Guns of

Where Eagle’s Dare

Infantry weapons for Poland 2020

By Michael Van Atta

Disclaimer: this material is an off-shot of „Where Eagle’s Dare”, a Poland 2020 sourcebook I work over since quite some time. While the sourcebook itself is long from being finished (and since I’m drawn into numerous other projects, I can’t tell when it will be finished), some parts of it are in various state of completeness, and I think I can publish them separately.

The weapons here present a completely different approach to the problem than the Autumn Blade: they are more realistic than cinematic. Almost all the pictures & weapons here are authentic, although many of them are prototypes, and I can but guesstimate their stats (the only completely fictional one is Prexer Wilk-2015 – I used Baikal MP-651K pellet gun for it). The sabers are museum pieces, their popularity in 2020 is a result of great come back of the Golden Age of Poland “Sarmatian” traditions (referring to the 16-18 century period).

Please note that – being real firearms – they all do use cased ammunition. Of course, all it needs to turn them into caseless is a GM’s call. Apart from having the pictures I had available, I find CL ammo being not such a great idea in combat conditions. Well, the best proof: the 4,7mm HK caseless munitions didn’t catched up…

Ammunition Damage Codes

Since there are various ammo damage ratings used in CP2020 (personally, I find Hound’s ratings reworked with G3G rules, most comfortable), I don’t give damage listings in the weapon descriptions, merely the type of ammo used. However, standard damage ratings (according to CP2020 / Blackhammer’s street weapons) are:

5,7x28mm FN = 3d6

4,7x30mm HK = not given (I assume 3d6 as well)

9x19mm Parabellum = 2d6+1

.40 Auto S&W = 2d6+3

5,45x39mm Soviet = 4d6 / 5d6 (depending on source)

5,56x45mm NATO (aka .223 Remington) = 4d6 / 5d6 depending on source

7,62x51mm NATO = 6d6+2

12,7x99mm (aka 0,50 BMG) = 6d10

40x53mm = not listed (although a similar variet and damage ratings to standard 40x46mm grenades)

Gerlach wz.92 / wz.98 “Assault knives” family, 25-30e$

MEL 0 J E 1d6 - - VR 1m

Common combat knives among Polish troops, these are not issued, but still every trooper prefers to have their own one. Very tough, very reliable blades you can really trust.

Gerlach / Sanitas “Osa” 15e$ (a blackened version is also available)

MEL 0 P E 1d6 - - VR 1m

A lightweight survival knife, Osa might look weird, but is surprisingly well suited to it’s task. It was meant to serve as a spearhead for makeshift spears, among others. This knife is a common sight among Polish Air Force pilots.

„Polish sabers”, various producers, cost usually between 300e$ and 700e$

MEL 0 to +1, N/L E 2d6 to 3d6, - - ST to VR, 1m

The traditional weapon of Polish nobles since 16^th century, saber took various forms (here, two of the major forms are presented, a hussar’s “black saber”, and a bird-head –handled karabela). Some – especially hussar’s sabers – were reputed to be as deadly as katana swords. Sabers were deadly weapons for both infantrymen and cavalry, and fencing with them became a real art form. In 2020, it’s back in fashion, and the number of those who carry sabers in public easily topples over the number of those who carry katanas.

Monoblade editions are also available.

Łucznik P-35 “Vis” 1300e$ (collector’s edition, for modification purposes assume it costs 300e$)

P +2 J E 9mm Para 8+1 2 VR 50m

This is a legend. P-35 VIS, aka P-35p, aka Radom. Standard duty handgun of the Polish armed forces in the outbreak of World War 2, and in many opinions, one of the finest - if not the best one - handguns of that period. VIS is a 9mmPara autoloader of Browning action, with 8+1 ammo capacity. Significant mass and fine workmanship resulted in soft recoil and great accuracy, and power was rated as top of the 9mmPara handguns. All-steel construction, VIS was also very relaible, and safety lever in the back of the grip allowed for very short reaction time.

A number of these guns survived the war, along with the ones mass-produced by Germans in Polish factories (using forced labour), altough the German-edition VIS were of generally shoddier worksmanship (they are easy to distinguish, as they lack Polish eagle symbol on the slide).

