World of Guns - Hand Guns Series 2

In continuation of our documentary on guns we bring you the second part of our serial.

Luger 'Parabellum' (Germany)

P-08 - standart sidearm of German Military during WW I and WW II.

Commercial Parabellum in 7.65mm Luger/Para.

Characteristics

Type: Single Action 

Chamber: 7.65mm Luger/Para, 9x19mm Luger/Para 

Weight unloaded: 

Length: 230 mm (with 102 mm barrel) 

Barrel length: 98 mm, 102 mm, 152 mm, 203 mm and others 

Capacity: 8 rounds

The Parabellum pistole was developed by Georg Luger in Germany, ca. in 1898. The Parabellum name comes from ancient Latin saying Si vis Pacem, Para bellum - if you want Peace, prepare for War. The Lugers' design is based on earlier Hugo Borchard idea, but Luger re-designed the Borchards' locking system into much smaller package. Most pre-WW II Parabellums were developed by DWM company in Germany, with some being manufactured under license in other countries. During WW II, many companies, such as Mauser werke and others, also produced Lugers.

The first country to adopt Lugers was Switzerland - they adopted the model 1900 Lugers, chambered in 7.65mm Luger/Para[bellum] round. In 1902 the DWM, along with Luger, by request of German Navy developed new round, 9x19mm Luger/Para[bellum], one of the most common pistol cartridges of the world, by re-necking the case of the 7.65mm Luger round. The Luger model 1904, in 9mm, was adopted by German Navy, following the German army (Reichswehr) in 1908. Since then, the Lugers were adopted by many countries and servred untill probably the 1950's or so.

All Parabellums are recoil-operated, locked breech, semi-automatic, striker fired handguns. All Lugers featured unique locking system, consisting of two tilting-up bars and short moving barrel. Some early Lugers featured automatic grip safety at the rear side of the grip. All lugers also featured frame-mounted manual safety at the left side of the gun. Lugers were manufactured with different barrel lenghts - standart german army Pistole 08 (Luger M1908) had 102 mm barrels; Navy models featured 152 mm (6 in) barrels, and Artillery models featured 203 mm (8 in) barrels. Commercial models were manufactured with barrels ranging from 98 mm up to 350 mm (14 in), some in 'carbine' versions, with additional forward handguard and detachable buttstock.

All lugers were very erconomical and accurate pistols, especially for the period those were developed in. However, all Lugers were too sensitive to fouling and for loose manufacturing tolerances, as well as too pricey, when compared to more modern designs, such as Browning High Popwer or Walther P38.

Bergmann Bayard "Mars" M1903 M1905 M1910 M1910/21 pistol (Germany / Belgium / Denmark)

Bergmann "Mars" model 1903 pistol, made in Germany.

Bergmann model 1910/21 pistol, made in Belgium and later upgraded in Denmark.

Characteristics - data for Bergmann Bayard model 1910 pistol

Type	Single Action semiautomatic
Caliber(s)	9x23 Bergmann (9mm Largo)
Weight unloaded	1020 g
Length	254 mm
Barrel length	102 mm
Magazine capacity	6 or 10 rounds

Theodor Bergmann was a German businessman, who eventually got himself involved in the development of the automatic arms early in the process. As early as in 1894 he brought up a semi-automatic pistol, designed for him by designer Louis Schmeisser. This pistol, along with a number of subsequent models, meet little success, but in around 1903 Bergmann brought to the market a completely new pistol, with recoil-operated action based on the machine gun, designed by the same Louis Schmeisser. The Bergmann Model 1903 pistol, also known as Bergmann "Mars", was chambered for a potent (by the standards of the time) cartridge, known as 9x23 Bergmann. Spanish military tested this pistol and ordered several thousands in 1905. In Spanish service the new 9x23 Bergmann cartridge became known as 9mm Largo, and the name stuck. Due to the very limited production capabilities of the Bergmann's own company, he subcontracted production to the Belgian company Societe Anonyme Anciens Establissments Pieper (AEP), which sold its guns under trade mark "Bayard". In 1908, Pieper produced an updated version of the pistol, known as Bergmann Bayard model 1908 pistol, and in 1910 came the definitive version of this gun, known as  Bergmann Bayard model 1910. The Model 1910 pistol was adopted by Danish government, and several thousands of these pistols were built by Pieper for Danish army prior to the outbreak of the WW1. After the start of WW1, production of this pistol has stopped due to the occupation of Belgium, and it was never resumed later there. After the war, Danish government ordered several thousands of these guns to be built at state arsenals, and in 1921 all Danish pistols still in service were updated to the Model 1910/21 standard, and served in this modification until 1946.

