Safari Arms Matchmaster
Notes: This is a
1911-type pistol with a number of interesting features, such as a Smith & Wesson
“K” Sight, a Commander-type hammer, an ambidextrous safety, an enlarged ejection
port, special magazines designed to feed flawlessly, and a squared-off trigger
guard. The grip has a finger groove
for the middle finger. The Matchmaster can be had with a Teflon coating,
chromed, stainless steel, blued, or even with a frame of a light alloy called
Armaloy.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
Matchmaster (Steel Frame) |
.45 ACP |
1.14 kg |
6 |
$408 |
Matchmaster (Alloy Frame) |
.45 ACP |
1.03 kg |
6 |
$411 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
Matchmaster (Steel Frame) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
14 |
Matchmaster (Alloy Frame) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
14 |
Savage M-1907
Notes:
Early in the 20th century, the firm of Savage Arms produced
three pistols. All were virtually
identical; the 1907 had large grip serrations on the slide and a serrated
hammer; the 1915 added a grip safety and had no hammer; and the 1917 had a spur
hammer and a wedge-shaped grip. The
1915 model is the most common one; in addition to large numbers of sales to US
civilians, they were also sold to the Portuguese Army and later handed down to
the Guarda Nacional de Republica.
From there, the Portuguese models were sold off to civilians and some Portuguese
and Spanish police departments in the 1950s, and they are still rather common in
Southern Europe. The pistols were
regarded as of excellent quality and can still be expected to be in good
condition.
In addition,
Savage chambered a version of their pistol in .45 ACP, to compete in the 1907
War Department Pistol Trials (which were eventually won by the M1911).
War Department officials were not impressed by the short barrel length
(3.75 inches), the light weight of the pistol (they felt it would contribute to
barrel flip and felt recoil), and the ability of the Savage 1907 to stand up to
the powerful .45 ACP cartridge (by this point, the War Department had settled on
a cartridge – the .45 ACP). The Savage, to its credit, was one of two finalists
(along with the M1911), The 123
testing models of the M-1907 which were not shot out were sold on the civilian
market. Most of these were bought
by the Pinkerton Agency.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
Savage M-1907 |
.32 ACP |
0.63 kg |
10 |
$122 |
Savage M-1907 |
.380 ACP |
0.72 kg |
10 |
$141 |
Savage M-1907 |
.45 ACP |
0.82 kg |
10 |
$229 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
Savage M-1907 (.32) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
8 |
Savage M-1907 (.380) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
9 |
Savage M-1907 (.45) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
10 |
Seecamp LWS-380
Notes: Billed as
the smallest .32ACP on the market, the LWS-32 is definitely one the smallest
pistols in the world, at 108mm long complete and 0.45 kg.
The barrel is very short at 2 inches. It was designed for Texas’
concealed firearms market.
The LWS-380 is
basically a larger version of the LWS-32, firing the .380 ACP cartridge instead
of the .32 ACP. It is actually
lighter than the LWS-32. The LWS-380 was actually first devised in 2000, but
problems with putting the .380 ACP round into such a small package (it’s only a
tiny bit larger than the LWS-32) delayed actual production until early 2004.
Hotloads are not tolerated, nor are rounds longer than standard size.
A spacer in the action prevents longer rounds from loaded into the
pistols; hotloads will rupture the action and barrel. Due to the low weight and
small size, the recoil of the LWS-380 can be substantial.
The two pistols are essentially the same except for the caliber.
Twilight 2000
Notes: This is an exceedingly rare weapon in the Twilight 2000 timeline, but can
be found in some cases.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
LWS-32 |
.32 ACP |
0.45 kg |
7 |
$108 |
LWS-380 |
.380 ACP |
0.32 kg |
6 |
$125 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
LWS-32 |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
0 |
4 |
Nil |
5 |
LWS-380 |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
0 |
6 |
Nil |
4 |
SCCY CPX-2
Notes: This is
near-subcompact pistol from a relatively new company on the scene.
Two finishes are available: all-matte black, a black frame and a
bead-blasted stainless steel slide. The bead blasting is reportedly done by
hand. The barrel and slide are
steel; however, the receiver is of 7075-T6 aluminum, and the frame is otherwise
polymer (Zytel). The grip has
serrations, including the grip panels, and the rear of the grip is cushioned.
The sight is a three-dot sight, though the rear sight is dovetailed in.
Magazines are propriety, with an 9-round flush magazine, and a
10-roundone with a firing step.
Parts are heat-treated for strength, including the 3.1-inch barrel.
A key can be inserted into the frame to lock it.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
CPX-2 |
9mm Parabellum |
0.43 kg |
9, 10 |
$218 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
CPX-2 |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
4 |
Nil |
7 |
SIG-Sauer USA M17
Notes: The M17
is a variant of the Swiss SIG-Sauer P320, which won the US Military’s MGS
(Modular Gun System) competition in 2017.
They beat out such competitors as the Glock 17 Gen 4, Beretta APX, CZ
P09, Smith & Wesson M&P (which offered a family of military pistols to suit
varying roles in the US Military), Detonics STS, and a few other minor
competitors’ designs.
(Interestingly, Beretta was originally going to submit their upgraded M9 – the
M9A3 – but at the last minute chose not to.)
The M17 entered limited service with the US Air Force and US Army late in
2017, with full production beginning earlier this year.
The 101st Air Assault Division was the first Division to
convert to the M17. Some 280,000 are estimated to be produced for the US Army
alone over the next ten years, with a possible 212,000 in the years after that.
US Army deliveries call for 6300 per month. The Marines OKd the M17, but will
likely not begin to replace their M9s until the end of their M9s life cycles in
2020. The US Navy has not indicated
whether they will replacing their M9s with M17s.
