Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a Wildey Survivor prototype gas-operated pistol in .475 Wildey Magnum, documented by Wildey as an early production gun that tested the matte black anodized barrel rib and rear sight. This comes with an extra .45 Winchester Magnum barrel and bolt assembly.
Wildey J. Moore designed the Wildey pistol in the 1970s as a gas-operated semi-automatic handling magnum revolver cartridges. Gas operation was unusual for handguns but allowed the Wildey to manage extremely powerful cartridges like .475 Wildey Magnum and .45 Winchester Magnum. The .475 Wildey Magnum was developed specifically for this pistol, pushing a 280-grain bullet at approximately 1,450 fps from the 8-inch vented rib barrel. This delivered magnum revolver power in a semi-automatic platform.
Gas operation tapped barrel gas to cycle the action, similar to rifle designs. This reduced felt recoil compared to blowback or recoil operation. The vented rib barrel dissipated heat and reduced weight while maintaining rigidity. This prototype tested matte black anodized finish for the barrel rib and rear sight. Most production Wildey pistols used bright-finished ribs, but matte black reduced glare. The Wildey letter confirms this gun’s role in developing that finish option.
The .45 Winchester Magnum barrel and bolt assembly shows the Wildey’s modular design allowing caliber changes. Multi-caliber capability was a selling point. The Wildey gained fame when Charles Bronson used one in “Death Wish 3” in 1985. Production numbers stayed relatively low due to complexity and manufacturing cost.
Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!
“Documented Prototype Wildey Survivor Semi-Automatic Pistol with Extra Barrel, Case, Box and Accessories.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1049/3795/prototype-wildey-survivor-pistol-with-extra-barrel-case-box. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
Writer | TheFirearmBlog
Writer | AllOutdoor.com Instagram | sfsgunsmith Old soul, certified gunsmith, published author, avid firearm history learner, and appreciator of old and unique guns.
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