Up for auction: 1958 S&W Modlel 41: Nice.

It's auction time again at Rock Island

Here are some of my picks...



Now is your chance to get a 1958 S&W Model 41 serial #4219. The Model 41 serial # started at 1,401 in 1957 which they made 679 units. Then in 1958 they made 9,875 units making this one an early 1958 model.

I'd like to get my hands on that one. Drool!

They also have an even older one without the fancy target grips:


A nice Colt Ace:

This is a Colt Ace that was manufactured in 1933. The pistol has the Colt commercial blue finish, checkered walnut grips and a magazine stamped: "COLT/ACE/.22 L R" on the floor plate. The barrel is blued with a polished chamber. The pistol has an adjustable target rear sight and half moon front sight. Standard markings on the slide, with "99" on the right side of the trigger guard, checkered trigger, wide hammer, and arched mainspring housing.

Now for some of the odder firearms for sale.

They have a WTF gun for sale.

Handmade, single shot pistol allegedly used by the French, but writer believes it to be Vietcong. It is a crudely constructed handmade piece with a three piece frame hammered and welded together. The trigger guard can be unfastened from the front strap and swings forward for an unknown reason. The barrel is part round and the bore is tapered much like that for a rifle round. The barrel release is mounted on both sides of the frame and the barrel tips upward at the breech. The hammer and trigger are large and crudely made and the pistol is fitted with checkered two piece grips. The right side of the frame is marked "5411" and there is a crude zigzag pattern on most of the pistol. The pistol fires in single action only.

I like the pictures.

Here's an nice General Motors FP-45 Liberator Model 3 Single Shot Pistol



Produced by the Guide Lamp Division of General Motors from 1942-1945, the Liberator was issued the nomenclature "Flare Pistol, 45 Caliber" in order to obscure it's true purpose; to be airdropped in occupied territories and be used to eliminate a German soldier and steal his weapon. Given the smooth bore and crude sights, this was a task best performed from immediately behind while the soldier was alone. This is a Model Three, three hole model that was made from sheet metal stampings that were spot welded together on top of the smooth bore barrel, and fitted with a cast zinc cocking knob with integral guide pin. The grip is hollow to store additional rounds, and fitted with a replacement homemade cover.

Here's a gun I like to cal "Mr. Nasty":

One of the more interesting arms of the Western era, the Apache serves as a pinfire revolver, brass knuckles, and a trench knife style fighting blade. Manufactured without sights, the frame and knuckle section are constructed from solid German silver, with a steel cylinder and small parts. The front right side of the frame is marked "L. DOLNE INVur" under the serial number, and both sides of the frame are nearly covered in a checkered and dotted pattern. Scrollwork and zig-zag lines are present on alternating chambers of the cylinder, and the top strap shows a floral design in a matte panel flanked by leaves. More floral patterns are present on the knuckle section, with a set of three bouquets on either side, and a total of seven flowers in individual matte panels on the contact surface/ backstrap. Equipped with a folding trigger, bobbed hammer, and a 2 1/4" kris-pattern knife blade.

A "Purse Revolver". Wow, never seen one of these ever.

The Frankenau was designed to serve as both a change purse and a defensive revolver. The outer case is made from silver finished brass, with "FRANKENAU'S PATENT." on top, the folding trigger on the underside between the hinges, a hinged muzzle cover on one end, and a leather covered compartment on either side. The right side compartment has a spring loaded latch, which opens up to reveal the change purse section, complete with leather accordion style divider. Opening the left side reveals the pinfire revolver, London proofed, with a five-round cylinder, bobbed hammer, left side loading gate, and a "crown/Z" proof on the rear of the frame. Mounted inside the cover is a ramrod with a spring loaded retainer, along with a set of holes in the area of the muzzle, which do not continue through the leather. A bar extends from the muzzle cover to the trigger; opening the cover pushes the trigger out of its slot for easy access, and putting the trigger back closes the cover. Though the arm lacks sights, the most likely use of the revolver (an assailant demanding your money, followed by a bullet to the chest when pretending to hand the purse over, optionally followed by a one liner like "keep the change") makes this a minimal handicap.

More interesting firearms:

Squeeze Palm Pistol

Four Barrel Pocket Pistol

Minnesota Firearms Protector Palm Pistol

Knuckleduster Revolver

Squeeze-Fire Palm Pistol

Umbrella Pepperbox Dirk