Yet another "Pop" Quiz

[Mark]

OK another trivia pic:


I'll personally drink a beer for everyone who answers this correctly.

This is a true pop quiz, since that is the sound the can makes when it is opened!

[Mack The Knife]

It looks like the pistol supplied to the Philipinos, by the U.S., during WW2. Forget the name.....Liberator?

Mack The Knife

[Mack The Knife]

Yeehaaa! Just checked via Google and am happy to say the brain cells aren't dead. Well, at least a couple or so.

Have a 'pop' on me.

Mack The Knife

P.S.: The correct name is FP-45 Liberator. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberator_Pistol

[Mark]

Well darn that was quick!

Yep it was called the Liberator, a bunch of them were dropped into France and into the Phillipines to be used by the resistance.

They were made by General Motors, and I think they had a production run of about 1 million. I think they were made at a rate of 1 every 2.5 seconds, and hold the distinction of the only gun that takes longer to reload than it does to make!

[Mark]

Loading instructions.





Another bit of trivia- the original instructions are so rare that collectors pay more for the instructions or the box it came in than they do for the pistol!

[Mack The Knife]

Would have been quicker, had I not been browsing New Graham Knives. One of my favourite haunts.

They were made by General Motors, and I think they had a production run of about 1 million. I think they were made at a rate of 1 every 2.5 seconds, and hold the distinction of the only gun that takes longer to reload than it does to make!

According to the link....

An interesting fact about the Liberator is that the factories could produce one faster than the weapon could be loaded and fired. Building the pistol took about six or seven seconds whilst loading took about 10 seconds.

Do you have one in your collection?

Mack The Knife

[Mack The Knife]

Another bit of trivia- the original instructions are so rare that collectors pay more for the instructions or the box it came in than they do for the pistol!

Whilst I don't have the original instructions, I am pretty sure I have a very good pic of it in the World War II series published by Time Life.

Let me have a look.....

Mack The Knife

[Mark]

I have only seen one for sale, about 7 years or so and they were asking $695 for it.

There are a lot of $700 guns I'll buy before that I think.

[mundaire]

Seeing that picture, the phrase "with looks only a mother could love!" immediately comes to mind....

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[Mack The Knife]

[axp817]

I had seen this on "American Rifleman TV" on the Outdoor channel a couple of months ago. I remember the editor (who also shot it) talking about the recoil and also how rare, hence expensive it was.

Theres one going for $1850, on gunbroker

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=56965240

-Naren

[jonahpach]

I also seem to remember reading somewhere that the liberator was manufactured by cold stamping process. Much like our 5 rupee diwali tikli gun. It was distributed in large numbers to native 'liberators' to be used against japanese invaders during WW-II

[Grumpy]

$1850 for a pistol that cost pennies to make, had a smooth bore barrel and required a twig for ejection ? !!!
When rarity is of vastly greater consequence than quality you just know that collectors have entered the market.
The Liberator was officially known as the `.45 Flare Projector` in the interests of security and was produced by the Guide Lamp Division of General Motors who manufactured a million of them in three months. The name `Liberator` was applied retrospectively.
The pistol, ten cartridges and instructions - all wrapped in a waterproof bag - cost $2.10.

[Mark]

Grumpy,

Regarding collectible status vs quality, I think it says something when the cheap printed instructions sell for more than the gun does!

I notice there are no bids on the one AXP found.

[Grumpy]

Good point Mark - that, I think, says it all !
Hey, we`ve got bullets again....on the slant.
- Looks like Abhijeet`s having fun !