WWII Handguns

[AlReiter]

I realize that this is the 1911 forum, but I don't see a general WWII handgun forum on the list. A friend asked me for a recommendation for a good reference for WWII handguns and I didn't have an answer. I collect WWII rifles (M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, M1903, M1903A3, etc.) and have many references for thoss, but nothing for WWII handguns. Anyone have any recommendations? Interested in global WWII handguns and not just the US. TIA

[Jughead]

"US Handguns of World War II" by Pate is excellent.

[AlReiter]

Thanks, but the friend who asked me about it is in the UK and I don't think the gun in question is of US origin.

[Tom Doniphon]

Is the gun a WWII Ally or Axis handgun? A good book on the Axis Power handguns is "Axis Pistols" by Jan Still.

[AlReiter]

Not sure which it is. My friend can't find any markings on the revolver. He said he'd take some pictures and send them to me. Thanks for the suggestion.

[cafdfw]

Not sure which it is. My friend can't find any markings on the revolver. He said he'd take some pictures and send them to me. Thanks for the suggestion.

I realize you were looking for a forum to ID the pistol.
If you receive photos from your friend and post them here there's a good possibility someone can tell you what it is.

[AlReiter]

Finally have pictures!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/AlReiter/Picture001.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/AlReiter/Picture002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/AlReiter/Picture003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/AlReiter/Picture004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/AlReiter/Picture005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/AlReiter/Picture007.jpg

Any information on this handgun would be appreciated.

[Johnny Peppers]

The proof mark appears to be Belgian. It is probably a Belgian equivalent of the American "Saturday Night Special".

[thorin6]

Belgium "Velo-dog" pistol. Made for early cyclists to carry and use against dogs that attacked the cyclist (velo = bicycle).

[artu44]

Yes, it uses a centerfire round named 5mm VeloDog, a sort of .22 extralong with little power.

[Jim K]

The cylinder length indicates that it is chambered for the "Velo-Dog" cartridge, a 5.6mm (.22 caliber) round used in the late 19th century by bicyclists to fend off attacking dogs. The "velo" comes from an old term for bicycle, "velocipede." It is a center-fire round, not rimfire, and makers of inexpensive revolvers, mainly in Belgium, met the demand by lengthening the cylinders of already existing revolvers chambered for shorter rounds.

While weak by modern standards, the Velo-Dog was significantly more powerful than the .22 Short and .22 Long then in use.

While a Velo-Dog revolver may have been carried as a personal weapon by a WWII combatant (though it would have been obsolete even then), no such gun was ever adopted or used officially by any nation, any time. That is why it is not listed in any book of military pistols.

Jim

[AlReiter]

Many thanks for everyones input.
Al