The Army Service Pistol Trials of 1954

Having read that the Army Trials for a new service pistol were the impetus for designing the original M59 I have been searching the internet for any reports on it.

Since they weren't conducted, there is good reason for not finding anything other than the continued and oft repeated statement the gun was made to compete for a new issue service pistol to apparently replace the 1911. Being born in 1953 and my father stationed in Korea at the time, I have some understanding why those trials were cancelled. But the startup and defining of specifications for features and performance would be interesting. If there had been no Korean "Police Action" we might be collecting another Smith model or more with US Government Property on them.

Are their any sources, links or books on the subject?

The Model 39, not 59. What would become the Model 39 several years later was then known simply as "The 9mm". The Model 59 was developed from the Model 39 in the early 1970s. Either it was in response to the military requirement for the gun known as the "Hush Puppy", or if it pre-ceded the Hush Puppy I am not sure, and being late I am not disposed to research this point in the SCSW.

History of Smith & Wesson by Roy Jinks, page 242..."S&W supplied five steel frame single action pistols chambered in 9 mm to the U. S. Army on July 11, 1953 for testing at the Springfield Armory". Interest by the Army stagnated and the test data were only exchanged between the Armory and S&W.

S&W continued work a double action (first shot) 9 mm pistol which eventually became the Model 39.

Bill

Which implies that S&W was submitting to the criteria of the gun being a 9mm, not .45ACP.

Something I've been trying to determine, as so little information seems to exist. Therefore, I stand corrected, my unfamiliarity with Smiths and their numbering having tripped me up. Model 39.

So, we are actually considering moving to 9mm that early? Was this in accordance with - ?

One, we know NATO started in April of 1949, which was about when S&W is reported to have started development of the M39. The gun was initially based on the Walther P38, and not the only German design to be used as the basis for US weapons in the 1950's and 60's. Winning nations tend to do that, as the AK reputedly was 'birthed' by examples of the Stg44 getting into Soviet hands.

Lots of post war weapons development going on then.

Thanks for the quote as now I have something more than what the internet was willing to provide. I suspect a lot the relevant info is simply not online and will have to be deduced, or taken word of mouth.

It's been over 62 years.

S&W is still making the gun. 3Gen, sure, the M16 isn't quite that old.

Another bit of info came out of hiding as Colt announced their new models, including a new Lightweight Commander in 9mm and .45ACP.

The article I read in the American Rifleman mentioned that the original Commander was developed for - the Army Pistol Trials of 1954. It seems that some of the requirements they conformed to were the cartridge, 9mm, and the barrel length, 4.25 inches, which is the same as the early M39's. While we are still dealing with second hand sources the information seems consistent.

One of the features touted by the writer was that the Commander was the first alloy lower receiver - Coltalloy, making it the first aluminum one. I leave it to the more well read historians to verify but it didn't take other gunmakers long to follow up with that.

The 1950s were an interesting time of gun development, and a lot of innovation and new materials concepts came out of it at the industrial fabrication level. Not only aluminum, but forged aluminum receivers were designed, and Remington did their research on the Nylon 66 in the late 1950's, too. A polymer framed rifle which basically had cosmetic sideplates to cover up the resin around the lockworks.

There is more to tell of the Trials of 1954, what is known seems to leak out from various sources who tell us details but only as embellishment to another subject.

Both Colt and Hi-Standard had forged aluminum receivers made by Alcoa for pistols in 1949. Colt had their commander model. Hi-Standard had the LW-100 and Flite King models in pistols. Also, the upper receivers for the Hi-Standard Olympic and the Flite King 22 shorts were aluminum.

The only thing I could find so far is from "Small Arms of the World", ninth edition, 1969, Smith.

In the back, there is a small section on civilian sporting guns. under the entry for the S&W 39, it states,

"Designed in the early 50's for U.S. Army lightweight-pistol tests, the M39 was introduced commercially after those tests terminated." The rest of the entry is standard description and stats.

I did find a mention in "The Gun Digest Book of 9mm Handguns", 1st ed, 1986, Grennell and Clapp.

There's an article on S&W 9mm autos. In passing, it mentions,

"Pre-production prototypes had featured a double action trigger. They were evaluated by the military, which requested a single-action trigger system. The factory complied with a pistol that they thought would get a military contract. It didn't and Smith & Wesson never put the single-action version into production."

I do have a 1959 Gun Digest which does list the "9mm automatic" under S&W in the catalog section. It gives prices for both the single-action ($70.00) and the double-action($75.00). This supports the SCSW entry about the model 44, etc.

The most I've managed to find is in "Modern Beretta Firearms", 1994, Gene Gangarosa jr.

