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HISTORIC WWII Liberator .45 ACP Resistance Pistol FP-45
Guns International #: 100807047 Seller's Inventory #: 21630
Category: Handguns - Military Pistols - Liberator
Seller's Information
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Seller: AncestryGunsLLC
Company: Ancestry Guns LLC
Member Since: 11/3/16
State: Missouri
Zip: 65203
Country: United States
Phone: (314) 707-7373
International Phone: 314-707-7373
Platinum Seller
Number of Active Listings: 1466
Total Number of Listings: 29950
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: Credit Card, Certified Check, Money Order
Description:
Historic WWII Liberator .45 ACP Resistance Pistol
U.S. Clandestine General Motors FP-45
Here we present a U.S. FP-45 Liberator Pistol, made circa 1942 by the General Motors Company’s Guide Lamp division in Anderson, Indiana. What a fascinating pistol this is! The concept was of an extremely dispensable, single shot pistol that could be mass produced at low cost, air dropped into enemy occupied territory and used by resistance groups and civilians as “a gun to get a gun”. With a single shot capability and an effective range of 50 feet or less, the idea was to get as close to your intended target as possible, shoot and then escape with a better weapon taken from the enemy. This pistol only bears a somewhat passing resemblance to a gun with its crude sights, smooth bore and unconventional appearance.
All this was the idea of the U.S. Army Joint Psychological Warfare Committee in 1942. As the name suggests, the aim of the project was every bit as much to strike fear in the hearts of Axis troops as it was to actually arm the resistance in occupied countries like France, Greece and Pacific Islands during World War II.
General Eisenhower authorized the production of 1 million pieces, made under the guise of a “flare projector” or “flare pistol”, hence the name “FP”. The pistol is made of 23 stamped parts, and like the code name of the pistol itself, the parts were known by alternate terms to avoid any foreign intelligence associating the project with a firearm. The barrel was known as a tube, the trigger as a yoke, etc. Each pistol came off the line complete with a waxed cardboard box with 10 cartridges of .45 ACP, a wooden dowel rod for extracting fired cases, and a small graphic instruction manual with no pictures, all housed inside the hollow handle of the gun.
While a few were used, mass distribution via air drop over Europe never occurred as planned. General Douglas MacArthur took 50,000 pieces, which were distributed to occupied Pacific Islands. The OSS or Office of Strategic Services (the precursor of the modern CIA) took receipt of 450,000, some of which they distributed to Greek fighters. Some were given to Britain to supply the French resistance. About 100,000 were shipped to China and some to the Philippines in the Pacific Theater. Overall, these were not built to last and they were so crude that they were not widely used and destroyed after the war.
Operation of the pistol is quite simple. Pull back and rotate the large cocking piece, lift the rear sight assembly, which is also the cover of the breech, and gently rotate the cocking piece into place. The gun is now ready to fire with a slight double action trigger pull.
Interestingly, this wouldn’t be the last time that such a concept was tried. Later examples of an inexpensive and crude weapon to arm resistance groups were the Winchester Liberator Shotgun in 1962, meant perhaps for Cuba, and the CIA’s Deer Gun in 1964, meant for Vietnam.
This firearm is classified as a Curio & Relic.
Barrel is 4 inches in length.
Caliber: .45 ACP
The bore is in good condition and the firing mechanism is very good.
Overall condition as seen in photos.
Own one of the neatest pistols of World War II.
Very Fast. Very Safe. FREE SHIPPING. Will need to be sent to your local FFL.
Guaranteed AUTHENTIC & Includes CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.
ancestryguns
$3000
#21630
SOLD
Curio/Relic: Yes