Allied WW2 Side Arms - In The Movies

[@marknewton7539]

Glad you mentioned something about the psychological role played by pistols, especially their ability to intimidate. I remember reading during by uni studies something about Iraqis in the 2003+ occupation responding differently to those armed with pistols than with rifles. Pistols were seen as indicative of authority and power, as they were generally carried by Ba'athist officials prior to the war. I remember reading something about US troops armed with assault rifles having difficulty controlling Iraqi civilians, while the same person waving a pistol around would quickly gain control. Sorry I can't be more precise, my studies ended 10 years ago.

[@deletednet3919]

From what I’ve heard a lot of people see pistols as weapons of execution.

[@rogermirano2541]

@@deletednet3919 if pistol can control Iraq civilians, then why i see soldiers carry blades and sword to control Iraqi civilians?

[@deletednet3919]

@@rogermirano2541 idk, maybe cuz getting killled with a sword is scarier than gun???

[@jackstecker5796]

If your rifle goes tits up, while people are shooting at you, its definitely reassuring to sling it and transition to a pistol. At least until you can get the rifle back in the fight. Me, personally, I'd much rather have a bangy thing than a pokey thing. Even if it's a small bangy thing as opposed to a big bangy thing. Although a big bangy thing with a pokey thing is possibly better than a small bangy thing. Either way, I want a bangy thing. Preferably, a spinny bangy thing. Barring that, a bangy-bangy thing.

[@singleproppilot]

In World War I, officers carried sidearms to execute their own men if they refused to charge the enemy position.

[@BHuang92]

Fun Fact: The Luger was one of the most sought after war trophies American soldiers would go after so much so that the US Army did actively try to discourage souvenir hunting since many of the soldiers would engage recklessly just for a Luger. The Germans knew of this and they would use Lugers as bait for bobby traps.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Absolutely. I'm looking forward to doing a video on the luger. Interesting and iconic pistol.

[@nostradamusofgames5508]

It's bullshit the US military outlawed trophy weapons. Soldiers get the kill, they get the right for their enemies possessions, this has been so since man first made records.

[@trooperdgb9722]

@@nostradamusofgames5508 Who said "outlawed"? Active discouragement is hardly the same thing...

[@sandvich3943]

In all honesty toggle lock firearms are a rare sight both back then and even more so today, the only popular toggle lock pistols at the time were the C93 and the godly PO8, all others toggle lock designs were mainly prototypes that have barely seen the light of day

[@freddawes637]

Do Not Forget the 380 used also a weapon by many Nation and was a real loved weapon by Americans, AND Germany. see police 1950 up to the 1980s

[@oldtdjr]

Also, when Belgium fell, they managed to get the tools/plans for the FN Browning High Power to Britain. It’s 13 round 9mm magazine made it highly prized by British Commandos. Incidentally, the Germans also put it back into production at the FN plant in Belgium. Several Waffen SS units were issued it, although the Walther was more common

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thanks for adding this! I really wanted to talk about the high power but I can only cram so much in so I really appreciate it.

[@BHuang92]

The Browning Hi-Power is one of the most widely used pistols in history, even surpassing the the M1911.

[@jaybess4183]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indy used a Browning HP with his revolver during the bar shootout. Hope that helps

[@GliderBane]

Most of the High Powers the British used came from Canada. They were building them under license for the Chinese originally. When they could not deliver them due to the Japanese, they found eager buyers in Britain.

[@PolarizedMechs]

Most of the FN product in occupied Belgium was sabotaged, so it would jam if the Germans used it.

[@aircraftnut15]

My uncle owns a TT 33 it was given to him by his older brother (no idea where it came from) When he was given the pistol the look on his face seems disappointed as he wanted a more modern pistol when he opened the box my jaw hit the floor. I asked “do you have any idea what that is” He replied “a pistol” I laughed and educated him on its origins and use in combat He now cherishes it and keeps it well looked after I pray he gives it to me since I’m the only one in the family who appreciates the history of the firearm

[@ownlydown5933]

Hahahaha. Bruh fail. You should've just been like, yea piece of junk. And took it

[@NoobTamer]

@@ownlydown5933 How old are you? Lying to scam one of your own family members is low.

[@deadhorse1391]

My uncle was in the 82nd airborne in WWII. His best friend had a 1911A1 that he had picked up somewhere when he got wounded pretty bad he gave the pistol to my uncle who was carrying a Thompson In Belgium my uncle was going across this Bridge when these two Germans opened fire hitting his Thompson knocking it out. He ducked behind some debris got the pistol out and killed them both when they came out after him. Said if he didn’t have it they would have killed him I own it now, really nice Remington in original holster rig

[@MartinSage]

You are a lucky SOB to own that 1911 with that story.

[@Snuffy03]

The 1911 is the finest sidearm ever made. I speak from experience. I was issued a 1911A1 made by Remington-Rand. It was old and worn but still did its job. I have a 1911A1 made by the Union Switch and Signal Co, from 1945. This weapon was wrapped in grease paper and covered in Cosmoline and in unfired condition when I got it.

[@Baz09]

Wow nice must be nice to own the 1911

[@lostwizardcat9910]

My great uncle was a gunner on a b17D, He was among the first crews to cut holes into the rear of the plane for a Browning M1919 machine gun. he got shot down in france then was handed over to the Germans where he spent a good while in Dachau before it was liberated. He told us on one occasion that his biggest regret about the war was not keeping a luger, because as he said. "I could've brought a truckload of those guns home, you couldn't give them away after the war, everyone was trying to get them home somehow. But I was more worried about getting the hell out of Europe alive."

