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Ref. Firearms developed and manufactured in Southern Africa 1949-2000. By Kenn Gillie Credit for this information goes to Pretoria Arms and Ammunition Ass. All rights are reserved. No part of this information may be reproduced, stored, manipulated in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any mechanical, electronic or digital form or by any other means, without prior written permission of the publishers. Any person who engage in any unauthorised activity in relation to this publication shall be liable to criminal prosecution and cliams for civil and criminal damages The Varan was first manufactured by the Varan Manufacturing Company and then via its holding company Clarbex, both situared in Wynberg, Sandton, Johannesburg. The Varan was initially called the PMX80, in recognition of the era of its concept. Since its launch only took place in the early 1990s, the model designation was changed to the PMX90. The designers of the Varan PMX90 are Steward Beecham and Tony Blackshaw. The PMX90 was the culmination of 10 years of research and development, with the process having started in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1980. Eight prototypes were produced before the final design, based on modular sub-assemblies. In 1985 shortly after the design had been patented, the pistol received the Barclays’ Bank Award for Industrial Inventiveness in the technology category. While externally it looks different, internally the firearm is a derivative of the Browning P35 Hi-Power, parallel rule locked breech system. It also incorporates the toggle link disconnector arm which transfers the upward movement of the trigger bar into a downward movement to release the sear. Both the upper frame and the slide are investment castings, as as are nineteen other components which include thebreechblok, rear hammer housing, sear, hammer, trigger and return spring rod. Pressed sheet metal parts include the ejector, hammer strut, trigger spring and the separate rear sight blade. The significant differences from the Browning P35 Hi-Power are: The frame is a two-piece unit welded together, with the upper being a machined investment casting and the lower a welded two-piece pressing. The entire hammer/sear group, including the hammer strut and spring, and ejector are housed in a removable monoblock. This unit fits snugly into the machined upper frame and is held in place by a headed pin through the frame and block and retained by a simple “C” clip. Later versions hada claw type cover over the pin which had to be replaced if the firearm was stripped as it could not be re-used. In excess of two thousand PMX90 pistols are said to have been produced, but it is thought that fewer than 500 exist today (2016). The PAAA research team has been unable to source any hard data to the exact quantities produced. The model PMX90 and the serial number are engraved on th left-hand forward face of the slide with the caliber designation centralized further back. The serial number is also engraved on the chanber block. The South African Springbok horn proof-mark is stamped on the right-hand rear of the slide, as well as in front of the number on the chamber block. The PMX90 departed from current self-loading pistol design of that time, in that it retained a single action mechanism as opposed to double action. There are tree known variant of the PMX90. The first variant had an ejection port machined into the top of the slide. This tended to shower the user with hot, empty cartridge cases. Other smaller differences exist such as front sight shape and tpo mounted extractor that doubled as a loaded cartridge indicator on the first variant but dropped from the design on the later versions. It will also be noted that the top of the slide was tapered down from the ejection port to the front on the first variant, but parallel on the following two variants. The ejection port and extractor was then moved to accommodate more convensional side ejection on the second variant. The side ejection port was then slightly enlarged on the third variant. The lower pistol grip frame, which also houses the magazine, is a pressed metal frame manufactured from EN19 steel. The lower two thirds of this frame is enclosed with a one piece moulded black polymer grip and trigger guard, pressed over the grip frame, while the upper investment cast portion, which contains the trigger mechanism is left bare. The front of the trigger guard is secured to the upper frame with a screw from the inside which olso holds the flat blade trigger spring. Another screw positioned at the bottom rear of the grip, prevents the grip from any movement. The grip has large coarse checkered grip panels on both sides and eight grooves moulded into the rear, which provide a positive hold. With the exception of the first variant, a winged “V” badge is positioned at bottom centre on both sides.of the grip. The large, well-shaped and reversible magazine release is positioned traditionally