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Details: Created: 13 December 2015

handguns

I spent an enjoyable afternoon plinking with the thoroughly modern but heavy Walther P-38. About the only thing about the P-38 that isn't modern is that it is made out of steel instead of polymer. The double action/single action operation is on par with modern pistols... a round can be carried in the chamber with the hammer down safely, and being put into action by just pulling the trigger.

The P-38 simplified construction compared the German Army's previous handgun, the Luger P08. The Luger's parts were incredibly complicated and it took forever to build one. The P-38 halved the time, but it was still more complicated to build than the Allies sidearm, the Browning M1911.

This particular gun was built in 1945 by the Carl Walther plant in Zella-Mehlis. The numbers are mismatched, and this has been noticed in other Walther marked guns from 1945. The plant was captured by the Allies in April of '45, and you can imagine the workers cranking out guns while being bombed in the last days of the war.

The finish isn't bad for a late wartime gun, it has no import stamps but has some visible tooling marks. Shoots great, and it carries 8 shots plus one in the chamber. You could use this gun for self defense safely, but for concealed carry it is pretty heavy.

Details: Created: 10 October 2010

places

Originally published on 10/10/2010

The Birmingham UK website reveal the once mighty and proud works at Birmingham Small Arms stands lonely and derelict today. The thriving manufacturer produced arms for the British Government from 1860 thru the 2 World Wars. BSA was also the Worlds largest manufacturer of motorcycless in the 1960's. The company built just about everything before it's final demise. Today, air rifles and shotguns are built at one of the old plants by BSA GUNS, but the real brand rights belong to the BSA Regal Group, a group of engineering companies in Southampton.

the old BSA buildings

Update: 12/5/2015

Things are looking up for the old BSA buildings. BSA Guns is still there, and the main building has been taken over by MSL Performance, a high end automobile performance tuning center. The building has been rehabbed and the building has taken on a new life.

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Author Greg Pfeiffer

The Snider Rifle 10/7/21

From: fred walter

hello: were the 1870 snider cavalry carbines rare with checkered stock and engraved sidelock?

The Snider Bullet 11/20/17

From: John

Apologies for such a long delay Jesse but I lost the site. The use of 0.600" bullets is the modern choice but we have modern knowledge of how to do these things. Colonel Boxer had to work forwards from the previous muzzle loading bullets. It is hard to get that design to expand into the rifling when it depends upon the lead obturating upon itself with inertia when given the initial kick and the plug forcing forwards. It at this exact time that it is being restrained within the mouth of the case and then enters a throat wider than the bullet.

But for a reproduction of the original you have to go down that road. The 0.600" comes out of the case sized ready to enter the throat which is of similar diameter and is simply mechanically swaged down to 0.585" groove diameter at the rear of the rifling and emerges at 0.580" as the rifling groove depth reduces. I use the 0.600" in the brass Brazilian 24 bore shotgun case. FWIW at 50 metres I have yet to do better than a cut down 24 bore Fiocchi plastic shotgun case with a .600" round ball........

Swiss No4 powder seems to do the best job ob the original design these days but I use No5 now in the modern style. Your problem in making reproduction bullets is getting a mould that will give you the nose cavity which is essential in making them fly as they did back then. They first filled the cavity with a Sycamore plug, then just spun the nose lead over the cavity hole. William Metford developed the cavity to hold an explosive charge but filled it with charcoal powder for target shooting to show the shot more clearly. One can get a lightweight wall filler from DIY shops that would be a simple material to fill an open cavity. If you ever track down a mould make who can do both the base cavity and the nose cavity there are shooters who would gladly join in buying one I dare say.

The PHSADC Webley Fosbery 11/19/17

From: George

.455 no longer available from Fiochi or Hornady in the U.S. Unless someone starts making it available it's going to be a tough sell if you cannot purchase ammo off the shelf. HMS Tiptoe, where are you now? 11/9/17

From: Anne Adams

HELLO,
I remember the incident very well. My husband was in Tiptoe when she ran aground up the Clyde in 64. He was a leading operator. I also remember the article as well and the title. I thought it was written by the Sun newspaper but that did not launch until September of that year. The only newspapers that I remember the family having were the Mirror, The Mail and Express.
I did have a cutting in a scrapbook of the Tiptoe and also the other submarines my husband served on.
I will have a search but I think with the moving we did It may have got lost. If I find it I will certainly let you know. 150 pounder Armstrong Gun at West Point

150 pounder Armstrong Gun at West Point

150 pounder Armstrong Gun at West Poin The Snider Bullet 11/5/16

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Old German Guns.. the Walther P-38

The original BSA buildings today

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