Bergmann Bayard model 1910 pistol is a short recoil operated weapon. It uses short recoil system in which the separate bolt rides inside the rectangular barrel extension. The bolt protrudes from the barrel extension at the rear, and has two round knobs for manual retraction. Bolt locking is achieved by a vertically sliding block, which is located in the barrel extension. In the forward position of the moving parts, the locking block is forced upwards by the step in the frame, and engages the cut made on the underside of the bolt, securely locking it to the barrel extension. Upon recoil, the slope in the frame allows the block to fall down slightly and to leave the recess in the bolt, thus unlocking the bolt. The feed is from detachable box magazines, which hold cartridges in two vertical staggered rows. Magazines can be reloaded either when detached from the gun, or while in-place, using the charger clips through the ejection opening at the top (with the bolt locked back). Magazine housing is located in front of the trigger guard. Magazine release is located inside the trigger guard, at its front. Trigger is of single action type, with exposed hammer and a manual safety lever, which is located to the left of the hammer. To engage the safety, this lever must be turned up and forward.

Mauser 1910 1914 and 1934 pistols (Germany)

Mauser 1910 pistol, caliber 6.35mm (.25ACP), left side.

Mauser 1910 pistol, partially disassembled.

Mauser 1934 (or 1910-34) pistol, caliber 7.65mm (.32ACP); military version, issued to Kriegsmarine (German Navy) during WW2.

Characteristics

	Mauser 1910	Mauser 1914, 1934
Type	Single Action semiautomatic
Caliber(s)	6.35x16mmSR (.25ACP)	7.65x17mmSR (.32ACP)
Weight unloaded	425 g	600 g
Length	116 mm	152 mm
Barrel length	80 mm	86 mm
Magazine capacity	9 rounds	8 rounds

German designers from famous Mauser Werke worked on various semi-automatic pistols since about 1893. In the year of 1909 they set to develop a new, relatively simple semiautomatic pistol, chambered for 9x19mm Luger ammunition with reduced load. This weapon, known as Mauser Model 1910, was not a great success; its updated version, known as Model 1910/12, was manufactured in small numbers under contract with Brazilian navy. In the mean time, it was decided that a new design is more suitable for ammunition, less powerful than a "military" 9mm Luger, so, in the 1910, the basic design was scaled down to relatively new 6.35mm Browning ammunition (known in USA as .25ACP, first introduced in 1906 in Europe and in 1908 in USA). Known as Mauser Model 1910, this became a rather successful pocket pistol. Just before the start of World War One Mauser turned out a slightly bigger version of the same gun, chambered for another Browning-designed cartridge, the 7.65mm (also known as .32ACP). Limited numbers of these 7.65mm pistols were used by German Army during World war 1. Guns, manufactured since 1914 (both smaller 6.35mm and bigger 7.65mm) were slightly different from original design in appearance and minor details, such as design of the barrel retaining pin lock. Over the following two decades, Mauser produced several minor variations of these pistols, which differed in the markings, shape of slide serrations etc etc, but basic design remained basically unchanged. In the year of 1934, Mauser introduced a final version of this line, Model 1934. Its major change from model 1914 was the shape of the grip panels, with curved, rather than straight backstrap. Model 1934 was adopted by German armed forces as a substitute standard, and also was used by various police and security forces. Key military buyers for Mauser 1934 pistols were Kriegsmarine (Navy) and Luftwaffe (Air force). 

