The Welrod is a British bolt action, magazine fed, suppressed pistol designed in 1942 during World War II. It was a silenced assassin's pistol, designed for use by irregular forces and resistance groups. It was a quiet gun, developing around 73 dB when fired.
The first model was the Welrod Mk II, chambered for .32 ACP. Due to unsatisfying field results, the Welrod Mk I was subsequently developed using 9×19mm Parabellum ammunition. The Welrod was manually operated using a rotary bolt. The trigger was single-action with a safety at the back of the magazine housing. The detachable single stack magazine contained six (9mm) or eight rounds (.32 ACP).
The design of the Welrod was credited to British Major Hugh Reeves, who served with the Station IX research facility of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War 2. Station IX, being based near Welwyn Garden City, gave the Welrod its name, being derived from "Wel" from "Welwyn Garden City" (a prefix used by covert equipment designed by Station IX) and "rod" as a way to obscure its purpose. To keep the origins of the firearm secret to the enemy, all Welrods were completed without any identifiable manufacturer markings.
The Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) was a producer of Welrods and some 2,800 were delivered to the British Special Operations Executive (SOE), the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and resistance fighters, particularly those in Denmark.
The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was a secret British World War II organisation, formed on 22 July 1940. Its purpose was to conduct espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance in occupied Europe and to aid local resistance movements.
Few people were aware of SOE's existence. Those who were part of it were sometimes referred to as the "Baker Street Irregulars", after the location of its London headquarters. It was also known as "Churchill's Secret Army".
After World War II it is believed that the Welrod was used in the Korean War, Vietnam War, Falklands War, in Northern Ireland and in the 1991 Gulf War.
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