The Semmerling series of pistols included the LM1, LM2 (.380 ACP semi-automatic variant), LM3 and the XLM (.45 ACP semi-automatic variant) and LM4.[2] The only version available to the public was the LM4, which was first designed and manufactured in the US in the early 1980s and marketed at a price of US$645. The "LM" in the model numbers stands for "Lichtman Model", after the inventor of the design, Philip R. Lichtman. Lichtman applied for and received at least four United States Patents related to the design.[3]
The goal of the LM4 was to achieve a combination of the highest practical firepower in as small and light a gun as possible, so as to be easily concealable. This was approached by selecting the service caliber of .45 ACP for its proven stopping power and opting for a manual repeating mechanism to minimize bulk and weight and ensure flawless operation in the most difficult situations. Because of this the LM4 was first offered to the U.S. Army and government agencies.[citation needed]
The Semmerling LM4 is simple, having only 33 parts (including screws). The original design called for every part except for the springs to be made of S-7 tool steel. Every pistol was Magnafluxed (a method of testing ferrous metals for surface and subsurface flaws) twice in their assembly.
Each pistol was essentially handmade to order with production averaging a little over ten pieces a month. Of the LM4 model, only about 600 were ever produced.
Although the Semmerling was intended as a back-up pistol for those most at risk of having their primary weapon taken from them, some adopted the pistol as a "hide-out" weapon. It is capable of a "shot-a-second" firing rate. With the magazine loaded and a round in the chamber, the Semmerling LM4 is capable of carrying five .45 ACP rounds.
During 2005, the largest collections of Semmerlings comprising examples of the LM1, LM2, LM3, LM4 and the XLM along with all prototypes, tooling, drawings, production and testing equipment, advertising materials and leather accessories were provided to the National Firearms Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum and the Smithsonian. The XLM was a military contract for an automatic version (not manually operated), making the Semmerling XLM the smallest .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol ever produced. The XLM was based on the LM4 and utilized a "strip forward" barrel that moved forward and was returned to battery by spring power. The XLM also had a threaded barrel with a slide lock allowing for suppressed operation both in semi and quieter non-actuating mode.
Semmerling XLM semi automatic, shown with threaded barrel and slide lock
A stainless steel version, not part of the Semmerling Corporation's efforts, has been available at request from the American Derringer corporation since about 1995.[4]
The original standard color was matte black with highly polished slide frames. A complete high polish blued finish or a hard chrome plating were optional. A factory presentation model was produced with a high polished gold plated slide.
Skeleton "thin kit" grip, allowed for round counting
Minor replacement parts kit
Major replacement parts kit
Operation
The Semmerling fires from a static, fully locked breech, producing considerable recoil. The barrel mechanism is manually pulled forward to eject the fired round, then pushed back to chamber the next round. This can be accomplished by thumb. For carry, the slide is locked in the closed position by means of a tiny lever located in the middle of the weapon. By carefully pulling the trigger back approx. 1/4 inch and pressing on the lever, the lever clicks into "lock" mode. Hold the lever down and release the trigger. The Semmerling's action is now locked closed with a round in the chamber. To fire, the trigger is pulled back fully. When there is a cartridge in the chamber, the extractor protrudes 1/8 of an inch, so as to act as loaded chamber indicator. It has no safety, decocker, or slide release.[3]
The number of remaining rounds could be seen by using the "thin grip" kit or by removing the grips when carrying the LM4.
A semi-automatic variant known as the Lichtman Model Semmerling 3 was developed as a back up pistol intended for the US Armed forces. This variant differs to the Semmerling LM4 as it uses simple blowback operation and notably has an underbarrel design.
^ abcMcCollum, Ian (2020), Semmerling LM4: The Smallest Repeating .45ACP
^Semmerling Pistols: The Legacy of Philip R. Lichtman, 2014
^ abAhern, Jerry (2010). Gun Digest Buyer's Guide to Concealed-Carry Handguns. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 132. ISBN978-1-4402-1743-2.
^Shideler, Dan (2010). The Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices 2010: Rifles, Pistols & Shotguns. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. pp. 35–36. ISBN978-1-4402-1454-7.
