Borchardt C/93 Modelgun

[rhuff]

The photos look nice. I would love to be able to handle one and see fit and finish.

[sheepherder]

I am conversing with the owner/member of that C/93 as to what needs to be done to import one into the US; it seems there is some federal law that a replica modelgun must have the muzzle painted red...Doing that to a plastic modelgun in such a way as to be able to remove the paint without marring the finish of a rather expensive model is a problem...

Customs is also an unknown...Can they impound it??? Does it need to have import duty paid??? What would the duty be based on??? Receipt of sale or insured value???

I think it's a given that the dummy cartridges would need to be shipped separately; even though they are dummies, having them with the model is asking for trouble...

How to transfer funds??? Use whose currency converter to determine exchange rate???

Questions...

Edit -

OK!!! A vender/modelgun forum member willing to ship overseas has been found; PayPal transfer has been completed; and the CAW C/93 is on the way!!!

We are shipping it in three parcels; top [cannon] assembly; lower [grip frame]; and dummy cartridges. We agreed that shipping it complete and with metallic cartridges [they are brass] was tempting fate. The sender is also painting the muzzle red to comply with whatever that weird US law is...

The three are coming by air, shipper is EMS, whom I have never heard of, which begs the question: How does it get delivered here in US???

Edit2 -

This is exciting! I love tracking incoming shipments! I'll update this as it changes!

Oooohhh...It's on US soil!!!

Edit3 -

First parcel arrived today [22 Mar]! Gripframe assembly + magazine!







Here's what I'm finding -

- Grips are wood, excellent checkering, with steel panels inlet into wood (to add weight?)
- Magazine is steel with pinned wood bottom
- Magazine has twin coil springs exactly like real C/93
- Trigger screw, mag/safety spring, ejector (?), grips screws, trianglular panels at rear, loop at rear, and shelf under rear of frame are all steel. Rest is (I assume) plastic/ABS.

I tried Tokarev 7.62 cartridges [real Fiocchi] in magazine; they fit and stack OK!

Quality is outstanding! Feels heavy (due to steel inserts I imagine).

Mailer/modelgun forum member packed it up carefully; parcel appeared unopened; no duty. Delivered by USPS Express Mail (separate from regular mail delivery).

From 20 Mar in Japan to 23 Mar my front door is fantastic!!!

Time/date difference between Japan & USA is confusing.

I downloaded & bought Gerard Henrotin's EBook on the Borchardt. I now know how to get it apart & back together. However, my printer does not print the whole page [width] from the EBook; does anyone know how to correct this??? I can't copy the pages (there's some block on this) and shrink them...

Edit4 - Second parcel is en route! It's in the US!!!

[sheepherder]

Oh, be still my heart!!! The cannon assembly showed up today!!!

Here's some pics...I haven't picked off the red paint yet...



Size, compared with my 1900AE Luger -



Other side view -



...Here's some pics of the markings...













The CAW seems to be a direct copy of a Lowe's C/93 serial # 567...

Excellent attention to detail...I can even chamber a cartridge...But there is a ~6" steel plug in the barrel...Probably not a smart move to try shooting a real cartridge...

The rollers on the rear toggle actually work...The toggle train has to be pulled back about an eighth of an inch before lifting up, the same as my 1900AE Luger...The toggle lock is real, and is separate & screwed into the grip frame like the 1900 Luger...The toggle catch is spring loaded, same as the 1900 Luger...

The recoil spring is real, and as you might expect, is a PITA to get hooked on the link...

The barrel seem to be separately cast from the receiver; but I can't tell if it is screwed in or pressed...Witness mark is nicely lined up...

Trying to find a suitable glass-topped display case for it...Needs to have at least 2" inside depth...

If anyone is keeping a record of Borchardt C/93 pistols, I'm pretty sure Craft Apple Works in Japan has serial # 567...

I am very happy with this!!! I know I will never have a real Borchardt...But this is close enough!!!

...Now it's time for me to play with my toys...