[@Jay-ln1co]

I seem to recall that the 1911 was one of the early sidearms where standardization in manufacturing was paramount. One way to test this was to take 1911s manufactured in different factories by different companies, disassemble them, throw all the parts into a pot, mix them up, and then assemble the guns back up to see if they still worked (and they did). In comparison the P08 had tons of hand fitting to the point various parts had to be serialized to each pistol to avoid mixing them and causing issues.

[@Hutch76k]

The 1911A1’s during WW2 were made by Remington Rand, not Remington arms. Remington Rand was a typewriter company that made the pistol under contract since Colt could make the pistol fast enough. The contract was originally given to Singer sewing machines but they could not produce the pistol fast enough to meet demand and the contract was given to Remington Rand. Remington Rand produced 958,000 1911’s during the war. Singer produced 500. If you find or have one it’s worth around $50,000. Union Switch and Signal ( which made railroad signals) and Ithaca gun company also held contracts. I own a 1943 Remington Rand and shoot it fairly often. Fantastic pistol save for the tiny GI sights.

[@dancortes3062]

Original 1911 sights are even smaller.

[@Hutch76k]

@@dancortes3062 Yup, I own both a 1943 Remington Rand and a 1918 Colt M1911. The Colts sights are almost non existent.

[@MrFiddleedee]

Many soldiers in WW2 used their own weapons either smuggled in or (more often) mailed to them by family after they were sent abroad. These weapons varied in quality but since low-rank enlisted men weren't armed with pistols en-masse this seemed to be a way to get around the short coming in supply for secondary weaponry.

[@pipebombpete.6861]

This tappers off the more the war goes on,as soldiers slowly begin to see a handgun as dead weight and that carrying more ammo for your rifle is better in almost any way.

[@lostwizardcat9910]

@@pipebombpete.6861 The sheer amount of new people being shipped into the war kept it going strong through the entire time. It never really dropped off as a whole, some units or companies sure but it was very much a common thing in just about every war up until the late 80s when it was outlawed and longer still until it was actually enforced by the military.

[@fishingthelist4017]

A sidearm became unofficial standard equipment for American airborne troopers after the D-Day drops. Many of them lost their weapons during the jump, and others were shot when their parachutes were caught in trees. They wanted something that they could easily reach if they encountered Germans while they were still in their harnesses or they lost their weapons in the next jump.

[@lostwizardcat9910]

@@fishingthelist4017 This. A sidearm is exactly that, a weapon to be carried as a last resort to save your life. Even as recently as the war in the middle east low ranking soldiers would keep captured handguns as a personal sidearm since they weren't issued en-masse.

[@jeremyweaver7689]

I own a 1938 TT-33 made in the Tula Arsenal, that was likely brought back as a war trophy by a Vietnam Vet. It’s a great addition to my collection!

[@OldJoe212]

In Viet Nam, Machine gunners (M-60) and those that carried the grenade launcher (M-79) were to have a 1911, but we couldn't get any because all of the officers and high ranking non-coms in the rear areas had them. I carried a Chinese M-20 (copy of the TT-33) that I got when we went into Cambodia. Many copter pilots brought their own sidearms. Most that I met carried a Colt Python. They were chambered for .357 Mag but .38 Special were more available.

[@steppedtuba50]

Fuckers in the rear with the gear

[@tonykriss1594]

As of not used much IRL. In another often overlooked allied nation china there is mauser C96 and its domestic counterpart which is also a very interesting gun to cover. Like there were entire fire platoon armed with them. And for many times it would be the single best fire power in a guerilla fireteam.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Now that's a very interesting firearm. Lots of footage on it too so will work it into a video in the future forsure.

[@mr.nobody2191]

China loved the c96 so much they made one chambered in 45 acp

[@deadhorse1391]

I have a WWII capture Broom handle 9mm, the vet I got it from said an old German was shooting out of a basement and shot 3 Americans with it killing 2 of them. Said he sneaked around the building and killed him with his Thompson Told me the German only had 5 bullets left but was going to hold off the US army. Is a WWI pistol I always figured the German just kept it after the war I’ve shot it and is very accurate

[@Drownedinblood]

It basically was the smg over there.

[@singleproppilot]

Mauser did actually make a machinepistol version of the C96, and the majority of them were sent to China.

[@LouisL1963]

The Webley / Enfield pistols featured in "Zulu" were stand ins for the Beaumont-Adams revolvers of the era.

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

I feel like you completely missed the Browning/Inglis Hi-Power. As Belgium was being overrun the plans for the Hi-Power were smuggled out, first to Britain than to Canada. Produced by Inglis, originally an appliance company in Canada, the Hi-Power was used by various units of the Canadian and British armies. The single biggest order for Hi-Power’s from Inglis was actually from Nationalist China, and was replete with a number of unique features, such as adjustable sights and slots for detachable stocks. Some of these would never reach China and would instead be folded into Commonwealth inventories.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

That's a firearm with a very interesting history during the war. Also one of the best pistols of it's time. Will give it it's own video if I can find some good footage.

[@mugsnvicki]

I have a buddy who worked for Inglis and getting an Inglis Hi Power was his pride and joy. Glad he didn't want a Bren, as I understand Inglis made those too.

[@12thhorseman]

Interestingly the Browning Hi-Power was used by both sides. The Germans got the FN factory Hi-Power tooling when they overran Belgium, and since the gun was highly regarded and chambered in the same cartridge as their Luger, it made sense to keep making Hi-Powers but issue them to German troops.

[@johnmaclean4041]

@@mugsnvicki I believe they called them "lunch box Brownings" with parts coming out day by day and piece by piece in empty lunch pails.

