This is a fine example of the classic WWII British PIAT rifle manufactured by the Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd in 1943. Originally designed in 1942, this was the British equivalent to the U.S. Bazooka, and it was used from 1943 through the end of WWII and into the early 1950s, eventually being replaced by the U.S. M20 Super Bazooka. These weapons can be seen in any technically correct/authentic WWII movie. The acronym "PIAT" actual stands for Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank gun and although its termed as a gun/rifle it actually is really a spring loaded, spigot or plunger fired grenade launcher. The weapon works by cocking the extremely heavy internal spring (located inside the body of the tube) which pulls back the heavy steel plunger mounted in the front end, then inserting a 2.5 pound shaped charge bomb. Inside the tail of the bomb was a small firing cartridge that was ignited by the steel plunger and which propelled the bomb. It had an effective range of approximately 115 yards as a direct fire anti-tank gun and 350 yards as an indirect fire mortar. The PIAT had several advantages over other infantry anti-tank weapons: absence of back-blast, minimal muzzle smoke/signal to reveal the position of the firer, and inexpensive barrel/mechanism. It also has some disadvantages: it was very difficult to actually cock the weapon, it was very heavy, weighing in at approximately 33 lbs "unloaded", fragility of the barrel, very heavy/powerful recoil, and early on some problems with ammunition reliability. However, it was the only British anti-tank weapon available throughout the war. It featured a set of very rudimentary flip up front and rear sights with the back sight having three sighting hole (apertures) that were marked 50, 80 and 110 yards for direct fire with a sliding aiming sight on the left side for indirect fire. This sliding sight had a built in bubble level and is marked on the side "HA (high angle) 1 2 3 370 (meters)" followed by "3 2 1 LA" (low angle) at the end. It had a single pistol grip/firing mechanism and is totally unmarked on the weapon itself. It is complete with its original monopod and heavy rubber recoil pad and case cover for the end of the cocking piece.

Very fine with 75% plus of the arsenal brown painted metal surfaces overall showing some minor chipping and flaking of the from use and handling overall. This is a really distinctive and interesting weapon that was the standard British anti-tank gun used during WWII.