In mid-1990s, Lucznik Radom began producing VIS again, using the original blueprints and continuing the pre-war serial numbering. The only difference is the grip cover, which allows for instant identification. The pre-war guns had plastic - covered grips, modern ones are chestnut wood.

The gun isn't sold as combat weapon (it couldn't stand modern competition), but is offered as collector piece (still, fully functional), delivered in a chestnut box, containing all the accessories.

VIS (from Latin: Force) has a legendary status among Polish weapons enthusiasts, similar to Colt M1911's in US.

Prexer WIST-94 / WIST-94L 200e$ (WIST-94L: 275e$)

P +1 J E 9mm Para 16+1 2 ST* 50m

* Actual Reliability is up to the GM

Standard duty handgun of the Polish Armed Forces in the outbreak of century, WIST was a pretty standard Wondernine for its time. It had won the competition with MAG-95, outclassing it for the weight. However, troops who used the gun under combat conditions complained the gun doesn’t work properly – plastic arts do break, and important parts tend to jump away (for example slide was reputed to spring off when firing). Factory tests do not support these claims, and faulty ammunition is blamed, but the troops know better. Thus this handgun doesn’t get a VR reliability rating. In fact, GM can attach any rating he wants – note, however, that the gun is not bad made (it won’t blow on a mishap, but it will, for example, eject the slide). WIST-94L (to the right) was an edition with build-in laser sight. Even Territorial Defense prefers to use any other gun it can put their hands on, if they can avoid WIST-94!

Lucznik MAG-95 / 98 / 98c (respectively, 220e$ / 270e$ / 280e$)

P +1 J P 9mm Para 15+1 2 VR 50m

Flashlight unit: 30e$

Laser sight: 50e$

MAG-95 (top left) was the gun that lost competition to the WIST, mainly because it was too heavy: the Original MAG-95 weighted 1100g (empty), compared to 770g of the WIST-94. MAG-95 is an old-styled piece: all-steel, and reliable like Kalashnikov. Apart from the weight, it’s a classic Wondernine, considered to be much more trustworthy than the WIST-94. It was widely used by Polish Border Guard, and some special formations of the military. After WIST turned out to be not-so-reliable, the Army began to slowly replace heaps of WIST’s with MAGs. However, before hat happened, Lucznik designed a new variant of MAG, the 98 model. It has an alloy frame, thus weighting 875g empty, and has a laser sight or flashlight module available for underbarrel mounting. There’s also a MAG-98c competition model that has an adjustable rear sight (top right).

Extended, 20-round magazines are available on request.

Prexer “Wilk-2015”: 350e$ for the handgun, +100e$ for carbine conversion package

P +1 J P 5,7x28mm or 4,7x30mm 20+1 2 ST 50m

RIF +2 N P 5,7x28mm or 4,7x30mm 20+1 2 ST 250m

A curious idea from Prexer, who come back with a blast: the Wilk-2015 system. It can fire either 5,7 FN or 4,6mm HK munitions (standard SMG round in Polish Armed forces since the introduction if the PMM), and consist of two elements: Wilk handgun, which is a good, but not outstanding duty handgun of the FN Five-seveN class, and a conversion package (clip-on barrel and stock) that turn the gun into a handy carbine. Prexer advertises the carbine as a practical self-defense weapon for downed air crews. The longer barrel allows for better use of the ammo’s power (the ammunition was primarily constructed for PDWs, and was required to maintain effectiveness on the range of about 250 meters. Whereas it is still almost as effective when fired from a handgun, it’s almost impossible to hit anything at this distance). The weapon comes with a conversion kit, which allows swapping between 5,7mm and 4,7mm in a few minutes.

Wilk-2015 handgun has been accepted as a duty pistol for Polish Armed forces, and is currently in the process of phasing out old WIST and MAG guns. The carbine conversion has been bought in limited quantities, but was not generally accepted. Weight (with empty magazine) is 800 gram for the pistol, and 1,5kg for carbine.

