WEAPONS & HISTORY
This section is dedicated to the historical, technical and contextual study of military and regulatory firearms across different eras.
It offers a documentary and analytical approach intended for collectors, enthusiasts and informed amateurs, within a strictly legal and heritage-focused framework.
Each page aims to place the firearms presented by 2A Inc. back into their historical, industrial and regulatory context.
🪖 USM1 Paratrooper Carbine – .30 Carbine – 1943
🪖 Carabine USM1 Para - cal .30M1 1943. Catégorie B
The M1 Carbine was adopted by the United States military to provide a lightweight and highly maneuverable weapon for airborne troops, paratroopers and support units.
Its compact size and reliability made it particularly suited for airborne operations from 1942 onwards, especially during engagements in Europe and the Pacific theater.
🪖 Beretta Model 1934 – Cal. .380 ACP (9x17mm)
The Beretta Model 1934 was widely used by Italian armed forces during World War II, including units of the Italian Social Republic (RSI) from 1943–1944.
Compact, robust and simple in design, it represents the standard Italian military sidearm of the period, produced within the context of total war and late-war industrial constraints.
🪖 MAS 44 Rifle – French Semi-Automatic WWII Transition Weapon - cal 7,5x54mm french | 2A Inc
Fusil MAS 44, calibre 7.5 MAS, arme règlementaire Française, Catégorie B
The MAS 44 rifle marks the transition of French military small arms toward semi-automatic systems at the end of World War II. Developed during the Liberation period, it represents a key step between traditional bolt-action rifles and the future standard semi-automatic rifles of the French Army, notably the MAS 49.
🪖 Walther PP 1944 Zella-Mehlis – WWII German Finance Police Pistol .32 ACP | 2A Inc
Pistolet Walther PP - 7.65browning - Zella-Mehlis 1944 - Code Ministère des Finances - Catégorie B
The Walther PP was widely used by administrative services, police forces and various civil and paramilitary branches of Nazi Germany during World War II.
Examples produced in Zella-Mehlis in 1944 reflect late-war manufacturing conditions and were often issued to government administrations, as indicated by specific property markings such as those from the Ministry of Finance.
Compact, reliable and accurate, the PP complemented standard military sidearms of larger calibers within administrative and security roles.
🪖 MAB Model D Pistol – French Vichy Police WWII .32 ACP | 2A Inc
Gouvernement de VICHY! Pistolet MAB D, POLICE D'ÉTAT! calibre 7,65br, FRANCE, Catégorie B. RARE!
The MAB Model D pistol was used by French police forces during the German Occupation, particularly by the State Police operating under the authority of the Vichy government.
Chambered in .32 ACP, it represents a characteristic example of French service sidearms employed within a constrained political and administrative context.
These pistols reflect the continuity of French industrial production under control and the specific roles assigned to law enforcement forces during World War II.
🪖 Luger P08 Mauser 1940 – German Police Pistol WWII 9mm | 2A Inc
Pistolet P08 Mauser Police - Allemagne 1940 - calibre 9x19, monomatricule, catégorie B
Luger P08 pistols were also issued to German police forces at the beginning of World War II.
Examples produced around 1940 and allocated to the Ordnungspolizei are distinguished by specific markings and their assignment outside strictly military units.
They illustrate the extension of the Reich’s armament effort to internal security forces during wartime.
🪖 Colt 1911 A1 – Cal. .45 ACP – Parkerized Finish
Colt 1911 A1 US Army 1943 Parkerisé — Calibre .45 ACP — Seconde Guerre mondiale
The Colt 1911 A1 served as the standard issue sidearm of the United States armed forces during World War II. Mass-produced in 1943, it was deployed across all theaters of war, from Europe to the Pacific.
Its robustness, stopping power in .45 ACP, and ease of maintenance made it one of the most iconic military pistols of the conflict.
🪖 Luger P08 Mauser 1939 – DDR Volkspolizei Reissue
Pistolet Luger P08 Mauser 1939 – Reconditionné DDR Volkspolizei – 9 mm Parabellum
Manufactured by Mauser in 1939 for the Wehrmacht, the Luger P08 remains one of the most emblematic pistols of World War II.
After the war, some examples were recovered, refurbished and reissued by the police forces of the German Democratic Republic (DDR), notably the Volkspolizei.
These pistols illustrate the continued use of German military equipment during the early Cold War period.
🪖 Mauser Karabiner 98 – Erfurt 1910 - Cal. 8x57IS
Mauser Karabiner 98 Erfurt 1910 en 8x57 IS (Catégorie C) avec baïonnette Mundlos
Manufactured in Erfurt in 1910 for the German Empire, the Karabiner 98 is an evolution of the Mauser system adopted in the late 19th century.
Widely used during World War I, it formed the basis of German standard service rifles and had a lasting influence on bolt-action rifle design throughout the 20th century.
🪖 Reichsrevolver Model 1883 – Erfurt 1894 - Cal. 10.6mm
Reichs Revolver Model 1883, Erfurt 1894, mono-matricule, cal 10.6 mm, Catégorie D
Adopted by the German Empire in the late 19th century, the Reichsrevolver Model 1883 is an evolution of the earlier 1879 model, designed notably for mounted troops.
