Bulgarian Mak Markings-Help

T

Tecolote

New member
Just got my Bulgie Mak from www.jcarmory.com Thanks Greg! I highly recommend him. Get one before they too are banned!

Now to the questions.

Pistol bears no "Made in Bulagaria" markings of any sort. It doesn't say Arsenal like other Bulgie Maks I've seen. Only markings are as follows:

Serial number on left side of slide and frame (on frame behind slide release).

Double circles with a 10 inside before serial numbers.

After the serial numbers it has what looks like a small c with a half circle around it like this c). Further on same line it has a period (barely legible) and a real small backwards c with a line.

On the rear right side of frame in small letters it reads PW Arms, Redmond, WA 9X18

Anybody else have anything similar? Any idea what the markings means?

Also, when I was putting it together it took me an hour of gentle cajoling to get the slide to mount on the frame just right. Now it's easy to do. Is this a typical Mak newbie problem?

After 2.5 hours of tough work with Gun Degreaser and Hoppe's No 9 it looks like a champ! Can't wait to shoot it.


------------------
So many pistols, so little money.
 
Tecolote, Those are the manufacturers markings. What you are describing according to a copy of the factory markings. That is the double circle ten mark. Which indicates a Bulgarian manufacture. What the other mark c)is I have no idea. The PW Arms marking I believe would be the importers mark. If you haven't already check out www.markarov.com They may be able to answer the small c question for you.
Hope this helps and I hope they can help you over at the Markarov site.
I just got an E. German and its a beaut. Haven't had a chance to get it out yet.

Happy Shooting :)

------------------
We preserve our freedoms by using four boxes: soap,ballot,jury, and cartridge.
Anonymous
 
Tecolote,
I have the exact same gun, and mine also came from Greg. These pistols are true military surplus guns, that where manufactured in the early 1960s. The double circles around the 10 is the mark for Bulgarian Miliary guns. The ones that say "Arsenal" are NOT military, and in my opinion, not as good as the ones we have. PW Arms is the importer.

I also had trouble assembling the slide the first time. It just takes a little getting use to.

Your first upgrade should be Pierce grips. They make a world of difference. If you haven't already been there, check out www.makarov.com Great prices on accessories, and a pretty good discussion board.

Good Luck,
David
 
Tecolote, congratulations on your new purchase. My Bulgie has the same markings, and mine also had all the grease. It took forever to clean with Hopps 9! I think you'll like how it shoots and how utterly reliable it is. I prefer my semi autos to have very stiff recoil springs for that solid feel, so this is perfect. The kick was fairly sharp with the standard grips, so I put on some pierce grips. The rubber absorbs the recoil very well, but, for me at least, the standard grips fit my hand better. The Soviet era ammo in the green box works fine, but it is supposedly hotter than the other rounds. What the markings on the gun don't tell you in the year of manufacture, but maybe someone knows which years these were imported by W Arms? Tecolote, if you don't have and are interested in an east German mak, SOG is still advertising them in Shotgun News. They went for $159 2 weeks ago. At the gun show this weekend, I saw what I believe was a post 1989 Ernst Thaelman east German makarov. Beautiful little piece, but quite expensive at $280 + tax.

I'm voting for Bush in November.
 
Thanks for the quick replies. I'm glad to hear others have the same type Bulgie Mak.

I wanted a Mak since I was a kid. I grew up in the Cold War and remember seeing pictures of "Ivan" with a little holster on his belt. Pictures from Afghanistan confirmed that the Mak saw plenty of action. I couldn't get myself to get a Russian one because the adjustable sights make it look unattractive, IMHO.

I opted for a Bulgie one first because I wanted a beater. I figure that with a lot of patience I'll be able to completely take apart some day. Field stripping is really easy. I'd never taken a firing pin out before, it was fun. I guess that with practice I'll be able to put it back together again just as easily.

I definetely want an EG Mak. I saw a real beauty at the last show go for $150. I'm going to keep looking and if I don't find one locally, well I'll just have to bother my FFL one more time.

I'll get it out to the range quick and give it another dousing in Hoppe's. I think this ought to remove the last bits of cosmoline around the trigger guard.

------------------
So many pistols, so little money.
 
Tecolote, Welcome to Mak world. I would suggest getting the manual. You can take every part out of a Mak using the tip on the cleaning rod in less than 45 seconds after you do it a couple of times. All of the trigger parts are easy to clean up, and you end up with an almost unbelieveably accurate gun. With a bit of pratice, it's easy to keep a mag full in the bottom of a coffee cup at 10 yards all day long.

------------------
Good shootin to ya
Plateshooter
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top