gwalchmai Posted 12 April , 2014 Share Posted 12 April , 2014 (edited) Regarding 'normal' line infantry - Ive seen plenty of evidence of sidearms being used by sgts. Was this something common among lower rank NCO's such as corporals? Edited 12 April , 2014 by gwalchmai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 13 April , 2014 Share Posted 13 April , 2014 It wasn't to do with rank for ORs but role. TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dman Posted 13 April , 2014 Share Posted 13 April , 2014 British chemical troops "Special Brigades" were issued revolvers because of their work hauling heavy gas cylinders Troops handling heavy loads were often issued sidearms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwalchmai Posted 13 April , 2014 Author Share Posted 13 April , 2014 So did your bog standard line infantry ever carry sidearms? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scalyback Posted 13 April , 2014 Share Posted 13 April , 2014 Machine gunners did. Bog standard infantry not using a rifle. A side arm is a weapon of last resort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelfe Posted 14 April , 2014 Share Posted 14 April , 2014 Bear in mind that infantry officers were supposed to provide their on pistols. In practice they swiftly changed to carrying rifles. Carrying a pistol in sight of the enemy tended to make you a target. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerhunter Posted 14 April , 2014 Share Posted 14 April , 2014 I think that you mean pistols or revolvers rather than "sidearms". Sidearms is a generic term which can can also mean sword or bayonet. In fact the latter more so in the Briitish Army. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 14 April , 2014 Share Posted 14 April , 2014 Well said! Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwalchmai Posted 14 April , 2014 Author Share Posted 14 April , 2014 thats coz I thought I'd get shouted at if I said pistols when I should be saying revolvers Its specifically their use by NCO's in normal line bttn who would also be armed with a rifle. So not specialist MG etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerhunter Posted 15 April , 2014 Share Posted 15 April , 2014 thats coz I thought I'd get shouted at if I said pistols when I should be saying revolvers Its specifically their use by NCO's in normal line bttn who would also be armed with a rifle. So not specialist MG etc. Pistols AND Revolvers is the norm in the UK because of most of us in the historic firearms community dislike the term "handgun". As has been said, revolvers (can't think of any pistols issued to ORs) issued to Other Ranks were issued based on role rather than rank. Additionally, I can't think of an OR carrying both rifle and revolver (officially). ORs also seemed to get issued the open-top type leather cases (holsters). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 15 April , 2014 Share Posted 15 April , 2014 In the 1950s the designation was 'pistol revolver' if my memory has not failed Old Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerhunter Posted 16 April , 2014 Share Posted 16 April , 2014 In the 1950s the designation was 'pistol revolver' if my memory has not failed Old Tom As in Pistol, Revolver, No.2 Mk.1 or "Enfield" - as is it more commonly known. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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