The Firearm Blog

The Hungarian manufactured Gepard GM6 is a very nifty .50 caliber rifle. Its combination of a bullpup stock combined with a slow long recoil action (the barrel recoils with the bolt) makes for a very compact weapon with manageable recoil.

Gepard GM6 Lynx (12.7x108mm Russian)

This video demonstrates ...

[ Many thanks to Max for emailing me the video. ]

Sabre Defence owner Guy Savage and four other company officers have been arrested for arms trafficking. KnoxNews reports ...

Prosecutors say the owner of Sabre, 42-year-old Guy Savage, directed the illegal activities from his home in the United Kingdom and from a related company, Sabre Defence Industries LTD, a UK-based weapons manufacturer and importer also owned by Savage.

The ATF raided Sabre last year. They claimed to be investigating investigating employees re-selling parts without a license. The below is a post published on AR-15.com ...

Mark,

To end the speculation. I would be most grateful if you would post this on the AR15.com forum. We released this to the media yesterday in response to what was going on. I was in my office till 4 am working through this with the US facility and my lawyers.

Thanks

Guy Savage CEO

Sabre Defence Industries

NASHVILLE, Tenn., February 17, 2010 – Sabre Defence Industries LLC, an established manufacturer of firearms and weapon systems to the United States military, state and local law enforcement, and worldwide commercial markets, is fully cooperating with federal agents in an ongoing investigation into potential criminal misuse of certain non-saleable firearms produced by Sabre and purchased by some its employees. Sabre has received information that employee(s) involved in inventory control may have obtained and re-sold some items without appropriate licenses. Sabre is and has been cooperating with federal agents in this investigation.

...

My take on the situation is that the BATFE were looking for a lot more than some M16 receivers being re-sold by employees.

[Hat Tip: MJ Mollenhour]

UPDATE: The Tennessean has more ...

A federal grand jury charged Nashville-based gun manufacturer and U.S. military supplier Sabre Defence Industries and five company officers with illegal international arms trafficking.

Sabre owner Guy Savage, a United Kingdom citizen, and Middle Tennessee residents President Charles Shearon, Chief Financial Officer Elmer Hill, Director of Sales Michael Curlett and International Purchasing Manager Arnold See Jr., are the individuals charged.

They also face charges of conspiracy, making false statements, smuggling, wire fraud and mail fraud in the 21-count indictment unsealed today.

[ Many thanks to John for emailing me the link. ]

Crimson Trace had announced a new series of custom-style laser grips for the 1911. High-end 1911 owners can now have a laser sight grip without having to use rubber grips. The Master Series grips will be made from a variety of materials including laminated wood, stabilized wood and Micarta.

The Master Series grips have a smaller laser diode that sits further forward allowing the use of a standard ambidextrous safety, something that the older style grips did not allow. They will be available for full-size, bobtail and officer sized 1911s and should be going on sale in May for about $360.

While shooting all of the free ammunition at the Media Day event in Las Vegas this year, I came across the ArmaLite SPR Model 1 AR-15 and ArmaLite engineer Nathan Brinkmeyer. Nathan showed me the ins and outs of their AR-15 platform.

ArmaLite SPR Model 1 AR-15 LB

Detachable Rails – One of the first things that jumps out at the casual observer are the detachable rails on the fore grip. Using an Allen wrench the shooter quickly remove the side or bottom rails and determine if they want the full Picatinny quad rail system or go modular. Rails can be replaced with full flat replacements or half flat/half Picatinny rails to the user’s choosing.

Continuous Optic Platform (COP) – The top rail is one piece and runs full length, with no gaps (end of fore grip to end of receiver). This allows scope or optics to be mounted in a very secure fashion.

Proprietary Barrel Nut – Nathan also pointed out ArmaLite’s proprietary large barrel nut that allows for quickly breaking the rifle down for cleaning and/or maintenance.

ArmaLite SPR Model 1 AR-15 CB

Two-stage match trigger – Nathan explained that these rifles have a 2-stage match trigger that usually ships from the factory with a 4.5 lb. trigger pull. I’m pretty sure that the one I shot at Media Day was a little less than that – very smooth, and very quick. ArmaLite’s triggers also reset very quickly, a nice feature for tactical or sport shooter applications alike. The trigger resets almost immediately after let off from trigger pull, and much sooner than some of the other AR-15 rifles I’ve shot.

Nathan said that there are 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 round magazines available for the rifle. This rifle handles well and I was able to hit standard steel targets at 100 yards with multiple rounds. I was pulling the trigger in less than a second from the previous shot and was easily able to maintain target acquisition.

Other features from ArmaLite include:

The Knight’s Armament Knight Hawk Limited Edition set includes a custom KAC SR-15 E3 Rifle, a custom .45 ACP Nighthawk 1911 and a custom Strider Knife. Only 100 sets will be sold.