And while SOCOM has indicated that they will replace some of their pistol
(most notably their M9s) with M17s, it is well known they have license to use
almost any equipment and weapons they find work best.
It should be noted that the US handgun competition was the
Modular Gun System; while the M17 is
the standard service pistol variant, the US will probably acquire more P320
variants in several calibers and configurations.
An M18 variant, with a shorter barrel and grip for military investigation
agents, has already been approved.
In addition, the P320 offers the ability to change calibers and barrel lengths
through changing of parts instead of the whole pistol.
The M17 is a
self-cocking striker-fired design with no external hammer, using the standard
SIG-Sauer cam-actuated barrel. The M17 is DAO, with no decocker, but a lightened
trigger pull weight. To meet US regulations, the M17 has a manual safety, though
technically none is needed with a DAO handgun. The frame and some of the
internal parts are of polymer, while the slide is stainless steel.
However, the finish/color of the frame and slide are generally going to
be the same, though they may vary
from pistol to pistol. The controls
are ambidextrous and slightly extended; these include a bright orange chamber
loaded indicator which pops up at the back or the ejection port.
No tools are required for field stripping.
The frame is narrower than the M9, as there were many complaints among
smaller-handed soldiers about the M9’s grip being too wide to get a good grip.
The M17’s grip is ergonomically-shaped and has three interchangeable
backstraps to fit the gun to the soldier. The sights are of the 3-dot type with
tritium inlays, and both the front and rear sights are fully adjustable for
windage and elevation. In addition,
the rear sight is dovetailed in. Below the dust cover is a fairly long molded-in
Picatinny rail for accessories.
Versions of the M17 with extended, threaded barrels have been procured.
Barrel length of
the M17 is 4.7 inches, with the threaded-barrel version coming to 5 inches.
The lion’s share
of M17’s are chambered in 9mm Parabellum.
However, the US has also taken delivery of M17s chambered in .40 Smith &
Wesson, .357 SIG, and .45 ACP for special applications.
Four special
versions of the M17 were designed specifically for use by the Sentinels at the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. These
versions have a gloss-black frame and slide (the frame is aluminum instead of
polymer). Their version of the M17
does not have a Picatinny Rail, and the grip has grip plates made with wood made
from the USS Olympia, the ship that
transported the first Unknown Soldier to be entombed in 1921. The grip plates
have inserted medallions bearing the symbol of the 3rd Guard, Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier emblem. The
four pistols each have a name – Silence, Respect, Dignity, and Perseverance.
This name is inscribed to the level of the stainless steel below the black
finish on the right side of the slide near the front. On each side at the rear
of the slide, a “XXI” is engraved.
As the Unknown Soldier M17s do not have cocking grooves, these engravings are
the closest the pistols have to cocking grooves.
Sights are same as those of the standard M17, except that the sight plate
has engravings of the Greek gods of Peace, Victory, and Valor, and instead of
tritium inlays, they have glass dots made from marble dust from the Tomb.
The “XXI” symbolizes the 21 steps the Sentinels walk in both directions
when guarding the Tomb. The Sentinels will patrol wearing a special holster
allowing the pistol to have a 21-round extended magazine inserted, emblematic of
the 21-round salute given to veterans at their funeral.
The magazine bottom plate shoes also have the Greek figures for Peace,
Victory, and Valor engraved, and the shoes are aluminum, not polymer.
The shoes, which are removable, are also engraved with the last name of
the Sentinel on duty and his badge number.
The M18 is
essentially a compact M17, and is the military equivalent of the P320 X-Carry.
It has a shorter barrel and slide and a shorter frame than the M17.
The M18 has been procured for Military units like the Army’s CID, the
Navy’s NCIS, and the Air Force’s OSI.
It is also used for certain special applications by SOCOM troops, though
the M18’s role in SOCOM has not been publicly defined.
It has the standard polymer frame and stainless steel slide, barrel,
internals, like the M17. Like the
M17, there is a version with an extended, threaded barrel for use with a
suppressor, and there is a molded-in Picatinny Rail.
Barrel length is 3.86 inches for the standard version, or 4.16 inches for
the extended barrel version..
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
M17 |
9mm Parabellum |
0.84 kg |
17, 21 |
$249 |
M17 |
.357 SIG |
0.84 kg |
14 |
$276 |
M17 |
.40 Smith & Wesson |
0.84 kg |
14 |
$324 |
M17 |
.45 ACP |
0.84 kg |
10 |
$411 |
M17 (Threaded Barrel) |
9mm Parabellum |
0.85 kg |
17, 21 |
$252 |
M17 (Threaded Barrel) |
.45 ACP |
0.85 kg |
10 |
$414 |
M17 (Sentinel Version) |
9mm Parabellum |
1.11 kg |
17, 21 |
$246 |
M18 |
9mm Parabellum |
0.77 kg |
17 |
$240 |
M18 |
.40 Smith & Wesson |
0.77 kg |
14 |
$315 |
M18 |
.45 ACP |
0.77 kg |
10 |
$401 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
M17 (9mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
12 |
M17 (.357) |
SA |
3 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
13 |
M17 (.40) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
15 |
M17 (.45) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
4 |
Nil |
13 |
M17 w/Threaded Barrel (9mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
12 |
M17 w/Threaded Barrel (.45) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
4 |
Nil |
14 |
M17 (Sentinel Version) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
12 |
M18 (9mm) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
9 |
M18 (.40) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
12 |
M18 (.45) |
SA |
2 |
Nil |
1 |
4 |
Nil |
10 |