4

THE PISTOL

ARGENTINA BERSA MODEL 383A

SPECIFICATIONS
Type: double action, semi-automatic Origin: FabricaRamos Mejia, Argentina Caliber: .380 ACP Barrel Length: 3.Sin

This small semi-automatic pistol was produced by the Argentinean firm of Ramos Mejia in three versions. The Model 323 was a single-action .32 ACP caliber, while the Models 383 and 383A (shown here) were .380 ACP caliber, single- and double-action , respectively. All had a 3.5in barrel with fixed sights and a seven-round , detachable box magazine.

HAFDASA ARMY MODEL 1927

SPECIFICATIONS
Type: semi-automatic pistol Origin: HAFDASA, Argentina Caliber: .4S ACP Barrel Length: Sin

HAFDASA (Hispano-Argentina Fabricas de Automoviles SA) was established in the early 1930s to manufacture a version of the .45in Colt M1911A1 semi-automatic for the Argentine Army. For unexplained reasons the company went out of business after only a few y ears.

BALLESTER-MOLINA SEMI-AUTOMATIC
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Semi-automatic pistol Origin: Ballester-Molina, Argentina Caliber: .4S ACP Barrel Length: Sin

Ballester-Malina took over production of this pistol from HAFDASA

(see previous

entry)

and made a few minor changes to the design.

These included a marginally longer slide and a butt sized for a slightly smaller hand. The only visual distinction between the HAFDASA and Ballester-Malina weapons is that the former has the standard Colt regular finger grips on the slide, whereas those on the latter are irregularly spaced. A small number of Ballester Molinas were purchased by the British early in World War two and were issued to various clandestine organisations.

176

THE REVOLVER

REMINGTON NEW MODEL POCKET REVOLVER

SPECIFICATIONS
Type: five-shot single-action revolver Origin: Remington Armory, Ilion, New York. Caliber: . 31 Barrel Length: see text

After the Civil War, Remington brought o Remington-Beal pocket models. The revolver had a sma frame and unguarded spur trigger, but still had the typical

this popular series of pocket revolvers to replace - -

Remington outline. Early production was percussion type, bu later models were made to fire a rimfire cartridge. Some 26,000 were made in 3 inch, 3.5inch, 4 inch and 4.5 inch barrel lengths.

Many percussion models were also factory-modified to fire cartridges as well.

REMINGTON-KITTREDGE CONVERSION REVOLVERS

SPECIFICATIONS
Type: five-shot single-action revolver Origin: Remington Armory, Ilion, New York. Caliber: .46 Barrel Length: Bin

As the Civil War was coming to an end, it was clear that the metallic cartridge had superseded the percussion mechanism and was the way of the future. As far as revolvers were concerned, Rollin White's 1855 patent prevented manufacturers from legally using a bored-through cylinder in new or converted weapons until 1869. Smith and Wesson had bought the rights to the patent from W hite, and had an almost exclusive market until 1868. Remington signed an agreement with Smith and Wesson in 1868 which allowed them to convert some 4,500 New Model Army large-calibre percussion revolvers to fire .46 rimfire cartridges. Complete with a new five shot cylinder they were mainly sold via the Kittredge company of Cincinnati, Ohio. Kitteridge, Smith and Wesson, Rollins W hite and Remington all had a cut of the sales price. Note that the under-barrel ram was left in place on this conversion.

RIFLES AND LONGARMS

189

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY LEGLER TRAPDOOR ScHOTZEN RIFLE

SPECIFICATIONS
Type: target rifle Origin: A. Legler, Neustadt Caliber: 9.5m m Barrel Length: 29.5in

A typical "Schlitzen" target rifle, made in Austria by "A. Legler in Neustadt."

LORENZ MODEL 1854 RIFLE MUSKET

SPECIFICATIONS
Type: rifled percussion musket Origin: Austro-Hungarian state arsenals Caliber: .54 or .58 Barrel Length: n/k

This weapon was designed by Lieutenant Joseph Lorenz of the Imperial Austro-Hungarian Army and entered service with the army in 1854. W hen the Civil War broke out purchasers from both the Union and the Confederacy scoured Europe looking for firearms of any sort, and as the Lorenz was being replaced by the Model1862 rifle in Austro-Hungarian service, many thousands were readily available. As a result, the Model1854 Lorenz rifled musket was widely used by both sides; the Union bought some 225,000 and the Confederacy approximately 100,000.

There were a number of variations among these imported weapons. Some were .54 caliber, others .58, and there were also different types of sight. The weapon was well-liked and was considered as accurate as the more widely used Enfield, although it tended to suffer from fouling. The first weapon seen here is .54 caliber with walnut stock and is in generally good condition. The second is in .58 caliber.

384 SPORTING AND COMBAT SHOTGUNS

AUSTRIA
FRANz SoniA OvER-AND-UNDER
------

SPECIFICATIONS
Type: over-and-under shotgun Origin: Franz Sodia ]agdgewehrfabrik,

Franz Sodia was a noted Austrian gunmaker, who made shotguns from 1934 onwards. Following World War Two, he re-established his business in 1947 and this is an excellent example of his work. It is a twin barrel shotgun in an over-and-under configuration, with a three-piece forearm and a very blond walnut butt stock with a white line recoil pad. The action is covered with deep-relief engraving, with a rabbit scene on the left side and a capercaillie on the right, and a woodcock on the bottom. It has a 15 inch pull and the barrels have 2.5 inch chambers.

Ferlach, Austria
Caliber: 16 gauge Barrel Length: two 28 inch

FRANZ SODIA SINGLE-BARREL TRAP SHOTGUN

SPECIFICATIONS
Type: single-barrel trap shotgun

This beautifully finished singe-barrel shotgun has a vent-ribbed 34 inch barrel and highly polished walnut stock and forearm. The box lock action is engraved with games scenes- dog and pheasants on the left and ducks on the right. The stock has a high comb and is fitted with a Pachmay r white-line recoil pad.