Produced in Erfurt, it represents one of the last standard-issue revolvers used by Germany before the widespread adoption of semi-automatic pistols in the early 20th century.
🪖 Colt Model 1908 – Shanghai Municipal Police (1917–1918)
– Cal. .380 ACP
The Colt Model 1908 in .380 ACP was used by the Shanghai Municipal Police during the 1910s.
Early examples received modifications attributed to William E. Fairbairn, adapted to urban combat conditions in China, illustrating the evolution of handguns in an international policing context.
Baikal PSM / IZH-75 – Soviet Compact Pistol(USSR / Russia)
🔫 PSM – Cal. 5.45×18mm
Developed in the Soviet Union in the 1970s, the PSM was designed as a compact service pistol for officers and security services.
Chambered in 5.45×18mm, it is notable for its extremely slim profile, suited for concealed carry, and remains in use within various post-Soviet structures.
Nagant M1895 – NKVD Short Barrel – Tula 1927🔫 Nagant Revolver – Cal. 7.62 Nagant
Revolver Nagant 1895 - Modèle canon Court NKVD - Tula 1927 - Calibre 7,62 Nagant - Categorie B
The Nagant M1895, adopted by the Russian Empire and later retained by the USSR, is known for its unique gas-seal system.
Short-barrel versions were used by the NKVD during the 1920s–30s for internal security, interrogation and execution roles, symbolizing the Soviet repressive apparatus of the interwar period.
🪖 Nambu Type 14 – Japanese Service Pistol (1925–1945)
Cal. 8×22mm Nambu
The Nambu Type 14 was adopted by the Imperial Japanese Army in 1925 (Taishō era year 14). Designed by General Kijirō Nambu, it represents an evolution of earlier models with simplified production and improved ergonomics.
Chambered in 8×22mm Nambu, it is recognizable by its distinctive shape and mechanism influenced by early European semi-automatic pistols.
Widely issued to Japanese officers, it remains one of the most emblematic sidearms of Imperial Japan during World War II.
🪖 Makarov PM – VEB Ernst Thälmann Werk Suhl – DDR Police
Cal. 9×18mm
Adopted in 1951 in the USSR, the Makarov PM became the standard service pistol of the Eastern Bloc.
In East Germany, it was produced in Suhl by VEB Ernst Thälmann and issued to the Volkspolizei. Robust, simple and reliable, it embodies Cold War service handguns.
✨️ STAR BM Pistol – Spain (1970s–1980s) – Cal. 9×19mm
Pistolet STAR, modele BM, plaqué or Calibre 9x19, Espagne, Catégorie B
The STAR BM is a Spanish semi-automatic pistol in 9×19mm, widely used by security forces during the second half of the 20th century.
Compact and robust, it derives from the Browning system and reflects the industrial production of the STAR factory in Eibar.
🔫 Heckler & Koch HK4 Mod.4 – MAS Saint-Étienne production – 1973-1974
The Heckler & Koch HK4 is a compact semi-automatic pistol developed in West Germany in the late 1960s. Designed around a modular system, it allows the use of different calibers through interchangeable barrel and slide assemblies, meeting the need for versatility among certain administrative services.
Between 1973 and 1974, a licensed production was carried out in France by the Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne (MAS). This limited series, estimated at around 550 units, was intended for the West Berlin police within the context of the Cold War, where industrial cooperation and supply between Western allies held strategic importance.
The Mod.4 from this French production is distinguished by its conversion system, notably including a secondary barrel in .22 Long Rifle alongside the primary 7.65 Browning (.32 ACP) caliber. This feature reflects the period’s focus on adaptability in service handguns.
Complete examples retaining their conversion kits, documentation, and original accessories are today considered technical and industrial witnesses of Franco-German cooperation in the field of small arms during the early 1970s.
🪖 MAC 1950 Pistol – adoption by the French armed forces – 1950s-1970s
Pistolet MAC 50 - 9x19 - FRANCE, Catégorie B
The Pistolet Automatique Modèle 1950, commonly known as the MAC 1950, was adopted by the French armed forces in the early 1950s to replace handguns inherited from the Second World War. It was designed by the Manufacture d’Armes de Châtellerault (MAC) as part of a broader modernization of national military equipment.
Chambered in 9×19 mm Parabellum, it operates on a short recoil system with locking derived from the Browning Hi-Power design. Its robust and relatively simple construction was intended to meet the requirements of standardized military use.
The MAC 1950 was produced primarily in Châtellerault and later in Saint-Étienne, equipping the French army, gendarmerie, and various government services. It saw service during decolonization conflicts, notably in Indochina and Algeria.
Gradually replaced from the 1980s onward by more modern designs, it remains a representative example of post-war French service handguns and the transition to the 9 mm caliber within the armed forces.
