WWII General Motors Guide Lamp Division FP-45 Liberator Pistol
Our Assessment: The FP-45 Liberator was a pistol MANUFACTURED by the United States military during World War II for use by resistance forces in occupied territories. The Liberator was never issued to American or Allied troops and there is no documented instance of the weapon being used for their intended purpose. Many of the FP-45 pistols were not distributed and were destroyed by Allied forces after the war; most of those distributed were lost or disposed of without any combat use.The concept was suggested by a Polish military attaché in March 1942. The project was assigned to the US Army Joint Psychological Warfare Committee and was designed for the United States Army two months later by the Inland Manufacturing Division of the General Motors Corporation in Dayton, Ohio. Production was undertaken by General Motors Guide Lamp Division to avoid conflicting priorities with Inland Division production of the M1 carbine. The army designated the weapon the Flare Projector Caliber .45 hence the designation FP-45. This was done to disguise the fact that a pistol was being mass produced. The proposed intent was to drop these weapons at concentration camps where internees would pick up these weapons overcome Guards and hopefully liberate the camp. The original engineering drawings label the barrel as "tube", the trigger as "yoke", the firing pin as "control rod", and the trigger guard as "spanner". The Guide Lamp Division plant in Anderson, Indiana assembled a million of these weapons. The Liberator project took about 6 months from conception to end of production with about 11 weeks of actual manufacturing time, done by 300 workers.General Eisenhower's staff never saw the practicality in mass dropping the Liberator over occupied Europe and authorized distribution of fewer than 25,000 of the half million FP-45 pistols shipped to Great Britain for the French resistance. Generals Joseph Stillwell and Douglas MacArthur were similarly unenthusiastic about the other half of the pistols scheduled for shipment to the Pacific. The Army then turned 450,000 Liberators over to the OSS. Resistance fighters in both theatres were supplied with more effective weapons whenever possible, and French use of the FP-45 remains undocumented; although OSS distributed a few to Greek resistance forces in 1944. One-hundred-thousand FP-45 pistols were shipped to China in 1943, but the number actually distributed remains unknown. A few were distributed to Philippine troops under the Commonwealth Army and Constabulary and resistance fighters.This example is in nice shape and would be a great addition to any WWII small arms collection. Please see our photos and good luck!
Make: General Motors Guide Lamp Division
Model: FP-45 Liberator
Serial Number: NSN
Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1943-1944
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Single Shot, Manual Cocking Breech Loading Pistol
Markings: None
Barrel Length: 4"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade integral to the trigger guard assembly. The rear sight is notch in the sliding breech.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is sheet metal and integral to the frame. The grip portion of the frame has a few light marks and scattered discoloration from oxidation, in about Very Good-plus condition.
Type of Finish: None
Finish Originality: These guns were unfinished (in the white.)
Bore Condition: The smooth bore shows manufacturing marks and stubborn fouling, but no erosion or wear. In this writer's opinion, the bore
Overall Condition: This handgun has a few small casting flaws, lesser quality welds, etc., typical of this model's production. That said, when it comes to wear or age, there is very little. The gun just shows scattered minor oxidation and light handling wear. This truly as good as you could expect for an unfinished 80 year old gun. Overall, this handgun rates in Very Good-Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions properly. We did not fire this gun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
CA LEGAL: C&R: YES, PPT: NO
HANDGUNS/PISTOLS