Category : Pistols

Pistol: FP-45 “Liberator”

Pistol FP-45 “Liberator” Manufacturer Guide Lamp
Cartridge .45 ACP Overall Length 5.56″
Action Single Shot Barrel Length 4″
Magazine n/a Weight 1 lb

 

 

The United States of America entered WWII with a manufacturing capacity untouched by the wars raging in Europe and the Far East.  Without saboteurs at their back or bombers overhead, US arms industry was able to spend valuable time and resources on alternative weapons of war.  One of these projects ultimately ended the fight in the Pacific with two huge blasts, but a lesser-known operation attempted to undermine the Nazi’s with 1,000,000 armed civilians.

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Pistol: Nambu Type 14

Pistol Nambu Type 14 Manufacturers Kokura, Nagoya, Chuo Kogyo K.K.
Caliber 8mm Nambu Overall Length 9.06″
Action Short Recoil Barrel Length 4.61″
Magazine 8 rounds Weight 2 lbs

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Japanese Type 14 pistol may be the most recognizable small arm of the pacific conflict to collectors.  Despite nearly unbelievably rapid modernization and military improvement, the Japanese Empire appears to have put very little emphasis on pistol development.

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Pistol: Model 1892 Revolver

Pistol Revolver Modèle 1892 Manufacturer Manufacture d’armes de Saint-Étienne
Cartridge 8mm French Ordnance Overall Length 9.3″
Action Galand-Schmidt Barrel Length 4.6″
Cylinder 6 rounds Weight 1.88 lbs

 

 

 

 

 

 

The invention of smokeless gunpowder propelled the French military to the forefront of small arms technology.  With other countries joining fast, the French knew they needed to upgrade their equipment quickly to stay ahead.  Eight years later they built a revolver.

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Pistol: Lahti m/40

Pistol Pistol m/40 “Lahti” Manufacturer Husqvarna , Carl Gustaf
Cartridge 9x19mm Overall Length 9.6″
Action Short Recoil Barrel Length 4.2″
Magazine 8 rounds vertical Weight 2.64 lbs

 

 

 

 

 

Sweden’s delay to recognize the oncoming war sent them scrambling to their neighbor Finland for a sidearm.  While they copied the best cold weather sidearm of the time, local production had a few issues to overcome.

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Pistol: ViS wz.35

Pistol ViS wz.35 Manufacturer Fabryka Broni Łucznik
Cartridge 9x19mm Overall Length 8.1″
Action Short Recoil Barrel Length 4.5″
Magazine 8 rounds vertical Weight 2.09 lbs

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the finest military handguns ever made almost wasn’t. It took a few stubborn patriots and a handful of lies to birth the ViS pistol.

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