Mauser 1910 type pistols are simple blowback operated weapons with stationary, but easily removable barrel. barrel is held to the frame by the long pin, which passes through two underbarrel lugs below the barrel (one at the front and one below the breech). For disassembly, slide of the pistol is locked back, and pin is unlocked and rotated sideways, then pulled out to the front, so the barrel can be pulled up from the frame. Slide of this pistol has a characteristic open-top appearance, with a separate ejection window on the right side. Trigger is of single action type, striker fired. pistol is fitted with manual safety, located in the cut of the left grip panel, just behind the trigger, and with automatic magazine disconnect safety. Slide hold-open device is installed in pistol, but once slide is caught open, it can be released only by insertion of a fresh magazine. Magazine release is located at the base of the pistol grip. Sights are fixed. Grip panels are usually made from wood, but also can be made of plastic on late production guns.

How to field-strip (disassemble) Mauser 1910: 1) insert an empty magazine into grip 2) pull the slide back until it is locked open; inspect the chamber for remaining round 3) remove magazine 4) depress the small retaining latch located on dustcover below the barrel to release retaining rod 5) rotate barrel retaining rod until it is free from frame 6) pull the barrel retaining rod forward and out of the gun 7) pull the barrel up and out of the frame 8) while holding the slide against the frame, insert empty magazine into grip 9) press the trigger and carefully slip the slide forward and out of the frame
Reassemble in reverse order

Mauser M2 (USA)

Mauser M2 safety, located at the back side of the frame.

Characteristics

Type: Double Action Only

Chamber: .45ACP, .40SW or .357SIG 

Weight unloaded: ca. 900 gramm 

Length: 174 mm 

Barrel length: 90 mm 

Capacity: 8 rounds (.45), 10 rounds (.40 and .357) 

I was somewhat curious on to what country this firearm should relate to? As everybody knows, Mauser is german name and german firearms company. Howewer, this particular gun was developed and manufactured in USA by international company SIGARMS, which purchased the right to use Mauser name for handguns from its original owner, Mauser werke in Germany. So, let it be American Mauser:) 

The Mauser M2 is a recoil operated, locked breech semi-automatic firearm. It uses short barrel recoil with rotating barrel locking. The handgun has DAO trigger with striker firing (no hammer). Mauser M2 features numerous safeties: automatic firing pin safety, trigger bar disconnector, loaded chamber indicator. Moreower, the manual safety is available as option. The manual safety is located in unusual place - at the rear side of the frame, under the place where the hammer usually may be found. Also, M2 features aluminium alloy frame with steel slide and replaceable slide rails.

M2 is reported as a comfortable, compact sidearm. The only minor drawback of M2 is its rotating barrel sheme, that requires good lubrication of the rotating barrel to operate properly.

Walther PP, PPK and PPK/S pistol (Germany)

Experimental Walther "Police model" pistol which served as a prototype for PP; note that it has longer grip for 10-round magazine, and frame-mounted manual safety.

Walther PPK pistol fitted with silencer - a setup, closely associated with James Bond, agent 007.

Walther PPK/S.

Characteristics

Type: Double Action 

Caliber: .22LR or 6.35mm auto (.25 ACP) or 7.65x17mm Auto or 9x17mm (.380 ACP) 

Length overall 173mm PP, 154 mm PPK

Weight: 682g PP, 568g PPK 

Barrel length: 99mm PP, 84mm PPK

Capacity: 8 (PP), 7 (PPK) rounds

Walther PP pistols were among the most important developments of the inter-war period. Produced between 1929 and 1945 in significant numbers, these pistols, among with the basically similar but smaller PPK, were widely used as police and military guns in Hitler’s Germany. After the war, production of the PP and PPK pistols was resumed in France by Manurhin under German licence. Later on, production was returned to the re-established Walther factory in the city of Ulm ab Donau (pre-war Walther factory was located in the city of Zella-Mehlis), and these pistols have seen widespread use by civilians and police, as well as for personal defense by many non-infantry officers in several European armies. Very close copies of the Walther PP were manufactured after the war by East Germany, Hungary, Romania, Turkey and USA. At the present time, Walther PP, PPK/S and PPK pistols are manufactured in the USA by the Smith & Wesson Company under licence from Walther.