Origin: Franz Sodia ]agdgewehrfabrik,

Ferlach, Austria
Caliber: 12 gauge Barrel Length: 34in

FRANZ SODIA COMBINATION RIFLE/SHOTGUN

This combination rifle/shotgun would often be known as a "cape gun," but perhaps that term was not used in Germany. The weapon was made in Austria before World War Two and was confiscated by a U.S. officer in 1945 and brought back to the United States, where it has remained ever since. It
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: combination rifle/shotgun Origin: Franz Sodia

consists of a 6.5mm caliber rifle and a 16 caliber shotgun, with cocking indicators on top of the action. There is a bead sight on the muzzle and a two-leaf rearsight - one standing, one folding. There is deep-relief engraving with much scrollwork; there are game scenes on the side plates, a roe-buck on the right and flying woodcock on the left. Unusually, the owners of the gun have managed to retain its original leather muzzle cover.

]agdgewehrfabrik, Ferlach, Austria

Caliber: 6.5mm/12 gauge Barrel Length: 27in

482

MACHINE GUNS

BELGIUM FN 5.56MM MINIMI

SPECIFICATIONS
Type: light machine gun Origin: Fabrique Nationale (FN), Herstal, Belgium Caliber: 5.56mm Barrel Length: 18.4in

Fabrique Nationale (FN) made a long line of successful weapons, and the 5.56mm Minimi joined this veritable coterie. Development of the weapon started in the early 1960s and it was originally designed around the 5.56 x 45mm M913 round, but this was changed to the 5.56 x 45mm SS109. Prototypes appeared in the early 1970s but the long development work did not translate into production until the early 1980s. The Minimi uses gas operation and a rotating bolt, which is locked into place by a patented FN system. The weapon is belt-fed, with the belt normally housed in a large, lightweight, 200round plastic box, which is secured underneath, immediately in front of the trigger. The Minimi Para was designed for use by paratroops and features a shorter

barrel (13.7in long) and a telescopic butt. A Minimi Mark 2 has now been developed, which incorporates a number of minor improvements (such as a folding cocking handle). This is intended to make the gun easier to handle without changing its major features or any lo in component interchangeability. The weapon has been adopted by many armed forces, including those of Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Indonesia, Italy, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates. Production of this highly successful weapon also takes place in Australia (as the Type 89 Minimi) and in the USA (as the M249 SAW). The Minimi is normally fired from its integral bipod, but tripod is also available for use in the sustained fire role.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA ZB 33
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: light machine gun Origin: Ceska Zbrojovka, Brno, Czechoslovakia Caliber: 0.303in Barrel Length: 25.0in

derived from the fact that the Brno factory adopted the initials ZB for its international dealings. The factory had been established in 1923 and had begun experiments with a prototype automatic within a year. Vaclac Holek, a genius in the field, designed the gun. Holek had started as an ordinary workman in the factory, but he had risen rapidly. The Czechoslovakian Army's request for a new light automatic gave him his chance. Holek's design team included his brother Emmanuel and two expatriate Poles, Marek and Podrabsky. The gun the team produced was gas operated, with a piston working to a tilting breechblock, an easily removed barrel, and a vertical box magazine. It was chambered for the rimless 7.92mm German ammunition round. After exhaustive

The British Army held a series of trials in 1932 to select a new light machine gun to replace the venerable Lewis. The ZB 26 from Czechoslovakia was a late entry and a surprise winner. The gun cla

498

SUBMACHINE GUNS

AUSTRALIA OWEN
Australia found herself in a vulnerable position when Japan entered World War II. Most of her small army was already engaged in the Middle East theater and her vast and sparsely populated country presented an extremely attractive target to a warlike race seeking greater living room. Although there was a well established arms factory already active at Lithgow, Australia was not a particularly industrialized nation at this time, but was forced to step up her production of arms as a matter of urgent necessity. One of the country's first efforts was the Australian Sten, which (rather inevitably) became known as the Austen. But although this was by no means a bad weapon, it never won popularity with the Australian army. The first locally designed submachine gun was the brainchild of Lieutenant E. Owen of the Australia Army. It was adopted in November 1941 and put into production immediately. This was a well-made weapon, if a little on the heavy side, and was an immediate success with the Australian troops. It was of a fairly orthodox
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: submachine gun Origin: Lithgow, Australia Caliber: 9mm

design and its point-of-balance was immediately above the pistol grip, which meant that it could be fired single-handed if necessary. The magazine was vertically above the gun and although this involved offset sights the idea was popular because it helped when moving through thick cover. Some early versions of the weapon had cooling fins on the barrel but this was found to be unnecessary and was discontinued. All Owens were camouflaged after 1943. A later, prototype version (Mark

2)

was fitted with a different method of

attaching the butt, and a bayonet lug above the muzzle compensator to receive a special tubular-haft bayont"t. Overall, weight was also reduced to 7.6lb.

CHINA TYPE 50

As was typical of the weapons used by Communist China, their submachine gun Type 50 had its origins in a weapon first produced by the Soviet Union, in this particular case the PPSh 41. As with most other aggressive nations, the Russians soon saw the necessity for mass-produced weapons, and the new gun was made largely from heavy gauge stampings that were welded, pinned, and brazed as necessary. The gun had a normal blowback mechanism and the interior of the barrel was chromed; this was a fairly common Soviet device. One of the most distinctive features of the gun was that the front end of the perforated

SPECIFICATIONS
Type: submachine gun Origin: Chinese state arsenal Caliber: 7.62mm Barrel Length: 1 0.8in