Sauer 38H, Almost Bond

Sauer 38H with holster

The Sauer 38H was one of the best small pistol of World War II. It had the unique de-cocking lever which has not been used on any pistol since. It is one of the most enjoyable 7.65 (32 ACP) pistols for shooting. Like the legendary Walther PP and PPK, the 38H is outstandingly accurate, reliable, and robust. It was rumored to be a favorite of German paratroops in WW II. The German Army and police used the pistol extensively and there were no complaints.  

Beretta 1934 sometimes used in early Bond movies and misidentified as a 25 ACP Caliber.

 

Ian Fleming, an excellent and imaginative writer but no gun expert, created the super-agent 007 James Bond. Bond was armed with an early 25 ACP Beretta. Geoffrey Boothroyd, a Scottish firearms expert, wrote Fleming on this matter. Boothroyd suggested a colt snub-nosed revolver and a proper holster.  Fleming insisted on Bond carrying a semi-automatic pistol. The two men came up with two handguns which were sufficiently advanced and rakish enough for Bond. The Sauer 38H and the postwar Walther PPK were the finalists.  The Walther won on several points, more stylish looks. It was a German but not exclusively NAZI pistol.    It was considered state of the art and was still in production. The 38H was produced only during the NAZI years and went out of production in 1945.

Sauer 38H (top) and a prewar Walther PPK, the PPK is more compact and sleek.

 

The Walther PPK was chosen and Boothroyd was rewarded by Fleming naming the original “Q” Major Boothroyd.  Fleming also titled Geoffrey Boothroyd as the official armorer to James Bond.  Of course Walther a skyrocketing demand for the PPK due to the Bond movies. A phenomenon not seen until “Dirty Harry” popularized the S&W Model 29 44 Magnum revolver.

Prewar Walther PPK(top) and the eventual Bond gun, the postwar PPK.

 

A few side notes, the Beretta 25 ACP is seen in the early movies as a Beretta 1934, as similar but larger design.  The 38H would have a great Bond gun, but its past clearly mitigated against it. The Bond legacy has induced Walther to produce an alloy slide and frame Walther PPK/S in 22 Long Rifle. I hope this new gun lives up to the legend.     

Happy Birthday General Stuart!

James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart, maybe the greatest American cavalryman.

General Jeb Stuart, CSA

 

General Stuart was the namesake for the very successful M3 & M5 series of light tanks used in World War II.

M5 Stuart Tank

 

Colt 38 Super Superiority

The Colt 38 Super is a great pistol. its both hard hitting and smooth shooting. The 38 Super is more difficult to hand load than the venerable 45 ACP. Extra care must be taken in three areas.

Colt 38 Super with a BAR-STO Barrel and match trigger 

First make sure the loads are powerful enough to cycle the action, but not so powerful as to blow out the case head.  Most pistol have barrels which do not support the case head. Some "race guns" meant for competition were custom fitted by gunsmiths with barrels which fully support the camber and can with stand +P+ loads.

Second make sure the bullet neck tension is sufficient so the bullet does not set back in the loading process, i.e. moving from the magazine to the chamber. This can also cause the case head to blow out due to excessive pressure.

Same pistol with the slid locked to the rear.

 





Third, make sure the overall length of the loads is correct for the 38 Super. rounds which are too short may jam.  Rounds to long won't fit into magazines, or cycle. Consult a good hand loading manual for the cartridge overall length.

Have fun, the 38 super is a great round and the Colt is a great gun.

Feel free to comment on any post!

I'm willing to answer questions you may have on anything in this blog.

Cast Bullets, Mobil 1, the Polar Vortex, and the Ballester Molina 45 Caliber Pistol.

 

The range session achieved a variety of goals. First it enabled me to test some 45 ACP cast bullet loads, an excellent 200 gr semi wad cutter. Second, I was able to test fire and figure the sight correction for a Ballester Molina pistol. Third, I was able to test the above, and Mobile 1 synthetic grease with Mobil 1 synthetic oil as lubricants.

 

Everything passed with flying colors, the loads and the lubricants worked well in the cold weather. The pistol is a surplus Argentine Ballester Molina 45 ACP. The pistol has a replacement barrel and bushing.  The Ballester Molina is a copy of the U.S. M1911A1. The Ballester Molina has some notable differences, including a pivoting trigger, and integral mainspring housing. One of the more interesting stories on the Ballester Molina is the pistol was made from steel salvaged from the wreak of the German pocket battleship Graf Spee .

 

The Graf Spee was scuttled in the Platte River between Uruguay and Argentina.    The ship was reputably salvaged by British surrogates who gave the steel to Argentines for pistol production. In return, the British received Ballester Molina pistols, which were used by British intelligence in covert missions during the rest of World War II. This interesting, and admittedly speculative story was covered in the last edition of the American Rifleman.  

 

Polar Vortex Weapons Testing

The low temperatures of the “polar vortex” provide a unique opportunity to test weapons (rifles and handguns), ammunition, lubricants, and accoutrements.   Weapon design can and cold weather operations are key aspects of design for effective firearms.  Here are some points of interest for preppers, survivalists, and other operators in a cold weather environment.  With the aspect of operations in desert environments, some of these points are neglected by military and civilian operators.

1.      Weapon manipulation with gloves.  

2.      Lubrication type and amount.

3.      Ammunition and magazine performance.

4.      Protection from the elements.

5.      How cold weather clothing effects weapon handling.

The best time to test all of this is when the weather is cold, just like current conditions.

Happy Birthday John Moses Browning

John Browning was a genius who's inventions saved and preserved our freedom.

Browning designed the world's greatest rifles, pistols, machineguns, and shotguns.  Most of his designs are still manufactured today, and are the standard by which others are judged.

Not generally known outside of the firearms world, Browning's genius rivaled Edison or Da Vinci.