FP-45 Liberator

[desertjunkie760]

So I heard about these neat little firearms a few weeks ago and did some research. I find the idea to be very interesting, however the amount of information about these firearms is very limited. Nobody can give adequate information past what the original intent was.

I have been trying to find a fair value for a liberator and have heard differing answers from $600 from a gun collector (even though I think he had his own agenda up front) to seeing them on gun broker for $2100-$2500. The problem with the gun broker sales is that they don't sell so the correct buyer hasn't come up. It comes down to what the buyer is willing to pay, not exactly what the firearm is worth.

This doesn't help when trying to find a fair trade value so my question is what would one be willing to pay? A Liberator in fair condition w/o original box and goodies. I say fair because the firearms didn't have a finish so they lacked a surface rust protectant. Also considering the firearm doesn't dry fire. I don't know if this effects the value to a collector, especially considering one would probably never try to shoot it.

The not dry firing problem could easily be revolved, however you cannot exactly field strip these firearms and they were very simplistic. Its not like you can get spare parts for one. Kind of thin ice in that sense.

Here is some dupe information for the ones who have not done any research on these particular firearms.

http://www.guns.com/2012/02/24/flare-projector-45-fp-45-liberator/

[stonefly-2]

it's intent was as a gun "to get a gun".

[ChrisC]

Awesome pieces of history, good luck in finding one in good condition. As for price, I would probably pay around a grand for one in good condition. But I have no idea what real fair market price is. That is just what I would personally pay, I could be real low which I think I am.

[emcon5]

They had one at Cabela's in Reno a while back, really neat gun. From what I hear the original papers that show how to use in cartoon format are worth as much as the pistol Not many survived.

Here is one that sold at auction, complete with box and instructions for $4250

http://www.icollector.com/Excellent-U-S-General-Motors-FP-45-Liberator-Clandestine-Pistol-with-Original-Box-Instruction-Shee_i10496885

[gun toting monkeyboy]

I believe somebody made a bunch or replica ones a couple years back. You might have better luck finding one of those.

-Mb

[dfletcher]

What is the legal status of the original Liberator, federally and in CA? I know the reproductions were deliberately made with rifled barrels while the originals are smooth bored. Outside CA are these considered AOW or just plain old pistols, inside CA are they considered an SBS?

[edgerly779]

They are not designed to shoot shotshells only 45 acp. I sold one couple years ago for $1300. No box or papers.

[beerman]

The last one I saw was at the last Pomona gun show (I know,many years back) it had the bag w/the instruction pamphlet...guy was asking $1,500

[ke6guj]

What is the legal status of the original Liberator, federally and in CA? I know the reproductions were deliberately made with rifled barrels while the originals are smooth bored. Outside CA are these considered AOW or just plain old pistols, inside CA are they considered an SBS?

in CA, these are considered "unconventional pistols" due to the smoothbore, but are exempt from that law due to their federal C&R status.

federally, they are exempt from the NFA due to them being declared C&R

[Click Boom]

There are a ton of completed listings on GB.

A couple sold for 500, a couple sold for around 1100, and a couple more sold for around 1500.

[Click Boom]

Everyone asking 2500, etc, went unsold.

One guy said he made some light loads and shot it, that one sold.

[HibikiR]

http://www.guns.com/2012/02/24/flare...-45-liberator/

Could someone explain what the article meant by "got a second chance in Vietnam as the Deer Gun"?

Recreations of the Liberator are ~$650, but recreations are not C&R. Would it be SSE with a barrel insert since it is a real break top?

http://vintageordnance.com/t/fp-45-liberator-pistol

[sealocan]

Here is more on the Vietnam era
" deer gun"...
a thousand were purchased in 1964 to give to the south Vietnamese guerrillas.

but unfortunately the war did not stay small and became a full-fledged big war so they were no longer needed. ( = no need for us to hide from the world the we were supplying the South Vietnamese.)

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deer_gun

( my friends dad heard a rumor at a poker game that they buried 699 in someone's basement in California...but with the initials FP.)
;-)

[joefrank64k]

Here's the replica: http://vintageordnance.com/

American Gun Works in Glendale has an *allegedly* original Liberator, with box and (IIRC) some original ammo on consignment. Don't remember what they were asking, but it's been there a while. This info was current as of last month or so.

[edgerly779]

Lot of history out there on this. The liberator I sold was from a supply the OSS was distributing to chinese under Mao Tse Tung by a friends of mines father first Lieutenant Anton Reminah his son is an aerospece engineer in Van Buys. Igave the buyer pics of Anton with Mao Tse Tung in China during wwII.
Few of these went into the european theater. More than a half million were melted by the brits at wwII end. The resistance was better at sneaking up on kraut and sliiting his thoat and taking a decent weapon than using a piece of junk single shot handgun with a 10 foot range.