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OSS .22 Calibre Stinger


seebee1
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I am trying to establish the availability of an OSS Stinger, also an indication of the value. The example I am posting is I believe a Type 1. I would be pleased to see images of any others, if anyone knows where one may be for sale and also further information about them. Many thanks, Clive.

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I should have explained that the example I posted had the .22 bullet removed and has been altered internally so it is incapable of ever firing again. As far as I know they are seldom seen, quite rare and collectable, made during WW2 for the Office of Strategic Services. I was interested to know if anyone has other examples to post, also an indication of a current value. Regards, Clive.

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Clive, here is some information about the Stinger. It is from O.S.S. Special Weapons Devices and Equipment by Donald B. McLean, copyright 1975. This book is a treasure trove of offbeat weapons and dirty tricks devoloped by the O.S.S.

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Many thanks for taking the trouble to post the details of the Stinger from the "O.S.S. Special Weapons Devices and Equipment" book, I will have to try to obtain a copy as it seems most interesting. I am still trying to find a current guide price for one of these Stingers and checking Google saw two that have been sold at Auction. One was Cowans Auctions, November 2005, and sold for $517.50 and the other Gregg Martin Auctions, June 2006, for $1135.00. I am trying to find out if there are any currently for sale and an idea of insurance-replacement value. I would also like to see images of other examples if possible. Many thanks, Clive.

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If memory serves me right, these were classified as "Curios" By the BATF&E and are legally transferred as pistols..

 

You may not have had to demill it, unless you live in one of "those" places.....

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Charlie Flick
I am trying to find out if there are any currently for sale and an idea of insurance-replacement value. Clive.

 

Hi Clive:

 

I am not aware of any others that are for sale currently. You might want to check the completed auctions at Rock Island Auctions as they seem to handle a fair amount of exotic stuff. There are no recognized, published price guides on these weapons that I am aware of. There are simply too few around that have come up for sale to allow for enough data points to be collected to create a meaningful average. The two completed auctions you found, averaged together, are probably as good a measure as can be found.

 

Note, however, that demilled weapons (at least in the USA) have a very substantial discount applied as compared to "live" guns. I understand that things may be different in other countries where live weapons are difficult or impossible to own.

 

Hope that helps you.

 

Regards,

Charlie Flick

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carbinephalen
OK, this thing qualifies as the most interesting thing I didn't know existed so far in 2011

 

Haha! Couldn't of worded it better myself! :lol:

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Clive,

 

Nice stinger. Yours is actually a T2 as can be noted by the offset bump in the firing lever. The T1s were straight. My example is also a T2 and came from the estate of Rex Applegate, the noted WWII hand-to-hand specialist.

 

PICT0156.JPG

 

I don't think there is any real value range established for these things as they come up for sale so infrequently. Mine cost me about $300 perhaps 10 years ago. The last one I saw for sale was listed Online with a U.S. militaria dealer perhaps 8-10 months ago. It was a T1 and offered at $1400. I felt that was a little high, at least for my budget. But it took longer than planned to save enough money to make a serious counter offer and POOF, it was gone. So I guess my value estimate would be $500-$1500, depending on the desire/wallet thickness of the parties involved.

 

Legally, there shouldn't be an issue as long as the device is fired or the bullet and powder have been removed. They were a one shot disposable item with the .22 cartridge sealed in at manufacture. There is no way to reload one.

 

The best information in print can be found in the "OSS Weapons" book by Dr. John Brunner, printed by Phillips Publications in NJ.

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Many thanks indeed for the very helpful and informed comments, also great to see another example and to get a feel for values. Thank you for the correction that mine is a T2, that I did not know. One of the Stingers sold by auction was still live and with no safety, not something I would care to have in my collection. I believe there were several accidental discharges of these during the war, mainly by those who did not realize exactly what they were and how they operated. Was there a version that could be reloaded, the early ones could not be? Regards, Clive.

 

Clive,

 

Nice stinger. Yours is actually a T2 as can be noted by the offset bump in the firing lever. The T1s were straight. My example is also a T2 and came from the estate of Rex Applegate, the noted WWII hand-to-hand specialist.

 

PICT0156.JPG

 

I don't think there is any real value range established for these things as they come up for sale so infrequently. Mine cost me about $300 perhaps 10 years ago. The last one I saw for sale was listed Online with a U.S. militaria dealer perhaps 8-10 months ago. It was a T1 and offered at $1400. I felt that was a little high, at least for my budget. But it took longer than planned to save enough money to make a serious counter offer and POOF, it was gone. So I guess my value estimate would be $500-$1500, depending on the desire/wallet thickness of the parties involved.

 

Legally, there shouldn't be an issue as long as the device is fired or the bullet and powder have been removed. They were a one shot disposable item with the .22 cartridge sealed in at manufacture. There is no way to reload one.

 

The best information in print can be found in the "OSS Weapons" book by Dr. John Brunner, printed by Phillips Publications in NJ.

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  • 1 year later...

Just wondering if this small Knife-Pistol, manufactured by U.S.Small Arms Co somewhere I believe between 1910 and 1930, could have been the inspiration for the later OSS "Stinger". Similarities of the same .22 round and lever firing mechanism. There may of course be no connection, but possible?

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post-1567-0-66989500-1350037367_thumb.jpg

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Interesting little knife & advert - though HOW it is a REVOLVER is beyond me? Pistol, yes, revolver - not as a single shot design with no cylinder to actually, er, revolve!!

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Interesting little knife & advert - though HOW it is a REVOLVER is beyond me? Pistol, yes, revolver - not as a single shot design with no cylinder to actually, er, revolve!!

 

It could be that at that time revolver was interchagable with handgun in the American lexicon.

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  • 8 years later...

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