In the 2nd world war the former US secret service OSS began the development of a new
weapon for commando operations, a noiseless pistol without a visible muzzle flash for
distances up to 50 meters. The projectile should have a calibre of approximately
0.5 inches and should be driven by spring force.

The following picture shows the result, the pistol SAC-1 with a spring force of
approximately 3 tons!!! The spring was compressed with a winch (jack principle).

A metal arrow driven by this force penetrated a 0.5 inches thick wooden board
when shot from a distance of 15 meters.

Does anyone have more detailed informations (descriptions, images or plans) about this
nice pistol or a similar weapon?

And... can anyone explain, how the releasing mechanism works exactly, i.e. how the
two cogwheels, the gear rack and the trigger work together in order to hold a tension
of 3 tons safely and then release it very fast?

<a href="http://jelly146.tripod.com/sac1" target="_blank">http://jelly146.tripod.com/sac1</a>

*We can't see any pictures hosted by tripod and geocities. Better to use a link. Angelo

<small>[ June 27, 2002, 08:11 AM: Message edited by: jelly ]</small>

Sorry, Jelly. This device turned out to be much more trouble than its performance warranted. If memory serves, the dart was only about .25 caliber and it took several minutes to reload. The silenced Hi-Standard was hell and gone better in all respects. If its just a non firearm you're looking for, John Brunner's book on OSS crossbows has a wealth of photos and drawings you could work with. Hope this helps.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"To paraphrase Artistotle, life is a gas"
-Gidget

@charlie... thanks for your info. i'll try to get this book.

i have uploaded a "big" picture (in size, not in kb) of BIG JOE 5, a very
cool looking crossbow for a range up to 200 meters... developed by the OSS.
it should not be hard to make this powerful weapon in homework :D :D

<a href="http://jelly146.tripod.com/bigjoe5" target="_blank">http://jelly146.tripod.com/bigjoe5</a>

The British De Lisle Carbine works with the same system.They used it as an commando gun in ww2.It works like the archimedes screw.10 metal wheels with an hole, slow the burning gases.Optimal range was 250 meters.7 shot magzine.No long reload times.

There's a crossbow pistol in PMJB, not sure which, possibly 2. If you haven't got it jelly, I can find it and email you the pages.

@zaibatsu... thanks, but i have all of kurts books (long live nbk :) )

what do you think about this OSS weapon, the crossbow pistol SAC-13?
coool, eh? :D
a metal arrow driven by this miniaturized "rubber band" pistol (with more
than 2000 lb power!!!) is lethal over a range up to 10 meters.

<a href="http://jelly146.tripod.com/sac13" target="_blank">http://jelly146.tripod.com/sac13</a>

this book looks interesting,
the description says "In addition to featuring detailed descriptions, technical drawings and rare photographs of hundreds of pieces of equipment"
<a href="http://shop.store.yahoo.com/spytechagency/11674.html" target="_blank">http://shop.store.yahoo.com/spytechagency/11674.html</a>

@lac sounds very good, thanks for the info :)

it is also suggested by the cia of you want to learn about the OSS.
"John W. Brunner, OSS Weapons (Williamstown, NJ: Phillips Publications, 1994)"

<a href="http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/oss/art11.htm" target="_blank">http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/oss/art11.htm</a> :)

Oh I see how that sac-1 works, the crank turns a small racheted gear head that turns a larger gear that pulles back the bar till it lock into place. I think I just found another project that I only half complete, sound cool.

@A-BOMB yes... but I cannot see how the winch mechanism
(gear wheels and gear rack) is connected to the trigger.

What exactly will happen with them when you press the trigger?