[@garrisonnichols807]

The Colt 1911 really is in a class of it's own. The handgun held the bench mark for reliable service longer than any other pistol in history. In my opinion it's the best handgun ever made.

[@nicolaspierre424]

Old style, black powder, pistols have been around longer, for more wars. It has grown old now, however good it was at first.

[@michaelgray9480]

I’ve owned Several for years, The 1911 in my opinion is the best you can to keep in your house for home defense. Accurate, reliable and with amazing stopping power.

[@TheGooberOfGoobs]

@@mbryson2899 However it lacks capacity, it lacks penetration capability, it lacks ammo availability when it comes to specialized rounds, it lacks recoil control. A 9mm not only has all of those including a ton of specialized ammo but they are for more ergonomic and lighter, most 9mm pistols are also far more customizable. Note: 45acp also is far heavier than 9mm being about 2-3x the weight so you can carry far more.

[@ripley4601]

@@mbryson2899 The 1911 doesn't come close to modern handguns. It just can't compete. Reliability, capacity, accuracy, and weight are all superior in modern handguns. Owning a 1911 is like owning a fine swiss automatic watch. There are more reliable, more accurate, and better watches, but you own the swiss automatic do to to elegance, complexity, and prestige. There is a reason why militaries and police have gone away from the 1911.

[@FirstnameLastname-do1px]

@@mbryson2899 Modern, striker-fired pistols are superior in every way. There’s a reason why most police departments/militaries use them. .45 is also obsolete. Modern 9mm carry ammo can perform better in every way, shape, and form. When you choose a 1911 over a Glock, you’re literally choosing style over substance, and nothing more.

[@The_Republic_of_Ireland]

Aw man if only the video length was 19:45 it would be perfect

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

lol my computer tends to go to spastic at about the 6min mark of editing HD video as it is. Maybe an upgrade next year with longer videos :)

[@Imnotyourdoormat]

"Windtalkers" had a good display of the 1911's abilties...

[@ryanbales8116]

I have a Colt 1911. It's a Series '70 that used to belong to my grandpa. He was a Marine and served in WWII and Korea. I don't really have a use for it. It's too heavy for concealed carry and it has low capacity. I could probably get a good price for it or trade it for some more modern weapons, but I keep it because of the fact it was my grandpa's and it's one of the few things I have left from him. I take it out sparingly to shoot it. Ammo being so expensive now is another drawback of shooting my 1911.

[@alucardthedumbyhead7970]

The interesting g thing about the 7.62×25 tokerev round can go through level 3 armor for being such an old round

[@DPRK_Best_Korea]

Well, it is a rather high velocity cartridge. There's some Russian fuddlore about how the American guns using .45 were terrible because of the low muzzle energy.

[@CentrePeice]

You meant 3a. Nij level 3 is meant to stop full rifle cartridges. The naming is really poorly planned out

[@Perfusionist01]

I liked your opening comments about the real battlefield use of the pistol. There is a quote about a study done after a major battle. It stated that only 11 people were injured by pistols during the battle and ten of those were on our own side! As you stated, most military training on pistols was pretty sketchy up until the Global War On Terror. About the time of GWOT there was much better training on pistols in many organizations. In regards to Hollywood, the pistol used by Sean Connery in A Bridge Too Far was (I believe) a Browning Hi Power (FN GP), used by certain British units (as well as the Germans). Trivia: for Sgt York, Garry Cooper used a Luger in York's climactic fight as Hollywood couldn't get the M1911 to fire blanks on semi-auto. York actually used an M1911. The pistol was a confidence builder. Read James Jones' novel "The Pistol" - the main character is CERTAIN that the Japanese will kill him in battle unless he keeps his borrowed pistol.

[@trooperdgb9722]

I have always subscribed to the view that - apart from highly trained special forces (like CT troopers) - "the only purpose of pistols in modern warfare is to provide souveneirs for the other side" Lol

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I'd like to do a video on the Browning High Power. Very interesting history in WW2. Seems the consensus online is that Connery is using a 1911 but as an amateur I'm always open to being proven wrong so I'll dig around some more.

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq as mentioned earlier Mrs C,s personal side arm the Browning, still issued to the British army of the Rhine in the 1980,s,thankfully never had to use it,while I,m thinking about it ....have a merry Christmas and a better and safer New year.....E

[@lostwizardcat9910]

@@trooperdgb9722 "the only time you want to use a pistol in battle is to fight your way to wherever the hell you left your rifle." cant remember exactly who said that but I saw it in an interview with a Vietnam SOG dude, he also spoke about the time his buddy shot a monkey 8 times after it grabbed onto him while they were hiding from a large passing group.

[@matthewzito6130]

You should do a video on WWI handguns. They saw a good deal of use in trench raids, since bolt-action rifles aren't very good for close quarters fighting and submachine guns weren't yet available.

[@danijuggernaut]

US Army refused the Luger because of the caliber. They had traumatic experience in the Philippines' where really body to body fights happen. So because of that, they choose the 1911 with the big 45ACP caliber instead the 9mm parabellum (actually invented by Luger for his gun).

[@clavididk1236]

I was so happy Thomas went with a colt 1911.45 even tho hes British. I love it. And the Thompson's from the changrettis.

[@jeffburnham6611]

I don't know of any sidearms from WW2 that had a "firing pin safety". The M1911A1 did have 3 safeties, and the cases of accidental discharge was very minor and due to mechanical issues. You could literally take a cocked and locked M1911A1 and toss it across the room or drop it; it wasn't going to go off.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

It was a very safe gun. The instructions for carry during WW2 was unchambered due to the slim chances - but slim chances when issued in the 10s of thousands add up I suppose.

