Mk.I.

Welrod MkI. Caliber 9mm parabellum. Click for closeup photo of trigger group.

Alas I’ve been less successful in obtaining adequate information about the Mk I version. Still,
I have enough for a reasonable description. I have the manuals for both the “Type A” and
“Type B”, but to the best of my efforts there are no visible differences between the two. The
difference is most likely in the internal suppressor tube construction. Differences in the end
cap has been noticed however as some caps has a slot cut in the face allowing a tool to be
insert to assist loosen or tightening the cap.

9mm Welrod Mk.I. suppressor end caps. Notice the one to the right with the slot cut in the
face. This particular silencer has never been fired and there is still traces of glue and paper
from the factory seal.      (Photo courtesy of INTAREX - The Netherlands)

In the manuals under FUNCTION, GENERAL DESCRIPTION and under NOTES ON

USE texts are identical and read as follows:

FUNCTION:
The 9mm. Welrod is a silent single shot pistol, intended for use by specially trained
operators for specific tasks.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The weapon is a specially constructed single shot pistol with a detachable silencer. It is
silent, reliable in action and easy to conceal. It is accurate up to 30 yards in daylight or 20
yards on a fairly light night, but is most effective when fired in contact with the target.
NOTES ON USE:
The gun has three distinct and separate uses:
a) For aimed and deliberate shots in daylight or darkness. The effective range of the gun with
normal handling is 15/30 yards. For deliberate shots, extreme accuracy is required and can
only be obtained by correct trigger squeeze, i.e. a gradual squeeze by the whole hand. With
training and practice it is possible to obtain very accurate groups at the distances mentioned.
The gun should be held with the thumb and forefinger of the left hand as close up to the
muzzle as possible, the pistol grip being held by the right hand. For standing shots, the left
elbow should be as close to the body as possible and the rear of the gun approximately
6”/7”from the operator´s eye.

b) Without its silencer and used as a single-shot weapon.

c) By use of the weapon at the closest quarters, i.e. with the muzzle against the target. For this
purpose no special training is required.

The construction itself is practically identical to that of the Mk IIA with the exception of a
few details. The grip safety is slightly different in appearance but functions in the exact same
manner. Placed underneath the tube right behind the grip safety, a secondary manually
operated safety catch has been added. The trigger and trigger-function remains the same, but
is now protected by a trigger guard. The magazine release has, due to the previously
mentioned problems on the Mk II and Mk IIA, been moved in front of the grip and inside the
trigger guard. The magazine is most likely from a .38 Colt Automatic, and the manual directs
that although the total capacity allows for 6 bullets, that only 5 be loaded. The true difference
lies with the suppressor tube that is two-piece. The rear piece, as with Mk II and Mk IIA,
contains the breech, barrel and expansion chamber, whereas the front piece contains the
baffles and washers section. The front piece, detachable just in front of the front sight, has a
length of 125 mm bringing the pistol to a total length of 360 mm. The tube diameter is 35
mm, and the weight of the pistol is 1500 grams which equals 53 ounce.

The advantage to a detachable suppressor part is obvious as this makes the weapon
considerably easier to conceal. The pistol will function despite the front piece being removed;
however the noise reduction will be non exsisting.

  The few examples I have had the opportunity to examine have all been marked with a 5 digit
serial number as well as the familiar “star and square” stamp under the receiver.

A brief description of the silencer assembly is as follows: The barrel is perforated with
12 .068 inch diameter holes, allowing the powder gases to escape into the expansion chamber
surrounding the barrel. In this case the holes serve the purpose of preventing the bullets from
going supersonic as is the standard of 9 mm Parabellum ammunition. The suppressor piece
differentiates markedly from Mk II and Mk IIA. It consists of 2 washers made from Linatex
and reinforced with a layer of canvas on one side. The discs must be placed with the canvas
facing the breech end. Later versions had the washers without canvas attached and they look
and feel like modern rubber chemical plugs. A metal baffle is placed on the canvas side and a
compressed felt disc with a 13/32 inch hole and a metal baffle are placed on the upper side of
the washer facing the muzzle end. In between is a metal spacer best described as a spool from
a sewing machine perforated on the axis by 24 holes .104 inch in diameter. The spacer creates
yet another expansion chamber for the gases to cool of in before passing through the last
washer.

X-ray of 9mm Welrod Mk.I. suppressor.      (X-ray courtesy of INTAREX - The Netherlands)

9mm Welrod Mk.I. suppressor field stripped.      (Photo courtesy of INTAREX - The
Netherlands)

9mm Welrod Mk.I. suppressor field stripped.      (Photo courtesy of INTAREX - The
Netherlands)
The muzzle velocity is approx. 1000 fps. Apart from the manually operated safety and the
magazine release, the Mk I is operated and functions as the Mk II and Mk IIA. The iron sights
are coated with a fluorescent material that, according the manual, renders the weapon efficient
at 20 yards on a bright summer eve. The effective range in daylight is reported to be 30 yards.
The recommended maximal shooting range is 24 yards.

Diagram of Welrod Mk.l.            (Drawing Joe M. Ramos - Canada)