The Zastava M83, also called Zastava R357, is a double-action revolver produced between 1983 and the 1990s by the Yugoslav company Voini Techniki Zavod, which was later renamed Zavodi Crvena Zastava.
Design and development The design of the M83 stemmed from the need to equip police forces with revolvers, given their well-known advantages over semi-automatic pistols; furthermore, at the time, many Western police and military forces were already equipped with modern revolver models. The M83 was manufactured entirely from steel, and its design was inspired by the Smith & Wesson K-frame (medium-frame) series as well as the Röhm RG-38S.
Designed to fire the .357 Magnum cartridge (allowing for the use of .38 Special as well), it also featured cylinder adapters for 9mm Parabellum. It was manufactured with 2.5-inch and 4-inch barrel lengths. The trigger requires a pull weight of 12 to 15 pounds; as a safety measure, the weapon incorporates a transfer bar safety and a spring-loaded firing pin. The rear sight is fixed and consists of a notch paired with a blade front sight, complemented by longitudinal anti-glare serrations along the top of the barrel. The cylinder swings out to the left, where a "window" is also located, allowing the user to verify whether the weapon is loaded.
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