[@jsmith3772]

I have the pleasure of owning most of the pistols in this video and each has its own charm but agree that the pistol is more of a last resort weapon than a frontline fighting tool. The US Army had initially armed non-infantry soldiers with only 1911s but realized after the German Blitzkrieg in Poland and France that these troops could be called upon to fight in a front line capacity and that pistols would be insufficient. This lead to the development of the M1 Carbine.

[@jacobrigby3172]

I love seeing the more unexpected sidearms being carried or brandished like a Japanese officer with a Mauser c96/snellfuer or seeing and old Webley and Scott automatic pistol brought out of storage

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

My contribution to the Vietnam war was being a sentry in California for 15 months. I was equipped with a 1911A1 when I stood Gate Guard and Roving Patrol (truck). I qualified with it and shot Expert. The Basic Idea behind the .45 is that it is a Personal Defense Weapon to be used by people whose real weapon is something else. For an Officer - his real weapon is his unit. For Vehicle crewman it is their vehicle. As a Personal Defense Weapon - not to be used unless needed - it would not be used so much offensively - unless the person carrying it was being attacked as the unit moved forward. Here - the Pistol was only used to protect the person who was there for some other reason. You simply would not have anyone there who was there for the purpose of firing a pistol. The logic behind the .45 is that it has the stopping power to knock someone down. If you can knock them down - then you can shoot them again but most importantly - if you knock them on their ass - it's less likely that they will be able to successfully engage you. The Weapon can hold 8 rounds if one is in the chamber. Here the weapon is carried on Half Cock - which locks the Hammer away from the firing pin. Or it can be used without a round chambered but having a slower reaction time to a threat. The .45 was designed in response to Moro Guerrillas on drugs attacking our forces that had occupied the Philippines when the Spanish left. These people had some crude natural armor they'd wrap around themselves which would stop the .38 rounds for the pistols we were using at the time. The .45's would knock the guy down. The .38's were revolvers with six rounds - so the extra round in the .45 was a plus. Here, though when compared to pistols holding 9mm Ammo - and thus having more rounds - the idea was that the person you were engaging was going to be so close you could not miss and if you did - you would probably be dead before you could fire more than 7 rounds anyway. If the guy is farther away - so that you could miss him - then you should be using something else to engage him - like a Carbine - or - someone else in your unit with a much better offensive weapon than a pistol. This didn't mean you couldn't kill someone at a distance with the weapon - it just meant that you would need to be a good enough shot to hit them. For most people, (such as downed pilots) who were not all that good with a pistol - surrender could well be their best option since losing the aircraft they could kill people with or at least get home on. .

[@twalk6164]

Thank you for your service.

[@Jknight416]

The fact that the M1911 is still being used to this day really shows its amazing testament of time compared to the other sidearms in this video

[@rolfagten857]

In "Biloxi Blues" (1988) Sergeant Toorney (Christopher Walken) also uses it.

[@emmanuelperez8094]

Marine Recon still used them in the M45 configuration

[@bernardobiritiki]

The 1911 is still used because people refuse to give the sentimental value. Any way you look at it a M1911 with its all metal construction and only 7 rounds of 45 is outclassed by all modern side arms

[@ChangedCauseYT-HateFoxNames]

​​​@@bernardobiritikiI agree its outclassed but we are in an age of technology that forgets one key thing. All weapons regardless of their age, where all designed to kill or main. The 1911 may be old and outdated but no firearm loses its original lethality.

[@bernardobiritiki]

@@ChangedCauseYT-HateFoxNames 100% subscribe to that fact all weapons kill regardless of age of design. Give me a stone spear and I can kill any soldier in the world but I would much rather you give me an AR or AK platform . The only question is when will using outdated weapons become dangerous for the troops, this isnt much of an issue with the 1911 since its firstly a side arm, so a backup in most cases and the design isnt known for malfunctions. For example my country when in to a war in africa in the 1960s mainly equiped with legacy ww2 equipamento, mainly Mausers ,Mg13s/34/42s, Lugers, Walters with all sports of guns from other coma tenta along with a few home grown smgs. Very very quickly the army forced the government to buy a licence to produce HK G3s, order Ar-10s from the US as they quickly found out that bolt action rifles didnt were outdated compare to the soviet equipament the rebels were using, in aditions with the problems the jungle and savana eviroments caused with those weapons.

[@SenkaBandit]

Imagine the euphoria for an American GI finding a Luger on some random ass officer

[@haroldellis9721]

Don't forget the Browning High Power, which was used British Paras.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

One of the best pistols of the war but a complicated one probably deserving it's own video if I can find enough footage.

[@Cliff_Dixon_42]

Some Germans (IIRC, SS, but I could be mistaken) also used the Hi-Power, once they captured the FN arms factories in Belgium. So it was a pistol used by BOTH sides of the war.

[@hastekulvaati9681]

The Sean Connery scene at the end from ‘A Bridge Too Far” actually happened. I think I remember reading that Roy Urquhart (played by Connery) was most senior officer in the British army to use his weapon in combat.

[@mr_at0mic850]

Bro some history channels are so underrated!!

[@loganhall3477]

"dating back to the sinking of the Titanic" What a day to watch one of the older videos. Lol

[@johncataloni8552]

My grandfather got an expert marksman with the 1911 in basic, funny enough he did worse with the M1 Carbine since he only got a marksman with that.

[@bigblue6917]

I did read that in WW1 many British officers would carry a rifle when going over-the-top as carrying a pistol marked them out as officers to the Germans. Especially the snipers.

