From the previous part of my article, you already know that the 29M pistol was developed as a cheaper and simpler alternative to the Frommer Stop service pistol. The 29M pistol turned out to be somewhat easier to manufacture and maintain and was cheaper than Frommer Stop. But nevertheless, it did not fully correspond to the intended goal.
3 parts of the pistol caused particular criticism: the bolt casing, the bolt itself and the bolt cover, which closed and held the bolt in the casing. These parts were turned on machines by highly qualified specialists, and many man-hours were required for their manufacture. Disassembling and assembling weapons also lasted longer, since for these actions it was necessary to sort out more parts, which means more manipulations. That is, it was still long and expensive to produce the 29M, and one could only dream of the convenience of the shooter when servicing him. For this reason, the 29M pistol did not become widespread and today it has been proven that it was produced in an amount of just over 30 thousand pieces.
Since the goal of creating a simple and cheap pistol was not achieved, Rudolf Frommer began working on a simplified version of the 29M. The designer decided to use the handle, ammunition supply system, fuse and trigger from the 29M model without changes. You remember, they got 29M from Frommer Stop.
It was decided not to change the type of ammunition used, so the new pistol was designed for the same 9x17 Browning short cartridge (.380 ACP). The shutter casing, the shutter itself and the shutter cover have undergone a thorough revision. In a simplified model, they were made in the form of a single piece: a shutter-casing. Thanks to this, it was possible to shorten and reduce the cost of the production process, because it was easier and cheaper to grind one part on the machines instead of three. Maintenance of the pistol has also become easier thanks to the reduced number of parts.
The designer worked on this model almost until the end of his days.
On November 1, 1935, he fell ill and retired, and a year later, on September 1, 1936, he died. The refinement of the new pistol for the National Army was continued and completed by other specialists. Unfortunately, I was unable to find out their names or the amount of work that had to be done.
A simplified version of the 29M pistol was put into service in 1937 under the designation 37M (37 Minta - model 1937). Despite the fact that Rudolf Frommer did not live up to the final stage of work, this pistol is considered the last development of the designer.
The history of the Frommer 37M service pistol is very similar to the history of the birth of the Browning High-Power pistol. After all, John Browning did not complete this project, and after his death, the general designer of FN, Didier (Dieudonne) Sev, took over the development of the future of HP. The one who later designed the FN-49 and FN FAL rifles. Therefore, its final design, and hence its success, the HP pistol owes more to Didier Sav than to John Browning.
On one of the Runet weapon sites, I read how the Frommer 37M pistol differs from the previous 29M model. The author described only 3 main differences: in the 37M on the bolt casing, for a more convenient cocking of the weapon, the finger stop was replaced with a notch, a smaller trigger and a little finger stop were installed.
I disagree with the opinion of the quoted author and will offer my own version. To begin with, on the 29M, the shutter and casing are separate parts. The shutter is made in the form of a hollow cylinder, and an extractor (ejector) is installed on it. That is, when the weapon is assembled, the extractor is not visible.
On the 37M (as I wrote above), the shutter-casing is implemented as a single piece, and the extractor is already located traditionally, on the shutter casing, outside the ejector window.
Notch on the casing
The 29M has a shroud cover. Something similar is on the Sauer M1913 and Nambu Type 14 pistols. On the 29M, the cover is located between the trigger and the bolt casing and is attached to the casing. In addition to its main function (to hold the bolt in the casing), it serves to cocking the weapon. For a better grip with your fingers when pulling the casing, there are notches on the cover. On the 37M (I repeat), the shutter-casing is implemented as a single piece, and the notch is applied to the back of the casing.
Trigger
Below is a photo of both products. In my opinion, the triggers are identical, just on the 29M the trigger is superimposed on the casing cover and is visible in its entirety, and on the 37M the trigger is half-hidden by the casing for better protection from accidental falling.
Little finger rest
Almost all 29M and 37M magazines are equipped with a stop under the little finger in the form of a curved spur. The spur on the heel of the store is the hallmark of Frommer's 29M and 37M pistols. In the model of the 1929 model, there are also magazines with a smooth stop, located horizontally and without the 29M mark on the heel. They say that these are also original stores, but only simplified ones.
This is with regard to my objections to an unknown author from another weapons site about 3 differences. I found more differences and therefore will continue in the same spirit.
Shutter delay
It is provided for both 29M and 37M. But it is implemented in different ways. The 1929 pistol has only a slide stop lever, while the newer 37M has two cutouts for stopping the slide.
In the 29M, everything is traditional: after all the ammunition from the store has been used up, the mechanism holds the bolt-casing in the extreme rear position.
