The Liberator Pistol..

Liberator Pistol

The correct name for the Liberator Pistol is the "Flare Projector" Caliber .45 (FP-45). During 1942 over a six month period one million pistols were produced. Actual production of the pistol was about 11 weeks. Using that figure, 300 people produced a pistol with 23 parts every 6.6 seconds, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 11 weeks. This is probably the only pistol that could be made faster than it could be loaded. Loading takes about 10 seconds.
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Are there any reliable records of the Resistance in various countries actually using these?

 

Actually no reliable records exist, while there were hundred if not thousands of them supposedly dropped into France for the Resistance to use, it appears that the records show them not being used much at all. I mean they might have been used in some instances, but in very few documented cases.

Not a "bad idea" actually, a weapon to use to get a better one from the victims. But, really so "cheap" and questionable I wonder if they were used in more than the most extreme circumstances.

I could be wrong, but I don't doubt even the Resistance hesitated to fire the little buggers. Even people who fired them in "experimental" non-combat circumstances found their hands damaged, skin pinched, and fingers burned.

 

If I recall correctly, apparently the resistance members who received the pistol were supposed to use it to kill a German, and then use his weapon (hence the difficulty in reloading it - you use it to take one shot, then store it away somewhere).

From a practicality point of view, I have never really understood why this weapon was made. The gun was extremely inaccurate, so it would be necessary to get very close. If one could sneak up close enough to a German to ensure a direct hit, then wouldn't it be easier to take him out by more silent means (knife, rope, etc?) Surely the sound of a .45 round would alert his comrades, who would have had a surprise ready for the assassin.

File this one among the Kummlauf, Wind Cannon, Bat Bombs and other strange weapons of World War Two.

 

Oddly enough, and probably for the best, many people would rather use a firearm to kill someone than kill them with a knife or a rope. That seems a bit less "personal" somehow, whereas plunging a knife into a man's heart or throat, or garroting him is very "involved". Shooting the little gun, even at close range was less personal, a bit more impersonal if you will.

If you have to sneak up on, or engage someone in a conversation, and then pull a trigger is less traumatic to the person doing the killing. Killing with knives and ropes is just too hard for most humans to do. That is why "commandos" are elite units, it takes a particular type of personality to accomplish this type of killing, and most "normal" civilians don't have the trait.

At least that would be my guess.

 

FP-45 (Liberator / OSS Pistol / M1942 Pistol) - Single-Shot Pistol - History, Specs and Pictures - Military, Security, Civilian, Law Enforcement and Sporting Small Arms, Weapons and Equipment

http://www.rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/41/lid/3734 unbelievably historic "1,000,000" Liberator pistol, the last Liberator pistol ever produced.

 

Might anyone have detailed drawings of the parts of this firearm? I'm looking for a little more detail on it's internals.

Also, does anyone have any photos of what type of packaging they were in when they were dropped from the planes? How exactly did they drop them/get them into resistance hands, and over which period?

 

Liberator Pistol found this to the 1st part of your question...insides? not much to see in truth..

http://www.scribd.com/doc/8201899/liberator-pistol-blueprints

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_7_53/ai_n27260162/ below text from this link..read full story..
The pistol was dropped from planes in a box with the hollow butt being filled with 10 rounds of standard .45 ACP 230-grain FMJ ball ammunition. Added was a stick to push out fired cases and an instruction sheet.