Which WWII-era handgun?

[D.B. Cooper]

SO, I have this idea I'm working on. Thinking about getting in to some kid of "3-gun" or "run-n-gun" type competition where I would compete with all WWII-era guns. This is mostly driven by my wanting to shoot my M1 Garand more.

Soooo...as I see it, my options are 1911, M1917 revolver, or a Victory Revolver (Model 10).

I don't particularly like the grip safety on the 1911.

M1917 = moon clips = pain in the neck. Or reload 45 AutoRim = pain in the neck.

Victory Model 10....not really a battlefield gun. (Aviators mostly.)

I dunno. Kinda torn. Prefer revolvers in general. Don't really want to pay close to a grand for a Colt Series 70 (I actually should just start a whole other discussion on that issue). 1917's are hard to come by and not cheap either. Victory Model is not what I would consider "historically correct" alongside an M1.

Or should I just say stuff it, and just shoot a modern handgun along side my M1?

 

[il.bill]

Browning Hi Power or Walther P.38 are two WWII 9x19mm pistols that would be at the top of the list along with the 1911.

 

[entropy]

If you're shooting a Garand, it's gotta be one of the three you mentioned. They were the only US issue pistols of the era, except the M1908 for General Officers, and High Standard HD for OSS use.
You could choose the Win. M97 or M12, or Remington M10 shotguns.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Browning Hi Power or Walther P.38 are two WWII 9x19mm pistols that would be at the top of the list along with the 1911.

I didn't really think of going that route. The Browning would have been a British gun, so I wonder, really, how may of those got into American hands (via a poker game I'm sure). But the P38 was a German gun, so easily justified as a "war trophy." (Although...If I were to do that, and since I teach WWII in the Pacific, I guess should be looking for a Nambu.)

I dunno.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

If you're shooting a Garand, it's gotta be one of the three you mentioned. They were the only US issue pistols of the era, except the M1908 for General Officers, and High Standard HD for OSS use.
You could choose the Win. M97 or M12, or Remington M10 shotguns.

Colt made a very limited run of Commandos, essentially a Colt Official Police with a really poor finish, in 38 spl., but those went either to Naval Aviators, or, primarily, to stateside security guards at defense plants. There is no record at all of them ever being used in combat.

I'm also trying to acquire a Model 12, but that's the lat thing on my list. I recently had a half-baked plan to buy a standard duck gun and hacksaw the barrel until I realized that would leave a much thicker barrel crown than what would have been on a riot or trench gun barrel from the factor. (Because the duck gun barrel would be much thicker half way down the barrel.)

 

[mavracer]

(Because the duck gun barrel would be much thicker half way down the barrel.)

Actually no, the trench guns have heavier barrels. If you convert a standard field M12 you'll actually have to shim the shroud to get it to fit correctly.
As to the pistol for the 1917 if you're shooting 3 gun you'll actually want to use moon clips, there's two ways to go to make moon clips easier either get a mooning tool or get Rimz moon clips.
If I was to shoot my GI style 1911 on 3 gun I'd have to do something to deal with hammer bite, I usually use mole skin or just put a band aid on it before I shoot it that way I don't need one after.

 

[CapnMac]

First off, you don't need a grand for a Series 70.
You can get a decent GI look .45 from Rock Island for about $450-500.
Cimmeron has a WWI "look" 1911 for about the same price (no finger cuts, flat mainspring--but, A1 hammer, grip safety, and trigger).
You might check out InRange TV on youtube, as they may have run a 2 gun along the lines you are suggesting. I know they have done a couple using WWI gear.

 

[oss117]

Battle field pickup Luger.
Because Luger.

 

[Acera]

FN produced HiPower with Nazi proof marks.

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/620423352



.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

First off, you don't need a grand for a Series 70.
You can get a decent GI look .45 from Rock Island for about $450-500.
Cimmeron has a WWI "look" 1911 for about the same price (no finger cuts, flat mainspring--but, A1 hammer, grip safety, and trigger).
You might check out InRange TV on youtube, as they may have run a 2 gun along the lines you are suggesting. I know they have done a couple using WWI gear.

So, yeah, I probably should start a whole other thread on "what is the closest thing to a WWII 1911." I may if I decide to go that route.

When I said $1k for a Series 70, I was just quting a new MSRP price from the Colt webpage. I'm not even sure if that is even the "right" gun or how close that is to the WWII era guns.