Łucznik Radom PM-84P / PM-98 „Glauberyt” 300e$ (PM-98: 350e$)

SMG 0 J/L E 9mmPara 15/25 32* VR 150m**

* PM98 has ROF of 34

** Due to low-powered ammunition these guns are ineffective over the range of 250m.

Those were the previous standard submachineguns used in Polish Armed Forces (they were used by the police and other armed services), as well as sold for export. This Uzi-like submachinegun is compact, quite accurate, and easy in use. Both models feature a collapsible stock (the one on PM-98 has a much more comfortable butt), and can use either 15, or 25-round magazines (the shorter magazines are used for carrying the gun – for military application, a leg holster is used, but security services do use shoulder holster, that can be hidden under a big jacket).

An older model, PM-84 (in 9x18mm Makarov caliber) was long phased out of service.

The two models are easy to tell: PM-84P has a front grip that can be opened to form a handle (as shown on the photo). PM-98 has a bigger, non-openable grip that can house tactical flashlight or laser sight. PM-98 has an universal accessory rail on top, and can adapt a suppressor. Also, magazine release switch in PM-84P is located in the bottom of the grip (a legacy of the infamous P-63 pistol that had a tendency to release magazines after the switch on the grip was accidentally pressed) – in M-98 this awkward desigin was abandoned for a more classical one.

In 2020-era Poland, Glauberyt submachineguns are found mostly in hands of Territorial Defence personnel – the military has almost completely replaced them with PMMs.

WITU / Łucznik PMM 600e$

SMG +1 J/L R 5,7x28mm 20 / 40 34 ST 250m

SMG +1 J/L R 4,6x30mm 20 / 40 34 ST 250m

SMG +1 J/L R 9x19mm 15 / 25 30 ST 150m

SMG +1 J/L R .40 S&W 15 / 25 30 ST 200m

PMM (submachinegun, modular) is the new SMG / PDW – class weapon, currently used by Polish Armed Forces (in fact, it is replacing PM-84P / PM-98 in most units, except for Territorial Defence). Comes with universal sight rail (Piticanny standard) , although it lacks iron sights. Specforce variants have two additional rails on the sides.

The gun comes in one of the 4 chosen calibers, but a conversion kit can be bought for additional 100e$. Changing the caliber takes about 10 minutes. The stock is, of course, collapsible, although after-market variants can have a fixed stock.

ZM Lucznik wz. 88 “Tantal” / wz.89 “Onyks” 200e$

RIF +1/0 N R 5,45x39mm 30 37 VR 400m

RIF 0/-1 N/L R 5,45x39mm 30 37 VR 300m

These guns were Polish equivalents to AK-74, and AKSU-74 carbine. Whereas they were good pieces, the ammo they’ve used was phased out of use when Poland prepared to join NATO. The remaining rifles were sold to other countries, although some made their way to the black market. They are still available from underground suppliers, mostly as a bad joke played on the unwary, since the ammo is next to unavailable on Polish black market. Still, if you have a source of it, Tantal / Onyx are decent guns. They come equipped with flash suppressors and collapsible stocks (Onyx has also a sight rail, but it doesn’t match any currently produced sight, so it’s useless). Note that the sound blast of a discharged Tantal is extremally unpleasant, maybe less to the user, but really very bad for everyone in close proximity. It was known to rip eardrums of fellow soldiers at firing ranges! The bipod (visible on the second photo) is a simple clip-on accessory.

Łucznik “Beryl” wz.96 / wz.2005 300e$ / 400e$

RIF +1/-1 N P 5,56x45mm NATO 30 37 Varies* 400m

Łucznik wz.96 “Mini-Beryl” 300e$ / 400e$

RIF 0/-1 N/L R 5,56x45mm NATO 30/20 37 Varies* 300m

The standard Polish assault rifle in the early 2000’s, Beryl made a long road from a little more than Tantal stuffed with plastic parts and adapted to NATO 5,56mm ammo, to a reliable gun it is now.

*Early Beryls were said to be malfunction prone, and had tendency to lose their magazines in action (as well as to shatter them if mishandled). However, the upgraded versions (2005 being the most up-to-date, and the one seeing most of use in the hands of Territorial Defense) were much more reliable, almost like legendary AK-47.

Newer editions are equipped with Piticanny rail on top, two extra above the additional front grip and a regulated length shoulder stock.