In 37M, this functionality is also implemented, and after all cartridges are consumed, the bolt is also held in the rearmost position. But if you do not pull the shutter-casing towards you a little, it is already fixed in the “middle” rear position. On the 37M, fixing the shutter-casing in the “middle” rear position serves for the subsequent extraction of the barrel. The procedure for incomplete (and complete) disassembly of the 37M pistol is very original: it begins with the removal of the barrel.
Disassembly of weapons
Disassembly of the 37M pistol begins with removing the barrel. The trunk is removed from him with a “light movement” of only two fingers, no effort is needed. After the shutter-casing is fixed in the “middle” rear position, it is enough to turn the barrel counterclockwise by 90 degrees and it will be in the hand of the shooter. Or in a muddy puddle.
Disassembly of the 29M pistol also begins with setting the weapon to a delay, but first, the cover of the bolt casing is removed, which is in the area of the trigger. That is, not from the extraction of the barrel, as in the 37M, but from the opposite side. This requires at least a nail or screwdriver. Use this sharp tool to press down on the spring-loaded fixing oppressor. Then the casing cover should be rotated clockwise 90 degrees and disconnected from the casing. Then, holding the bolt, remove the weapon from the delay and gently let the bolt cover move forward. Halfway through the weapon, the bolt cylinder falls out, and after disconnecting the casing, the barrel and the return spring fall out of it.
Trunk
Since both pistols (29M, and 37M) of dust are designed for the 9x17 Browning cartridge, they are short, in theory, their barrels should be identical. Indeed, both specimens have barrels of the same thickness with four right-handed cuts. The length of the barrels is doubtful, since in some sources I have come across data that the barrel length of the 29M is 100 mm, and that of the 37M is 110 mm. I admit that the newer 37M pistol has a barrel 10mm longer, as I found a difference in the overall length and weight of the weapon. But there is a difference in the shape of the trunks. In the 37M, a side protrusion is cut out in the muzzle region, which fixes the barrel in a firing position.
In the breech casing, in the barrel bore there is a cutout that follows the shape of the protrusion on the barrel. Thanks to the protrusion and cutout, the shutter casing can only move at a certain position of the barrel relative to the casing.
There is no such protrusion on the barrel of the 29M pistol. Both pistols have removable barrels and are fixed on the front of the frames by means of crackers. For this, transverse projections are cut on the trunks, and transverse grooves (grooves) in the frames.
Sights
On both pistols, the front sight is identical, they are open. As for the pillars - each model has its own, different from the other. In the 37M pistol, it is located on the back of the bolt-casing. In pistol 29M, the rear sight is made in the form of a slot on the cover of the bolt casing.
I would also like to draw your attention to how the sighting line of pistols looks like. On the 29M, it repeats the shape of the casing. On the 37M, the sighting line is flat and corrugated so that glare does not occur at the time of aiming.
The 37M pistol was adopted without much delay. Its production was established at the same Femaru plant in Budapest. Unlike its predecessor, the 37M was produced in large quantities for 7 years (1937 to 1944). According to the most conservative estimates, 175-185 thousand were manufactured, and according to immodest estimates, about 300 thousand Femaru / FEG 37M pistols.
The following story came out with serial numbers. For the 29M pistols, the manufacturer allocated serial numbers from 1 to 50,000. And for the 37M they decided to allocate numbers from 50,000 and beyond.
On pistols with serial numbers up to 222478, the manufacturer's marking had a dash in the middle of the company name. After 222 thousand pistols produced (the second half of 1944, the end of production), the dash was no longer applied to the weapon.
Both the 29M and the 37M were initially marked with a military acceptance stamp with the crown of St. Stephen on the trigger guard. But there are weapons with a simpler stigma. It is believed that such marks could be applied to pistols for the civilian market, police weapons or for export. Some 37M pistols were branded with an “E” in a circle. The letter "E" - Elfogadva is considered an alternative hallmark of military acceptance. More often this mark was applied to the Mannlicher 35M and 43M rifles produced by the same plant.
The 37M pistol has wooden corrugated handles. But there are also handles with a different pattern.
For the Frommer 37M pistols, a holster was developed for wearing on a waist belt. It was made from very high quality leather by Mauthner. But there are also accessories of another model.
Flare gun
On the basis of the 37M service pistol, a signal pistol was developed. It was put into service in 1942 under the designation 42M világító pisztoly. In some sources it is referred to as 42M Jelzőpisztoly. Judging by the data on various forums - these poor "rocket launchers" were produced only a few hundred units and then they were removed from service.
