British Military Sidearm? French?

[Drakejake]

What handgun do British soldiers carry? Do any British police carry pistols and if so which ones? What sidearm do French soldiers carry? Are any handguns currently made in Britain? Just curious.

Thanks,

Drakejake

 

[Silent Bob]

British Army issues Hi-Powers generally. I once saw a documentary about London Police, and they were training with Glock 17s. The French issue those guns that when you pull the trigger, a little white surrender flag pops out.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Last I saw the french were carrying a MAB-15 pistol. More or a less a French made single action doublestack 9mm. I think it was replaced by a licensed copy of the Beretta 92.

The French don't like using other countries weapons.

 

[WT]

Selected London bobbies and motorcycle cops carry Glock 17's. Some plain clothes officers and uniformed bobbies around Buckingham Palace carry Smith Model 10 or Model 36 revolvers.

French soldiers carry a white flag in their holsters.

 

[Nightcrawler]

The French used the MAB-15, but now use the Beretta 92 (a decock-only variant, I believe).

I wonder...think the British have been producing new Hi-Powers, or are they still using 60 year old pieces left over from WWII?

 

[Josey]

My last trip to Buckingham Palace, the Bobbies and the MPs were carrying a combination of Browning Hi-Powers and Sig 226s. I saw a few Glocks on armed guards in one or two places. Bullpups were highly visible in many locations. The French have almost always had a national armoury that builds their service weapons.

 

[Nightcrawler]

I betcha the bulk of British Hi-Powers are World War II (or immediate postwar) production.

Think about it. The US used M3 Grease Guns and M1911A1 pistols right up into the early 1990s, and the last one of either of these was manufactured in 1945...

I dunno. If it works, it works, I guess, I'd just prefer the troops not have weapons thrice the age of the soldiers themselves. Sometimes weapons that need replacing dont' get replaced, and if they ain't making 'em anymore, there's a limited supply to begin with.

 

[BluesBear]

The French don't like using other countries weapons.

The French don't like using weapons in other countries, either

 

[jc2]

I think the Brits (military) officially switched to the P226 several years ago (though there are probably still some P35s around).

 

[Walt Sherrill]

The French don't like using weapons in other countries, either

ROTFLMAO!!

Don't forget, however, that the French licensed rights for some foreign-designed guns, and the Manurhin (sp?) revolvers were considered exceptionally fine pistols.

Even the French (Manurhin) versions of the Ruger revolvers were apparently very well done.

 

[isp2605]

In 1986 I was deployed to the British Regiment and RAF Police unit in Gemany as liaison. The RAF police carried BHPs but they were unloaded. At guardmount they would draw their BHP from the armory along with a small, paper wrapped package of 10 rds of 9mm. The package was placed in the bottom of the holster and the BHP was holstered. Their SOP was if the BHP was needed they were to unholster the BHP, remove the package of 10 rds from the bottom of the holster, remove the magazine from the BHP, reholster the BHP, open the package and load the mag, unholster and load the BHP. The packages were examined at the end of shift. If worn or torn the package was opened, rds counted, and then re-wrapped.
Sound silly? Along with the BHP the RAF Police also carried 9mm Sten with the mag loaded and inserted. It was not uncommon for one of the guys to have an AD getting out of a vehicle or going thru a door. They'd catch the charging bolt on something which would pull it back just far enough to pick up a round and chamber and fire it. IIRC the penalty for an AD was $200 plus a weekend of extra duties. They had to account for every rd in the mag at turn in.

 

[kokapelli]

The RAF police carried BHPs but they were unloaded. At guardmount they would draw their BHP from the armory along with a small, paper wrapped package of 10 rds of 9mm. The package was placed in the bottom of the holster and the BHP was holstered. Their SOP was if the BHP was needed they were to unholster the BHP, remove the package of 10 rds from the bottom of the holster, remove the magazine from the BHP, reholster the BHP, open the package and load the mag, unholster and load the BHP.

What a moronic procedure!
The paranoia of the anti gun British puts the police and military at much greater risk through actions like the above, than if there were no gun control at all!