Pistol Truck Terrorist Used to Shoot Police in Italy: Erma .22?

Gun Watch ^ | 24 December, 2016 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Image from the sun.co.uk:

The pistol used by the German truck attack Jihadi looks a lot like a Walther. But it is a clone, probably made by Erma Werke.  The Erma 552S is nearly identical, but without markings, it is not certain. There is also an Erma RX-22, which has a shorter extractor, a longer grip, longer slide and barrel, and an eight round magazine. Clones of the Erma 552S were made and sold by Iver Johnson as the TP22. I have had a couple of them, and they have a reputation for reliability and accuracy. The sights are fixed, so consider yourself fortunate if they are on the money. Of the two that I shot, one was on, one was not. An avid pistol competitor friend had one he thought highly of. The magazine holds seven rounds.

American Arms sold the PX-22. It is virtually identical, but has "DESIGN BY ERMA WERKZ" on the frame, and the serial number on the right side.  The Erma pistols have the serial number on the left side, as does the TP22.  I have seen both wood and plastic grips on the Erma versions.

Erma and Iver Johnson also made a .25 ACP version.  Erma Werke  made an 8mm blank firing version. The extractor on the blank firing version is shorter, so I doubt that this is a converted blank firing gun.

It has been reported that this was a .22 caliber version, by the Daily Mail. From the dailymail.co.uk:

When the patrol approached him, he pulled a 22 calibre pistol from his backpack and shot one of the two police officers, Cristian Movio, 36, in the shoulder.

The Itallian police were working as a pair. The wounded policeman's colleague Luca Scatà, was a rookie officer. Scatà returned fire and killed the Jihadi.

The .22 rimfire has been used to kill a significant number of people. In this case, the officer's wound was not life threatening.

 ©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.

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[marktwain]

The Iver Johnson pistols that I have had of this model, shot pretty well.

[flaglady47]

It’s an attractive looking gun.

[jim_trent]

That looks like the smaller of the two models (same as the Iver Johnson version). It was about the size of a .25ACP handgun.

I once had an RX-22. It was the same size as a Walther PPK (NOT the PPKS), thus a little larger than the one shown. I got it as an understudy for my PPK in 32ACP. That was before I started reloading .32ACP and the .22LR was much cheaper.

The slide was a zinc casting. After only about 1,000 rounds or so, the ejector (not the extractor) became hammered over and it refused to eject. No way to repair it. I sold the reusable parts on eBay for about what I paid for it.

[WayneS]

Iver Johnson made well built guns. Motorcycles, too, for a while.

As an historical note, an Iver Johnson revolver was used by McKinley’s assassin, and I think Sirhan Sirhan used an Iver Johnson to kill Robert Kennedy.

[Squantos]

Stationed in Italy in the 70’s I was allowed to privately own handguns in a “non-military caliber. No .380, 9mm or 45 but I could carry or own a 44mag, a 357 mag, or .22 long rifle.

My daily carry was a Beretta 70S auto in .22 long rifle w 3 spare mags and / or a SW 4” model 19 with 12 spare rounds in my pocket.

Red Brigade and Bader Meinhoff were our threats back then.

[marktwain]

Thanks for the report. Very interesting.

[Chode]

bought the Erma model back in the early 80's wi plastic grips, lotta practice on that little gun

[Vaquero]

I gave my model 19 to my oldest son. I miss it a bit but glad he has it. Nice trigger/accurate. Nice small K frame for a very powerful round.
Revolvers have taken a back seat to semi autos. But I have more revolvers, 3 to 1 than auto loaders.

[Does so]

Red Brigade and Bader Meinhoff were our threats back then.

I remember, but today there are one billion of 'em...

[trebb]

It’s an attractive looking gun.

Those were the truck drivers exact last words....

[CrazyIvan]

My 19 is with my son in law and will probably end up as his eventually. It was the first high end gun I purchased. Aside from being a great pistol it has some sentimental valus. My great uncle was a Boarder Patrol officer and actually worked with Bill Jordan at one time. Every time I look at the beautiful wood grips and flawless bluing and compare it to my modern polymer autos I think of the Stars Wars line “an elegant weapon from a more civilized age”

[W.]

I had one of the Ivers with the black plastic grips, nice pocket pistol. Never malfunctioned. $125 in 1986.

[irish guard]

I’ve been looking for a carry weapon that’s small, accurate, but still has enough knockdown power. Just cushions if you ever used that .22 in a live confrontation. I realize the key is always to hit vitals and do it quickly if you’re in trouble, but I’m wondering about the caliber.

[gunsmithkat]

I had a Walther PPKS in 22lr that looked exactly like that. Sold it for $600 back in ‘03. It was too nice to carry.

[Farmer Dean]

My model 19 is a late 50’s gun.I’ve put about 60k rounds through it and it’s still a good shooter.

[1Old Pro]

I still have my grandfathers “pearl” grip Iver revolver - it works. I think it was .25 caliber?

[Squantos]

Never used in self defense. Carried one in central and south america, a few places in the middle east but never had to use it. Its another tool in the tool box.

The .22 is not to be ignored, there are fast 1435fps 40gr HP’s made by Browning BLR performance ammo that is perfect for the little lightweight SW 317 snub nose. 8 shots, super light weight. Very easy trigger. I CCI stingers are very fast as well with a 32gr HP if not mistaken on the weight. Both of those brands I would have no qualms about carrying for personal defense.

If you would please go to a dealer and look at the Rem380 pistol. Remington bought out a custom gun maker called Rhorbaugh a while back. Remington makes a clone of that little compact rig that is perfect for this with weak hands, elderly etc thats easy to cycle the slide and a smooth light trigger.

https://youtu.be/8ne7sQ4KCfU

My elderly mother and her friends carry em, they hit the range every few weeks etc. A great small compact .380 caliber that works well. I have one as well. They work very good. Before I carry any handgun for defense I run at least 500 rounds through it. The RM380 is a keeper.

Another compact pistol to consider is the Seecamp .32 or newer .380. Very very good compact pistols that I own.

[Squantos]

Scary huh....

[irish guard]

Thanks for the kind words.....and advice. I've looked at a lot of small carry weapons and the Cabela's guy's keep wanting me to use a heavy caliber. I have a Glock and a Sig .40 caliber pistol, neither of which are carry pistols. Probably shot 2,000 rounds through each. They are under my bed and make me feel safe at home, along with a nice 870 pump 12 gauge. Nothing says get the hell out like racking a round in that sucker.

But I walk daily to a parking garage in a large city, where at night I'd like to have a small but deadly gun. Wisconsin allowed concealed carry a few years back and while I have a permit, I just can't settle on the right gun.

cheers

irish guard

[B4Ranch]

This is a nice addition. Attackers quickly take note of the red dot.

http://www.crimsontrace.com/products/manufacturer/remington/01-4550