[2] The event was won by Torsten Ullman of Sweden, the nation's first free pistol medal.

Charles des Jammonières's bronze was France's first medal in the free pistol since 1900.

This was the sixth appearance of what would become standardised as the men's ISSF 50 meter pistol event.

France's Charles des Jammonières was the runner-up in 1933; Germany's Erich Krempel had finished second in 1935.

Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Monaco, the Philippines, Portugal, and Romania each made their debut in the event.

Erich Krempel held the new Olympic record at the end of the first day, but Torsten Ullman had not shot yet.

On 6 August, the shooters from Argentina, Chile, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, USA, and Germany started.