.45 acp Liberator

$1,400 to $5,000

My two-year-old Fjestad's Blue Book of Gun Values puts the price at $1,400 for a 10% condition model to $3,250 for a 95% model. It did not list prices for 98% or 100%. The original paraffin-coated cardboard box adds $600 to $800 and the original black & whit instruction sheet (graphics only, so the language or literacy of the user would be irrelevant) adds $400 to $600. The wood ejector rod, spacer and the as-issued 10 rounds of ammunition was not referenced.

Fjestad also provides these tidbits of information: A million were made in only 10 to 11 weeks in 1942. Most were dropped into the Phillippines and China. It is the only pistol that could be manufactured (6.6 sec) faster than it could be loaded (10 sec)

As for myself, even though it is a tantalizing bit of history (an official, government approved zip gun), I would rather carry a Semmerling for only a couple grand more.

Or maybe the WSP Downsizer. A 45 ACP that fits inside a standard playing card.

Check out this thread
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229949


Good luck.

Lost Sheep
 
Any information on how many were actually sent to China and the Philippines as opposed to produced and not deployed?

A truly fascinating gun
 
Liberator

The plan behind the use of the Liberator was as interesting as the gun. The gun was designed as a way to get other guns, in theory at least. The Liberator's smoothbore barrel and stamped construction rendered it fairly useless beyond very close range. The idea was to kill the enemy up close and take his firearm.
I'd like to have a chance to fire one. I wonder how many were actually used.
Pete
 
For those who might be interested in one, at more reasonable prices, there is an ad for new made, working "replicas" in the current issue of SGN (p.117).

Links to here....

www.vintageordnance.com/

look under "current projects"
 
HERE'S a "range report" I did on one of mine a few years back.

Here's one currently on gunbroker with no reserve and a day to go still. From what I've seen, they will typically bring $1500 and up, depending on condition, and accessories. An original box will nearly double the value, and the original instructions will add $250-$500.
 
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Good write-up. I always enjoy reading range reports from regular people.:)

It seemed precise for a little stamped disposable gun. Accuracy is not going to be good on a non-rifled pinky-fingered length barrel. However, the grouping was impressive. I think that once you knew how off p.o.a. it shot, it wouldn't be too hard using "Kentucky (or in this case Kraut-tucky) Windage" to it a target. Based on that particular example, if you aimed for his heart, you probably would have gotten a head shot. Which without a helmet or in the face would still definitely get the job done. Very nice.

Being a bit of a WWII history fan, I was excited to see a reproduction of this gun being made. That went away when I saw the $600 price tag. I wonder how many of those will get beaten up and sold as originals by crooks at gun shows?
 
The repros are pretty easy to tell, because they have rifled barrels. The originals with smooth bores have been exempted from short barreled shotgun status, but the repros have not, so they have to have rifled barrels.

EdInk said:
Being a bit of a WWII history fan, I was excited to see a reproduction of this gun being made. That went away when I saw the $600 price tag.
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I agree that they probably won't sell very many at that price, and I think that's exactly what will make it every bit the collector's item that the originals are, and maybe even more so in a decade or two.
 
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No kidding, hoss.

I'd buy one if it were around the cost of a hi-point.

But the hi-point is an elegant piece of machinery compared to a Liberator. If they can't make and sell them for a profit at that price point... they're doing something wrong.

That's a malicious markup, IMO.
 
Jbar4Ranch, I just read your range report, and thanks to Herr Rolf for lending his face for the exercise. Not bad accuracy considering it was intended for point blank use.

And brave firing the thing.
 
That's a malicious markup, IMO.
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here here!

i was pulling out my credit card until i saw the price...

but i love this from the website
...WE STRONGLY ADVISE OUR CUSTOMERS NOT TO TAKE THEIR DREMEL TOOL AND A 1/16” BIT AND DRILL THE FIRING PIN HOLE THE REST OF WAY THROUGH BECAUSE THIS WILL RENDER THE PISTOL FULLY OPERATIONAL....
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its like, dont do this, but im gonna give you the exact tool you need and the knowhow!

DO NOT TOUCH THE RED BUTTON!!!, seriously dont do it. i mean it DONT.
red_button.png
 
I looked at the site with available replicas of the Liberator because of curiosity of what it was and why would anyone do that.

In visiting historical places I have seen structures and equipment which replicates the original and I’ve never been positively impressed by these. I would rather see the rotten remains of an original rafter rather than a beautiful complete replica of Trapper Tom’s cabin from 1750.

Replicas have no value to me.

Why would anyone pay $600 for a few pieces of sheet metal with absolutely no historical significance?
 
For those who might be interested in one, at more reasonable prices, there is an ad for new made, working "replicas" in the current issue of SGN (p.117).

Links to here....

www.vintageordnance.com/

look under "current projects"
Click to expand...
These are not shootable as shipped. The firing pin hole has to be drilled out.

Though our reproduction is sold as a firearm and exceeds the mechanical strength of the original through the use of superior materials and vastly tighter chamber and headspace tolerances, WE STRONGLY ADVISE CUSTOMERS NOT TO FIRE THE PISTOL. During production in 1942, several examples were taken from the assembly line to test under repetitive fire. Reports indicated that after 50 rounds of service ball ammunition the testers felt the weapons were no longer safe to fire. They were simply never designed handle a steady diet of powerful .45 ACP. They were made to fire ten rounds. They are what they are.

The original FP-45 is a clever and efficiently designed weapon but it has never received any accolades for operational safety. Once it is loaded, the only safe way to handle it is with the zinc cocking piece turned fully 90% to the right or left so that the rear corner of the pistol’s grip frame will prevent it from rotating into firing position. If the cocking piece is re-aligned and the guide pin inserted through the hole in the cover slide as illustrated in the original instructions, THE PISTOL IS COCKED AND READY TO FIRE. IF DROPPED IN THIS STATE, IT COULD EASILY DISCHARGE CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH. Some worn original guns will have no mechanical means to hold the zinc cocking piece securely in the safe 90 degree position because the bottom of the firing pin boss is worn off from repetitive careless scrapping across the steel frame. There is no safe way to handle these pistols. A loaded pistol should never be un-cocked by lowering the zinc cocking piece when it is aligned in firing position. To do so would place the firing pin, under spring pressure, directly on top of the primer of the chambered cartridge. IF THE PISTOL WAS JARRED OR DROPPED IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY TO DISCHARGE.

In light of the above mentioned facts relating to the relative safety of the FP-45 in general, we will not drill the firing pin hole completely through the cover slide. Therefore, our reproduction as shipped is technically incapable of firing and significantly safer than the original pistol. WE STRONGLY ADVISE OUR CUSTOMERS NOT TO TAKE THEIR DREMEL TOOL AND A 1/16” BIT AND DRILL THE FIRING PIN HOLE THE REST OF WAY THROUGH BECAUSE THIS WILL RENDER THE PISTOL FULLY OPERATIONAL. VINTAGE ORDNANCE IS NOT LIABLE FOR INJURY OR DEATH RESULTING FROM PURCHASERS MODIFYING OUR PRODUCT IN THIS UNAPPROVED MANNER.
 
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