Radom P-64

The P-64 is a Polish 9x18mm semi-automatic pistol designed to fire the 9×18mm Makarov cartridge. The pistol was developed in the late 1950s at the Institute for Artillery Research, which later became the Military Institute of Armament Technology, by a team consisting of: W. Czepukajtis, R. Zimny, H. Adamczyk, M. Adamczyk, S. Kaczmarski and J. Pyzel. The P-64 is a double action blowback operated pistol developed to replace the Russian Tokarev TT-33 pistol. The frame and slide are blued steel. The slide mounted safety acts as a decocking lever and the slide can be operated when put on “Safe”. Though it operates and looks similar to the Walther PP, there are some design differences between the P-64 and the PP/PPK pistols. Distinctly different from the PP/PPK design is a European-style magazine release located at the heel of the grip. The slide will lock back after the last shot has been fired but there is no slide lock lever. Instead, the magazine must be removed in order to close the slide when the gun is empty. Takedown, similar to other blowback pistols, is achieved by swinging the front of the trigger guard down and resting it against the frame, allowing the slide to come off of the front of the pistol. The fixed barrel can then be cleaned from the breach. The 9x18 round developed by the Russians to replace the 7.62 Tokarev is not interchangeable with 9mm Luger (9x19) ammunition as the 9x18 projectile is slightly fatter than the standard 9mm and the case is shorter. Due to its similarities with the Walther PPK, it is sometimes mistakenly referred to as a "PPK clone". It is also commonly referred to as a "Polish Makarov", although the P-64 is not a Makarov, and its only similarities with the Makarov PM are the blowback action, 9x18 "Makarov" chambering, and method of takedown.