BarbC
Member
So what did it look like before it was dropped from a plane?
The Liberator Pistol is back!
- Thread starter n4zov
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smithcollector
Member
collectors firearms has 5 originals going for between 2600 & 3300. but i dont see myself getting the reproduction anytime soon
Joni_Lynn
US Veteran
Since you can't get original BoMar sights anymore it would be futile to convert one into a bullseye gun. Sorry.
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Jack Flash
Member
I wonder how long it will be before one of the custom gunsmith shops will offer a $1,000 tune up package and trigger job on these?
digi-shots
Member
Here's a pic I took of one a couple of years ago...it was among a collection of 50 or so guns that were for sale.
I really wish I had gotten it but someone else beat me to it. But at least I got to play with it a little bit.
You can't buy 'em all!
I really wish I had gotten it but someone else beat me to it. But at least I got to play with it a little bit.
You can't buy 'em all!
GatorFarmer
Member
15years or so ago, one could still get originals for 500 dollars. I passed at that price. Oh, it'd be worth more now most certainly, but I didn't see the point in spending money on something that I could make the same basic thing out of five dollars worth of water pipe and misc parts.
I have one of the originals, in pretty good shape. i fired it a couple of times (not a good idea, those over 50 year old welds sometimes come unwelded). I shot target loads: 180 gr wadcutter bullet and 3.5 grs of Bullseye. The recoil was almost unmanagable. The pistol is so light the recoil mounts up fast. I don't know if I could hang onto one of those fired with hardball. I pity the people who had to test every occasional gun with a full box of 50 hardball rounds. Don't buy one of the repros for a shooter!
I fired mine three times with hardball. The recoil was a bit hard, but I suspect with adrenalin running high while you were in the process of killing an enemy with it, you wouldn't feel it. All bullets keyholed through the target at a range of about five yards and accuracy was nil. I don't think I'd have a prayer of connecting with anything smaller than a barn door at over 10 yards.
I wonder if the repros can get away with being smoothbore, inasmuch as they are near exact replicas of the originals. I also wonder how they are going to be marked to prevent alteration and artificial ageing in the future in order to palm them off as valuable artifacts.
I wonder if the repros can get away with being smoothbore, inasmuch as they are near exact replicas of the originals. I also wonder how they are going to be marked to prevent alteration and artificial ageing in the future in order to palm them off as valuable artifacts.
Liberator
I just picked up one and I can say WOW. Nice Job! Beautiful work and the box and instructions will add to my WWII collection. Heck, I will shoot it......have to!
Replicas don't bother me. I own several origonals and repros. Garands, thompson, .45. It's all good. I could never afford to pay 4K for a liberator, but i have a knockoff for a fraction of that.
There is no way it can be pawned off as a relic. The company that made it made sure of that.
The box, rod and papers are a big plus for a guy that owns a real one. .45 collectors will echo that!
Just my 2 cents.
Jon
I just picked up one and I can say WOW. Nice Job! Beautiful work and the box and instructions will add to my WWII collection. Heck, I will shoot it......have to!
Replicas don't bother me. I own several origonals and repros. Garands, thompson, .45. It's all good. I could never afford to pay 4K for a liberator, but i have a knockoff for a fraction of that.
There is no way it can be pawned off as a relic. The company that made it made sure of that.
The box, rod and papers are a big plus for a guy that owns a real one. .45 collectors will echo that!
Just my 2 cents.
Jon
ElToro
Member
from the company website
WE STRONGLY ADVISE CUSTOMERS NOT TO FIRE THE PISTOL
600 and i cant shoot it ? whats up that?
an original would be cool but not $2500 cool.
but then if i was in occupied France circa 1943, one shot to an enemy soldier in the head, i spose a 2 inch unrifled barrle woudl be ok at 1 foot or so.
WE STRONGLY ADVISE CUSTOMERS NOT TO FIRE THE PISTOL
600 and i cant shoot it ? whats up that?
an original would be cool but not $2500 cool.
but then if i was in occupied France circa 1943, one shot to an enemy soldier in the head, i spose a 2 inch unrifled barrle woudl be ok at 1 foot or so.
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foolproofoak
Member
are there any hi-cap mags available?
BLACKHAWKNJ
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GatorFarmer is right, why spend that sort of money on something that looks like a basement special?
OLDFED
Member
The "Designer"?
I knew a man in Alexandria, VA back in the '80's who said he was either 'the" or "a" designer of that little gun. His name was Russ Moure and he worked with Interarms when I knew him. A gentleman in every respect. He had one in his desk that he said was a prototype and I was impressed with his story. He claimed that several designs were offered to the military but the Liberator was the cheapest and most efficient. It was designed as a one-shot and toss piece and air dropped for partisans to execute German soldiers and traitors. Very sadly, Russ was killed during a snowstorm in VA. It seems he got out of his pickup to clear the snow from his windshield and got hit by a passing car. I never checked his story but never had any reason to. Add: I've checked Mr. Moure out and indeed he was the designer.
I knew a man in Alexandria, VA back in the '80's who said he was either 'the" or "a" designer of that little gun. His name was Russ Moure and he worked with Interarms when I knew him. A gentleman in every respect. He had one in his desk that he said was a prototype and I was impressed with his story. He claimed that several designs were offered to the military but the Liberator was the cheapest and most efficient. It was designed as a one-shot and toss piece and air dropped for partisans to execute German soldiers and traitors. Very sadly, Russ was killed during a snowstorm in VA. It seems he got out of his pickup to clear the snow from his windshield and got hit by a passing car. I never checked his story but never had any reason to. Add: I've checked Mr. Moure out and indeed he was the designer.
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jag312
Member
That thing looks like the original to me!
Thanks for posting... you never know when you might find the real deal or the imposter. You just know these repro's are going to make the circuit.
The original had a smooth bore barrel, no markings, and no serial number. Due to current Federal law, the reproduction will need a rifled barrel, a serial number, and maker's name. Anyone who fakes an original is looking for hard time in a Federal prison.
BLACKHAWKNJ
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My understanding was the Liberator-with its pictures only instruction sheet-was to be air dropped to partisans, etc., so they could kill enemy soldiers and take THEIR weapons.
Here's an article I wrote which appeared in the March, 2009 issue of Dillon's Blue Press catalog/magazine. It gives a capsule summary of the circumstances surrounding the Liberator pistol.
This article is copyrighted to Dillon Precision. A clearer depiction of the article can be found online here. and can be printed out. Go to page 40:
http://www.bridleandbit.net/ebooks/bluepress/bluepressmar09/mar09/object_files/main.swf
Here's a better picture of the original Liberator I own, which I bought about 30 years ago when they were semi-affordable:
I noted in the most recent issue of the American Rifleman that original Liberators are now valued at about $2,500 each. That makes the reproductions much more affordable in the 500 to 600 dollar range. Very interesting for guns that should really not be shot today, either old or new.
John
This article is copyrighted to Dillon Precision. A clearer depiction of the article can be found online here. and can be printed out. Go to page 40:
http://www.bridleandbit.net/ebooks/bluepress/bluepressmar09/mar09/object_files/main.swf
Here's a better picture of the original Liberator I own, which I bought about 30 years ago when they were semi-affordable:
I noted in the most recent issue of the American Rifleman that original Liberators are now valued at about $2,500 each. That makes the reproductions much more affordable in the 500 to 600 dollar range. Very interesting for guns that should really not be shot today, either old or new.
John
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Babalooie
US Veteran
Here's a dilemma. Get a Liberator, a Jennings or a Sccy?
Milton
US Veteran
Can you shoot +P in it ????
