The Liberator was developed to provide citizens of occupied nations a tool of resistance without inadvertently providing useful material to the occupiers and was conceived, developed and manufactured in 1942. The Guide Lamp Division of General Motors was tapped to produce the actual firearm, dubbed the Flare Pistol, 45 Caliber (FP-45) as a cover name, a collection of sheet metal stampings and cast zinc components assembled around a smoothbore barrel. While inexperienced with arms production, Guide Lamp stepped up admirably and cranked out over a million of the deadly little contraptions in a matter of months. The pistol is devoid of markings, with two oiler holes on the right side of the frame, three on the left, a hollow grip for ammunition storage, and a cast zinc cocking knob with a steel guide pin. Included with the pistol are 10 rounds of "EC/42" headstamped 45 ACP ammunition, a suitable length dowel rod for ejection, two copies of the book "The Liberator Pistol" by Ralph Hagan (one sealed, one open), an excerpt from the June 1954 issue of American Rifleman featuring a reproduction of the original "comic strip" loading instructions, and a copy of the April 1983 issue of Guns and Ammo magazine featuring a "Classic Test Report" article on the Liberator.

Very fine, with 85% plus original phosphate finish, mild spotting concentrated on the right side, mild rubs/scratches on the left, and a generally nice matte gray appearance. Some dark spots are visible on the cartridge casings. Mechanically excellent.