Rifleman Q & A: Pre-War Stock Pistol

by
posted on June 27, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
warst.jpg

Q: I’ve acquired an older, semi-automatic .32 ACP pistol that I’ve never heard of. The gun is stamped “STOCK” on the stock panels, and the slide is stamped “FRANZ STOCK – BERLIN. D.R.P.” Can you help identify this pistol?

A: These are well-made, blowback-operated pistols that were introduced in the 1920s by Franz Stock of Berlin. The D.R.P. stamped after his name is the abbreviation for Deutsches Reichs Patent (Patented in Germany). They were in production for about 15 to 20 years.

Fieldstripping the Stock pistol was addressed on p. 84 of the June 1971 issue of The American Rifleman, and is available online at americanrifleman.org. It was noted that the trigger pull is clean and quite light for a pocket pistol. Also, the barrel is fastened rigidly to the frame, and the slide fits the frame and barrel closely. These features, and the excellent proportions of the pistol, aid in accurate shooting. 

--Michael F. Carrick

Latest

Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web
Gotw Wilson Combat Divison 77 Project 1 Web

Gun Of The Week: Wilson Combat Division 77 Project 1

Join American Rifleman staff on the range in this video to get a closer look at Wilson Combat’s somewhat cryptically named “Division 77 Project 1.” 

The Armed Citizen® July 18, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: POF-USA LMR BASE Rifle

The Patriot Ordnance Factory LMR Base offers a .308 Win. chambering in a lightweight, AR-15-size package, which makes it a capable platform for today's new gun owner. And it comes at a fair price.

2025 Accessory Of The Year: Wyoming Sight Drifter

For each of the past 23 years, the editors of American Rifleman have convened to select our top picks for the past year’s best and most innovative products. Here are the most recent winners.

Henry Donates Rifles To Support Young Leukemia Victim

Henry Repeating Arms has donated a limited run of 50 “Team Keane” Golden Boy .22 lever-action rifles to support 13-year-old Keane Rhodes of Universal City, Texas, who is currently undergoing aggressive treatment for ALL T-cell leukemia.

Rifleman Review: Springfield Armory Echelon

Springfield Armory introduced its Echelon in 2023, bringing a modernized, chassis-style, striker-fired handgun to the market that has since seen several notable line extensions.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.