I'm aware of the RIA guns, but those are Armscorp/Made in Philippines. These days, I choose not to buy guns that aren't made in America. (If I did, I could pick up a replica Model 97 Winchester Shotgun.) (Although, I've seen some Italian reproductions that were more than just "pretty darn nice.") Anyway, that said, Auto-Ordnance makes a GI looking 1911 that isn't that much more than the RIA. BUT, how close are those guns to a GI 1911/11A1?

I had NO idea Cimarron was making a 1911. Thanks for the tip. And I'll go watch the gun vids you mentioned. Thanks.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I appreciate the idea of using an Axis gun. Never would have crossed my mind. I wonder how common, if at all, US G.I.'s actually used their war trophy Lugers in battle.

 

[CapnMac]

DB, Cimmaron is sourcing parts for RIA, and then assembling them. That's why the hammer, trigger and grip safety are all A1, and not "pure" 1911.

Note, if you get, say a Ruger 1911, you'll really need to find an arched mainspring for it to be WWII.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

DB, Cimmaron is sourcing parts for RIA, and then assembling them. That's why the hammer, trigger and grip safety are all A1, and not "pure" 1911.

Note, if you get, say a Ruger 1911, you'll really need to find an arched mainspring for it to be WWII.

Your comment of "pure 1911" even brings up the discussion of which mainspring housing etc. to use to be period correct.

You would have to almost totally rebuild a Ruger 1911 to get the WWII look. The hammer, the trigger, the grips, the sights. Then it would have to be stripped and parkerized. And those are as pricey as the Colt.

I looked at Ithaca's 1911 and it was the same problem. I suspect that there is very very little demand for a replica of a purely military 1911 in today's market.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

A Springfield Mil-Spec comes close. A used Springfield GI comes closer.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

A few competitors in the local vintage military match use Victory models basically US .38Spl or Brit .38S&W Model 10 and do well. It's static standing position target, not action pistol though. I usually shoot my Auto Ordnance configured as a 1911A1, but have shot Webley MkIV and Mauser C96.

The navy/aviator .38s were often issued with tracer ammo as signalling devices/weapons from WWII to the mid-1950s. Explains the two scenes in "Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" where the lost guys fire their 38s in the air. Historical and cinematic trivia there.

 

[mjsdwash]

hate to say it, but id'e recomend the p38 too. Always say its a 'war pick up'.... but of your choices, id'e defenetely say 1911. Just easier, and if you break it, you fix it that week. Plus its as synonomous with the wars as the 08 luger.

 

[mjsdwash]

theres also the remington R1. Its pretty neat, halfway decent sights, and best of all, its a combination of 1911, and A1 parts... kinda the best of both worlds, and reflective of wartime rebuilding. Aside from the billboard that is (probably the most attractive 1911 billboard out there, just not for you period)

 

[entropy]

DB, Cimmaron is sourcing parts for RIA, and then assembling them. That's why the hammer, trigger and grip safety are all A1, and not "pure" 1911.

Note, if you get, say a Ruger 1911, you'll really need to find an arched mainspring for it to be WWII.

Not necessarily. I had a Colt 1911 in my Arms Room that still had the flat mainspring housing. This was in 1986.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Ingus High Power P-35 with tangent sights and shoulder stock! That would be on the top of my list!

Deaf

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Seems like the consensus is 1911.

 

[roscoe]

Tokarev, Comerades!

 

[AZAndy]

Moonclips are a pain in the neck? I think they're fun; I have 50 loaded and ready to go for today's range session. It's really satisfying to just drop one into the cylinder rather than fiddle with speedloaders. That said, it's hard to beat a 1911 for a good time.

 

[bannockburn]

D.B. Cooper

I wonder how common, if at all, US G.I.'s actually used their war trophy Lugers in battle.

Not very common, at least according to my Dad who fought in Europe during WWII. The main reason being your knew what your guns sounded like and you knew what the German's guns sounded like. The last thing you wanted to do was draw friendly fire on your position because you were using a German gun.

Similar reason to not wearing the long wool overcoat that U.S. troops were issued for winter wear. Reason being: you looked too much like a German soldier who was wearing the same kind of long wool overcoat.

 

[bannockburn]

A couple of less expensive ways to go in terms of look-alike WWII handguns would be an older Springfield Armory M1911A1 and a S&W M&P that is not a Victory model (no V prefix or U.S. Ordnance acceptance markings), but looks just like one.

 

[hso]

Nazi pickup or Brit trade style P-35/BHP would have the capacity and in blue with wood grips would be "authentic". The 13 round mags are readily available.