he wwii fp-45 “liberator” pistol 41 - dillon precision wwii fp-45 “liberator” pistol...

all of the parts to pre- clude suspicion of how the parts would ultimately be assembled, or into what. For instance, the barrel was sim- ply designated as “tube.” All employees involved in final assem- bly were selected for loyalty and sworn to absolute secrecy. Even these people were not informed as to the purpose of the little guns. The first units were produced at the end of June 1942. Although the gun was designed as a cheap single-loading throwaway, some individual guns were proof tested by firing 50 standard rounds of ammunition in addition to one normal proof round. After cleaning and oiling, the pistols were bulk shipped to Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia for final packaging. Each gun was packaged in a paraffin-coated cardboard box, together with a wordless comic-book-style instruction sheet, 10 rounds of .45 ACP ammunition, and a wooden dowel for poking out the expended cartridge case after firing (no extrac- tor or ejector was provided in the design). 10 cartridges could be stored in the butt of the gun, which was provided with a tabbed sliding cover. A total quantity of one million guns was completed at a cost of a little over $1.71 each. Deliveries to Frankford Arsenal were completed on August 21, 1942. In the end, the pistols contributed only sparing- ly to the war effort. Few were actually delivered to occupied Europe. The Army didn’t find much use for them, and so gave most of them back to the OSS. Some did go to the China-Burma-India the- atre, and to the Philippines. After the war, the Philippine Constabulary used some of them as issue sidearms. A large number wound up in Britain, and after the war, the British Steel Corpora- tion in Wales disposed of most of them as scrap. A few escaped being melted down and some British kids played with them as toys until the true nature of the pieces became apparent! Nicknamed “Liberator” pistols after secrecy was lifted on them, a very few have survived to this day. I guess I’m one of a small number privileged to have fired one. Operation is sim- ple. Pull back the striker knob, rotate it 90 degrees, and lift the loading gate. Insert the cartridge, lower the loading gate, and return the striker knob to vertical. The striker is half- cocked after loading. Then, pulling the trigger fully retracts it and releases it, firing the gun. This is very similar to the modern-day Glock system. The empty case must be poked out with something. A pen or pencil will do. I ventured three shots with the one illustrated here. At very short range, the bullets keyholed through the target. This was not surprising in view of the pistol’s unrifled bore. Still, I don’t doubt that any of the shots would have provided a lethal wound at a close distance. Recoil was brisk. Because of their uniqueness, scarcity, and clan- destine history, the few remaining Liberator pistols are prized and expensive when found. Currently, decent-condition individual specimens will bring multiples of a thousand dollars on the collector’s market. If complete with an original box, ammo, instructions and dowel, a doubling of value is proper. Once a little-known curiosity of the World War II era, the Liberator pistol now ranks very high on any list of classic handguns! 41 D P WII FP-45 “Liberator” Pistol hological Warfare ved that providing would have a con- tive effect on the ing German troops. March 09 Blue Press Section 2 1/8/09 9:52 AM Page 41

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Page 1: he WWII FP-45 “Liberator” Pistol 41 - Dillon Precision WWII FP-45 “Liberator” Pistol Psychological Warfare believed that providing arms would have a con-negative effect on

all ofthe parts to pre-

clude suspicion ofhow the partswould ultimatelybe assembled, orinto what. Forinstance, thebarrel was sim-ply designatedas “tube.” Allemployeesinvolved infinal assem-bly wereselected forloyalty andsworn to

absolutesecrecy. Even

these peoplewere not informed as to

the purpose of the little guns. The firstunits were produced at the end of June 1942.

Although the gun was designed as a cheapsingle-loading throwaway, some individual guns

were proof tested by firing 50 standard roundsof ammunition in addition to one normal proofround. After cleaning and oiling, the pistolswere bulk shipped to Frankford Arsenal inPhiladelphia for final packaging. Each gun waspackaged in a paraffin-coated cardboard box,together with a wordless comic-book-styleinstruction sheet, 10 rounds of .45 ACP ammu-nition, and a wooden dowel for poking out theexpended cartridge case after firing (no extrac-tor or ejector was provided in the design). 10cartridges could be stored in the butt of the gun,which was provided with a tabbed sliding cover.A total quantity of one million guns was com-pleted at a cost of a little over $1.71 each.Deliveries to Frankford Arsenal were completedon August 21, 1942.

In the end, the pistols contributed only sparing-ly to the war effort. Few were actually delivered tooccupied Europe. The Army didn’t find much usefor them, and so gave most of them back to theOSS. Some did go to the China-Burma-India the-atre, and to the Philippines. After the war, thePhilippine Constabulary used some of them asissue sidearms. A large number wound up inBritain, and after the war, the British Steel Corpora-tion in Wales disposed of most of them as scrap. Afew escaped being melted down and some Britishkids played with them as toys until the true natureof the pieces became apparent!

Nicknamed “Liberator” pistols after secrecywas lifted on them, a very few have survived tothis day. I guess I’m one of a small numberprivileged to have fired one. Operation is sim-ple. Pull back the striker knob, rotate it 90degrees, and lift the loading gate. Insert the car-tridge, lower the loading gate, and return thestriker knob to vertical. The striker is half-cocked after loading. Then, pulling the triggerfully retracts it and releases it, firing the gun.This is very similar to the modern-day Glocksystem. The empty case must be poked out withsomething. A pen or pencil will do. I venturedthree shots with the one illustrated here. Atvery short range, the bullets keyholed throughthe target. This was not surprising in view of thepistol’s unrifled bore. Still, I don’t doubt thatany of the shots would have provided a lethalwound at a close distance. Recoil was brisk.

Because of their uniqueness, scarcity, and clan-destine history, the few remaining Liberator pistolsare prized and expensive when found. Currently,decent-condition individual specimens will bringmultiples of a thousand dollars on the collector’smarket. If complete with an original box, ammo,instructions and dowel, a doubling of value isproper. Once a little-known curiosity of the WorldWar II era, the Liberator pistol now ranks very highon any list of classic handguns!

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March 09 Blue Press Section 2 1/8/09 9:52 AM Page 41

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