WWII Occupied F.B. Radom VIS Model 1935 P.35 (p) 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol, C&R
SOLD FOR: $3,625
LSB#: 231108DM068
Make: Fabryka Broni (Arms Factory), in Radom, Poland
Model: VIS 35 (Vis is Latin for “force”) Grade I, Subvariation 3 (“Axis Pistols”, Vol. II, by Jan Still)
Serial Number: A2744
Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1942-1944
Caliber: 9mm Parabellum
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto Pistol with Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 4 5/8”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a short narrow blade integral to the rib on the slide. The rear sight is a “V” notch dovetailed into the slide. There is a thin narrow rib running down the center of the entire length of the slide with fine checkering for glare reduction.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered plastic with “FB” in triangle on the left, “VIS” in triangle on the right. The grips have minor handling wear with a few light nicks and some scuffing. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original, the serialized parts are matching.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered minor erosion and infrequent minor pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7 out of 10.
Many military and C&R-eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The grip areas show light handling wear. There are some scattered minor nicks and light scratches. There is infrequent minor oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger is crisp and the slide has light play to the frame. There is a de-cocker on the slide and a grip safety. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a total of two eight round magazines and a black leather flap-holster.
Our Assessment: This is a Fabryka Broni Radom VIS 1935 Grade III, Subvariation 1 pistol made in about 1942-1944 during WWII under German occupation before manufacture was moved to Steyr in Austria in late 1944. The design of the pistol was roughly based on John Browning’s M1911 with a slide release, de-cocker and grip safety. The VIS was designed for the Polish Army, but only saw a few years of service before Poland was occupied by Germany and later Soviet Russia. After the war, the Russians forced the Poles to adopt the Soviet TT-33 Tokarev even though the Tokarev was considered inferior in both ergonomics and reliability, and the VIS was no longer produced.
This pistol was made during German occupation for use by German forces. The pistol is in Very Good-plus condition with about 90% of its original metal finish remaining, with serial-matching parts. The bore is in decent shape and the mechanics are strong. This should be of interest to collectors of Polish firearms and of German weaponry used during WWII. It may also prove to be a fun shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
