Sedgley OSS .38

The Sedgley OSS .38 glove pistol or Sedgley Fist Gun is a World War II firearm. It was designed by Stanley M. Haight and manufactured by Sedgley Co. of Philadelphia for the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Navy.[1] Its official designation by the US Navy was Hand Firing Mechanism, Mk 2.[2]

Sedgley OSS .38
Illustration of the Haight Fist Gun in its US Patent document
TypeAssassination pistol, last resort weapon
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Used byOSS
WarsWorld War II
Production history
DesignerOffice of U.S. Naval Intelligence
ManufacturerSedgley Company
No. built52 - 200
Specifications
Cartridge.38 Special
ActionSingle Shot, Break Barrel

Description

The Sedgley OSS is a single shot, break action, smoothbore .38 Special pistol which was designed by Stanley M. Haight for the Naval Intelligence Office. It was meant as a covert operations and assassination weapon in the Pacific Theater. It was mounted on the back of a cowhide glove; the gun would be usually worn along with a long-sleeved coat to hide the weapon until it was used. Due to its appearance, it was commonly nicknamed "Glove Pistol" or "Glove Gun".[3]

The trigger is a bar parallel to and extending past the barrel. After being loaded and cocked, the weapon is fired by the shooter making a fist and pressing the trigger against the target's body.[4] Between 52 and 200 are believed to have been manufactured. Each Sedgley was issued only as one glove and not as a pair.[5]

See also

References
  1. United States. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (1979). Alcohol, tobacco and firearms quarterly bulletin. Dept. of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. pp. 24, 34.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Eger, Chris. "The Sedgley OSS Glove Gun". Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  3. Holmes, Richard (30 January 2009). World War II: The Definitive Visual History. DK Publishing. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-7566-5605-8.
  4. Melton, H Keith (21 September 2009). Ultimate Spy. DK Publishing. pp. 191–192. ISBN 978-0-7566-6818-1.
  5. McCollum, Ian (June 15, 2014). "Sedgley Glove Gun". YouTube. Forgotten Weapons. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
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