The Venerable Inglis Pistol in Afghanistan

The majority of the Inglis pistols on issue are in exactly the same configuration as when they were manufactured over 60 years ago - and rather tend to show their age in wear and "battlescars". I understand that a lot of the magazines (perhaps most of them) are JI-marked Inglis originals, though I also understand that "aftermarket" mags have been acquired, as well.

For what it's worth, here are some details cropped from a number of the photos (many of the original pictures are very high resolution) from which you can tell how "well-travelled" these old veterans tend to be ....

detail01.jpg


detail03.jpg


detail04.jpg


detail05.jpg


detail06.jpg


detail07.jpg


detail08.jpg


detail09.jpg


detail10.jpg



Also, while I'm at it, here are the two SIG-Sauer P225s (of which Canada acquired 1050 in the eraly 1990's) that I noticed in the various images -

detail02.jpg


detail11.jpg
 
I was on the range a few weeks back with the 9mm for my yearly qualifiation and I had 2 JI mags and one that was not marked.

One of the mags, I don't remember which needed some attention to the lips, they were not holding the rounds properly, and caused a doubble feed. (first time I have ever had a problem on the range with a Hi-Power :( )
 
We used them on the shooting team, they were worn out pretty bad:( you could see the egg shape from the muzzle end, and erosion was aweful , rifling started 1/3 way up the barrel:(
But at close range , the action functioned great, and I got gold in a match out in Ottawa. It was similar to IPSC rapid fire, mag change, shoot the correct tgts in the designated order. Nice gun , if in nice shape
Frank
 
My own Inglis has been in private hands, with little use, since 1945 or 1946 and is thus in excellent shape - so I believe its condition is much more like that of the average pistol when they were in service during WWII. It even still has a "trace" of the original decal in place (just visible in the second picture, below) -

inglisxy.jpg


I have shot it quite a bit, including in competition, and have never had a misfeed, misfire or other malfunction not clearly attributable to the ammunition or "operator error". (Matter of fact, the only significant problems I recall were while using somebody else's handloads, with semi-wadcutter cast bullets seated wrong so that OAL was well out of spec...)

Very accurate, too , by the way ...

I even find myself wondering whether it might not be advisable for Canada to consider staying with the High Power for a while yet. Indeed, it would seem that is exactly what will most likely happen anyway, "by default" because of the relatively low priority of pistols in the overall scheme of things - though perhaps they could at least release some of the thousands of never-issued pistols which are purportedly still being hoarded in stores.

For that matter, maybe they could give the Indian Ordnance Factories some business, with a contract for the "Inglis clone" they presently produce for their own military - or at least get spare parts from them: I've heard of people rebuilding Inglis pistols using parts from the current Indian copy. The Indian screw threads are apparently metric, but there are only three gunscrews in the entire firearm, and two of those are for the grips!) Here is a picture of the other side of my Inglis, shown for comparison with the current Indian-made pistol below on the right and, on the left, the Norinco pistol which purports to be a High Power knockoff, though it is in fact significantly different .... (I take it that there is some speculation that India may have somehow acquired actual Inglis machinery/tooling - though it is also suggested that they may have simply reverse-engineered their version just like the Inglis whizz-kids did back in 1943-44.)

ingclone.jpg


Can you tell that, even though I only own this one pistol (so far) I am definitely an "Inglis lover"??? ;)
 
Last edited:
GrantR said:
- though perhaps they could at least release some of the thousands of never-issued pistols which are purportedly still being hoarded in stores.
Click to expand...


Alread in process. Was at the range last fall and got a brand new one, still covered in grease to shoot.
 
Grant,
The Norinco is more like a copy of a knock-off of a copy. IIRC it is a copy of the Hugarian FEG P9R, which is a DA mod of the FEG P9M, which is a copy of the HP.

Got it? ;)
 
Stevo said:
Grant,
The Norinco is more like a copy of a knock-off of a copy. IIRC it is a copy of the Hugarian FEG P9R, which is a DA mod of the FEG P9M, which is a copy of the HP.

Got it? ;)
Click to expand...
Ummm .... well, yeaahh ... I guess so ....... :confused: ....... ;)

Actually, I did know that. In fact, the above composite picture was one I put together quite some time ago in response to a enquiry on a military re-enactment forum about whether the Norinco "copy" would be an inexpensive way to get an "High Power/Inglis lookalike" for WWII re-enacting purposes. The point I wanted to make with my picture, of course, was that the Norinco was really nothing like a WWII-era High Power (either FN or Inglis) - so the suggestion wasn't a very good idea at all - although one of the Indian pistols would do very well for that purpose ...

