Very Fine WWII German CZ Model 27 "fnh" Code Pistol

This is a fine condition, all matching, and all original WWII German fnh Code Model 27 Pistol manufactured by CZ in German-occupied Czechoslovakia.

The story of the Model 27 begins at the end of the First World War when Czechoslovakia was created as an independent state. Creating a new nation created numerous problems, one of which was the creation of an organic armed forces and then equipping those forces. The Czech leadership realized that an independent country would require a self-sufficient arms industry to equip its army. This led in 1920 to a series of trials for the selection of a new pistol for the Czech military. Several designs were submitted by numerous new Czech arms companies. The firearm that was ultimately selected in the fall of 1921 was a design by Josef Nickl, which fired a 9mm Parabellum cartridge. An initial order of 2,700 of the design were produced, but subsequent design changes and slow deliveries forced the Czech Army to order 15,000 German Ortgies and several thousand surplus Dreyse pistols as an interim measure.

By 1924, the now-modified Nickl pistol, now designated the Model 24, began production at the Ceska Zbrojovka (CZ) plant in Strakonice. The Model 24 was chambered in 9mm short, also known as .380 ACP, and was considered a success. The Czech military placed an order for 100,000 Model 24 Pistols to be delivered over the course of 5 years, from 1924 to 1928, but delays again hampered production, and it was not until 1931 that the order was finally fulfilled by CZ. Part of the problem with the pistol was the design itself. Nickl’s original design fired a 9mm Parabellum round, which required a semi-locking bolt and short recoil action in which the barrel rotated as part of the rearward movement during firing. By changing to the 9mm short round, however, meant that this complicated locking mechanism was no longer needed. This led CZ engineer and designer Frantisek Myska to begin work on a 7.65 mm (or .32 ACP) version that used a simple blowback action. The result was the Model 27 Pistol, which retained the outward appearance of the Model 24, but cost half the price to manufacture. From its adoption in 1927 until the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939, approximately 183,000 Model 27s were manufactured by CZ.

In 1940, after the German occupation, the CZ factory produced Model 27 Pistols for the German Armed Forces and Police Units. During the war, CZ produced under German control approximately 475,000 Model 27 Pistols. German production Model 27 Pistols all have “Pistole Modell 27 Kal. 7,65” stamped on the left side of the slide, and a WaA76 Waffenamt acceptance stamp over the right group. Early production at the Strakonice plant was stamped “Bohmische WaffenfabrikAG in Prag.”, but later production would use the wartime “fnh” code for CZ production.

German occupation produced magazines were simply marked “P.Mod. 27” on the base plate. Original Model 27 Holsters were made in occupied Czechoslovakia and are marked with the CZ logo, the WaA76 Waffenamt stamp, the year of manufacture, and the “P.Mod.27” stamp.

German occupation produced Model 27 Pistols were manufactured as noted from 1940 to 1945 and are in the serial number range 261,000 to 476,000. The finish of occupation pistols progressed from the original, high quality, polished blue variant very early in the occupation, to a dull blue around serial number 200,000, then a half-blue, half-phosphate finish, to an all-phosphate finish at the end of production starting around serial number 400,000. This particular pistol, serial number 325487, has the half-blue, half-phosphate finish and is in mint condition.

The serial numbering scheme for German occupation-produced Model 27 Pistols also changed several times during the war. Initially, occupation production began at serial number 20,400, with the frame, side plate, top of the slide and barrel all serialized with the full number. At around serial number 200,000, the serial number marking changed again with only the top of the slide having the full serial number, and all other parts being unserialized. This unorthodox method only lasted until somewhere in the 243,000 range, when the frame serial number reappeared on the right, front side, along with a serial number on the top of the slide, with no other parts serialized. This marking scheme lasted until the end of the war. During the war, the Germans also introduced the “secret” “fnh” code to hide the production location and, at the same time, began manufacturing the one-piece Bakelite grips without the “CZ” logo.

As noted, this Model 27 is serial number 325487, and was manufactured at the CZ factory under German occupation in early 1942. The Frame on this pistol retains 95% of its original finish with wear on the sharp edges and front grip strap and small dings scattered throughout. The right side of the Frame has the serial number “325487” stamp, along with the German WaA76 Waffenamt stamp. The Trigger retains 80% of its original straw finish. The Safety Catch, Trigger Bar Assembly, Safety Release, and stamped Side Plate all retain the majority of their original finish. The original Hammer retains considerable original straw finish. The Hammer Spring remains in the white, and the Spring Retaining Screw retains all of its original straw finish. The Magazine Catch retains the majority of its original finish with minor wear on the button.

The Slide is in very fine condition and retains 98% of its original finish. The left side has the correct German “fnh” code followed by “Pistole Modell 27 Kal. 7.,65” stamp. The slide serrations on both sides at the rear remain crisply machined. The original Front and Rear Sights are present. The top of the Slide has the Third Reich acceptance stamp followed by the serial number “325487 ” stamp. The Firing Pin Retainer retains the majority of its original blued finish, and the firing pin remains correctly in the white. The Extractor retains the vast majority of its original straw finish. The Breech Face remains very clean exhibiting virtually no operational wear. The Takedown Catch retains the majority of its original blued finish, and the pin and spring operate correctly. The pin spring is intact.

The Barrel Bushing retains the majority of its original dark finish. The Recoil Spring and Recoil Spring Guide remain correctly in the white. The Barrel Retainer also remains correctly in the white. The Barrel is in very fine condition and remains correctly in the white. The bottom of the barrel has the German WaA76 Waffenamt and the right side of the chamber has the Third Reich acceptance stamp. The feed ramp exhibits no wear. The bore is in mint condition with a mirror finish and crisp rifling with no frosting in the barrel or chamber.

The original black Bakelite one-piece Grip is present, and it is in very fine condition with no cracks or chips noted. The escutcheons have the correct and early “CZ” in a circle logo, which was eliminated by the Germans later in production, shortly after they instituted the secret “fnh” code. Because this is a “fnh” marked pistol, this is a transition period grip, which was eliminated to hide the manufacturer not too long after this pistol was manufactured. Both original grip screws are present, and both retain the vast majority of their original straw finish.

This pistol comes with an original Model 27 Magazine, which is in fine condition overall. It retains 95% plus of its original dull blue finish on the body, with followers and follower springs that remain in the white. The floor plate has the correct “P. Mod. 27” stamp.

This is a great example of a relatively early WWII German occupation CZ Model 27 Pistol that was marked for issue to the German Army. This pistol still functions perfectly.