Walther PPK pistols are essentially similar to the larger PP pistols, except for the different design of the grip frame – while on PP pistols the grip backstrap is integral to the frame and grip panels are two separate items (left and right), on PPK pistols grip frame has a rectangular shape of a magazine channel and the backstrap is formed by the single-piece U-shaped grip unit, also usually made of plastic. While most PPK pistols were made with steel frames, in the post-war period Walther also produced some aluminum-framed PPK/L (Lightweight) pistols.

Also, there are Walther PPK/S pistols, which are a cross-breed between PP and PPK, combining the PP frame with shorter PPK-style barrel and slide. These pistols were designed to avoid limitations imposed by the American Firearms Owners Protection Act of 1968. This act, in particular, limited the minimum size of a “sporting purpose” pistols that are allowed to be imported in USA, and use of the larger grip frame allowed importing these pistols instead of smaller PPK pistols, banned from importation under this law.

The Walther PP is blowback-operated pistol with a fixed barrel, usually of all-steel construction. A few aluminum-framed PP pistols were built in Germany before the war, and stainless steel versions are manufactured in the USA under Walther’s licence since the mid-1980s. The trigger is double-action, with an exposed hammer and a frame-mounted manual safety/decocker; the lockwork is somewhat complicated in a typical German manner and has many small parts and pins. Sights are fixed, with the rear sight blade dovetailed into the slide. Magazines are single-stack; the magazine release button is usually located at the left side of the frame, just below the slide and in front of the grip panel. However, at least some PP pistols were made both before and after the war with so called “European-style” magazine release, located at the heel of the grip. Walther PP and PPK pistols are fitted with a loaded chamber indicator, made in the form of a small pin that protrudes from the rear of the slide (above the hammer) when a cartridge is in the chamber. This indicator is not present on .22LR models.

It must be noted that most of PP and PPK pistols were made in 7,65mm (.32ACP) caliber, with 9mm Kurz (9x17, .380ACP) running distant second. The .22LR version was made in some numbers, and so far most rare is the 6,35mm / .25ACP version, with very few guns made early in production history of both pistols.

How to field-strip (disassemble) Walther PP or PPK: 1) remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) pull the trigger-guard downwards, then swing it to one side to lock in the open position; 4) pull the slide all the way back, then raise the rear of the slide to the top, and off the frame rails; 5) carefully ease the slide forward and off the barrel; 6) remove the return spring from the barrel.

Reassemble in reverse order.

Walther P-88 (Germany)

Walther P-88 

Walther P88 Compact (note slide mounted safety instead of frame mounted decocker of the early P88).

Walther P88 disassembled into major parts.

 Characteristics - Data for P88 (for P88 Compact in parenthesises, when differs from P88)

Type: Double Action 

Chamber: 9x19mm Luger/Parabellum

Weight unloaded: 900 g (822 g)

Length: 187 mm (181 mm)

Barrel length: 102 mm (97 mm) 

Capacity: 15 rounds (14 rounds) 

The P88 had been developed by Carl Walther Waffenfabrik, Germany, in 1988, as a high capacity, military and law enforcement pistol. The production of the P88 had been ceased in 1996, and it had been replaced in production by P88 Compact, which is somewhat lighter and a little bit smaller, and have some techical diffrences from original P88. The P88 Competition, with ajustable sights and other minor changes, also had been produced as a sporting firearm.

The P88 is a recoil operated, locked brech semi-automatic pistol. It differs from previous Walther pistols, such as P38/P1, P5 in fact that it uses conventional Browning style locking with barrel lowered by shaped cam trach in the barrel extension under the chamber. The locking ius achieved by single massive lug on the barrel, that locks into the ejection port of the slide. The P88 trigger system is quite similar to that of Walther P5, but P88 has ambidexrous frame mounted decocker lever. The same internal safeties, as in P5, also available (firing pin safety, out of the batery safety/disconnector). P88 featured steel construction, with fixed sights and high capacity, double stack magazines. Being a good pistol, the P88 whas too high price, so Walther discontinued it in tha favour of the slightly lighter and smaller P88 Compact, which also featured redesigned safety - the frame mounted decocker had been replaced by ambidextrous slide mounted safety.

