What gun did Winston Churchill carry ?

P

Ponty

New member
I was told Churchill,the famous
WWII British Prime Minister ( who
was half American ) carried an
auto pistol when he was a young
Lt.in the British Army, in 1899 .
The gun loaded like a rifle,
using stripper clips and fired
a cartridge with the highest
muzzle velocity around until the
357 Mag came along. What was it ??

Ponty
 
1896 Broomhandle Mauser.

Found it more useful than sword or lance in killing Sudanese tribesman,
esp. with a bad shoulder.

Charles Gordon could've use a few thousand.
 
During WWII, he reportedly carried a 1911 in his coat pocket. I also read that when the LW Commander came out, he bought one of the first ones and carried that in his coat pocket up until his death.
 
I just finished Sir Martin Gilbert's "CHURCHILL."

In it the Mauser is referenced, but it doesn't appear in the index, for some reason.

No reference is made to Churchill carrying a handgun later in life.

Churchill died in January 1965, and spent a good part of his last 10 years of life outside of England after he resigned as PM in 1955, either in France, North Africa, Italy, or the United States. A handgun would have been a boon in North Africa.
 
to curiousg

I am curious , couriousg. Where did you happen to find this infor on Churchill caring a .45. this is not a flame but a question of extreme curiousity. Maybe you have happened upon an interesting biography on the life of Churchill. If so I would like to know the title and author so that I could read it. Thank You.
 
He carried the same Mauser '96, in 7.63mm (.30) as a reporter during the Boer war until he was captured and it was taken from him.
His handgun ownership is recorded in public documents.
 
Discovered and old article by Massad Ayoob: "Sir Winston Churchill was a man who appreciated fine weapons. As a young officer he used a broomhandle Mauser to good effect. Later, however, he became a Colt man. British firearms historian Richard Law has unearthed some fascinating information with that regard.
Knowing he had been targeted by Hitler's agents for assassination, Churchill always went armed, his bodyguards notwithstanding. He kept a Thompson submachinegun loaded in a rack withing easy reach in his official limo. Discovering that his chief bodyguard carried a little .32 Webley, Churdhill ordered a new Colt Government Model .45 for his head of security.
A short time later, Churchill asked the lead bodyguard how he liked the new pistol. The man replied that he was still carrying the .32 because the Colt was too heavy. "Give it to me, then," snapped Churchill, as he shoved it into his overcoat. This became the great leader's personal carry gun until the end of the war.
 
Saw an interview on TV many years ago with Churchill's body guard. He said that Winny practiced with the 1911 regularly. According to the guard, quote "If they got within 100 yards of the PM, they were dead men". Interviewer: "100 yards"? Guard: "100 bloody yards".
 
So it was a Mauser '96 that he
carried as a Commisioned Officer, a
Subaltern in the 4th Hussers.
Although an Officer he also was a
War Correspondent when he was
captured and sent to a prisioner
camp,from which he escaped.
I didn't know about the Colt
he carried during WWII. He was 66
years old when he became PM in 1940.
Ponty
 
A lesson in history

Now this was an enlightening thread! I had no idea that Churchill carried a Colt. But one must admit, the Mauser was a nice piece as well.
 
In the mid-1980's I was in London and toured the "Imperial War Museum," or something with a name like that. At any rate, it was the place where the Brits did some of their WWII strategic planning. (Maybe some of our English friends can chime in here.) At any rate, there was a 1911 pistol on display clearly labled as Winston Churchill's .45. :D
 
I've taken a tour of the underground war rooms, but I was 15 at the time and had no interest in firearms - so I don't remember seeing any firearms owned by Churchill :(
 
Clemson,

DEFINITELY the Cabinet War Rooms.

The Imperial War Museum is in, I believe, the former Soldier & Sailor's Hospital.

It's pretty hard to miss these sitting out front...

WNBR_15-42_mk1_Museum_pic.jpg
 
I have a framed photo of Churchill on my nightstand, cigar in place and holding a Thompson. The funny part is that in the photo he's slipping the drum magazine into place with the bolt forward.

Nice to know he liked the Colt.
 
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