[@indigohammer5732]

In "Zulu" at around 8:52, you can see a Lee-Enfield Mk.I with no magazine. In the next scene, 8:55 close up you can see a Martini Henry being fired. Interestingly, at some point, the rifle has been incorrectly reassembled. The tear drop shaped cocking indicator should be at "11 O'clock".

[@chris.3711]

Remington Rand, one of the companies contracted to produce 1911A1 handguns, was one of many non-firearm companies that produced firearms for the war effort. Them, along with Smith Corona (which manufactured 1903A3 rifles), were originally type writer companies.

[@GK-mr9ko]

Singer, a company that made sewing machines were also contracted to make 1911's shortly before 1941, probably as a measure to test how the current industries could transition & manufacture arms. at least 1,000 1911A1's were made by Singer, and are highly sought after due to their rarity and quality.

[@Hutch76k]

@@GK-mr9ko 500 Singer could not make them at the rate the military required so the contract was given to Remington Rand, who made the most 1911A1’s of any manufacturer during the war, surpassing even Colt.

[@GK-mr9ko]

@@Hutch76k yep I know they had only made that small batch before we entered the war

[@Hutch76k]

@@GK-mr9ko Union Switch and Signal is the second most rare. They made around 44,000. They were made in Swissvale, Pennsylvania just outside Pittsburgh. I grew up there and my mother would have to drive by the Union Switch and Signal factory to go grocery shopping when I was a boy. From what I’ve read most went to the Army Air corps.

[@plaguecrow754]

Its quite intelligent to make all allied firearms instead of a video for each one,next axis sidearms

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Axis incoming in the next week or two for sure!

[@eamonnclabby7067]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq lugers keep turning up on Merseyside with the perpetual drug wars , as well as ex Warsaw pact stuff too,the most infamous was a WW 1 revolver that killed young Rhys Jones ( dramatised in Little boy blue ,heart rending )

[@Idahoguy10157]

I’ve been out of the military for twenty years. With 24 years of active and reserve service. I never saw effective sidearm training being taught. Only intermittent single day training courses.

[@chris.3711]

My father owns a Remington Rand 1942 production 1911A1. Finest pistol I have ever shot. I also have a Nagant Revolver, that is the worst pistol I have ever shot.

[@darbyheavey406]

John Browning was well represented by the 1911 and the P35. The High Power was used by both Allied and Axis powers. It’s absence is glaring.

[@miyageyage4717]

This video is really well made, keep up the great work sir

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thank you so much!

[@Idahoguy10157]

In WW2 there were substitute standard weapons issued when there was a shortage of the standard ones. Such as the S&W “victory” model in 38 , or the M1917 Colt and S&W revolvers in 45. Plus for General officers in WW2 the Colt Model 1903 in either 32 ACP or 380 caliber

[@weathermanwx9199]

Fun Fact: The FN Browning Hi-Power was used by both the British (Browning No.2 Mk.1) and the Germans (Pistole 640(b)) and was praised by both the Waffen SS and Fallschirmjager units that had them. The Browning No.2 would continue service as the L9A1 until replaced by the L131A1 and L137A1 (Glock 17 and 19 repsectivly) in the 2010s.

[@weathermanwx9199]

When you do a video on Hi-Powers, I'll do an Unfun fact for them like the others.

[@jackal1840]

I laughed my ass off for Clint dissing his son. Hehehe move ur ass down the road. 🤣🤣🤣

[@Elkanus]

You could mention polish ViS (Forgotten Weapons made film about it). That was similar toamerican Colt1911. Germany were producing that pistol during occupation and was in use in german army.

[@Oliver-m8i]

you are really good at explaining this stuff, keep it up!

[@kobeh6185]

The 7.62 Tokarev is certainly a round far more capable in terms of range than the 1911's .45 ACP. 45 ACP from ww2 weighs 230 grains and is traveling subsonic (which makes it extra quiet when supressed as there is no supersonic crack) at around 250-260 m/s. 7.62 x 25mm Tokarev is traveling at a whopping (and very supersonic) 440 m/s, although this varies widely as the distribution of this cartridge by nation is extensive. However, the bullet weight is only 85 or 90 grains. The .45 delivers a bit more energy to target as a result of its massive weight, but when it comes to long range the 7.62x25mm is more or less the flattest shooting pistol cartridge of the war (discounting .30 carbine). If anything the .45 and 7.62 represent completely opposite lines of thinking, with 9mm Luger (parabellum) somewhere in between. This cartridge is part of the reason why the soviets were able to equip entire units with ONLY submachine guns, because the 7.62x25 can reach so far for a pistol cartridge. on another note, the 1911 in .455 webley automatic was a ww1 contract, not ww2 and it was very limited.

[@tullo5564]

Totally agreed with what you said

[@matthewzito6130]

I'm not sure how accurate a Tokarev pistol is. Meanwhile, pistol shooting in general is limited more by the skill of the shooter than the theoretical range of the weapon. ... However, a relatively flat-shooting cartridge could be an advantage in a submachine gun IF Soviet submachine guns were accurate enough to take advantage of it.

[@kobeh6185]

@@matthewzito6130 except that mechanical accuracy isn't actually that important, especially in submachine guns. On a modern battlefield even an AK that shoots like 4 MOA is still a perfectly serviceable rifle. Not sure who told you that Soviet submachine guns are any less accurate than any other nations WW2 SMGs, because that's clearly false. ALL submachine guns of this time period are open bolt. None of them are "accurate". The flat shooting nature of the cartridge will give better hit probability (not mechanical accuracy) because it has higher velocity, which decreases time to target, and has greater effective range. With open bolt SMGs, mechanical accuracy is almost a nonfactor, with controllability, rate of fire, bolt weight, cartridge, harmonics, and ergonomics all playing a far larger part.