^The Boston Globe Obituaries, Newton, Massachusetts, 2017
External links
Product description of the American Derringer Reissue at their corporate site
The Long Arm of the Law Exhibit at the National Firearms Museum
Patent for "HAND GUN", Patented Mar 11, 1975
Patent for "FIREARM", Patented Dec 31, 1974
Patent for "Manually cycled pistol", Patented May 22, 1979
Patent for "Manually cycled pistol", Patented August 3, 1982
Patents
U.S. Patent 4,155,187
U.S. Patent 4,342,169
U.S. Patent D234458
December 26, 2022
semmerling, five, shot, manually, repeating, double, action, pocket, pistol, satin, chrome, varianttypecompact, pistolplace, origin, united, statesproduction, historydesignerphilip, lichtmandesigned1979, manufacturersemmerling, later, american, derringerunit, . The Semmerling LM4 is a five shot manually repeating double action pocket pistol Semmerling LM4Semmerling LM4 satin chrome variantTypeCompact pistolPlace of origin United StatesProduction historyDesignerPhilip R LichtmanDesigned1979 1 ManufacturerSemmerling and later American DerringerUnit cost 645 1980s 1 Produced1979 1990s Semmerling 1990s 2003 1 No built600VariantsLM1LM2 380 ACP semi automatic variant LM3 and the later XLM based on the LM4 45 ACP semi automatic variant LM4SpecificationsMass560 4 g 19 77 oz fully loadedLength93 98 mm 3 7 Widthless than 25 4 mm 1 21 59 mm 0 85 with thin kit Cartridge 380 ACP LM2 variant 45 ACP XLM and LM4 variants ActionSimple blowback LM2 LM3 and XLM variants manually repeating Double action Semmerling LM4 Feed system4 round proprietary magazineSightsfixed iron sights Contents 1 Concept and History 2 Finish and accessories 2 1 Grips 2 2 Accessories 3 Operation 4 Semi automatic variant 5 See also 5 1 Underbarrel pistols 6 References 7 External links 8 PatentsConcept and History EditThe Semmerling series of pistols included the LM1 LM2 380 ACP semi automatic variant LM3 and the XLM 45 ACP semi automatic variant and LM4 2 The only version available to the public was the LM4 which was first designed and manufactured in the US in the early 1980s and marketed at a price of US 645 The LM in the model numbers stands for Lichtman Model after the inventor of the design Philip R Lichtman Lichtman applied for and received at least four United States Patents related to the design 3 The goal of the LM4 was to achieve a combination of the highest practical firepower in as small and light a gun as possible so as to be easily concealable This was approached by selecting the service caliber of 45 ACP for its proven stopping power and opting for a manual repeating mechanism to minimize bulk and weight and ensure flawless operation in the most difficult situations Because of this the LM4 was first offered to the U S Army and government agencies citation needed The Semmerling LM4 is simple having only 33 parts including screws The original design called for every part except for the springs to be made of S 7 tool steel Every pistol was Magnafluxed a method of testing ferrous metals for surface and subsurface flaws twice in their assembly Each pistol was essentially handmade to order with production averaging a little over ten pieces a month Of the LM4 model only about 600 were ever produced Although the Semmerling was intended as a back up pistol for those most at risk of having their primary weapon taken from them some adopted the pistol as a hide out weapon It is capable of a shot a second firing rate With the magazine loaded and a round in the chamber the Semmerling LM4 is capable of carrying five 45 ACP rounds During 2005 the largest collections of Semmerlings comprising examples of the LM1 LM2 LM3 LM4 and the XLM along with all prototypes tooling drawings production and testing equipment advertising materials and leather accessories were provided to the National Firearms Museum the Cody Firearms Museum and the Smithsonian The XLM was a military contract for an automatic version not manually operated making the Semmerling XLM the smallest 45 ACP semi automatic pistol ever produced The XLM was based on the LM4 and utilized a strip forward barrel that moved forward and was returned to battery by spring power The XLM also had a threaded barrel with a slide lock allowing for suppressed operation both in semi and quieter non actuating mode Semmerling XLM semi automatic shown with threaded barrel and slide lock A stainless steel version not part of the Semmerling Corporation s efforts has been available at request from the American Derringer corporation since about 1995 4 Phillip Lichtman died on June 28 2017 5 Philip Lichtman with Semmerling XLMFinish and accessories Edit LM4 with black plastic grips The original standard color was matte black with highly polished slide frames A complete high polish blued finish or a hard chrome plating were optional A factory presentation model was produced with a high polished gold plated slide Grips Edit Plastic Ebony Cocobolo Thin kit steel side plate Dot fastners installed in grip panel screws to use with spring steel belt holster for concealmentAccessories Edit Optional two stage trigger Gun holster Magazine holster Skeleton thin kit grip allowed for round counting Minor replacement parts kit Major replacement parts kitOperation EditThe Semmerling fires from a static fully locked breech producing considerable recoil The barrel mechanism is manually pulled forward to eject the fired round then pushed back to chamber the next round This can be accomplished by thumb For carry the slide is locked in the closed position by means of a tiny lever located in the middle of the weapon By carefully pulling the trigger back approx 1 4 inch and pressing on the lever the lever clicks into lock mode Hold the lever down and release the trigger The Semmerling s action is now locked closed with a round in the chamber To fire the trigger is pulled back fully When there is a cartridge in the chamber the extractor protrudes 1 8 of an inch so as to act as loaded chamber indicator It has no safety decocker or slide release 3 The number of remaining rounds could be seen by using the thin grip kit or by removing the grips when carrying the LM4 Semi automatic variant EditP R Lichtman Model 3TypeSemi automatic pistolPlace of origin United StatesProduction historyDesignerPhilip R LichtmanManufacturerSemmerlingSpecificationsCartridge 45 ACPActionForward barrel strip action not blowbackRate of fireSemi automaticFeed system4 round proprietary magazineSightsfixed iron sightsA semi automatic variant known as the Lichtman Model Semmerling 3 was developed as a back up pistol intended for the US Armed forces This variant differs to the Semmerling LM4 as it uses simple blowback operation and notably has an underbarrel design See also EditList of pistolsUnderbarrel pistols Edit FN M1900 GMC pistol Jieffeco Model 1911References Edit a b c McCollum Ian 2020 Semmerling LM4 The Smallest Repeating 45ACP Semmerling Pistols The Legacy of Philip R Lichtman 2014 a b Ahern Jerry 2010 Gun Digest Buyer s Guide to Concealed Carry Handguns Iola Wisconsin Gun Digest Books p 132 ISBN 978 1 4402 1743 2 Shideler Dan 2010 The Official Gun Digest Book of Guns amp Prices 2010 Rifles Pistols amp Shotguns Iola Wisconsin Gun Digest Books pp 35 36 ISBN 978 1 4402 1454 7 The Boston Globe Obituaries Newton Massachusetts 2017External links EditProduct description of the American Derringer Reissue at their corporate site The Long Arm of the Law Exhibit at the National Firearms Museum Patent for HAND GUN Patented Mar 11 1975 Patent for FIREARM Patented Dec 31 1974 Patent for Manually cycled pistol Patented May 22 1979 Patent for Manually cycled pistol Patented August 3 1982Patents EditU S Patent 4 155 187 U S Patent 4 342 169 U S Patent D234458 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Semmerling LM4 amp oldid 1125032315, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
