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Hungarian Weapons - Fémáru/Frommer Handguns |
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85,000 manufactured by Fémáru Fegyver és Gépgyár Rt, Budapest, 1941-44 Type: blowback operated automatic pistol Chambering: 7.65mm Auto [.32acp] Length overall: 182mm [7.17"] Barrel: 110mm [4.33"] Weight unloaded: 770g [27.2oz] Magazine: 7-round detachable box with a finger-rest. The bottom of the magazine marked: 'P. Mod. 37.' The German government negotiated a contract for 50,000 7.65mm Auto Frommer 37M pistols with pro-Axis Hungary in 1941. These were destined largely for the Luftwaffe. Except for the change of caliber, the first consignments were identical to the 37M. Shortly after supply had begun, however, the Luftwaffe demanded a manual thumb safety catch. This was added to the left rear of the frame, whereupon the slide marking was changed from the original 'FÉMÁRU FEGYVER ÉS GÉPGYÁR RT 37M' to 'P. MOD. 37 KAL 7,65' with German WaffenAmt acceptance stamps. This 1st contract of 50,000 pistols were marked with 'jhv 41' and 'WaA56'. The code 'jvh' concealed the manufacturer, in accordance with the contemporaneous German system. |
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Based on unconfirmed information Germany also purchased the license to manufacture the pistol, however there is no evidence that any German manufacuring was performed. P37 Assembly Drawing and Parts List P37 Large Detailed Assembly Drawing P37 Disassembly Instructions P37 Magazine Details |
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The 2nd contract for an additional 35,000 Pistole 37 (u) was started in 1943. These pistols were marked 'jhv 43' and 'WaA173'. Production ended around March 1944 after a total of 85,000 or so had been produced.
Contrary to popular belief this gun was NOT produced under German occupation. The well-made 7.65mm caliber guns were extremely accurate and pleasant to shoot, being rather heavier than the general run of
pistols in this caliber.
Serial numbered parts: Receiver, slide, barrel, magazine. WaA stamped: Receiver, slide, barrel. Serial number/Date correspondence reported: jhv 1941: 6735 - 48655 WaA56 jhv 1943: 50724 - 71455 WaA173 |
 |  | Believed to be an original Hungarian supplied holster |
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German made holster for the P37, made by Gustav Reinhardt, Berlin, 1941 and marked so in the inside flap. Also has a Luftwaffe Eagle over 7 Photos courtesy of Al Gerth |
 | A 1942 German made holster with 'cdc' code for Kern Klager & Co. Lederwaren, Berlin. |
 | Another 1942 German holster maker with 'jsd' code for Gustav Reinhardt Lederwarenfabrik, Berlin. |
This P37 pistol was marketed as a presentation piece with the legend: 'Brig. General Charles Baron US Army 0363316'. Unfortunately this is a forgery. Charles Baron was a
Brig. General of the Illinois National Gard, not the US Army. He was an organized crime figure in Chicago. For more info see Charles Baron
Always do your research before you pay extra for such markings.
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These are rare unusual C-prefix serial numbered pistols. Two serial ranges have been reported with the 'C-' prefix: 3-digits (121-524) and 6-digits (111877-114333). The 3-digit serial pistols display standard 37M markings, and chamber the 9mm, so they are considered a variant of the 37M and discussed there. The 6-digit serial pistols chamber the 7.65mm, have the thumb-safeties installed, utilize German Contract leftover P37 parts and P37 slide legend with the addition of "BUDAPEST" and the 'FFG' (for Fémáru Fegyver és Gépgyár) in a shield logo on the slide. There are no German codes, WaffenAmts etc on these pistols. The 'FFG' shield logo is believed to be used during and after WW2, until 1946, when FFG was nationalized and renamed to Lámpagyár (or Lampart). One of these C-prefix P37's comes with US Military capture papers, which narrows down the possibility of manufacture/assembly to between April 1944 (completion of German contract) and November 1944 (encircling of Budapest by the Red Army). So this particular pistol was taken by its Hungarian owner out of Hungary, escaping Russian capture, and the pistol was surrendered to the US Army after May 1945 in Austria. Please e-mail any info you know about these C-prefix P37's |