on the left-hand side of the frame, behind the trigger, for rapid operation. The trigger is 6 mm wide with vertical grooves and is externably adjustable for pull weight by means of a grup screw positioned under the frame in front of the trigger. This acts against theleaf-typetrigger spring. A magazine disconnectoris fitted to the trigger. This prevent thepistol from operating with the magazine removed, guarding against a forgotten chambered round. The safety catch rotates through ninety degrees, from a forward facing horizontal position to a vertical position, and cams the hammer away from the sear, preventing it from being released.This makes it impossible for the hammer to drop, irrespective of the amount of force applied to it. In this position it also locks the slide, preventing it from being retracting it to the rear. It is also retained to the frame with a “C” clip and can be revesed for left-hand users. The ring-type hammer spur is grooved for secure thumb hold. It is fitted with a half-cock notch to prevent a round being fired, should the user’s thumb slip. This also eliminates the posiblity of an accidental discharge (AD), should loaded pistol fall on its hammer. The slide stop is rather long but accessable and quick to operate. It is activated by the magazine follower after the last round is fired and can be reversed for left-handed users. A thoughtful touch is the small plug which is provided to fill the hole in the side of the frame, if the slide release is transfered over. The slide was investment cast from EN34 steel, precition machined and then surface hardened. It has slightly protruding, deeply cut finger grooves and a flared section at the rear for positive grip when cocking. The flared section also provides additional body for the safety catch slide engagement. A separate breechblock, housing the extractor, it’s spring and the sear disconnector arm, is fitted to the inside rear of the slide and is locked in place with a chamfered cap screw, from the top. The inertia firing pin and spring is inserted from the rear and a retaining plate dovetails into slots in the slide. The first variant, with its top ejection portdiffers inasmuch as its top breechblock is pinned through the slide. While the first variant has grooves cast into the top of the slide, on the second and thrird variants this was changed to a checkered patern. The ramped front sight and the rear sight body are included in the casting in the top of the slide. The barrel was manufactured using EN 19 steel. It is a convensional button formed six groove, one in ten inch right hand twist barrel. The barrel is pressed into a barrel block with machined lugs that correspond with recesses machined into the slide. As with the Browning Hi-Power, the barrel cants up and down from the locking recesses in the slide. The inclined plane from the barrel block extension acts upon a locking block, which is permanently fixed into the frame. There are a few minor changes to the barrel block between the variants. The recoil spring sits under the barrel over as full length guide rod. Information supplied to the PAAA reseach team indicates that the Varan barrels (rifled but unchambered) were supplied to them by the First National Firearms Manufacturing Co (Finat) of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The slide runs in rails positioned on the outside of the frame of do most current semi-automatic pistols. It is fitted with an extractor which is enclosed within the slide, similar to that of the Colt 1911A1 Government Model. The front sight is a 2.5 mm wide by 4 mm high Partridge type blade of classic ramped sight configuration. It is integral with the slide. The rear sight is in two parts. This consist with the body cast integral with the slide and machined to accommodate the separate replacable sight blade.The blade have a 2.5 mm wide notch, which is slotted into a recess and held there with a roll pin. It is drift adjustable for windage. The innovative transparent magazine holding sisteen rounds was produced from polycarbonate, but was prone to cracking and distortion. This led to stoppages and so was eventually manufactured from a tougher black polymer instead. By simultaneously pressing the opposing oval lugs, which form part of the shoe and lock into recesses in the magazine body, the shoe can be removed thus releasing the spring and follower. Ref. Firearms developed and manufactured in Southern Africa 1949-2000. By Kenn Gillie Credit for this information goes to Pretoria Arms and Ammunition Ass. All rights are reserved. No part of this information may be reproduced, stored, manipulated in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any mechanical, electronic or digital form or by any other means, without prior written permission of the publishers. Any person who engage in any unauthorised activity in relation to this publication shall be liable to criminal prosecution and cliams for civil and criminal damages .

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