I used that same picture in my post here just because it was handy, though in this case it was primarily to show how much of an Inglis lookalike the Indian pistol really is ... right down to the rear sight "hump", which is a distinctive feature of the Inglis No. 2 pistol. :cool:
 
KyleSchenk said:
Alread in process. Was at the range last fall and got a brand new one, still covered in grease to shoot.
Click to expand...
Hey, that's great to hear!

It has always seemed to me to be so boneheaded, to have these pistols literally sitting there "new in the grease" since 1945, while they keep patching up the ones that have been on issue for the same length of time. (Not that anyone would normally expect the government to do anything really practical or "smart" .... :rolleyes: )

Mind you, maybe they'd all still be sitting there unused, but for our troop deployments to Afghanistan. With the significant numbers of pistols obviously being issued in that theater, they've undoubtedly had to "dip into the reserve" at long last!
 
NB.nagantsniper said:
what else would expect from an officer? no doubt the csm /rsm will have a talk to him..................
NCOS still run the army.
Click to expand...
You're joking, right? That's the only way I'd be able to read a horsesh*t line like this.

Not 100% sure about Kandahar but from my own experiences in Kabul, the weapon stays unloaded until you approach the gate of the airfield/camp outbound. What you see in those pics is a LCol who has just stepped off a CF aircraft (no loaded weapons on the Herc) and likely tackled by the media (inside the airfield perimeter and once again, no loaded weapons).

Undoubtedly, if the CSM/RSM has a talk with him, it'll be to discuss how he, CO of 1VP, wants HIS op to run.

Sounds like you have some issues. They have counselling now.:rolleyes:
 
More importantly, check out the cool issued shades :D finally we get something other then big goggles for eye wear.

Oh, and as a soldier and weapons tech, I love the Inglis, and not so much the SIG.
 
RobSmith said:
I'm still trying to figure out how this dude got away with a "tricked out" C9 ...
Click to expand...
I recall about a year back, the LCMM of this class of firearms mentioning some of these upgrades that were coming for the C9. What I can't recall is whether they were upgrading guns, or buying more complete guns.

Below is a photo of my pair of Inglis no2mk1*s, both sporting remnants of their origional decals.
Inglisno2s.jpg

I kept having jams each time I fired the bottom one, until I took the time to isolate the problem mag. Sure enough, one of my Inglis mags had the lips bent. A senior weapons tech suggested using a mandrel to straighten it out, but I merely eyeballed it, bent it against a wooden bench, and it has performed flawlessly since. 2 lessons to be learned here: isolate your trouble mag, and second, don't open beer/pop bottles with your magazines.
 
GrantR said:
- I imagine that regulations perhaps require that, while aboard transport aircraft, firearms normally be carried with no rounds in the chamber and no magazines in place?

Would I be correct in assuming that this might also be S.O.P. in certain other situations? Perhaps the servicemen here (active or retired) could provide us with more detail on that ....
Click to expand...

I am not sure about Canada, but would assume that it is the same as US. Usually, the crew or crew chief will ensure that each persons weapon has no mag inserted (assuming no rounds in the pipe) and that while in transport, peticularly rotary wind aircraft, that rifles are carried muzzle down, while seated, muzzle to the floor. Once nearing the LZ prior to disembarking, the command to lock and load is given.
 
When flying on 'Hercs' our Rifles were secured....When on helicopters magazines out and muzzles pointed to the floor, tween your knees
 
woodchopper said:
I was on the range a few weeks back with the 9mm for my yearly qualifiation and I had 2 JI mags and one that was not marked.

One of the mags, I don't remember which needed some attention to the lips, they were not holding the rounds properly, and caused a doubble feed. (first time I have ever had a problem on the range with a Hi-Power :( )
Click to expand...


Regarding the double feed FTF...

Almost all of our units mags are like that. Some f*cktard forced 14 rds into the mags and issued them. They were slammed into the pistols like they are supposed to. The follower was already bottomed out so when the top round contacted the slide it bent the mag lips out. Very frequent double feeds.

The sad thing is they've been using them like that for at least a couple years and the problem has not been corrected. Even worse, still loaded with 14 rounds.
 
You may be able to blame some of that 14 round thind on the internet.
Seems to be prevalent on U.S. boards that Inglis mags can be loaded with 14 rounds.

Loaded...sure. Functional...:rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom