What guns are 'Ten-in-a-row', 'Break-open', 'Big-eye auto', 'Hunchback auto', and 'Six-shot flip wheel'?

During the Republican era in China, almost every type of firearm had a unique nickname. In our previous article, we discussed four types of guns used by the Northeastern Army: the "Seven-Tone", "Five-Wind", "Weibulie", and "Six-Shot". In this article, let's talk about five handguns that were commonly found in China at that time: the "Ten-in-a-Row", "Break-Open", "Big-Eye Auto", "Hunchback Auto", and "Six-Shot Flip Wheel".

1. Ten-in-a-Row

"Ten-in-a-Row" refers to the domestically trial-manufactured Browning FN M1900 pistol.

At that time, China imported a large number of Browning FN M1900 pistols manufactured in Belgium. These pistols offered excellent performance and high reliability, leading many senior officers and police chiefs to choose them as personal sidearms.

However, imported firearms were ultimately expensive. Therefore, domestic arsenals such as those in Shanghai and Jinling attempted to copy this pistol, aiming to achieve localization.

While copying the pistol, they also intended to further improve and enhance it. They not only lengthened the gun body but also increased the original magazine capacity from 7 rounds to 10 rounds. The modified version fired the 7.65×17mm Colt automatic pistol cartridge.

However, the copy was not successful. Only trial-manufactured experimental versions existed, so this pistol ultimately never entered production.

So how did this gun get the nickname "Ten-in-a-Row"?

First, because the gun had a magazine capacity of 10 rounds. Second, as a semi-automatic pistol, it could fire consecutively. Thus, it earned the nickname "Ten-in-a-Row".

2. Break-Open

The "Break-Open" was a homemade pistol used by the militia of the Eighth Route Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

This gun was also called "Single Break" or "Single Horn Bull". As you can see from the pictures, this gun was extremely crude. There was really no structure or workmanship to speak of-it was simply a gun hastily cobbled together from scrap metal.

The structure of the "Break-Open" was also very simple. Similar to an old revolver, when loading, you would break open the chamber, then insert a single bullet from the rear. By using the firing pin at the rear to strike the bullet's primer, you could achieve firing.

The calibers of these "Break-Open" pistols were also varied, after all, the conditions in each anti-Japanese base area were different. Some "Break-Open" pistols could fire the 6.5mm rifle cartridge used by the Arisaka Type 38 rifle, while others could fire the 7.63mm pistol cartridge used by the "Box Cannon" (Mauser C96).

As for accuracy and range, there's no need to mention them. For something so crude, it was already good enough just to be able to fire a bullet.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, this type of gun was mainly used by the Eighth Route Army's behind-enemy-line armed work teams, guerrilla forces, or militias. The main forces almost never used it. The reason this gun existed was to make up for the militia's lack of weapons.

The nickname "Break-Open" was given based on this gun's loading method.

3. Big-Eye Auto

The "Big-Eye Auto" refers to the American Colt M1911A1 pistol.

Those in the know are aware that the M1911A1 was an improved version of the early M1911. It began being fielded by the U.S. military after the end of World War I, and thus became the most widely issued standard sidearm of the United States.

In fact, the M1911A1 was essentially the same as the M1911. The only differences were that the M1911A1 eliminated some unnecessary design features, making it more suitable for warfare.

The overall appearance of the two was also the same, but they could be distinguished by the grip panels. For example, the older version M1911 had two diamond-shaped decorations on the grips, while the M1911A1 did not have these two diamonds.

The M1911A1 also fired the 11.43×23mm cartridge, which is the often-heard .45 ACP bullet. It was fed by a 7-round single-column, single-feed magazine, with an effective range of 50 meters. Among the semi-automatic pistols of its time, the M1911A1 was also the most powerful.

In the late stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War, because the Nationalist government had established a military alliance with the United States, a large amount of American equipment was imported. This included a number of M1911A1 pistols, which were mainly issued to high-ranking officers of the direct-line Nationalist troops. They were used to replace the previous 7.65mm small pistols and the already outdated Mauser C96 pistols. However, overall, the number of M1911A1 pistols in China at that time was not large.

So why was this gun called "Big-Eye Auto"?

The reason is that this gun had great power and a large caliber. Looking at it from the front, the muzzle was larger than that of ordinary pistols, so it was called "Big-Eye Auto".

4. Hunchback Auto

The so-called "Hunchback Auto" was actually the German Luger P08 pistol.

You're probably familiar with the Luger P08, right? It's known as the "aristocrat" of handguns.

The prototype of this pistol was born as early as the late 19th century. In the early 20th century, it first became the standard sidearm of the Swedish army. It wasn't until 1908 that it began to be adopted by the German military, mainly issued to German officers at various levels, as well as messengers and artillery troops.

Moreover, the German military used the Luger P08 for a very long time, from 1908 all the way until the end of World War II in 1945. During its service, it was deeply loved by German soldiers. American GIs during World War II were also very fascinated by this pistol.

The Luger P08 fired the 9×19mm Luger pistol cartridge, was fed by an 8-round single-stack magazine, and had an effective range of about 50 meters.

The most unique feature of this pistol was its toggle-locked breech mechanism, which was completely different from common semi-automatic pistols. However, its reliability was somewhat poorer than that of normal pistols.

Although the Luger P08 was the standard-issue sidearm of the German military during World War I and World War II, before the Second Sino-Japanese War, during the period of military cooperation between China and Germany, a very small number of Luger P08 pistols did enter China. However, they were not issued as standard sidearms. Instead, they were presented as tokens of merit to some senior generals of the Nationalist forces.

So why was this gun called "Hunchback Auto"?

The reason is that the pistol's toggle-locked breech mechanism, when firing and chambering a round, would hinge upward, making it look like a person hunching their back. Therefore, in China, it was nicknamed "Hunchback Auto".

5. Six-Shot Flip Wheel

"Six-Shot Flip Wheel" refers to a revolver with a magazine capacity of 6 rounds. However, the most common type encountered was generally the SF model 6-shot revolver.

The SF revolver was also very popular in China at that time. Produced in Belgium, it was designed after the American Smith & Wesson .32 caliber revolver. Its overall appearance and structure were basically similar to the original.

The SF revolver also fired .32-inch ammunition, had a cylinder capacity of 6 rounds, and an effective range of approximately 50 meters.

The original design intent of this pistol was also for the civilian defense market. However, due to its excellent performance and high reliability, it was later also chosen as a personal sidearm by military officers in other countries.

Before the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Nationalist forces also imported many SF revolvers produced in Belgium. They were also issued to senior officers for self-defense or as personal sidearms.

After the war began, some generals of the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army also equipped themselves with many SF revolvers produced in Belgium.

Since the gun had a magazine capacity of 6 rounds, and because loading required swinging the cylinder out to the left, the gun earned the nickname "Six-Shot Flip Wheel".

These are the five types of handguns: Ten-in-a-Row, Break-Open, Big-Eye Auto, Hunchback Auto, and Six-Shot Flip Wheel.