read through this thread a few times and someone mentioned that some Colt .25 Model 1908 parts are interchangeable. Does anyone know if the firing pin and magazine are?
Or maybe someone has an extra magazine and/or firing pin they would be willing to part with? Or even a "scrap" duo that could be used for parts?
Any info/leads would be appreciated.
Also sarcoinc.com still has grips if anyone is interested.
Attachments
- Status