The photos depict (from the top) wz.96 with underbarrel GL, wz.96 with a non-standard sight rail and clip-on bipod, wz.2003, wz.2004 and wz.2005. Last three photos are Mini-Beryl carbines.

Mass is 3,5 kg, empty, with magazines weighting 0,51kg (30 round, shorter, 20 round ones are used mostly with mini-Beryls – they weight 0,4 kg).

The same applies to the carbine edition, Mini-Beryl (weights 3,2 kg).

Both variants are adapted to fire bullet-trap rifle grenades.

Łucznik wz.2005 „Jantar” 450e$

RIF +1 N R 5,56mm NATO 30 30 VR 400m

Wz. 2005 Jantar is, basically, a bull-pup edition of the wz. 96 / 98 Beryl (bottom right photo). Many of the parts (including magazines) are fully interchangeable. Still, there were a few improvements, most obvious of which is an universal accessory rail mounted on the top of rifle (another, short rail is hidden under the front grip, which acts as it’s cover. It is used grenade launchers, tactical flashlight & additional handles). All in all, the Jantar remains standard rifle of Polish Armed Forces, equaling the classical Militech Ronin in performance. Several off-spring variants exist, being equivalent to various Ronin conversions.

OBRSM Tarnów / Lucznik Radom „Alex” 700e$ (no sights included)

RIF +3 N P 7,62mm NATO 10 1 VR 600m

Alex is a sniper rifle constructed in early 2000s to replace old Dragunov SVD rifles, commonly used by Polish armed forces before. This bolt-action bullpup comes with a bipod (although the thing within the stock’s frame is actually a third pod, which can be deployed for extra stability) and universal Piticanny rail for a sight (it lacks iron sights). Mechanically simple and thus reliable, it gained great popularity among the users. Weights 6,5kg without ammo.

OBRSM Tarnów / Lucznik Radom „Tor” 1200e$ (no sights included)

RIF +3 N P 12,7mm NATO 7 1 VR 1000m

The first anti-material rifle build in Poland, Tor is the big brother to Alex. Weighting almost 15 kg, it’s light enough to be used both by special forces, and support units of the general military. Like Alex, it’s simple, reliable, and comes with bipod (plus rear monopod) and an universal sight rail.

Note: first three pictures are actually an early prototype with different rear monopod.

Łucznik kbkm wz.2003 / wz.2003D 900e$ / 1000e$

HVY 0(0/-2*) N R 5,56x45mm NATO 30/200 (belt) 38 ST 800m (600m for D variant)

* wz.2003D with collapsed stock.

The wz.2003 (and it’s “paratrooper” 2003D edition with a collapsible stock) are standard SAW in Polish Armed Forces. They can use either Beryl AR’s magazines, or belts (ammo box is compatible with those used in Minimi SAW). Weight is 7,5kg without ammo (7,3kg for the D version). A standard rail for optical sights is provided.

ZM Tarnów UKM-2000P 1400e$

HVY +1 N R 7,62x51mm NATO 100/200 (belt) 34 ST 1000m

A modification of the venerable PK universal machinegun, UKM-2000 uses NATO-standard ammunition and disintegrating belts, but can still use PK accessories, like tripods or vehicle mounts, which granted the weapon interesting export sales. It is also equipped with flash suppressor. Two sub-variants exist, 2000D (with collapsible stock, paratrooper edition) and 2000C (for vehicle fixed mounts).

Weight: 2000P – 8,4 kg, 2000D – 8,9kg. Ammunition boxes, respectively: 100 rounds – 3,9 kg, 200 rounds – 8 kg, 250 rounds – 9,4 kg (used only in the vehicle variant).

ZM Tarnów GA-40 2000e$

HVY 0 N R 40x53mm 24/36 16 ST 1100m

This is a belt-fed, fully automatic grenade launcher, currently used by Polish Armed Forces. A good weapon, and can be equipped with electronic sights (wich improves accuracy considerably). Like all weapons of it’s class, it’s quite bulky: 10kg for the weapon itself, 21kg for tripod and either 10 kg (24 grenades) or 17 kg (36 grenades) for the ammo box.