If you are attending Defense Systems & Equipment International (DSEi) 2009 in London next week please get in touch with me. It would be great to have someone at the show who can take photos of firearms on display so I can post them on the blog.
With the poor condition that captured AK-47s are found, you could be forgiven for thinking the Afghans do not pay much attention to their rifles. Apparently they are very much into the “latest” gear and AK-74 are very much in demand, despite that they cost 2.5x as much as a Chinese AK-47 clone. The Guardian reports:
“The fortunes are to be made in weapons,” he said. “Prices are doing very well. If you bring in $20,000-worth over a month, you can make a profit of $5,000.”
Kalashnikovs, I presumed.
“No, Kalashnikovs are very cheap. They cost only $400. Sometimes the Tajiks buy them from us and we get them from the Chinese. But it’s the Kalakov everyone wants.” Kalakov is the Afghan name for a new model of Kalashnikov that is lighter and uses smaller bullets.
They seem to be under the impression that the 5.42x39mm round has some magical armor piercing capability! While the bullet the Russian currently use has improved penetration, compared to the original, I doubt it is any better than the 5.56mm NATO. I very much doubt that the Taliban are getting recently manufactured ammunition or the AP version of the 5.45mm.
“The Taliban like it because it pierces body armour.” Hekmat tapped at his chest to demonstrate and showed me a small bullet. “They cost $700 in Dushanbe and we sell them for $1,100. There is an extra charge of $150 if you want the weapons delivered in the south.”
This is good news for the coalition forces, better that they spend their money on weapons that they think will give them armor piercing capabilities, rather than weapons that could do real damage. I hope they do not catch on that the Dragunov SVD rifles they seem to love are not near accurate enough to be considered a real sniper rifle, nor can the 20 year old surplus Chinese 7.62x54mm be considered an accurate round for a sniper.
Hat Tip: Danger Room
UPDATE: I was emailed to say that vets report that AK-74 are not uncommon in Afghanistan. The Guardian’s source is a random smuggler that a reporter happened to talk to. I think this is pretty much a non-story.
Israeli defense firm Rafael is developing a new missile system which seems to come straight out of the pages of a science fiction novel. The Mini-Spike is a precision anti-personal strike weapon that can be carried by a single solider. The basic system weighs 12 kilograms (26 lbs) and includes a launcher / command unit and two missiles.
The Mini-Spike can be operated with its integral command launch unit or with existing Spike family launchers, utilizing the CLU, tripod and launcher assemblies. The missile can be fired at targets at ranges of 1,200 meters and can be set to approach the target in a low, medium or high angle of attack, enabling effective engagement of concealed targets. The CLU can be used stand-alone for observation and target acquisition. It features a number of useful operating modes, including video recording and playback.
More info at Defense Update
The original Mare’s Leg Pistol was a shortened .44-40 Winchester 1892 lever action rifle which featured in the ’50s TV series Wanted: Dead or Alive. Its distinctive design featured a cut down butt stock, shortened barrel and large cocking lever loop.
Since 2005 JB Custom have been look-alike that is registered as a pistol with the BATFE so it can be legally owned without jumping through NFA hoops.
Steve Doran has produced a video review of the pistol. It looks like a lot of fun!
The standard model sells for $1695.
Congrats to Tam! Her blog, View From The Porch, has now been going for four years and just reached a whopping 2 million visits!
I highly recommend reading her blog. She is incredibly witty.
Albert A Rasch has written a review (Part 1 and Part 2) on SeigeWorks “American” Longbow. These beautiful traditional style bows, without all the ugly gears and pulley that modern compound bows feature, really appeals to me.
SayUncle.com has turned 7 years old! What a major achievement, I have only been going for two years and it feels like 200 hundred!
All I can say is that if you are not reading SayUncle, you should be.
Being the complete and certified gun nut that I am, few thing excite me more than coming across unique and exotic firearms, the more unique, exotic and arcane the better!
Sucang, a resident of Xinhua, Taiwan, sent me these photos of his antique shotgun. He was hoping some readers of the blog could identify it. I was very excited when I opened the attached photos, I had never seen a rifle or shotgun with an action like it.
The shotgun is 170 cm (67″) in length and weighs 4.5 kg (10 lbs).
The action.
I presume a percussion cap is inserted into the removable breech block (see below), then the striker is pull back to cock the action. Click the photos to expand them.
Load information was been engraved onto the gun in English. Not necessarily when it was first made.
Markings.
I don’t know what that cartridge-esque thing is.
One striker cocked.
Breech Blocks removed.
Sucang thought it could be from the 1600′s when the Dutch, who were fond of hunting, occupied Taiwan. This is not likely as the 17th century would place it squarely in matchlock territory and the striker design is quite advanced. I suggested mid 19th century. My buddy Mehul, who knows far more about classic firearms that I do, suggested early 20th.
Has anyone seen anything like it before?