It has the most comprehensive account of the XM9 trials that I've been able to find, but it also has a decent account of previous attempts by the US to adopt a 9mm, including the JSSAP trials of 1979, and a small mention of the 1950's trial.

It's too long to quote, but basically it says the S&W was tested by Springfield Armory starting in July 1953. Alongside the S&W were an entry from Colt, named the T4 (the Army at the time used "T" numbers for experimental items in the same manner it uses "XM" these days), a pistol from High Standard called the T3, and a Canadian pistol modified from the Browning High Power.

I've seen a picture of the Canadian Inglis HP that was tested. The H-S T3 has some pics floating on the net. The Colt T4 does as well.

Check this video out, as he mentions the trials, and shows a T4:The National Firearms Museum Takes A Look At Rare 9mm Handguns - The Firearm Blog

Note the mention of a book by Scott Medows that has detailed info on the trials.

Army Service Pistol

tirod - Having read that the Army Trials for a new service pistol were the impetus for designing the original M59 I have been searching the internet for any reports on it.



Seems politics are in the play. Read the two links.

Army Moves Ahead with Pistol Program Despite Chief's Pushback | Military.com

Drop the Pretense and Declare the Sig P320 As The Army’s Next Handgun – Bearing Arms

There's more:

Google

Pocchr said:

Seems politics are in the play. Read the two links.

Click to expand...

A politician needs to ask questions. I mean the straightforward path is order 287000 Glock 19's for 91 mil and be done with it. Or we drag this out for years and if we decide to go forward spend 350 mil to do the same thing.

shocker said:

A politician needs to ask questions. I mean the straightforward path is order 287000 Glock 19's for 91 mil and be done with it. Or we drag this out for years and if we decide to go forward spend 350 mil to do the same thing.

Click to expand...

"The spice must flow"

Yes, tests are always fraught with politics. The ultimate decision in 1955 was to shelve all effort and keep the 1911. 2.5 million of them in inventory was no doubt a significant issue. Another was that the pistol isn't considered an important weapon.

I picked up my copy of George Nonte's work, Combat Handguns, published by Stackpole, 2d Printing Aug of 1981. Lo and behold of course he describes the history of the 1954 Army Trials.

I paraphrase in my own words:
In short, Colt and Hi Standard jumped on the opportunity. S&W was reluctant as revolvers were their mainstay. The Ordnance Technical Committee released specifications in 1947 which included a 25 ounce weight and maximum length of 7 inches. Double action was required, in 9mm.

The submitted pistols from Colt included 9mm and .45 calibers, with early Commander style guns, the Colt T4, and the High Standard T3. They shared a large strap trigger guard that hinged for winter use. The Colt T4 has a particular style that could sell to this day. Hi Powers from Inglis were also submitted.

S&W changed course and submitted when C. R. Hellstrom was elected President, with Joe Norman lead engineer. The first prototypes were designatied X46, in 1948, with an aluminum frame delivered later in 1949. Original X46's had a grip angle of 25 degrees instead of the later production 15 degrees.

There were 31 X-numbered guns delivered up to 1954 in various alloys, steels, and features. After production started he notes there were 10 single actions made.

Wonder where those are today?

All facts are from Nonte's work but I accept any errors I may have introduced. Of the pictures in that portion of the chapter, there aren't any prototype S&W's, just one of a production model 39. He does go on to say that the model 39 has "the best overall design shape and sizing. Aesthetically as well as mechanically, it is a very pleasing weapon to handle."

I kinda think he was a fan.

I met his daughter in the 1980s serving as a LT, she seemed a capable and no nonsense type of person who would maker her father proud. George Nonte was quite the gunsmith, author, and retired from the Army as Major, Ordnance Corps. At the time he was already writing over 100 articles a year for magazines and publications, including his own books. As he was in the loop to some degree during his early career years it would go to being at least somewhat informed and more than capable of calling those in the know who could give relevant background information.

Just sitting there on the shelf, all I had to do was pick up the book. When doing historical research of that era - or anything pre 1999 - books are the norm and turning some pages is necessary. Goes to the lack of much about it on the internet. Perhaps some day when all the books in the world are scanned in we could do that, but it's going to be a long while. Like celluloid films time takes it's toll and we lose things making the transition.

Scott Meadows' book, U.S. Military Automatic Pistols, 1945-2012 describes the trials and has pictures of six of the High Standard prototypes (T3), two of the Colt prototypes (T4) and four of the S&W prototypes.

It is interesting to note, in 1954 the 7.62x51mm cartridge was adopted as the NATO standard rifle round. The "adoption" of this cartridge was forced upon NATO members by the US. As a concession to NATO, the US stated that they would adopt the 9mm as the NATO standard for pistol ammunition. I'm sure these 9mm handgun trials by the Army were their start into the world of adopting the 9mm handgun cartridge to the US Army.