Officers's Back Up Revolvers/Pistols

[Khaki]

The standard French handgun was the 8mm :LEBEL: revolver - strange weapon in that cylinder swung to right instead of left

for reloading.

Sometimes unusual features such as this are because the sword is still considered the primary weapon and as such is drawn and used in the right hand, consequently the revolver being the secondary weapon is designed to held in the left hand with the cylinder opening to the right to be loaded with the right hand.

khaki

[centurion]

Sometimes unusual features such as this are because the sword is still considered the primary weapon and as such is drawn and used in the right hand, consequently the revolver being the secondary weapon is designed to held in the left hand with the cylinder opening to the right to be loaded with the right hand.

khaki

Which is holding a sword ?- mmm tricky

[Khaki]

An either or, proposition, the sword by the great War was already an obsolete weapon and although still issued and used, probably spent more time in its scabbard, pistols being more useful as WSC already understood at Omdurman.

khaki

[dman]

Reason given for cylinder opening to right is loading gun on horseback - be held in left hand (most people are right handed) and soldier load cartridges with right hand

Left hand would also hold reins

In France prior to WW I handguns were issued only to officers, senior NCOs and cavalry

As Clauswitz said "No plan srvives contact with enemy...." French forced to change plans and issue handguns to many more soldiers

and to specialist who did not exist prior to the war

[Thewebleyman]

Hi everyone, it should be remembered that Officers had to supply their own sidearm and whereas many opted for something ranging from a Webley Service Mk IV to VI (the MkV being used in large quantities on the Somme for example) there was a lot of choice open to them. As long as they had something that chambered the standard issue round .455 rev it was okay.

I recall reading a while back that at the onset of war some Officers took a second weapon with them to 'despatch' hopelessly wounded enemies , almost as if they were dealing with injured animals. How true that is who knows...... Among the preferred second weapons was the Savage .32 cal , quite a nice piece but too small in calibre to ever be issued seriously by the military. I have a .38 acp (or 'High Velocity') Webley Model1910 semi auto which was purchased at Harrods by an Officer of the Duke of Westminster RIfles? prior to being sent out to Mespotamia in 1914. That , in no stretch of the imagination could be considered as a small calibre .

[centurion]

How true that is who knows

Exactly

[Stoppage Drill]

I come back to my earlier point - why carry a second pistol of any calibre ?

What I can envisage - it makes sense - is that an officer dressed in a privates uniform (as became common) and carrying a rifle, might wish to slip a smallish pistol into a pocket.

[Khaki]

I come back to my earlier point - why carry a second pistol of any calibre ?

What I can envisage - it makes sense - is that an officer dressed in a privates uniform (as became common) and carrying a rifle, might wish to slip a smallish pistol into a pocket.

An officer taken prisoner and disarmed in the confusion of battle would have a reasonable chance to conceal a small handgun that might increase his chances of getting away.

khaki

[Gareth Davies]

I have no idea how thoroughly prisoners were searched but even if they were able to conceal a handgun I am not sure they would have been able to do much with it; if they could I would have thought we would have heard more stories of gallant officers freeing themselves and their soldiers from the enemy's clutches by using a small gun hidden in their underpants.

[centurion]

I have no idea how thoroughly prisoners were searched but even if they were able to conceal a handgun I am not sure they would have been able to do much with it; if they could I would have thought we would have heard more stories of gallant officers freeing themselves and their soldiers from the enemy's clutches by using a small gun hidden in their underpants.

Prisoners were usually searched quite thoroughly if only to see what they had that could be nicked

[Gareth Davies]

As I thought, thanks Cent.

[Khaki]

Captured soldiers in the heat of battle were disarmed on capture and frequently not searched at all, generally they were waved back toward the trench lines without escort, on their arrival at a trench line they were again sent back this time under escort often one soldier escorting seven or eight prisoners. It wasn't until the prisoners reached rear areas that they were thoroughly searched, deprived of any remaining important material (maps etc),and also personal items (illegally) watches, medals jewelry then separated, interrogated and finally sent to temporary holding cages to await dispersal.

Its in the initial phase of capture, perhaps lets say in a trench raid that an opportunity for escape still exists.

khaki

[centurion]

Captured soldiers in the heat of battle were disarmed on capture and frequently not searched at all, generally they were waved back toward the trench lines without escort, on their arrival at a trench line they were again sent back this time under escort often one soldier escorting seven or eight prisoners. It wasn't until the prisoners reached rear areas that they were thoroughly searched, deprived of any remaining important material (maps etc),and also personal items (illegally) watches, medals jewelry then separated, interrogated and finally sent to temporary holding cages to await dispersal.

Its in the initial phase of capture, perhaps lets say in a trench raid that an opportunity for escape still exists.

khaki

Are you talking about British or German practice please?

[MartH]

My grandfather on the Eastern Front carried a smaller pistol as well as the one issued to him.