The Firearm Blog

The Fedorov Avtomat is possibly the first (see comments) an early firearm used in action that would classify as a true self-loading battle rifle.

Photo by Semen Fedoseev

It weights in at about 4.4kg compared to the 7.7-8.8kg of the BAR: much closer in weight to that of a battle rifle (rather than a light machine gun).

3200 were produced and it saw action during the Russian civil war and WWII.

More about it at Wikipedia and guns.ru.

Gary Sterne discovered the huge ‘Maisy Battery’ after he found a crinkled map which fell out of an old pair of US serviceman’s trousers at a military memorabilia fair in Stockport.

…

He discovered an extensive installation “the size of four football pitches”, including bunkers, offices, a sizeable field hospital - less its roof - and housing for 155mm cannon.

Very cool!

Part of the installation

More here

New Jovian Thunderbolt has written about his past love for the BAR (M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle)

The BAR was always my dream gun. Or it was. Back when I knew nothing and only looked at capabilities on paper, and then not looking TOO closely.

I have loved the look of the BAR. It just looks so solid.

A beautiful looking rifle.

I don’t really like the concept. My opinion is that the US forces should have adopted a true light machine gun such as the Bren.

Advantages of the Bren

• Standard magazine capacity was 30. BAR held 20.
• Top loading magazine. Better for prone firing.
• Swappable barrel

An ugly machine gun (Click to expand image)

On the other hand it would be foolish to say one is better than the other. The BAR served for 30 years through three major wars (WWI, WWII and the Korean war).

According to Wikipedia other countries modified the BAR to make it more like a LMG:

Poland (Browning wz.1928), Belgium (FN M1930) and Sweden (Kulsprutegevär m/21 and m/37) developed and issued BAR variants during the 1930s which had pistol grips and quick-change barrels.

From an A-Team episode

Read more at the New Jovian Thunderbolt’s excellent blog.

Do your kids play with Lego? Then treat them to life-like Lego guns!

A company called BrickArms sells Lego guns based on real guns. To image to the right is a WWII Sergeant armed with a M1A1 and his trusty 1911.

Other guns available are the MP5, M4, S&W 500 and more

even a briefcase uzi

Hat Tip: The Download Munkey