Semmerling LM4

{{Infobox weapon |name= Semmerling LM4 |image = Semmerling_LM4_-_Satin_Chrome_Variant.jpg |caption= Semmerling LM4—satin chrome variant |type= Compact pistol |origin= United States  |is_ranged=yes  |service= |used_by= |wars=  |designer=Philip R. Lichtman |design_date=1979<ref name="Forgotten Weapons">{{citation |last=McCollum |first=Ian |title=Semmerling LM4: The Smallest Repeating .45ACP |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h5j97v2Yqo |date=2020}}</ref> |manufacturer=Semmerling, and later American Derringer |unit_cost = $645 (1980s)<ref name="Forgotten Weapons">{{citation |last=McCollum |first=Ian |title=Semmerling LM4: The Smallest Repeating .45ACP |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h5j97v2Yqo |date=2020}}</ref> |production_date = 1979-1990s (Semmerling) 1990s-2003<ref name="Forgotten Weapons">{{citation |last=McCollum |first=Ian |title=Semmerling LM4: The Smallest Repeating .45ACP |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h5j97v2Yqo |date=2020}}</ref> |number=600 |variants=LM1 LM2 (.380 ACP semi-automatic variant) LM3 and the later XLM based on the LM4 (.45 ACP semi-automatic variant) LM4  |weight= 560.4 g (19.77 oz) fully loaded |length= 93.98 mm (3.7") |part_length= 87.63 mm (3.45") |height= 93.98 mm (3.7") |width= less than 25.4 mm (1") (21.59 mm (0.85") with "thin kit")  |cartridge= .380 ACP (LM2 variant) .45 ACP (XLM and LM4 variants) |caliber= |action= Simple blowback (LM2, LM3 and XLM variants) manually-repeating Double action (Semmerling LM4) |rate= |velocity= |range= |max_range= |feed= 4-round proprietary magazine |sights= fixed iron sights }}

The '''Semmerling LM4''' is a five-shot, manually repeating double-action pocket pistol.<ref>А.Б.ЖУК СТРЕЛКОВОЕ ОРУЖИЕ, РЕВОЛЬВЕРЫ, ПИСТОЛЕТЫ, ВИНТОВКИ, ПИСТОЛЕТЫ, ПУЛЕМЕТЫ, АВТОМАТЫ (1992) p.448</ref>

==Concept and History== 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.<ref name="Imgur">{{citation |last= |first= |title=Semmerling Pistols: The Legacy of Philip R. Lichtman |url=https://imgur.com/a/pLtOo |date=2014}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Ahern2010">{{cite book |last=Ahern |first=Jerry |title=Gun Digest Buyer's Guide to Concealed-Carry Handguns |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LyoEmeSwGwgC&pg=PA132 |date=2010 |location=Iola, Wisconsin |publisher=Gun Digest Books |isbn=978-1-4402-1743-2|page=132}}</ref>

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|date=January 2015}}

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. thumb|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.<ref name="semmerling">{{cite book|last=Shideler|first=Dan |date=2010 |title=The Official Gun Digest Book of Guns & Prices 2010: Rifles, Pistols & Shotguns |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BvsNuzEiSmwC&pg=PA35 |location=Iola, Wisconsin |publisher=Gun Digest Books |isbn=978-1-4402-1454-7|pages=35–36}}</ref>

Phillip Lichtman died on June 28, 2017.<ref name="Boston Globe">{{citation |date=2017 |title=The Boston Globe Obituaries |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n=philip-r-lichtman&pid=186022523 |location=Newton, Massachusetts}}</ref> thumb|Philip Lichtman with Semmerling XLM

==Finish and accessories== thumb|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=== * Plastic * Ebony * Cocobolo * "Thin kit": steel side plate * Dot fastners: installed in grip panel screws to use with spring steel belt "holster" for concealment

===Accessories=== * Optional two-stage trigger * Gun holster * Magazine holster * 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.<ref name="Ahern2010"/>

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== {{Infobox weapon |name= P.R. Lichtman Model 3 |image = |caption= |type= Semi-automatic pistol |origin= United States  |is_ranged=yes  |service= |used_by= |wars=  |designer=Philip R. Lichtman |design_date= |manufacturer=Semmerling |unit_cost= |production_date= |number= |variants=  |weight= |length= |part length= |height= |width=  |cartridge= .45 ACP |caliber= |action= Forward barrel strip action, not blowback |rate= Semi-automatic |velocity= |range= |max_range= |feed= 4-round proprietary magazine |sights= fixed iron sights }}

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.

==See also== *List of pistols ===Underbarrel pistols=== *FN M1900 *GMC pistol *Jieffeco Model 1911

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.amderringer.com/lms.html Product description of the American Derringer Reissue at their corporate site] * [http://www.nramuseum.org/the-museum/the-galleries/firearms-traditions-for-today/case-78-the-long-arm-of-the-law.aspx The Long Arm of the Law Exhibit at the National Firearms Museum] * [https://patents.google.com/patent/USD234458 Patent for "HAND GUN", Patented Mar 11, 1975] * [https://patents.google.com/patent/US3857322 Patent for "FIREARM", Patented Dec 31, 1974] * [https://patents.google.com/patent/US4155187 Patent for "Manually cycled pistol", Patented May 22, 1979] * [https://patents.google.com/patent/US4342169 Patent for "Manually cycled pistol", Patented August 3, 1982]

==Patents== *{{US Patent|4155187}} *{{US Patent|4342169}} *{{US Patent|D234458}}

Category:.45 ACP firearms Category:Pistols of the United States Category:Abandoned military projects of the United States