[@matthewzito6130]

@@kobeh6185 I never said that Soviet submachine guns are LESS accurate than other period submachine guns. My point was that in order to extend the effective range of any submachine gun much beyond the 100 yards or so that most WW2 submachine guns are capable of, then the weapons itself has to be at least reasonably accurate.

[@kobeh6185]

@@matthewzito6130 well thats just not true either. Combat accuracy of a Submachine gun in ww2 isn't and shouldn't be gauged by the accuracy of a single weapon, nor is effective range determined by mechanical accuracy. The best way to describe this are light machine guns and general purpose machine guns. The BREN gun could reach out easily to 500 meters with a skilled shooter, in full auto the weapons effect is achieved by volume of fire. But the BREN is open bolt. How is this possible? The cartridge.. 303 is a full power rifle round. Comparatively, 7.62 tokarev vs 9mm and especially versus .45 ACP has distinct range advantages as a result of its velocity and air resistance coefficient. What im trying to say is that with open bolt firearms, the mechanical accuracy doesn't really matter. (So long as it properly stabilizes the bullet of course) I feel like I've said this already, but the cartridge IS the range. Discussing if an open bolt SMG can reach past 100 yards is a silly conversation when that question is answered entirely by the cartridge it fires and whether you can controllably put rounds in that direction. A ww2 era submachine gun is not supposed to be used for single shot accuracy at such a range (closer in, you can of course do it, but thats not part of the point of this). It's about if 5 guys with PPS-43s can gain a similar hit probability at 100m or more than say 5 guys with 3 M1 Garands, 1 Thompson, and 1 M1 Carbine. Of course the PPS will have less accuracy than an Garand or even the Carbine, but will it be sufficient enough in range that the high volume of fire can make up for the rest. For the Soviets, especially when fighting in the cities, towns, and wooded areas, that answer was yes.

[@Chris_the_Dingo]

I have my grandfather's Smith & Wesson revolver he carried as a sheriff. It was WWII surplus, chambered in 38 S&W rather than 38 Special, presumably made for British use. He bought it shortly after getting elected, in 1948

[@melisloucaides766]

0:05 POV: I'm the the sole survivor of dodge ball

[@lakefaniganlay2819]

The tank exploding is the ball you sent up and forgot about

[@thetruth1862]

There is a story that a airman shot down by a zero deployed his parachute, and the Zerp came back around to see him with his cockpit open, the airman fired 2 shots at the plane, and found out later in a concentration camp he was being treated better by his Japanese captors, that he had shot the Japanese pilot in the head with his 1911.

[@JoeyLuckyBoyNato.]

Hello, ! 🌟Thanks for watching::You have been shortlisted for the ongoing secret giveaway contact address above on telegram, ❤️💯🏆, Thank you!

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

... an* airman. And do you mean he was being treated better "because" he shot the Zero pilot with a 1911 pistol (instead of a "nether" weapon)?

[@larskunoandersen5750]

The 1911A1 was adopted in 1924. the Tokarev round is a 7.62x25

[@ahnafusaid8028]

During the Bangladesh liberation of Bangladesh, one of our brigade commanders and later army chief of staff Colonel KM Shafiullah was saved when his m1911 was hit by Pakistani bullet which was in holster.

[@ewfisher89]

I love the fact that I own most of the side arms listed in this video, I am missing some of the revolvers though (the Smith & Wessons and the Enfield).

[@jackstecker5796]

My number 1 rule for new shooters, is "keep your fucking booger hook off the bang switch." Even if you screw up all the other safety rules, you should be ok. Typically, you have; Condition 1: chamber loaded, magazine in place, loaded, safety engaged, hammer cocked. This is how I carry my 1911a1 every day. Condition 2: chamber loaded, magazine in place, hammer down, safety engaged. This is a problem, because a lot of modern pistols have firing pin safeties, and if you pull the trigger to lower the hammer, instead of using the decocker, you disable the firing pin safety. I know of at least one police officer, leaving court, with his holstered Sig P-220, balanced on top of a file box. Who dropped it. Launched a .45 caliber 230gr. hollow point through his head, when it fell on the hammer with the firing pin safety disabled, after he thumbed down the hammer. Condition 3: Empty chamber, loaded magazine, safety on, hammer cocked or uncocked, Condition 4:Probably your best bet for people who don't know what they're doing. Empty chamber, either no magazine or empty magazine in the gun, hammer down, safety on.

[@Clipgatherer]

You wouldn't see the Webley "standing in" for the Colt .45 in westerns, would you? That would be almost unpatriotic.

[@firstconsul7286]

I was mentally screaming when I saw that American pistol training video

[@DocM.]

Best War history channel on youtube!

[@dennisyoung4631]

Those 1911a1 things can be quite the handful. I had one. *I never got over the kick it had.* I had hoped to “back it off” some…. Liked the size and heft, but did not like it attempting to *escape* from my hands.

[@geordiedog1749]

Great stuff Jonny. If memory serves the Brits used some BHPs as well. As did the Germans for that matter as they rollled over Belgium. The Hi Powers were probably the best over all gun but the 1911 just shoot so well. Ha! Like I’ve shot all of them!! I have fired a BHP and 1911 and a Webley. The Webley wasn’t the 455 cal though. Big old piece of iron all the same. Keep up the good work. I take it it’s Luger - fest next time?