Walther PPX Pistol (Germany)

Trigger type	Precocked hammer
Caliber	9x19, .40SW
Weight, empty, g	765
Length, mm	186
Barrel length, mm	102
Capacity, rounds	16 (9mm), 14 (.40)

Walther PPX pistol is an affordable self-defense and/or practice pistol produced by legendary German company Carl Walther.

Walther PPX handgun is short recoil operated, locked breech weapon that uses modified Browning locking with tilting barrel. Frame of the gun is made from high strength polymer. Gun is fed from double stack, single feed magazines. Pistol is equipped with indigenous hammer fired trigger system with pre-cocked hammer, short trigger reset and constant trigger pull. Magazine release is of traditional button type, and can be installed on either side of the grip, slide release lever is located only on the left side. Standard sights are of fixed, three-dot type. Picatinny rail for accessories is provided on the frame below the barrel.

Walther CCP Concealed Carry Pistol (Germany)

Trigger type	Precocked striker
Caliber	9x19
Weight, empty, g	633
Length, mm	163
Barrel length, mm	90
Capacity, rounds	8

Walther CCP (Concealed Carry Pistol) is a new handgun from legendary German gun making company Carl Walther. First offered in 2014, it was developed primary for UScivilian market, as a dedicated concealed carry self-defense firearm for civilian shooters, especially for women. Special efforts were made to decrease dimensions of the pistol and to make it easier to operate for wide variety of non-professional shooters.

 To make gun easier to cycle manually (with lighter than usual return spring), it was built around gas-delayed blowback action. In this system, some powder gases are fed into cylinder, located below the barrel, to push forward against the piston that is linked to the slide, slowing down its initial recoil. Pistol features slim polymer frame with carefully sculptured grip, pre-cocked striker-fired trigger for lighter and shorter trigger pull, and manual thumb safety.  Single stack magazine holds 8 rounds of ammunition, magazine release button is conveniently located at the base of trigger guard. External slide release lever is provided for faster reloads. Standard sights are of fixed, three-dot type.

FN / Browning M.1900 (Browning No.1) pistol (Belgium)

Characteristics

 Type: Single Action, semi-automatic pistol

Chamber: 7.62x17mm SR (.32ACP)

Weight unloaded: 625 g

Length: 172 mm

Barrel length: 102 mm

Capacity: 7 rounds

The FN / Browning model 1900 pistol was a first of a long and extremely successful series of the Belgian-made pistols, designed by the American firearms genius John Moses Browning. The first semi-automatic, blowback operated pistol was designed by J. M. Browning circa 1896 and latter improved by the 1897. He offered his design to Belgian company FN Herstal circa 1898, and production began in 1899, as the Modele 1899. in 1900, this pistol, in slightly modified form (with barrel shortened from 122 to 102 mm), was adopted by Belgium as Mle.1900. Relatively simple and well designed, this pistol is also known as the Browning Number 1 pistol (Browning No.1). Widely used across Europe as a civilian and police sidearm, this was chambered for a new smokeless round, 7.62x17mm SR, which is also known in Americas as the .32ACP (.32 Colt Automatic). FN - Browning M1900 was widely copied in many countries, especially in S-E Asia. It was manufactured until the 1911 or so, with more than 700 000 pistols made.

Technical description.

The M1900 is a blowback operated, semi-automatic (self-loading) pistol. The barrel is fixed to the frame. The recoil spring is located within the slide and above the barrel. This spring, via special lever, also acts as a firing pin spring. M1900 is a striker fired, single action weapon. Unlike all latter designs, the ejection port is cut in the frame, and not in the slide. Safety switch is located at the left side, above the grip panel. Magazine is removable, is inserted into the pistol handle and holds 7 rounds. Magazine catch lever is located at the heel of the grip. Sights are fixed.

