# What is this odd looking pistol? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 7, 2008, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-looking-pistol/448397 "2008-05-07T04:42:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2008, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-looking-pistol/448397/1 "2008-05-07T04:42:22Z")
[Being fired here](http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=zlMflcO47gA) ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2008, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-looking-pistol/448397/2 "2008-05-07T04:58:25Z")
I don’t know enough about pistols to give a make and model but it looks like a fairly normal semi-auto with an extended magazine and some kind of funky sight mounted on top. It also looks like the tip of the barrel has been modified, some kind of muzzle brake? If you pause the video at about 11 seconds it’s fairly clear. The sight looks like an occluded eye gunsight (OEG), here’s a manufacturer with some photos, including one with a green lens, just like on that video clip: > **[Understanding Electronic Sights - UltiMAK, Inc.](https://ultimak.com/understanding-electronic-sights/)** > > A look at why electronic sights exist, how they work, and how you use them. Reflex sights, holographic sights, and laser sights explained. Given that a 9mm can hold a lot of rounds in the magazine I’d think that extended mags would be found on guns that don’t hold a lot to begin with, perhaps a .45? That clip mentions IPSC which is a specific type of target shooting with “full power” (9mm and larger, per their website) pistols. They have some action photos that look very much like the weapon in question. [http://www.ipsc.org/](http://www.ipsc.org/) So I’m betting something like a .45 with a muzzle brake, an OEG and a high-capacity magazine. A shootin’ Doper will be along to elaborate soon, I’m sure. Edited to add - I counted 22 shots fired so probably not a .45 (the M1911A1 .45 auto holds 7 rounds IIRC) - something a hair smaller such as a 9mm, 10mm or .40? ---
**Author:** ![puppygod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@puppygod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puppygod)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2008, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-looking-pistol/448397/3 "2008-05-07T08:25:07Z")
I’m not 100% sure, because video is of poor quality and mostly out of focus, so it’s hard to see details, but my bet would be on customized CZ75. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2008, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-looking-pistol/448397/4 "2008-05-07T11:54:51Z")
That is a 1911 tricked out as a race gun. It has an optical sight mounted on top, a muzzle compensator on the front, and a flared magazine well. It also has an extended magazine protruding out the bottom of the magazine well. Guns like this are pretty common in certain shooting disciplines. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2008, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-odd-looking-pistol/448397/5 "2008-05-07T12:07:44Z")
[QUOTE=Scumpup] That is a 1911 tricked out as a race gun. It has an optical sight mounted on top, a muzzle compensator on the front, and a flared magazine well. It also has an extended magazine protruding out the bottom of the magazine well. Guns like this are pretty common in certain shooting disciplines. [/QUOTE] Given the number of shots fired, unless it is based on one of the high capacity 1911’s like the Paraordinance, I don’t think it’s a .45. Not sure even one of those can hold that many .45’s. The [.38 Super](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38_Super) is very popular amongst some shooting enthusiasts because it lets you “make major” while also having a higher magazine capacity. My guess is that it’s a 1911 in either .38 Super or perhaps .40 S&W.