Maker:	Z.M. Lucznik, Radom, Poland
Caliber:	9 mm Makarov	9 mm Short (.380 ACP)
Action type:	Blowback
Capacity:	8+1
Length:	165 mm (6.5")
Height:	125 mm (4.92")
Width:	30 mm (1.18")
Barrel length:	90 mm (3.54")
Sight radius:	120 mm (4.74")
Weight (empty):	730 g (25.75")
Muzzle velocity:	312 m/s (1023 ft/s)	284 m/s (932 ft/s)

 
P-83 was designed as a replacement to P-64. Designer's goals were to eliminate P-64's major shortcomings: small magazine capacity, heavy double-action trigger pull and heavy felt recoil. The new pistol had also to be cheaper to manufacture utilizing modern production methods. Under the second part of the seventies two prototypes were developed: P-78A Tul and P-78B Wanad. The later was chosen for serial production under the official designation: "9 mm pistolet wz. 1983 (P-83)".

 
P-83 is a blowback operated double-action pistol. The frame and slide are made mostly of sheet steel stampings. Barrel is pined to the frame. Safety lever is mounted on the left side of the slide and doubles as a decocker. A loaded chamber indicator sits just above the safety lever and there is an external slide release located on the frame in forward upper corner of the grip. A magazine release is located at the base of the grip. P-83 is fed by a single-column 8-shot magazine. Grips are black plastic. Sights are fixed and set at 25 meters. Double-action pull is 50-60 N (11-13.5 lb) compared to P-64's 110-120 N (25-27 lb). Field stripping is done by pulling a frame mounted disassembly block down and moving the slide rearward, upward and forward out of the frame. The standard holster is very similar to that used with P-64: leather flap holster with a pocket for a spare magazine and cleaning rod.

 
P-83G: tear-gas pistol caliber 9 mm P.A.
P-83M: version with synthetic frame (prototype?).
P-93: Heavily modified version with internal firing pin safety, frame mounted decocker, longer barrel, high-visibility night sights and squared trigger guard.

P-83 is available in 9mm Makarov and 9 mm Short (.380 ACP). The manufacturer can also made P-83's in 9 mm Police and 7.65 mm Browning (.32 ACP). The 7.65 mm variant holds 9 rounds in the magazine. P-83s recently made for export and the private market have larger slide serrations, high profile sights and hammers with round spur (identical to that in P-93).

 
P-83 is still the standard handgun of the Polish armed forces and police but the Polish army is starting to replace it with WIST-94.

 
Small quantities of P-83's were exported to the USA. These as well as the newly manufactured civilian guns have different markings on the slide: a Polish eagle followed by "RADOM wz. P-83 9x18 POLAND Z.M. LUCZNIK". Name of the importing company is stamped on the left side of the frame. Guns used by Polish military and police are marked "9mm P-83".