Photo form GHG

More information and photos at Guns, Holsters and Gear.

To be honest, I am not a big fan of the "golf ball" pattern. What you think of the look? Sound off in the poll below.

Kristin Hunt, Taurus's PR person, said told me that Mark A. Keefe's response to the Taurus 28 Gauge Revolver controversy is correct ...

This is simply not the case. Taurus President and CEO Bob Morrison invited officials from the ATF's Technology Branch to discuss some of the firm's new product introductions. "I asked them to come and give some advice," Morrison said. By all accounts the meeting was cordial, professional, and not a "raid" or "gotcha" as erroneously reported elsewhere. No determination on the gun's status was made at the show.

Remember, to even be in the United States at all, the prototype had to be cleared by ATF for importation. On the 28 gauge Raging Judge revolver, Taurus sought ATF's advice on some modifications to the gun and is the process of implementing the results of those suggestions. This is a very common practice; gun manufacturers and importers regularly work with ATF as the firearm industry's regulatory agency. Also, despite rumors to the contrary, the .45 Colt/.410 Bore lever-action Ranch Hand with the rifled barrel is good to go for importation, as is the 28 gauge Circuit Judge. You'll see them later on this year, as well as the 28 gauge Raging Judge with minor modifications.

The controversy has revolved around the fact that a 28 gauge bore size is technically .550". I did not think to look at the time, but I think Taurus is probably just constricting the bore down to 0.50", or just under, to make it legal. Shotguns are anway usually constricted using chokes. Undersized 0.5" slugs would bounce around until they engage the rifling, but the gun is designed to be a close range weapon and this would probably not be a deal breaker.

UPDATE: Just to clarify, I mean that the rifled barrel is constricted, not that it is a smoothbore.

Taurus 28 gauge (right) next to .22 LR Taurus Tracker

All MasterPiece Arms Protector Pistols will now be shipping with magazine grip extensions as well as the standard flat floor plate. This is a good move by MasterPiece Arms, the cost will be negligible, but customer satisfaction will surely increase greatly.

The MSRP for the MPA32 and MPA380 in black is $322.90. The MSRP for both stainless models is $345.90.

A bank has announced their intention to liquidate Sabre Defence ...

Sale by Secured Creditor , Cadence Bank, N.A., as Secured Party under Article 9 Uniform Commercial Code including: all accounts; inventory; general intangibles, equipment; documents; all Government Contracts (subject to approval and novation process).

Sabre is a licensed manufacturer of ordnance including automatic weapons. It is a contractor for the United States government, Department of Defense and also engages in the manufacture and sale of semi- automatic weapons. Sealed Bids: No later than 12:00 p.m., February 14, 2011

Sabre Defence Industries are best known for manufacturing AR-15 rifles but they also manufactured the civilian semi-auto AUG SA rifle for Steyr. I wonder what this news means for Steyr.

This time last year Sabre made the news when they were raided by the BATFE. It has not been a good year for the company.

[ Many thanks to jdun1911 for emailing me the link. ]

Wilson Combat has introduced a new free floating rail system called the T.R.I.M system. The TRIM been designed to be as compact as possible. It has a picatinny rail along the top, with screw holes along the sides and bottom to allow the attachment of short picatinny rails where they are needed.

The TRIM will be available in four lengths: 7.3" (Carbine), 9.3" (Mid Length), 10.4" (SBR) and 12.6" (Rifle). They weigh 10 oz, 11.5 oz, 12.2 oz and 13.9 oz respectively and are priced from $269.95.

Weatherby Mark V Accumark

Weatherby is now chambering their Mark V Accumark and TRR (Threat Response Rifle) rifles in .338 Lapua Magnum.

From the press release ...

The Mark V Accumark features a hand-laminated, raised-comb Monte Carlo composite stock with a matte gel coat finish and spiderweb accents. Also working to enhance accuracy is a button-rifled, #3 contour (.705 muzzle diameter) free-floated stainless steel fluted barrel with target crown. The 28-inch overall barrel length includes an Accubrake™ to reduce felt recoil.

Other features for precision shooting are a CNC-machined 6061 T-6 aluminum bedding plate and a factory-tuned, fully adjustable trigger. A Pachmayr® Decelerator® pad on the buttstock helps soften recoil.

Weatherby's Mark V TRR rifle has a black composite stock with the CNC-machined 6061 T-6 aluminum bedding system. The three-position buttstock is adjustable for length of pull, drop at heel and cant of the pad, allowing a "custom-fit" to shooter size and shape for greater comfort, control and accuracy.

Also equipped with an Accubrake, the barrel measures 28 inches in overall length. Accuracy is further enhanced by the hand-tuned, fully adjustable trigger, which is factory set at three pounds with sear engagement factory set at .008 to .014.

The retail price for the .338 Lapua Mark V Accumark is $2,270. The .338 Lapua Magnum Mark V TRR will be selling for $2,879