Now, what you think you saw in the title picture was an MG42 and a British Bren light machine gun. However, what you are actually lovingly gazing at, are .22 LR rifles inserted into the parts kit of those guns, and indeed, are fully functional with their .22 LR [Read More…]
The subject of the 6mm Lee Navy, the US military’s shortest-serving cartridge, and also its first metric rifle cartridge, was raised in the comments section of the most recent installment of my series on the Lightweight Rifle Program of 1945-1957. There was some [Read More…]
Jane’s has a report out about a second batch of Beryl M762 rifles being purchased by the Nigerian Armed Forces. This isn’t the first international export of the rifle, among other countries that Beryl has sold or donated to are Afghanistan and Lithuania. [Read More…]
Below are some photos of my personal Remington 51, made between 1921 and 1923. It’s in remarkably good shape for a gun that’s over 90 years old, and is definitely the best condition Model 51 I’ve ever seen in person or in photographs (so, naturally, I [Read More…]
This is the third part of a series of posts seeking to describe and analyze the 7.62mm Light Rifle concept promoted by the Americans, and subsequently adopted by NATO in various forms. This series will cover development from before World War II to the present day, but [Read More…]
War History Online has posted an incredible set of of photographs of old rifles and their sight pictures. The gallery includes classics like the Thompson SMG and BAR with a few notable firearms including the British Lancaster and even the M2 Carbine with a paratrooper [Read More…]
While not capturing every uniform that the United States has fielded, Business Insider has an excellent video showcasing the major uniforms of the US Army in less than two minutes. Its a fascinating watch, especially for gear-do’s like myself. In that respect, its [Read More…]
Earlier this week, I was asked what my thoughts were on the video below, coming from HEMA instructor Matt Easton, on his YouTube channel Scholagladiatoria. In it, he discusses some of the limitations of early blackpowder (especially muzzleloading) firearms, specifically [Read More…]
What sort of mistake could possibly take the top spot of “worst decisions in firearms history”? It would have to be a decision that not only in retrospect but at the time was one of the worst possible decisions a company could make, and it would have to [Read More…]
A 1911 enthusiast in Virginia recently had a buddy ask him if he could work on his 1911 for him. The buddy’s relative had brought back a 1911 from Vietnam. This is the resulting encounter- Well he brings over this gem and the first thing I tell him is … Well [Read More…]
Have you ever wanted a major piece of Armalite/Colt history? Then the rifle for you is up for auction at GunBroker: A low serial Colt 601, the first AR-15 variant manufactured at Colt. Still marked “Armalite”, this rifle’s serial number is 00059X: [Read More…]
These news items are always so interesting when they come up, as if to say “Dear god, a working firearm!” Anyways, in Sydney, Australia apparently some criminals were stashing a modified No.4 Lee Enfield and an MP40 in an abandoned house, intending to do [Read More…]
A TFB reader sent these into us about West Point professor Arthur Alphin making firearms development and history videos for his classes, using his own firearms, and those from the West Point Museum. We’re so used to seeing videos explaining cycles of operation [Read More…]
Now I’m no knowledgable business guru, but Jane’s is reporting that the state owned company that had a stake in Izhevsk, Rostec (which by the way, did you know Kalashnikov Concern also makes boats?) has now sold 51% to a company called Ural Mining and [Read More…]
I, for one, lament the change of the charging handle from the inside the carry-handle position to the rear of the weapon. While it has made it convenient for railed uppers, it is nowhere near as ergonomic. Okay, now that I am off my high-horse, I would like to turn your [Read More…]
These pictures and video were published on War History Online in two separate articles over the course of the past six months. The images and video are absolutely astounding. It seems that a duo of treasure hunters or artifact seekers, using commercial metal detectors [Read More…]
It’s a good time to be into firearms history. Between Forgotten Weapons, Vickers Tactical, and other great series, what more could the gun history nerd ask for? Well, Othais of CandRsenal has started a YouTube channel that answers that question, covering in [Read More…]
Two high end, precision 1911 manufacturers, STI International and Detonics Defense, have entered into a business partnership in the hopes of producing better 1911s. It seems that the two seem to compliment each other, with STI having very good quality control and [Read More…]
This past weekend was the bicentennial anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, where Napoleon was defeated by the combined armies of the British and Prussians, and which marked the transition of Europe into a four-decade-long peace that would only be interrupted by the [Read More…]
Four TFBers got together this weekend in Texas to shoot a selection of historical weapons. From Left to Right: Ian McCollum, of Forgotten Weapons and TFB, Alex C of TFBTV, Nate F of TFB, Patrick R of TFBTV. Expect to see their exploits soon on TFBTV and on Ian’s [Read More…]
I was blessed to have never been in a firefight while in the Corps (although I did have the oxymoronic itch to be in one), and now having seen this documentary, happy to have not been in one (and simultaneously disappointed). History Channel put together a fantastic [Read More…]
This time last year, the Denver Post collected a series of color images taken during the D-Day landings that occured 71 years ago today. Some of the images are reproduced below, but our readers are strongly urged to click through and take a look at every one: The [Read More…]
An article that came out on Fox News has a picture of an odd SVD contraption captured by the Peshmerga in action against Daesh in northern Syria. The article had this to say- In a dusty outpost near the Kurdish-held northern city of Kirkuk, a Peshmerga commander [Read More…]
Bill spotted a M16A2 still in military service 40-55 years after it was made. He writes … I was working as a range safety this past drill weekend. The usual complement of Colts and FNs filed through and then this thing showed up, M16A2 with a 203… and made [Read More…]
Rock Island Auction company has slowly but steadily gained an overwhelming presence in the shooting industry since the company’s start in the 1990s. For their most recent premiere auction, TFB went to check them out and see what we could find out about the company [Read More…]
Today, we tend to take the metallic cartridge and the guns that fire them for granted, but before the invention and perfection of the metallic cartridge case, arms designers faced stiff challenges in realizing the breechloading military rifle. Early attempts, most [Read More…]
Since I started this series, I’ve reviewed books according to criteria of relevance, appropriate audience, strengths, and weaknesses. This method is a shortcut allowing me to provide a compass for my readers without wasting their time. This time, though, [Read More…]
The Desert Eagle XIX handgun is one of the more peculiar handguns of the late twentieth century for a variety of reasons. Most handguns introduced in the civilian and military markets are earmarked for a specific purpose, whether that be a polymer reliable Glock or a [Read More…]
If Rock Island Auction Company claims this area of Illinois to be the ‘gun mecca’ of the United States (with 5 firearm companies within the immediate vicinity), then Rock Island Arsenal is certainly the beginning of that influx of that concentration of [Read More…]
Maxim Popenker, Russian small arms expert and author (and TFB contributor), has begun a three-part series of articles on the origins of the bullpup concept, one which many now believe represents the future of individual small arms: Traditionally, a firearm in the [Read More…]