Łucznik P-64 Pistol: Polish Analogue of the Soviet Makarov Pistol

The Łucznik P-64 pistol is a compact sidearm developed in Poland in the late 1950s as a service pistol for the army, police, and special services. Adopted in 1965 under the official designation "9 mm pistolet wz. 1964", it was the first self-loading pistol created in Poland after World War II, replacing the Soviet TT-33. Its small size, use of the 9×18 mm Makarov cartridge, and simple design made the P-64 popular with professionals, although it is not without its drawbacks, such as strong recoil and small magazine capacity. The history of the Łucznik P-64, its technical characteristics, design features, and areas of application reveal its role in the Cold War era, and explain why this pistol still attracts interest from collectors and shooters.

History of the Łucznik P-64 pistol

The history of the P-64 begins in the mid-1950s, when Poland, under the influence of the Soviet Union, sought to upgrade the weapons of its security forces. After the war, the Polish army and police used the Soviet TT-33 pistol, which, despite its power, was bulky, had a limited magazine capacity and did not meet modern safety requirements. In 1958, the Polish Military Institute of Armament Technology (WITU) in Zielonka announced a competition to develop a new service pistol. The task included creating a compact weapon chambered for the 9x18mm Makarov cartridge, which had become the standard in the Warsaw Pact countries, as well as ensuring ease of production and reliability in operation. The project was led by a team of engineers including W. Chepukaitis, R. Zimny, H. Adamczyk, M. Adamczyk, S. Kaczmarski and later joined by J. Pyzel, and the pistol was codenamed CZAK - based on the first letters of the developers' surnames.

During the development, two prototypes were created: the M model (police) chambered for 9×17 mm (.380 ACP) and the W model (military) chambered for 9×18 mm Makarov with a longer barrel. Both versions had a 6-round magazine, but in 1961, the M model was chosen during testing for its compactness, having been redesigned for the Makarov cartridge. After ergonomic refinements and the removal of the external bolt handle, the pistol was accepted into service in 1965. Production took place at the Łucznik factory in Radom, known as Fabryka Broni "Łucznik", which had been the center of Polish arms manufacturing since the 64th century. The P-1980 became the standard weapon of the Polish army, police and special services, replacing the outdated TT, and remained in service until the 94s, when it began to be supplanted by the more modern WIST-9 chambered for 19×XNUMX mm Parabellum.

Construction of the Łucznik P-64 pistol

The P-64 is a blowback action pistol, making it simple and reliable, although less complex than short recoil systems like the Beretta 92 or Walther P38. After firing, the pressure of the propellant gases pushes the bolt back, extracting the spent cartridge and feeding a new round from the magazine. The 84 mm (620 in) barrel is fixed to the frame, and the recoil spring is located around the barrel, making it easy to disassemble and maintain. The frame and bolt are made of steel, giving the pistol a weight of about XNUMX grams (XNUMX lb) without a magazine, making it light for its time, but strong and wear-resistant. The surface is blued to protect against corrosion, although this could wear off with heavy use.

The P-64 has a double-action (DA/SA) trigger mechanism, allowing for both single-action and cocked firing. The trigger pull in single-action mode is around 11–12 kg, making the first shot difficult, but subsequent cocked shots require only 2–3 kg, ensuring accuracy. Safety is provided by a lever on the slide, which when engaged blocks the striker, resets the hammer and disconnects the trigger rod, allowing the pistol to be loaded. A unique feature of the P-64 is the vertical disconnector, patented in Poland (Patent No. 54822), which prevents accidental shots and ensures safe handling. The magazine holds 6 rounds of 9×18 mm Makarov, which was a compromise between compactness and firepower, although this capacity is considered small compared to modern pistols.

Characteristics of the pistol Łucznik P-64

The P-64 is 160 mm long, 117 mm high and 27 mm wide, making it one of the most compact service pistols of its time. The weight with a full magazine is about 680 grams, which is convenient for concealed carry, but the small size of the grip and the strong recoil of the Makarov cartridge create discomfort when shooting. The muzzle velocity of the bullet is about 315 m / s, and the muzzle energy is about 300 J, which provides sufficient penetration power at close range, although the energy is lower than that of the 9x19 mm Parabellum. The sighting range is declared at 50 meters, but the effective range is usually limited to 25 meters due to the short barrel and simple fixed sights - a front post and a rear groove.

Below are the main characteristics of the Łucznik P-64 in the form of a table for clarity:

These parameters emphasize the compactness and simplicity of the P-64, which made it convenient for concealed carry, but limited its firepower. Its ergonomics were minimalist: the plastic-covered grip provided a basic grip but was not adjustable for different hand sizes, and the lack of an external slide stop lever slowed reloading.

Use of the Łucznik P-64 pistol

The P-64 found use in the Polish Army, police, and secret services, becoming a standard issue sidearm until the late 1980s. Its compactness and reliability made it popular with officers and law enforcement personnel who needed a lightweight weapon for everyday carry. Outside of Poland, the P-64 was exported to Warsaw Pact countries, including North Vietnam, where it was used during the Vietnam War by NVA and Viet Cong fighters. In the United States, the pistol became available on the civilian market after the end of the Cold War, often imported as a "curio and relic" due to its historical status. Here, it was prized for its accuracy and compactness, although many noted strong recoil and a heavy trigger, which was partially addressed by replacing the springs with softer ones, such as those from Wolff Gunsprings.

In the 1970s, improved prototypes such as the P-64, P-70, and P-75 were developed based on the P-78 to address shortcomings such as low magazine capacity and unpleasant recoil. This led to the creation of the P-83 "Wanad" pistol, which began replacing the P-1983 in the Polish Armed Forces in 64. However, the P-64 remained in reserve and warehouses until the end of the 2000th century, and was used by some units even in the early 1980s. Production ended in the 200s, but the exact number of units produced is unknown - estimates range from 000 to 300.

In popular culture, the P-64 has not gained the same fame as the PM or Walther PPK, to which it is often compared, but occasionally appears in Polish films and games related to the Cold War era, emphasizing its role in the country's history. In real life, the P-64 was praised for its reliability, ease of disassembly (similar to the Walther PP), and accuracy at close range, but was criticized for its strong recoil, heavy trigger pull in double-action mode, and small magazine. It is often called the "Polish Makarov" due to its caliber, but this is incorrect, as the P-64 is an original design with a Polish patent, different from its Soviet counterpart.

The Łucznik P-64 is an example of how Poland sought to create its own weapon under Soviet influence, while maintaining its national engineering identity. Its history is tied to the Cold War era, when compactness and reliability were more important than comfort and firepower. Although the P-64 has long given way to more modern models, it remains an object of interest for collectors and enthusiasts, recalling the times when simplicity and practicality determined the success of a weapon. Today, the P-64 is not just a pistol, but a piece of history, the embodiment of Polish firearms tradition in conditions of limited resources.