*EXTREMELY RARE OSS LIBERATOR PISTOL COMPLETE AS ISSUED.

*EXTREMELY RARE OSS LIBERATOR PISTOL COMPLETE AS ISSUED. SN NONE. Cal. 45 ACP. Small, compact single shot pistol manufactured in 1942 by the Guide Lamp Division of General Motors. The pistols are made of stamped sheet metal, spot welded together with a 4″ stepped smooth bore bbl, crude fixed sights with a simple striker firing mechanism that has a heavy zinc striker head. The OSS (Office of Strategic Services) was the clandestine predecessor to today’s CIA and the primary American agency running agents and disinformation programs against the Axis powers during the war. They came up with the idea to produce a cheap but effective single shot pistol to drop behind the lines to partisans to be used to obtain better quality weapons from the enemy. In May of 1942 the Government signed a contract with General Motors for 1 million of these pistols which General Motors was able to complete in just about four weeks at a cost of $1.72 each. The pistols were then packaged in a waxed, waterproof carton with a cartoon-like wordless instruction sheet, 10-rds of ammunition and a small dowel to be used as an ejector for the empty cases. Most of the entire production was shipped to England and the Pacific but little is known of their actual use. It is reported that most of the pieces shipped to England were never used and after the war were melted down for scrap. Obviously any that were dropped behind enemy lines were probably all lost and with the destruction of the shipments to England, very few survive today, especially complete units. Accompanied by its orig waxed cardboard carton with a line drawing of the pistol on top. Carton contains the pistol, a small Kraft colored box with 10-rds of brass cased 45 ACP ball ammunition head stamped “FA/42” in the bottom and a small tray in the top which contains the orig folded instruction sheet that when folded correctly displays the word “INSTRUCTIONS”. Also in the carton is its orig 5-1/4″ x 5/16″ birch dowel. The pistols themselves are rare but a complete set as issued is extremely rare. CONDITION: Pistol is new & unfired retaining a gray metal satin finish with some minor light discoloration on the bbl. Mechanics are crisp, strong clean bore. Box is open and shows moderate edge wear with some very minor losses on the flat. Cartridge box is very fine with slightly fuzzed edges. Ammunition is bright and the instruction sheet is pristine. Dowel is equally new. 4-42619 JR92 (3,500-5,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1163	$4,600.00	EXTREMELY RARE OSS LIBERATOR PISTOL COMPLETE AS ISSUED. SN NONE. Cal. 45 ACP. Small, compact single shot pistol manufactured in 1942 by the Guide Lamp Division of General Motors. The pistols are made of stamped sheet metal, spot welded together with a 4″ stepped smooth bore bbl, crude fixed sights with a simple striker firing mechanism that has a heavy zinc striker head. The OSS (Office of Strategic Services) was the clandestine predecessor to today’s CIA and the primary American agency running agents and disinformation programs against the Axis powers during the war. They came up with the idea to produce a cheap but effective single shot pistol to drop behind the lines to partisans to be used to obtain better quality weapons from the enemy. In May of 1942 the Government signed a contract with General Motors for 1 million of these pistols which General Motors was able to complete in just about four weeks at a cost of $1.72 each. The pistols were then packaged in a waxed, waterproof carton with a cartoon-like wordless instruction sheet, 10-rds of ammunition and a small dowel to be used as an ejector for the empty cases. Most of the entire production was shipped to England and the Pacific but little is known of their actual use. It is reported that most of the pieces shipped to England were never used and after the war were melted down for scrap. Obviously any that were dropped behind enemy lines were probably all lost and with the destruction of the shipments to England, very few survive today, especially complete units. Accompanied by its orig waxed cardboard carton with a line drawing of the pistol on top. Carton contains the pistol, a small Kraft colored box with 10-rds of brass cased 45 ACP ball ammunition head stamped “FA/42” in the bottom and a small tray in the top which contains the orig folded instruction sheet that when folded correctly displays the word “INSTRUCTIONS”. Also in the carton is its orig 5-1/4″ x 5/16″ birch dowel. The pistols themselves are rare but a complete set as issued is extremely rare. CONDITION: Pistol is new & unfired retaining a gray metal satin finish with some minor light discoloration on the bbl. Mechanics are crisp, strong clean bore. Box is open and shows moderate edge wear with some very minor losses on the flat. Cartridge box is very fine with slightly fuzzed edges. Ammunition is bright and the instruction sheet is pristine. Dowel is equally new. 4-42619 JR92 (3,500-5,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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