🪖 Remington Rand 1911 A1 – U.S. Army wartime production – 1942-1945
Pistolet Remington Rand 1911 A1 U.S. Army .45 ACP WWII FJA United States Property High Standard
The Colt M1911A1 pistol, adopted by the U.S. Army in 1926, was produced in large quantities during the Second World War by several manufacturers, including Remington Rand. Originally a typewriter manufacturer, the company was integrated into the United States’ wartime industrial effort.
Between 1942 and 1945, Remington Rand became the largest producer of 1911A1 pistols, with over 800,000 units manufactured. These pistols typically bear the markings “UNITED STATES PROPERTY” along with the inspection stamp “FJA,” corresponding to inspector Frank J. Atwood.
Chambered in .45 ACP, the 1911A1 operates on a short recoil system with locking lugs derived from the Browning design. Its robustness and stopping power made it the standard service handgun of U.S. forces during the conflict.
Issued across all branches of the U.S. military, these pistols were used on every major theater of operations, from Europe to the Pacific, and remain today a symbol of American wartime industrial production.
🪖 Daewoo DP51 – South Korean service pistol – 1980s-1990s
Pistolet DAEWOO, DP 51, calibre 9x19mm, Corée du Sud, Catégorie B
The Daewoo DP51 pistol was developed in South Korea in the 1980s by Daewoo Precision Industries as part of the modernization of the country’s armed and security forces. It was adopted as a standard service handgun by both military and police units.
Chambered in 9×19 mm Parabellum, the DP51 operates on a short recoil system with Browning-type locking. It is distinguished by a unique trigger mechanism, often referred to as “triple action” or Fast Action, allowing a round to be chambered and the hammer safely lowered while maintaining a trigger pull similar to single action.
Its design draws partially from contemporary Western pistols, particularly the Smith & Wesson Model 59, while incorporating solutions specific to South Korean industry. The standard magazine capacity is 13 rounds.
The DP51 remained in service for several decades in South Korea and stands as a representative example of the rise of the country’s domestic arms industry in the late 20th century.
🪖 Ballester-Molina Pistol – Argentine production under American influence – 1938-1953
Pistolet Ballester Molina, .45 ACP, Argentine, mono-matricule, Catégorie B
The Ballester-Molina pistol was developed in Argentina in the late 1930s by Hispano Argentina Fábrica de Automóviles S.A. (HAFDASA). Production began in 1938 as part of a national effort toward industrial self-sufficiency, aimed at equipping the Argentine armed forces with a modern handgun chambered in .45 ACP.
Although externally similar to the Colt M1911, the Ballester-Molina incorporates several mechanical differences. It notably omits the grip safety and uses a simplified trigger mechanism influenced by Spanish designs such as those produced by Star. It nevertheless operates on a short recoil system with locking derived from the Browning principle.
Primarily manufactured for the Argentine military, the pistol was also supplied to the United Kingdom during the Second World War to meet Allied demand for handguns. Examples delivered to British forces bear specific inspection markings confirming their military acceptance.
Production continued into the early 1950s before the pistol was gradually replaced by more modern designs. Today, the Ballester-Molina stands as a representative example of South American arms industrialization and of the cross-influences between European and American handgun design in the first half of the 20th century.
🪖 MAB PA15 M1 Pistol – long-barrel competition variant – France, 1970s-1980s
MAB PA15 M1 6 pouces 9mm version compétition hausse réglable sécurité allongée rare
The MAB PA15 pistol was developed in France by the Manufacture d’Armes de Bayonne (MAB) in the late 1960s, aiming to provide a modern handgun chambered in 9×19 mm Parabellum. It was designed to meet military, police, and civilian needs in a period marked by increasing competition from foreign manufacturers.
The PA15 M1 represents an evolution of the original PA15, incorporating ergonomic and mechanical improvements. Its high-capacity 15-round magazine was notable for the time, placing it ahead of many contemporary European service pistols.
The 6-inch long-barrel variant is specifically oriented toward precision shooting and competition use. The extended barrel enhances ballistic stability, while the longer sight radius improves accuracy. This configuration is typically associated with adjustable sights suited for target shooting.
The PA15 features an original rotating barrel locking system, differing from the more common Browning tilting barrel design. This technical solution reflects French efforts to explore alternative mechanical approaches in small arms development during the period.
Produced in limited quantities in this specific configuration, the long-barrel PA15 M1 is today a relatively uncommon variant, illustrating the adaptation of a service pistol toward precision and competition roles in late 20th-century France.
🪖 COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY 1873 “ARTILLERY MODEL” — U.S. CAVALRY / INDIAN WARS — UNITED STATES, LATE 19TH CENTURY
The Colt Single Action Army 1873, widely known as the “Peacemaker”, became one of the most iconic sidearms of the American frontier and U.S. military service during the Indian Wars. Revolvers inspected by Henry Nettleton (HN) belong to the earliest U.S. Cavalry contracts delivered in the late 1870s. So-called “Artillery Models” were refurbished revolvers reworked by the U.S. Army in the late 19th century, commonly fitted with shorter 5 1/2 inch barrels to extend their service life. Early production Colts from this period are notably identified by the absence of the “Rampant Colt” logo and by the original “Black Powder Frame” configuration.