Thank you everyone for your opinions.
A couple of remarks:
- I am getting this gun from a grandson of a simple Ukranian ww2 vet. Getting it for arround 370$. Well 350 Euros. Not much. lol
He is no collector or reseller, just runs a small cargo business and said he simply doesn't want any weapons around the house and is not an antiques shop to chase prices. Just wants to get rid of it for some profit. Knows almost nothing about this gun.
- As stated before, I am no expert, but I do own a couple of firearms. Glock 17 (never leave home without it
, Tula Tokarev, aka TT (ww2 models as well), not mentioning all the guns me and my father fired along my childhood, as he used to co-own a small gun store. Anything form the smallest Beretta models to an AKM or Ak-47, Saiga (mainly USSR guns). I believe, although not being any major historian or gunsmith, I could tell if the gun was refinished. And this gun doesn't look anything like refinished at all. As a matter of fact the inscription, font, quality looks so genuine and accurate that really doubt it was made anywhere outside a specialized factory.
- Back in the day, Soviet Union was nothing organized like any other country who would issue to their GI certificates for captured weapons they would want to keep, put a nice little stamp on it. No. You just pick it up, put it in your pocket as it is and take it home if you're lucky enough to come get there in one piece. We really do have tons of unregistered WW2 firearms, from both sides. Literally canned in jars with pork grease for decades. I personally saw a person selling those TT and Makarov pistols, canned in pork grease, 1 litre jars. It was a way to hide it form the law authorities and preserve it. he would also ask you if you want a post- or a war model. Brand new or used but with some history. What a dude that was
- Now, if thinking like someone who want so make an extra buck out of this gun, I would engrave something more common on it. Especialy considering the quality, that had to cost me, so I would have put something more eyecathing on that gun. Assuming it was a little customized after the war, it would been made for a collector who, most likely would know at least something about these pistols.
I'm having hard time expressing my self, but I hope everone got the idea I am trying to share here
And also, excuse me this story which is probably too long.
To be honest I am almost 100% sure it is an original engraving, made for some particular person or purpose back in the day at the factory.
Just trying to figure out what for or for who?