Swift Rifle Company, British, Tarn, Rare Military Experimental Pistol.

Description:

Exceedingly scarce military experimental pistol in 9mmP made by the Swift Rifle Company for review in 1945, serialed 100-108. Patented by Lubicz Bakanowski, a Polish exile. Designed as a simple blowback pistol of which there were two versions, largely differing in the details of the front/rear sight. This example has a rudimentary front sight and thin notch rear sight within a grooved channel that runs the length of the slide. The left side of the slide is marked "TARN 9 MM / NO. 106". The serial number repeated immediately below on the frame. The exposed barrel hood is marked with three British proofs, one repeated on the right frame, adjacent to the release frame "NOT ENGLISH MAKE". Further below and largely effaced are the British crossed flags. Fitted with coarsely checkered grips, each panel secured with two large head screws, lanyard ring mounted on bottom rear of left frame. Bottom magazine release, unmarked magazine with eight indicator holes and dual pinned floorplate. As the gun tested poorly against the in-service FN GP-35 Hi Power, all 9 examples were returned to the manufacturer and subsequently sold to collectors, most ending up in the United States in the 1970s.

Condition:

Excellent+ salt blue, likely a factory refurbish, all edges and markings crisp except those on the right frame that are thin. Exceedingly stiff recoil spring precludes detailed disassembly. Mirror bright bore. Manual mechanics as expected though lots of grease and stiff safety that does not seem to engage in downward position. Crisp grips with the left panel having a central bruise as photographed. One of 9 experimental pistols tested by the British military in late WWII, an extraordinarily rare find under any circumstance.