It's 1940, what's your CCW?

[gotboostvr]

Most likely a snubby K frame of some sort or a 1911.

Same as today.

Although I'd switch to WFN ammo instead of LRN or ball unlike the JHP's I carry today.

 

[Fiv3r]

If we're going all time travelly and in good fun, I'm going to go with a Whippet.

Some shadowy gangster begins to yank out a Police Positive, and my coat flops to the side as a cavernous 12 bore spinning on a shoulder strap is brought up to punctuate an escalating situation.

 

[Mauser lover]

Wasn't the "Whippet" one of the express targets of the NFA? So.... you going to pay the bribe to FDR or what?

If it weren't illegal and I wore an overcoat all the time (you know, like the '40s, at least as the movies portray them...) I'd go for that too though...

 

[thebaldguy]

I would probably use a snub nose .38 or one of those old Colt Hammerless Pistols in .380 ACP.

 

[maint1517]

A colt model 1908 vest pocket .25
And a 1911 under my jacket in a shoulder holster

 

[berettaprofessor]

Easy; Beretta 1935

 

[pcguy23]

1911 or a Browning Hi Power

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Easy; Beretta 1935

The .32? The '34 was the Army version in .380. IMO, these were one of the only pocket pistols of that era that were just as reliable in either caliber.

Good choice, but, like the HiPower, I'm betting that getting your hands on one in the States would have been nearly impossible, prewar.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

1911 or a Browning Hi Power

Ya we've discussed the HiPower a bit in this thread. The consensus is that unless you knew somebody high up at FN back then, you probably weren't going to be able to obtain one in 1940 USA. The military contracts had only just begun to be filled when the factory was overrun by the Nazis and commercial sales didn't start until 1954.

 

[pcguy23]

Ya we've discussed the HiPower a bit in this thread. The consensus is that unless you knew somebody high up at FN back then, you probably weren't going to be able to obtain one in 1940 USA. The military contracts had only just begun to be filled when the factory was overrun by the Nazis and commercial sales didn't start until 1954.

wasn't aware of that
Just the first two that popped in my head
Then 1911 it would be
Thanks for the correction and info

 

[pcguy23]

Let's chamber that 1911 in.38 super for a coolness factor

 

[JR24]

Ya we've discussed the HiPower a bit in this thread. The consensus is that unless you knew somebody high up at FN back then, you probably weren't going to be able to obtain one in 1940 USA. The military contracts had only just begun to be filled when the factory was overrun by the Nazis and commercial sales didn't start until 1954.

A few years later, if you were a returning GI you might have one. My buddy's grandpa brought back a Nazi stamped one that we got to shoot once. Pretty fun except for the filed down front sight, I guess to get out of the holster faster.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

A few years later, if you were a returning GI you might have one. My buddy's grandpa brought back a Nazi stamped one that we got to shoot once. Pretty fun except for the filed down front sight, I guess to get out of the holster faster.

Oh, for sure, 1945 opens up a whole host of GI bring backs as possibilities- HiPower, P38, Astra A-series, Nambus, Radom's, various CZs, etc.....but I wanted to focus on prewar America.

The HiPower is certainly still one of the finest combat pistols of all time- I ain't giving mine up!

 

[John Joseph]

You could use .45AR in your M1917s without the moon clips. IIRC Peters introduced the cartridge in the early 1930's expressly for use in surplus M1917s

 

[berettaprofessor]

Good choice, but, like the HiPower, I'm betting that getting your hands on one in the States would have been nearly impossible, prewar.

True, but the question didn't specify that I was in the US in 1940.....

 

[Mauser lover]

HA! Good point! I'll take a Hi Power too then!

Oh, but wait... If I'm in Belgium in 1940...

Nevermind. I'll probably stay happily in the States and remain a K-frame or 1911 carrier.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

True, but the question didn't specify that I was in the US in 1940.....

Hmmmm, yep about the only folks carrying a HiPower in 1940 were either Belgian Resistance or the guys chasing them in the black coats......

I always though it was funny that some of the early OSS operatives carried M1903 Colts. I doubt that was a very common gun in occupied Europe and you would think one would attract a lot of attention from both sides.

IMO, enough WW1 Lugers could have been scrounged for the task and have been less conspicuous, if also less concealable.

 

[Sistema1927]

I always though it was funny that some of the early OSS operatives carried M1903 Colts. I doubt that was a very common gun in occupied Europe and you would think one would attract a lot of attention from both sides.

If you were OSS and somebody else saw your pistol then one of you was going to end up dead. So, the need to choose a common pistol was a non-issue.

 

[tomrkba]

So many to choose from! Browning Hi Power, 1911, S&W Model 27 in 357 Magnum, S&W 3rd Model Hand Ejector in 44 Special, Colt Detective Special, Colt Police Positive, S&W Model 19. My carry guns would probably a Model 27 and/or 1911.

 

[Sistema1927]

So many to choose from! Browning Hi Power, 1911, S&W Model 27 in 357 Magnum, S&W 3rd Model Hand Ejector in 44 Special, Colt Detective Special, Colt Police Positive, S&W Model 19. My carry guns would probably a Model 27 and/or 1911.

Model 27? Nope. You could get it's predecessor, the Registered magnum.

Model 19? Nope. It's predecessor, the .357 Combat Magnum didn't enter production until 1955.