FB P-64

Semi-Automatic Compact Service Pistol

Poland | 1965

"The FB P-64 was a homegrown Polish semi-automatic pistol design of the Cold War period - since replaced by a more modern offering following Polish induction into NATO."

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the FB P-64. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

265 ft
80.8 m | 88.3 yds
Max.Eff.Range

24
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire

1,000 ft/sec
305 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity

Physical
The physical qualities of the FB P-64. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

160 mm
6.30 in
O/A Length

84 mm
3.31 in
Barrel Length

1.37 lb
0.62 kg
Weight

Blowback; Double-Action (DA); Semi-Automatic
Action

9x18mm Makarov
Caliber(s)

6-Round Detachable Box Magazine.
Feed

Rear Notch; Front Blade
Sights

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the FB P-64 Semi-Automatic Compact Service Pistol family line.

FB-64 - Base Series Designation

P-70 - Proposed model of 1972 with stamped steel slide and 14-round capacity.

P-75 - Proposed model of 1976 with synthetic frame.

P-78 - Proposed model of 1978 with 12-round capacity and modular trigger group.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/27/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Poland was under communist rule from 1945 until 1989 and, despite the heavy influence by the Soviets, the Poles maintained a largely separate small arms defense industry which produced several notable guns of the Cold War period including the FB PM-63 machine pistol (detailed elsewhere on this site) and the FB PM-64 semi-automatic service pistol - the latter being the focus of this article. Development of the pistol began in the latter part of the 1950s by the Institute for Artillery Research and ended with service introduction of the P-64 in 1965. Manufacture was undertaken by the storied concern of FB Radom (Lucznik Arms Factory, Radom) and the series continues to be found globally today (2018).

The gun was designed to use the Soviet 9x18mm Makarov pistol cartridge - the East's counter to the West's 9x19mm Parabellum German pistol round. Six rounds were carried in a spring-loaded magazine inserted into the grip's base. The slide covered all of the upper portion of the frame in the usual way and the trigger was curved while protected in a semi-thick ring. Internally, the action revolved around the blowback principle (double-action trigger mechanism). a rear notch and front blade was used for sighting and effective ranges were out to 50 meters. Muzzle velocity of the outgoing bullet reached 1,000 feet-per-second.

Origins of the P-64 begin in 1958 when the Polish military sought an all-modern replacement for its various services to succeed the Soviet TT semi-automatics in 7.62mm chambering. An official competition was drawn up and formally launched within years and two pistol forms, the "Model M" in .38 ACP and the long-barreled "Model W" in 9x18mm Makarov, were both evaluated. Both held six ready-to-fire cartridges in their magazines and were more or less conventional semi-automatic sidearms. The competition began in 1961 and findings resulted in the .38 ACP frame being selected - though this was ultimately rechambered to fire the ubiquitous 9x18mm Makarov cartridge instead and several other requested modifications were implemented to make for a better service-oriented pistol.

The P-64 managed a healthy service life for its time and saw some use overseas - the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong both operated the type during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). With the fall of communism and the opening of ties with the West, the pistol made it into the hands of private collectors in the United States. In 2008, some 1,000 units were gifted to the Lebanese Army as Polish forces moved to adopt the WIST-94 semi-automatic NATO-standard pistol following induction into NATO.

There were some attempts during its service life to advance the line: the P-70 was a prototype of 1972 (with 14-round magazine) and the P-75 was a proposed model of 1976. In 1978, the P-78 offered a 12-round capacity with modular trigger unit to Polish police and security forces but this proposed form lost out to a competitor.

During its heyday, the P-64 was consistently mistaken for the West German Walther PKK pistol (detailed elsewhere on this site). It was also called the "Polish Makarov" due to some system similarities between the two. It remains in widespread circulation today (2018) despite it no longer being actively manufactured.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the FB P-64. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): FB Radom (Lucznik Arms Factory) - Poland

[ Lebanon (post-2008); Poland; United States (private sales); Vietnam (North Vietnam) ]

Going Further...
The FB P-64 Semi-Automatic Compact Service Pistol appears in the following collections:

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)