Sedgley OSS .38 | |
---|---|
Type | Assassination pistol, last resort weapon |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
Used by | OSS |
Wars | World War II |
Production history | |
Designer | Office of U.S. Naval Intelligence |
Manufacturer | Sedgley Company |
No. built | 52–200 |
Specifications | |
Cartridge | .38 Special |
Action | Single Shot, Break Barrel |
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]
The Sedgley OSS is a single-shot, break-action, smoothbore .38 Special pistol which was designed by Stanley M. Haight for the Office of Naval Intelligence. It was meant as a covert operation and assassination weapon in the Pacific Theater. It was mounted on the back of a cowhide glove; a long-sleeved coat would usually be worn to hide the weapon. 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. [5]
The Sedgley OSS is seen in the Quentin Tarantino World War II alternate history film Inglourious Basterds . The film centers on elements of the First Special Service Force operating under orders from the OSS dropping behind German lines to conduct a political assassination of Nazi high-command. Two Sedgley OSS weapons are utilized near the film's climax, including one loaded, concealed, and used by a character played by the actor Eli Roth and another used without concealment. [6]
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