Japanese "suicide pistol" Liberator

[Rob W.]

Interesting item on eBay describing the single shot Liberator .45 as a Japanese suicide pistol.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-U-S-Marine-Raider-with-FP-45-Liberator-Single-Shot-Pistol-Orig-Press-Photo-/351673044894?hash=item51e158cf9e:g:WhkAAOSwP~tW34MX

[joem]

Shows even back then the reporters had no knowledge about guns. By the way they are making them again with a bit of rifling to make them legal I guess.

[JimF]

Japanese "suicide" pistol, eh? . . . .

Even comes with EXTRA ammo in the handle . . . .in case the Nip misses with the first shot! --Jim

[dave]

Buy the gun, not the story! Seems cheap enough if your into junk! Shoot one enough and it would probably be a suicide pistol!

[Griff Murphey]

I think the originals are worth some real money. Repros not so much. They were supposed to be supplied to partisans/ guerillas, idea being expend one round against a lone enemy and take his good gun. They were never for issue to our regular forces. I suspect this photo might have been made in the Philippines, the liberation of which wa mainly an Army show as far as ground forces.

[ElWoodman]

They Are worth money.....That price was for the PHOTOGRAPH...

[blackhawknj]

IIRC the Liberator was never really issued, most ended up being scrapped. The Japanese Type 94 pistol was so designed that it could be fired by pressing on the sear bar which was exposed on the right side of the receiver, hence the idea that it had been intentionally designed as a "suicide pistol."

[PhillipM]

Shows even back then the reporters had no knowledge about guns. By the way they are making them again with a bit of rifling to make them legal I guess.

Rifling and the firing pin hole isn't drilled, which can be easily remedied. As I recall the new manufacturer said not to shoot it or not much. I think the new ones are $750. They can keep the little POS

[Promo]

I have four Liberator pistols. They are quite funny pieces and are much more solid with nothing moving or falling around, as one would think when looking at pictures.