Airgun World – July 2019

http://www.airgunshooting.co.uk AIRGUN WORLD 53

VINTAGE AIRGUNS

and then changed back again. In fact, I have
seen three different slide/muzzle profiles and
there seems no consistency to this feature;
presumably the factory used whichever slide
was available for production at any given time.

BUILT TO LAST
The soft-textured grips had reappeared by
2015, or possibly a little earlier. Some collectors
have commented that pistols made up to 2004
were of better quality and base these opinions
on the quality of the grips, the finish and
machining, but to be honest, the differences in
quality are not that vast. Personally, I believe all
Baikal-branded Makarov pistols are made to
very high standards because weapons-grade
steel is used throughout and the pistols are built
to last.
The muzzle diameter on post 2012 pistols
was bored out to resemble a 9mm bore in

This PMM was made in December 1999 and came supplied in a dark blue plastic case with

accessories. I bought this classic for £120 from Brothers in Arms of Christchurch.

order to add realism, and there are differences

to the way the CO2 cartridge is pierced. Pistols

made until around 2012 all featured a lanyard

loop that could be used to twist and pierce the

cartridge in preparation for use. This loop was

never all that popular with collectors because it

was not a feature of the original Makarov, and

smaller profiled screws were often fitted as

after-market modifications. I was therefore

pleased to see that these low-profiled screws

have been a standard fitting on pistols since

2012. I’m going to continue the Makarov story
      next month with a look at the PM – the
      compact ‘classic’ Makarov pistol. 

My old 2002 vintage Makarov was built on the larger PMM frame.

Baikal is the name used for many Izhmash-made exports.

If I had to be very picky, I’d point out the slightly
closer fit of the frame to the slide on the 1999
PMM on the right, compared to a 2016 PM at left.

Muzzle profiles from right to left: Pistols made in

1999, 2000 and 2016.

A more rounded contour to the chin behind the

muzzle can be seen on the 2017 PM below the

1999 PMM above.

For the Makarov collector

who has everything, how

about this vodka decanter?