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

FN 309 01
FN 309 01

New For 2026: FN 309 MRD

For 2026, FN is seeking to bring its handguns to a wider market with the FN 309 MRD, a no-frills affordable pistol that the company says is “easy to shoot, easy to use and easy to own.”

Handloads: A Cheap .38 Special Target Load

These times of sparsely available handloading components require scrimping here and there in order to continue shooting, and the .38 Special provides a lot of bang for the buck.

Jack O'Connor Guns, Books & Art Up For Auction

A number of books and firearms, along with some art pieces, that have a direct connection to famed outdoor writer Jack O'Connor are up for auction at GunBroker.

Building Christensen Rifles: A Hands-On View

A cutting-edge enterprise takes on the lightweight-hunting-rifle market with models that defy expectations—all without flinching.

New For 2026: 25 WBY RPM

The 25 WBY RPM is the 17th proprietary cartridge developed by Weatherby, a company whose name is synonymous with magnum cartridges and bullet speed.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 12, 2026

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

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.