FNP-45 pistol (USA / Belgium)

Characteristics

Type Double Action semiautomatic

Caliber(s) .45ACP (11.43x25)

Weight unloaded 930 g / 32.4oz

Length 200 mm / 7.85"

Barrel length 114 mm / 4.5"

Magazine capacity 14 rounds (10 where required by law)

FNP 45 pistol is the next step in evolution of the FNP 9 / FNP 40 pistols line. First announced in 2007, the FNP 45 is just one of the many new, modern .45 caliber pistols which recently hit the civilian and law enforcement markets in USA. The increased interest in full-size, high capacity .45ACP pistols can be in part attributed to the several unsuccessful attempts of US armed forces to re-adopt this cartridge over the 9x19 NATO in the search of better stopping power. The same reason (combat effectiveness / stopping power) causes many police organizations and civilian shooters to re-think the role of the century-old .45ACP round. FNH USA, the US-based subsidiary of the famous Belgian arms-making company FN Herstal, took this cartridge and developed this serious service-type pistol. Based on its predecessors, FNP 45 is somewhat bigger and heavier than its 9mm/.40 caliber 'older brothers', and is best suited for holster carry. It features improved ergonomics, with fully ambidextrous controls and modular grip backstrap. Front of the frame is shaped to form Picatinny rail which can accept a wide variety of accessories like laser sights or tactical lights. The modular hammer units for FNP 45 are available in two versions - with manual safety that permits "cocked and locked" carry or with decock-only function (gun shall be carried with hammer lowered over the loaded chamber).

The FNP 45 is short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. The barrel is operated using a Browning cam system, and it locks to slide with single lug engaging large ejection port. Frame is made from high impact-resistant polymer. Double Action trigger system with exposed hammer has internal firing pin safety, with decocking or safety levers located at the both sides of the frame. Firing pin safety is standard, and the magazine safety is optional. The trigger / hammer module is formed as a single unit, easily detachable from the frame for inspection, maintenance or replacement. Optional hammer units can be found in DAO variety or in standard DA version but with manual safety / decock levers instead of the basic decock-only levers. Other easily replaceable units include the barrel cradle / slide rail module and the grip backstraps. Grip backstraps are available in two variations, with straight or curved shape. Standard sights are provided with white inserts and are dovetailed into the slide.

Webley and Scott semi-automatic pistols M1905 M1908 M1909 M1913 Mk.I Navy M1922 (Great Britain)

Experimental Webley Scott automatic pistol, cal. 455, model of 1904.

Webley Scott automatic pistol, cal.9mm Browning Long, model of  1922. South African Police issue pistol.

Characteristics

   M1906 .25 cal M1905 - 1908 .32 cal M1909 9mm M1909 .38 M1912 .455

Type Single Action semiautomatic

Caliber(s) .25ACP / 6.35x16SR .32 ACP / 7.65x17SR 9x20SR .38ACP / 9x23SR .455 / 11.43x23SR

Weight unloaded 340 g 580 g 985 g ~1000 g 1131 g

Length 120 mm 159 mm 203 mm 203 mm 216 mm

Barrel length 54 mm 89 mm 140 mm 127 mm 127 mm

Magazine capacity 6 rounds 8 rounds 8 rounds 8 rounds 7 rounds

Webley & Scott Ltd, famous British gun-making company, began experiments with self-loading pistols during the earliest years of the 20th century. Their first attempt, based on design of the Hugh Gabbet-Fairfax and known as "Mars" pistol, proved to be a commercial failure, and in 1903 company began experiments with weapons, designed by its factory manager, Mr.Whiting. Early prototypes, known as Webley - Scott model 1904 pistols, were based on short-recoil operated action, designed by Whiting. Earliest prototypes fired standard .455 caliber rimmed revolver ammo, which later was converted to semi-rimmed pattern. In 1905, Whiting designed new pistol, based on simple blowback action and intended for relatively low-power ammunition. Pistols of this pattern were built in .32 caliber (.32 ACP / 7,65mm Browning) until 1940 in several minor modifications. Version of this pistol, produced in 1908, was adopted by British Metropolitan police, and similar pistols in this caliber also were adopted by other police forces across the British empire. In 1909 Whiting designed an enlarged version of his basic blowback design, chambered for more powerful 9mm Browning Long (9x20SR) ammunition. This pistol differed from its smaller cousins by having an internal hammer and automatic grip safety, rather than exposed hammer and manual safety of the M1905 pattern. The year of 1910 saw introduction of another short-recoil operated pistol from Webley & Scott, also designed by Whiting. This gun retained same external outline of its predecessors, but was larger and had slide of the rectangular cross-section (all blowback-operated Webley pistols had slides with rounded tops). Chambered for .38 caliber High Velocity ammunition (which in fact was an American .38 ACP round), these pistols were manufactured in two patterns - with manual safety or with automated grip safety. In couple of years this model evolved into the biggest of all production Webley automatic pistols. First known as Model 1912, it fired proprietary .455 caliber ammunition. It was adopted by British Navy as the Webley & Scott self-loading pistol Mark I Navy, with production commencing in 1913. Version of this gun, fitted with adjustable sights, was known as Webley & Scott self-loading pistol Mark I Model 2. It was issued on limited basis to Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Air Corps during the WW1. Production of these large pistols was relatively limited, as after the war British military returned to more usual revolvers, and these military Webley & Scott self-loading pistols were declared obsolete. Despite this fact, smaller-caliber blowback operated Webley-Scott pistols were manufactured for domestic civilian markets until early 1920s, and for export markets and police use until 1940.