German order
At the beginning of the 2nd World Industry in Germany, it could no longer cope with the implementation of military orders. There was a shortage in many ways, including in personal weapons for the Wehrmacht officers. And the Germans paid attention to the simple, cheap and high-quality Frommer pistol, which was produced by their allies - the Magyars. After a small batch of 37M pistols passed military tests, the Germans decided that the pistol was good for everyone. Since the pistols were looked after primarily for the Air Force, the Germans had a hitch with the type of ammunition. The fact is that the Luftwaffe was armed with several models of pistols, all under the 7, 65-mm Browning cartridge (.32 ACP). These were the German Walter PP and PPK, the Mauser Hsc, as well as the Spanish Astra 300. Therefore, the Germans wished to order a pistol for the 7, 65 cartridge that has become standard for their Air Force. The Hungarians agreed, for some time a modification of Frommer's 1937 pistol chambered for 7.65 mm.
In 1941, Germany placed an order for 50,000 pistols in Hungary. The first batch of pistols of the German order in the amount of 1000 pcs. was manufactured and delivered with the marking 37M. Soon, the Air Force began to receive complaints about the lack of a "normal" fuse. The Germans wanted to add an additional, non-automatic fuse to the design. The Hungarians took into account the wishes of the customer and added a fuse familiar to the Germans.
The second batch (also 1000 pcs.) Already with installed non-automatic fuses was already marked according to the German nomenclature. Since Frommer's pistol was adopted by the German Armed Forces as the Pistole M37 - starting with the second batch of pistols, this was reflected on the weapon.
In addition, the casing was stamped with the already German acceptance of the Arms Directorate (Heereswaffenamt, abbreviated WaA) with a manufacturer's code for greater secrecy. The Hungarian plant Femar was assigned the code jhv. Depending on the year of manufacture, the stamp of acceptance contained other numerical designations. Instead of Stefan's crown, the following markings were found on the trigger guard: WaA56 (1941), WaA58 (1941-42), WaA173 (1941-44). Serial numbers were applied to the weapon as it was produced and regardless of which army the weapon was intended for. But for the German order, serials were applied in several places: on the frame (behind the slide delay), on the casing slide (at the muzzle) and on the barrel (in the area of the ejector window).
The third and fourth lots (5,000 and 43,000 units, respectively) were delivered according to plan, and the contract for the supply of 50,000 pistols was fulfilled. In 1943, a second contract was signed for the supply of an additional batch of 35 thousand barrels. This contract was also fulfilled and it turns out that the Hungarians produced and sold 85 thousand 37M pistols to the Germans.
War booty
At all times, weapons repulsed from the enemy have been a welcome trophy for any soldier. During World War II, nothing changed, and not only German Walters and Lugers, but also Italian Berettas and Hungarian Fromer pistols were popular among soldiers as “military souvenirs”. Below is a photo of the P37 pistol, which went to an American soldier and a trophy certificate for him.
The officer who signed the document confirms that he personally checked the captured equipment, which was in the possession of a certain private 1st class (PFC). The submitter of this has the right to keep as personal property the items listed in clause No. 3, in accordance with the regulation of the US military department of May 28, 1945. The signatory also confirms that items from this list can be sent by mail to the United States, as they are not prohibited by the above provision. Item number 3 lists only 1 item: a P37 pistol of 7, 65 mm caliber with serial number 22160.
The document was drawn up on October 14, 1945. The standard form for these purposes was form No. 33 AG USFET (US military prosecutor's office in the European theater of operations). The certificate is affixed with the seal HQ USFET (Headquarters of the US Armed Forces at the European theater of operations).
Since the Hungarian soldiers and pilots of the Luftwaffe fought not only with our allies - surely a certain number of Frommer's pistols of the 37th year went to the soldiers of the Red Army as trophies. As an indirect evidence, I can cite the fact that the Frommer Stop and Femara 37M pistols (aka P37) were used during the filming of the film “Crazy Gold” (Mosfilm, 1976).
And since we touched on the topic of cinematography, I am citing footage from films in which Femara 37M pistols were used.
Frommer pistol 37M in the cinema
Two Half-Times in Hell (Hungary, 1961)
The Corporal and Others (Hungary, 1965)
Puppet on a Chain (UK 1971)
Crazy gold (USSR, Mosfilm, 1976)
Stalker (USSR, Mosfilm, 1979)
Night Racers / Nocní jazdci (Czechoslovakia, 1981)
Sunshine 1999 Austrian / German / Hungarian / Canadian
Pistol Frommer 37M on TV
Pepper / Bors (Hungary, 1968)
Archangel / Archangel (UK, Latvia 2005)