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Luger is nearing the top of my list forsure! :)

[@geordiedog1749]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Also, I Need to take time and read other comments as you’ve already been swamped with BHP reminders:)

[@Stripedbottom]

It's a pity you didn't cover the Nagant M1895 in more detail. I think you should have, considering it was probably far more prevalent during the early stages of WW2 than the TT was, and also had a great history starting from Czarist Russia (the gun that Rasputin was killed with, for example) through the Civil War to WW2 and well beyond - Korea and Vietnam, for example. Moreover, it's a very interesting gun with the gas-seal system and funny looking ammo - one of the few revolvers that could meaningfully use a silencer.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Very interesting revolver. One if the only ones to work with a silencer. If I can find some more footage I'll see if I can expand on it down the line 🙏

[@Stripedbottom]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Check the more modern Russian films about WW2, there's a wealth of footage there. Also in some Soviet-era black & white films. This might be totally anecdotal but judging by the way it appears in Soviet/Russian films and books, it seems to have been a junior officer's sidearm especially in the early war, while the TT went to higher officers, NKVD and other specialist troops, and the like. Oh, and propaganda pictures of course :)

[@StazherEzhov]

Let me correct - Rasputin was shot with a Savage Model 1907 pistol.

[@joshuavelazco4382]

Do a video on the axis sidearms

[@christophersnyder1532]

Very interesting, I may not be able to watch any, however. There is another Canadian war film of such, or Anne Of Green Gables, when Gilbert went to war. Have a great Christmas, for you, and all who watch, comment, and reply. Take care, and all the best.

[@Awesome_1789]

I still love my 1911 in 2022. Coolest thing I seen was was a picture of Soviet soldier fighting in kiev Ukraine with his 1911 the story is Americans provided arms to Soviets in the beginning of the war.

[@mikewilliams8151]

Can't remember the article, but talked about cavalry in WWI that got into an ambush. Leaving their rifles on the horse, pulled their 1911 and fired a wall of slugs that stopped the threat. I have a 1911 made in 1913. Carried it till a year ago (still pararized) as EDC. Retired it for a new 1911 FS. Will carry always. Plus, the metal frame can be used as a club

[@derfaschist9687]

TT33 is the most reliable and rugged pistol of ww2. Its still the standard and commonly used pistol in some countries like china, pakistan and Bangladesh along with north korea.

[@JoeyLuckyBoyNato.]

Hello, ! 🌟Thanks for watching::You have been shortlisted for the ongoing secret giveaway contact address above on telegram, ❤️💯🏆, Thank you!

[@jimgaul67]

I served a combat tour in VN. I bought a .38 Colt snub from a guy in my squad. I carried it all the time except when I was in the rear areas. Chopper pilots all carried side arms (1911’s) as well as officers. When we went to M203’s (M-16 combo M79 grenade launcher) they took the side arms away from those guys.

[@somedipshtinthecomments2507]

😅 that training video is wild like: "Go ahead Johnson, point that shit right at my chest - I don't give a fuck"

[@shinkoreancookery952]

YESSSS ANOTHER GREATT VIDEO!! THANK YOU!!

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thank ya!

[@kevinjones8496]

I read in one of your replies about the Hi Power in films if you could find it...Axel Foley in Beverley Hills Cop

[@TheMilsurpGuy2187]

Awesome video as always, I Have a Soviet TT-33 that was a bring back from the Korean War.

[@bobmetcalfe9640]

At the end of World War II, my father was set to guard a Japanese warehouse full of loot from all over Asia. He said that one of the things he was guarding was a matched set of pearl handled Colt 45's.I was really pissed off he never stole them. In fact he never stole anything! He probably could have made a small fortune if he'd been less honest. Incidentally AFAIK weapons discipline was so bad amongst Russian soldiers, largely due to drunkenness that I doubt if better safety is on their weapons would have made the slightest bit of difference. :)

[@one-metallica4156]

You missed the Browning High Power.

[@oolooo]

Frankly , a New Service or Triple Lock pattern revolver would make me feel very comfortable .

[@kurtwk]

I was surprised you didn’t use the opening scene of “ Pink Floyd The Wall “ where Pink”s father cleans his Webley in a dark bunker at Anzio ! …. I absolutely love that scene and I’m not necessarily a big Pink Floyd fan.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Very regrettable I overlooked that. I wrote this down for future reference.

[@kurtwk]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq ….well , if you ever feature a Stuka, you can still use a great scene from this movie ! ………and Hannibal Rising…..and Captain Coreli’s Mandolin …and Enemy at the Gates…..and Dunkirk …..Battle of Britain …..and I’m sure a few more 😛

[@OldMusicFan83]

Alvin York was pretty effective with his .45

[@heyblinkin6540]

My dad always said the only thing they really used the 1911 for in Korea. Was a hammer and a bottle opener lol. They mostly stuck with the M-1

[@mugsnvicki]

May I add a comment or two? First, another great video with excellent movie clips and a most excellent review. I have a Webley .455 revolver, quite a good accurate firearm, but hard to find ammo! Also have an Enfield .38 cal. Tanker, Enfield No. 2 Mk.1 **. Hammer cut down to reduce accidental discharge when getting in and out of tanks (so I read!). And a Tokarev TT33 but it's a 9mm. And a 1911 A .45 ACP.. Great video, I think I'll watch it again. Cheers!

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Haha wow you have a massive collection! What's your favorite side arm out of that collection? Good to know from someone who has them all

[@mugsnvicki]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq Not so big! I'm a frugal Canadian. .45 ACP ammo is expensive. 9 mm is much less so. At the range, I prefer 9 mm. (But you can't beat .22 cal for longer shoots!) Favourite? My Walther P38.

[@mugsnvicki]

Have to add the Tunnel Rats in Viet Nam, I think there is a same name movie. Armed with a .45 and a flashlight. But hey, you did say WW2.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I forgot to add Gump jumping down a tunnel with a 1911 now that I think of it.

