Die Welt (“The World”) is a German National daily newspaper, and according to their information the tender to replace the current Bundeswehr (Germany Army) HK G36 contains a peculiar detail that the replacement rifle must not contain any ITAR regulated [Read More…]
Good news for SIG SAUER GmbH & Co. in Eckernförde, Germany. According to the Presseportal.de a large German State Police Force has ordered several hundred MCX rifles. The HK MP5 is getting old(er) and need replacing. 9 millimeters are also out, the 5,56 is in. [Read More…]
There was a massive interest when the HERA Arms stock and front grip was released. To my knowledge HERA had over 12 000 people on the waiting list. It would be interesting to know how many they have sold, almost a year after its release? The HERA Arms grips can be found [Read More…]
The following is an article that was originally written in Russian by TFB contributor Maxim Popenker, and Andrey Ulanov, and translated to English by Peter Samsonov. With their permission, I have replicated the text here, and edited it, for the enrichment of you, our [Read More…]
I had the opportunity to examine the brand new Steyr-Mannlicher RS556. This firearm is one of the contenders to become the next service rifle for Germany in 2019, and possibly many other countries. It took me a while, but I realize I am probably one of the few that have [Read More…]
In November last year we reported that the Police in Hamburg (Germany) were getting Haenel CR223s (AR15) in 5,56 NATO as a response to the increased threat levels. You can find the background in this TFB article. The first rifles from the manufacturer Haenel (Suhl, [Read More…]
A few postcards landed on our doorstep and we feel obliged to share them. Apparently the Kampfschwimmers (“Combat Swimmers”) have been busy traveling the World. At least some of the destinations look far away from German soil! Some say the have visited the [Read More…]
A German company called Ergosign (an acronym made of the words ergonomic and design) manufactures adjustable shotgun stocks called EvoComp. The stocks are available both in a standard configuration and also have a variety of options including lightened versions, [Read More…]
In the development and testing phases since at least 2004, the German Ministry of Defense has purchased enough IdZ-ES (Infanterist der Zukunft-Infantryman of the future, also know as Gladius) Future Soldier Systems to outfit 68 platoons of mechanized infantry/2,460 [Read More…]
Manufacturing artillery pieces is an utterly fascinating process – especially if one has any knowledge of manufacturing. Specifically, creating the barrels is perhaps one of the most technically challenging parts of making the howitzers. Outside of the physical [Read More…]
German Polizei were seen at the G20 summit providing security. The officers are seen wielding MP5s and HK416s. Some are kitted with the Revision Batlskin Viper system. They are also wearing First Spear Siege R Plate carriers. These officers are using HK416s. [Read More…]
Let’s begin with the story behind the invention of this product. As with many other great inventions, it started with restrictions due to legislation. In Germany you’re by law only allowed 10 round magazines, or 20 round magazines limited to 10 rounds. [Read More…]
On 9:th of March 2017, a 36-year old suspect was detained after an axe attack that injured nine persons in the main train station in Düsseldorf, Germany. One of the pictures that caught my attention was this FN SCAR-L Short with a 10″ barrel and an EOTech sight. [Read More…]
Zeiss had the World Premiere at IWA 2017 in Germany for their new Conquest V6 riflescope. They presented three new models: 1.1-6×24, 2-12×50, and 2.5-15×56. The Conquest V6 line uses the high-quality FL lenses of the Victory line for the first time, with a light [Read More…]
According to the National Post, the Canadian government will begin supplying elements of the Kurdish Peshmerga in Iraq with small arms and light weapons. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously announced Canadian material support for the Peshmerga a year ago, but only [Read More…]
On March 1-2, The Enforce Tac exhibition opens up the doors to an interesting world of “police equipment, security or tactical solutions.” This is where we find the Class III firearms. This is followed, March 3-6, by IWA OutdoorClassics, “the [Read More…]
Heckler & Koch 416 “assault rifle lower receivers” are for sale in Germany. Just beware, as so called “free parts” might not be so free in your country or state. In fact they might be highly illegal. Where I live at the moment, lowers are [Read More…]
It’s not every day you get the privilege to write about a new rifle from Heckler & Koch, but we have the honor to present the brand new HK433. It was shown to a very selected number of people at SHOT Show and Heckler & Koch just ran an ad in the German [Read More…]
The Saxony Police in Germany gets an Anit-Terror package from the Minister of Interior. The package is worth 15 million Euro according to Sachsen.de. and contains 7 armored Toyota Land Cruiser V8s, ballistic helmets, plate carriers, Haenel CR223 (AR-15) in 5,56 mm and 9 [Read More…]
Following the terror attacks in Frankfurt, Hanover, Würzburg, Ansbach and Berlin it is clear that more and more of the regional German Police Forces are getting reinforcements in terms of 5,56×45 mm carbines. Obviously, they’re getting other passive and [Read More…]
German firearm giant Heckler & Koch has finally given up selling firearms to countries that are not NATO Members or NATO Partners following years of concerted effort by the German government to hamstring the company’s export sales. Reuters reports … [Read More…]
German gunsmith Herbert Werle – creator of the famous “AK-47” Luger and the .45 ACP Luger Carbine – has created another strange hybrid firearm: A 7.62x25mm Tokarev M1 Carbine. Two videos of Werle testing the rifle are embedded below: In the description of his [Read More…]
The history of modern small arms is in part so fascinating because of how many firearms have been developed even in obscure circumstances, and how many of those obscure small arms still exist in museums and private collections around the world. Even though I make [Read More…]
According to several sources, the Police in Hamburg (Germany), are getting new body armor, helmets, armored cars and HK MP5s and Haenel CR223s. The real news here is the issuing of the Haenel CR223, which is a piston driven AR15 style rifle. Hamburger Mobile [Read More…]
The history of modern small arms is in part so fascinating because of how many firearms have been developed even in obscure circumstances, and how many of those obscure small arms still exist in museums and private collections around the world. Even though I make [Read More…]
The history of modern small arms is in part so fascinating because of how many firearms have been developed even in obscure circumstances, and how many of those obscure small arms still exist in museums and private collections around the world. Even though I make [Read More…]
It seems that for the first time ever, Germany is going to get a more permissive gun law. As an Amendment of the Federal Hunting Act comes into force, it is now legal to hunt even with 20 round (perhaps even more?) magazine if you put only 3 rounds in. This is even [Read More…]
A reader of TFB who resides in rebel held Syria recently emailed us saying … You must know that I do not reside in the U.S.; I am in Syria, amidst the sweeping turmoil. And, surprisingly enough, a couple of years past, a multitude of StG’s surfaced up in [Read More…]
We haven’t done a Historical Intermediate Calibers post in a while, mostly because most of the stuff that’s interesting enough to cover is difficult to find real world examples of. Today, we’ll be looking at one round I had planned to do ever since the [Read More…]
In May of this year, I got the rare opportunity to travel to Heckler & Koch’s headquarters in Ashburn, VA, to take a look at some of the experimental and prototype firearms they have located there in their famous “Grey Room”. It wouldn’t be worth as much for [Read More…]
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