Brief descriptions of Webley & Scott semi automatic pistols

Webley & Scott semi automatic pistol models of 1905, 1907, 1908, caliber .32 (7,65mm Browning)

These pistols featured simple blowback action, with short slide and exposed barrel. V-shaped return spring under the right grip panel, linked to the slide through the rocking lever. Single-action trigger with exposed hammer and manual safety, located on the left side of the frame, above the grip panel. Single-stack detachable magazine with bottom magazine release. Fixed sights.

Webley & Scott semi automatic pistol models of 1906, caliber .25 (6,35mm Browning)

These pistols featured simple blowback action, with short slide and exposed barrel. V-shaped return spring under the right grip panel, linked to the slide through the rocking lever. Single-action trigger with exposed hammer and manual safety, located on the left side of the frame, above the grip panel. Single-stack detachable magazine with bottom magazine release. Fixed sights.

Webley & Scott semi automatic pistol model of 1909, caliber 9mm Browning Long

These pistols featured simple blowback action, with short slide and exposed barrel. V-shaped return spring under the right grip panel, linked to the slide through the rocking lever. Single-action trigger with exposed hammer and automated grip safety, located at the rear of the grip. Single-stack detachable magazine with bottom magazine release. Adjustable rear sights. lanyard ring at the base of the grip.

Webley & Scott semi automatic pistol models of 1909, caliber .25 (6,35mm Browning)

These pistols featured simple blowback action, with short slide and exposed barrel. V-shaped return spring under the right grip panel, linked to the slide through the rocking lever. Single-action trigger with  internal (concealed inside the slide) hammer and manual safety, located on the left side of the frame, above the grip panel. Single-stack detachable magazine with bottom magazine release. Fixed sights.

Externally similar models also were built in USA by Harrington & Richardson in .25ACP and .32ACP calibers between 1912 and 1924. These H&R pistols differed internally from Webley pistols by having coil-type  return spring located inside the slide, and also by being striker-fired.

Webley & Scott semi automatic pistol model of 1910, caliber 38 (.38 ACP)

These pistols featured short recoil operated action with "dropping barrel" locking. In this system, barrel has sets of inclined lugs at its sides, and additional locking lug on the top. Upon recoil, side lugs forced the barrel to drop down slightly, and this downward movement disconnected the top (locking) lug on the barrel from the respective cut, made in the top of the slide. Once the slide was fully unlocked, it was allowed to recoil freely and barrel was stopped. Upon return to the battery slide pushed the barrel forward. Side lugs also forced barrel to rise and thus lock into the slide. V-shaped return spring under the right grip panel, linked to the slide through the rocking lever. Single-action trigger with internal (concealed inside the slide) hammer and automated grip safety, located at the rear of the grip (on early production guns) or with manual safety above left grip panel (as made since 1913). Single-stack detachable magazine with bottom magazine release. Drift-adjustable rear sights. lanyard ring at the base of the grip.