[@richardma720]

If I’m not mistaken, I think the very first movie clip is from “White Tiger”, not Tankers

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

You are correct! Sorry about that

[@Elephantine999]

Interesting. Great video.

[@stefanebert7171]

Many thanks. Great channel! Greets from Hamburg

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thanks for stopping by!

[@gooddog2001]

One of the Japan's pistols had a bad habit of accidentally discharging.

[@newsbender]

Shoulda shown the scene where Horvath pulls his 1911 on Reiben in Saving Private Ryan, that illustrates the intimidation factor perfectly.

[@kevinmaiuri6418]

According to my dad who served during Vietnam (he was never deployed though), and other sources, sidearms were, and still are issued only to officers and NCOs (Non-Comissioned Officer) for use on their own men in the rare event that they needed to either defend themselves from or execute insubordinate soldiers under their command. Atleast I'm told that this is the case in the U.S. military. Issued sidearms originally were never intended for use as a back-up weapon, as soldiers should always have enough ammo for their primary weapon when going into action. One source literally told me that soldiers are normally issued enough ammo for their primary weapon for whatever type of mission they are going on, and implied that there should be no reason for them to run out of ammo during a mission.

[@rudithedog7534]

You missed the Browning HP, manufactured and used by both allied and axis sides during WW2

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Will try to give it it's own video in the future if I can find enough footage

[@kennardjohnson7875]

You are wrong, pistols were used alot in city fighting going door to door. Mainly captured German walthers because they could pickup ammo as they moved along, but these were Texans on the front lines.

[@a7721523]

Enfield No.2 was ever used by Anthony Quinn in "The Guns of Navarone". It's a real classic shot.

[@tankshot3256]

Would love to have the Webley!

[@privatecanook]

A little sad the Hi-power didn’t get mentioned but yet again they are never shown in movies

[@hunglengocbao3469]

General Patton also used the revolver but not the Webley

[@mattwordsworth9825]

I think Patton used the S&W Model 27

[@eamonnclabby7067]

Again ,well done, happy to ad to the chorus of approval....E

[@gew43]

my favorite ww2 handgun is the browning hp

[@judsongaiden9878]

'Flame and Citron' is the first movie I ever saw Mads Mikkelsen in. 3:10 What does he mean by "gun stock?" 6:50 7.62x25 Tokarev had better effective range than most other pistol calibers of World War II. 9:28 Sean Connery used a Webley-Fosbery in Zardoz.

[@jackthunderbolt4307]

I'm gonna be sad when you run out of weapons

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Huey helicopter next video I think :)

[@eamonnclabby7067]

We could always discuss the Irish blackthorn club aka cheilealedh ( apologies for my rusty Gaelic ) ,beloved of donnybrookes the world over ,or the black Bess which featured in the Napoleonic wars and Sharpe of course ..just a thought for the new year....E

[@Sunday_fits]

Letsgo dude, just was watching your other stuff, not too bad mate

[@timmccunn2754]

Hey Johnny, if we don't see another post before Christmas...have a great Christmas, have a safe Christmas!! Look after yourself mate 👍😊🎉🎉🎉

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

You too brother

[@timmccunn2754]

Excellent Johnny, just excellent. Your best yet I reckon...👍👍👍

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thanks man that means a lot! Trying to up my game with each video but finding the right clips can sometimes be a challenge :)

[@timmccunn2754]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq mate, you're doing a fine job with the clips...a challenge, I know, but you're nailing it. It's the information and really slick editing that's truly impressive bud...looks very, very professional. Nice work man 👍😊📽

[@timmccunn2754]

Google my name and you'll understand why I'm impressed mate...

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Tim McCunn the actor??

[@timmccunn2754]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq yep, that's me bro 👍😁

[@miketaylor5212]

im pretty sure the british paratroops used the 1935 browning highpower 9 mm.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

They sure did! But they definitely used 1911s as well. The highpower deserves it own video but we will see what footage I can come up with in the near future.

[@Gunbudder]

My uncle was a tank commander who was deployed in Australia to repel invasion and then Okinawa for mop up. I asked him about his side arm and he told me he called it his "baby's rattle" because of how the gun shook like a rattle when he moved it. he said it was so poorly made he was amazed it didn't blow up in his hand when he used it on the range. he also said the only time he ever fired it was to qualify, and from then on he only considered it as his "prevention from being captured." In other words, he planned to shoot himself as a last resort with his M1911A1 instead of being captured by the japanese. He said he never was in fear of being captured though, so it wasn't something he thought much about. He did carry it on him though while in his tank. He also told me an interesting thing about how he was taught to shoot. he was in danger of not being able to qualify at all with the 1911 because he couldn't even hit the target, and an old timer taught him how to sight down his pointer finger and pull the trigger with his middle finger. This was called "point shooting" back then, which has a different meaning now. the wikipedia article on Point Shooting has a bunch of historical information about the method, but in short it worked! my uncle shot drastically better using the point shooting method, and he qualified. I miss my uncle, and i love any chance to tell his war stories. he was a real life "most interesting man in the world". even his notes he left behind in his workshop are so interesting! he was developing a new method for vacuum forming plastic when he died of old age (he was experimenting with new plastic blends).

[@JoeyLuckyBoyNato.]

Hello, ! 👋🎊Thanks for watching::You have been shortlisted for the ongoing secret giveaway🎁🎁 contact address above on telegram, ❤️💯🏆, Thank you!

[@greenearth9945]

Whats the movie at 07:35 ?

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

No mention of the FN Browning HP? Was it such an exotic weapon in WW2?

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

It had an interesting and complicated history in WW2, even used by both sides. I'll see what footage I can find for a future video.