Page 368 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

366 PERSONAL WEAPONS ▶ COLT M1911A1

1914–1945 While the rifle was the prime weapon of the infantryman, other Date 1924 1 Recoil spring

Origin US
Weight 2 ⁄2lb (1.1kg)
troops, such as officers, NCOs, tank crews, and airmen, required something
Barrel 5in (12.7cm)
housing
more maneuverable for their personal protection. The solution to their
Caliber .45in ACP
all of which used the light but low-powered pistol round. In practice,
ARS requirement was provided by submachine-guns, pistols, and revolvers— Adopted in response to demands removable magazine
for a handgun with guaranteed
revolvers and pistols were rarely used in combat, but the submachine-gun,
Butt houses
stopping power, the Browning-
seven-round
which was light and had a high rate of automatic fire, proved to be a key
designed M1911A1 replaced the
M1911 of World War I. It was
weapon of World War II. It was particularly useful in close-combat
ORLD W conditions, such as house-clearing and jungle fighting. used by the US armed forces Receiver
during World War II and after.
machined from
solid steel billet
THE W
▶ THOMPSON M1921
Date 1921
Origin US Magazine
3
Weight 10 ⁄4lb (4.88kg) release catch
1
Barrel 10 ⁄2in (26.7cm)
Caliber .45 ACP
Nicknamed the “Tommy Gun,”
the Thompson submachine-gun
was an effective weapon but
expensive to manufacture and Forward
somewhat difficult to maintain. pistol grip

Rear pistol
grip

Eight-round
magazine
Winder for
clockwork
mechanism
▶ BROWNING GP35
▲ TOKAREV TT MODEL 1933 Date 1935
Date 1933 Origin Belgium
Origin Soviet Union Weight 35oz (990g)
50-ROUND
Weight 29 ⁄2oz (830g) DRUM MAGAZINE Barrel 4 ⁄4in (11.8cm)
1
3
1
Barrel 4 ⁄2in (11.6cm) Caliber 9mm Parabellum
▼ ASTRA M901
Caliber 7.62mm
Date 1927 A Browning-designed pistol, the
The Tokarev TT33 was the first Origin Spain GP35 was used by both Allies and
self-loading pistol to be issued 3 Germans during World War II.
to the Red Army. It lacked a Weight 4 ⁄4lb (2.1kg) It proved to be both rugged and
1
safety catch, but could be put Barrel 6 ⁄2in (16cm) reliable and continues in use today.
on half-cock. Caliber 7.63mm Mauser
This self-loading pistol was part of
the Astra 900 series, a copy of the
Schnellfeuer (“Rapidfire”) version
of the Mauser C/96. It had an
automatic-fire capability, but was
difficult to control in that mode.
20-round
fixed magazine