Webley & Scott semi automatic pistol model of 1912, 1913, Mark I Navy (Mk.I N), caliber .455

Short recoil-operated action similar to that of the Model 1910. Single-action trigger with exposed hammer and automated grip safety, located at the rear of the grip. Single-stack detachable magazine with bottom magazine release. Fixed (Mk.I) or adjustable (Mk.I Mod.2) rear sights.

Webley & Scott semi automatic pistol model of 1922, caliber 9mm Browning Long

These pistols featured simple blowback action, with short slide and exposed barrel. V-shaped return spring under the right grip panel, linked to the slide through the rocking lever. Single-action trigger with exposed hammer and manual safety, located on the left side of the slide. Single-stack detachable magazine with magazine release located next to the trigger guard. Adjustable rear sights. Lanyard ring at the base of the grip.

Welrod silenced pistol (Great Britain)

two Welrod pistols, top earlier .32 caliber Mark II and bottom later 9mm Mark I.

32 caliber Welrod Mk.II pistol with magazine removed abd bolt opened.

Characteristics

	Welrod Mk.II	Welrod Mk.I
Type	Single Action manually operated
Caliber(s)	7.65x17 / .32 ACP	9x19
Weight unloaded	1090 g	1500 g
Length	310 mm	360 mm
Barrel length	95 mm (less silencer)
Magazine capacity	8 rounds	6 rounds

Welrod pistol was developed in UK by Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.), a government organisation which was tasked with intellegence, diversions and other special operations as well as support of the various anti-Hitler resistance movements in occupied Europe. Most of such operations were clandestine by nature and required special equipment, including special weapons. The ordinary silencers for semi-automatic pistols were well known and well developed by the WW2, but there still was the sound of the reciprocating slide during the discharge of the pistol, which was quite audible at night or in other 'quiet' environments. To solve this problem, British engineers decided to use manually operated action for the proposed gun. Early prototypes of the new silenced weapon were developed during second half of the 1942, with first prototypes tested in early 1943, in 9x19 Luger and 7.65x17 Browning calibers. Mass production of the 7.65mm Welrod pistol, officially known as Welrod pistol, Mark II, commenced in late 1943, and Birmingham Smal Arms Co, Ltd (BSA). Total number produced is unknown, but some sources stated that at about 14 000 of Welrod Mk.II pistols were produced. Production of the larger, more powerful and more effective 9mm Welrod Mk.I commenced in 1944, on request of the British Special operations forces. The latter model survived for a quite long time, and some 9mm Welrod Mk.I pistols were apparently still in operational use by British Special Operations forces as late as in 1991, during the operation Desert Storm.

During WW2, some Welrod pistols were also air-dropped to european resistance groups, most notable to Denmark. During the same period, Welrod pistols in .32 / 7.65mm were also purchased and later manufactured in USA, apparently to complement more fast-firing but certainly more noisy and less effective Hi-Standard HDM silenced pistols.

The Welrod pistol is manually operated firearm that uses rotary bolt locking with dual locking lugs. Bolt rotation and pull / push actions are controlled by user's hand through the large round knob located at the rear of the tubular receiver. Trigger is of single action type, striker-fired. A simple automated grip safety is provided at the rear of the magazine housing / grip base. On 9mm Mark I pistols, a conventional trigger guard and a manual safety were added for improved user safety. The detachable single stack magazine also served as a pistol grip, and its bottom part was enclosed into the rubber cover to provide more or less comfortable hold of the gun. The integral silencer was located in the front part of the tube, which also served as a receiver. Barrel was ported at the front, with its ported part wrapped by layers of fine mesh. Ahead of the muzzle, there were several baffles and three rubber washers, all separated by spacers. Before use, whashers had no holes to provide bullet passage, and were penetrated during the first shot. The idea of the rubber washers was to capture as much powder gases ias possible within the silencer body, and service life of these washers was no more than 10-15 rounds, after which silencer effectiveness detoriated quickly. Worn washers were replaced during disassembly of the silencer. The 9mm Mark I Welrod pistol was different in the fact that it has its frontal silencer part made as a separate unit, which was screwed onto the receiver before use. This made the gun better suited for carry and concealment during transportation through enemy territory - an useful feature for a gun that was 36 cm / 14.2 " long when ready to use.