Hot! The De Lisle Commando Carbine

Of all the cool things we saw at the SHOT Show, this one stands out as one of the absolute coolest: The De Lisle Commando Carbine was a bolt-action, integrally suppressed .45ACP calibre carbine developed for use by British Special Operations Forces during WWII. Its bolt-action operation and highly efficient built-in suppressor made it extremely quiet in action – especially when combined with subsonic ammunition. It is possibly one of the quietest firearms ever made and used in anger.

The weapon was designed as a private venture by William Godfray de Lisle, an engineer who worked for the Air Ministry. In 1943, he approached Major Sir Malcolm Campbell of Combined Operations. Combined Operations officials were impressed with the weapon and requested De Lisle produce a prototype, using the .45 ACP cartridge. This was achieved by converting a Short Magazine, Lee–Enfield Mk III* action to use a modified receiver, bolt and bolthead, replacing the barrel with a shortened and modified Thompson submachine gun barrel, and using modified magazines from the Browning M1911 pistol. Tests showed the weapon had acceptable accuracy, produced no visible muzzle flash and was inaudible at a distance of 50 yards (46 m).

During the last 2 years of WWII, the De Lisle carbine was used by the British Commandos and the Special Operations Executive (SOE). At least one American former commander of a Jedburgh Team also used a De Lisle Carbine to assassinate two senior German officers in 1944. De Lisle Carbines were also shipped to the Far East and used during the Burma Campaign. Postwar, the De Lisle would also be used during the Korean War and the Malayan Emergency by British forces, and by the US Army Special Forces MACV-SOG units during the Vietnam War. It has also been claimed that the weapon was used by the Special Air Service during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

As of May of 2024, US Armament Mfg. has started taking pre-orders for their newly manufactured exact replicas of this legendary firearm. However, with an asking price of $6,500 owning this piece of history does not come cheap.

US ARMAMENT FG. online