Your Privacy Choices
Like everywhere else where legal gun ownership is strongly complicated by basic laws and unbelievable bureaucratic procedures, it’s expected that illegal, homemade DIY weaponry abound in Brazil. The final products range from finely tuned, decent-looking guns to scary-looking examples that would seem not to go past a first-and-only shot! There are also those that are not firearms at all, having just been put together to look like real (or almost) McCoys, so that their bearers might look “armed”.
I’ve just gathered a selection of items recently (some, not just so) seized by Brazilian police around the country, with place of origin mentioned when available. Technical details are usually limited to the caliber used, only, and I’ll leave to you, smart TFB readers, the task of figuring out the rest. Just a glance at the creativity involved in their manufacture. Hope you enjoy!
Higher-res pics? Here: https://imgur.com/a/20f5D
A 9x19mm (full-auto?) pistol fitted with a sound suppressor seized in Rio de Janeiro by the local Military Police’s BAC – Batalhão de Ações com Cães, the K9 unit. The two hand grenades also apprehended received multiple rubber band loops to keep the safety levers securely in place… just in case.
A 12-ga break-barrel shotgun found in Imperatriz, Maranhão State. Front grip welded to the barrel sleeve to help in recoil control.
Pistol of non-reported caliber seized with a 17-yo boy in Ariquemes, Rondônia State, by Military Police agents.
A scary-looking, decrepit pistol of unknown caliber with an external epoxy material finish found in Esperantina, Piauí State, by Civil Police.
This is a stockless SMG design that emerged in Aratu, Bahia State, appearing to be chambered to 9x19mm. A relatively common design here, reportedly found in other calibers, too.
A single-shot, break-barrel .38SPL pistol seized in São Luis, Maranhão State, by Military Police agents.
Gun on top is an SMG-style contraption that feeds from a .380ACP pistol magazine (the .38SPL rounds beside were just found in the scene). Together with the .22LR revolver shown, weapon was seized in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State, by the Military Police.
Break-barrel 12-ga shotgun found in Campo Mourão, Paraná State, by Military Police agents answering a call of “shots fired”. OMG!
This .22LR pistol was seized in a house in Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso State, when Military Police agents answered a call about “illegal hunting” in the area.
Two men used this .38SPL single-shot pistol to rob a small shop in Currais Novos, Rio Grande do Norte State.
Homemade 9x19mm subgun seized from an illegal manufacturer (holding weapon for police photo!) in São José dos Campos, São Paulo State. At least two other similar weapons had been reportedly sold in the black market for about US$ 1,000-1,500 each. Note magazine catch ahead of housing!
This Brazilian-made Urko Tiger 4.5mm air pistol was re-chambered to fire .38SPL rounds. Seized in Santa Bárbara d’Oeste, São Paulo State, by Military Police agents.
