What is happening at Colt? That’s the question on many people’s minds as news of layoffs in the company began to trickle out starting on Tuesday. Rumors of massive layoffs at Colt began with a post at Pistol-Forum by member “misanthropist”, who [Read More…]
In a previous post (https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/02/21/weapons-rios-crime-war/), TFB showed some of the weapons in use by criminals in Rio de Janeiro’s crime war, which demonstrated an apparent unlimited quantity and variety of guns available to the [Read More…]
Weapon lights have evolved in the past 10-15 years and obviously LEDs have been a big part of the transformation. Battery life, ruggedness, size and light output are at the top of the list for advantages over their incandescent kin. LUCID Optics has just joined the [Read More…]
Browning is now fully supporting the 6.5 Creedmoor across much of its rifle line. Introduced in 2007, this cartridge has caught on with a lot of shooters in the past few years. As a result, I’ve seen a lot of companies introduce new guns for this cartridge and [Read More…]
Browning is now fully supporting the 6.5 Creedmoor across much of its rifle line. Introduced in 2007, this cartridge has caught on with a lot of shooters in the past few years. As a result, I’ve seen a lot of companies introduce new guns for this cartridge and [Read More…]
The Cole Police Positive was not only a favorite with beat cops, but also happened to be the revolver of choice for Al Capone himself! In this episode of TFB TV, Patrick takes his 1937 Police Positive Special out to the range and turns the clock back a bit. With a lightweight yet sturdy frame, [Read More…]
Coast Products introduced a new flashlight at the recent SHOT Show that offers up to 1,200 lumens of light with a variable focus and a run time measured in hours, not minutes. The new light is called the HP314R. Power The new light runs on both alkaline and a [Read More…]
It is amazing the things you discover meeting people. Previously I had posted about Keith Biddle and his machine shop. While talking about guns with him, he showed me this rifle that belonged to his Uncle. The rifle is a 6mm bolt gun and it even bears his [Read More…]
A great photo of a custom .308 build by @west_texas_ordnance. Finished up this cool 308 for a customer. Trued @remingtonarmscompany 700 action, threaded bolt handle and Mini M16 extractor, Lilja 5R 10 twist barrel in the Mk13 contour, #mcmillian A2 with stock saddle, [Read More…]
Browning is now fully supporting the 6.5 Creedmoor across much of its rifle line. Introduced in 2007, this cartridge has caught on with a lot of shooters in the past few years. As a result, I’ve seen a lot of companies introduce new guns for this cartridge and [Read More…]
While I was at Keith’s machine shop, he showed me this clamp on compensator for a S&W K38 revolver. The do not seem to be that common although i have found some mention of it online. The design is very basic looking. You just have one giant blast chamber that [Read More…]
The long awaited Spuhr stock assembly for the G3/MP5/HK33/53 is now finally available. I tried a fully working prototype during the summer, mounted to the AK4 (HK G3), including the Spuhr hand guard and an Aimpoint. It made the G3 very controllable. The part number is [Read More…]
Ok, that headline about the Dead Air Casper is slightly dishonest – fake TFB news! Unless I missed the real announcement, Dead Air Armament is not actually releasing a new micro silencer. Although I could see the Pappas/Hughes/Magee team coming up with a similar [Read More…]
Ruger teamed up with Columbia River Knife & Tool a few years back to produce a line of Ruger branded knives and tools. It seems that line has been successful, and the two companies have further expanded the line this year. The new products include a fixed blade [Read More…]
Earlier on TFB we reported on the transition from MILES to DISE within EUCOM. However, it must be noted that the MILES system is still in use, even if sparingly. In fact, during Swift Response ’16, a multi-national airborne training operation, we have seen some of [Read More…]
Here are pictures of a preliminary setup for creating rifling grooves in a piece of steel tubing by using a 3D printed spiral insert, lots of salt water and a battery charger. Electrochemical Machining is a process whereby metal is removed by passing an electrical [Read More…]
Heckler and Koch has just announced a few additions to their polymer pistol lineup. Known as the VP9 in the United States and SFP9 in Europe, H&K is adding the much awaited long slide SFP9 L and compact SFP9 SK variants to the current SFP9/VP9 offerings. Digging a [Read More…]
Did you know that you can convert your Glock from 40 to 9mm quickly and safely? Converting your Glock from .40 or .357 Sig to 9mm can be a super easy affair or a rather complicated one depending on what method you use to complete the conversion. In this episode of TFB TV, Patrick shows […] [Read More…]
Images from a joint European/ U.S. lead paratrooper training exercise named Swift Response in June of 2016 have shown that the Rheinmetall Defense Light Laser Module Mk.3 is being used on operations with the British Paratroopers, aka “Paras”. Initially the [Read More…]
The Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) has been in service with a number of militaries the world over, beginning in the 1980s. MILES has gone through a number of different design iterations over the years, to include making the system more compact and [Read More…]
Reminiscent of Robert Rodriguez’ Planet Terror, this guy had a prosthesis made to look like an AR15. If you look closely at the AR15 styled prosthesis, it does not look like it is a real gun. The grip and selector switch stand out and do not look [Read More…]
This guest post and accompanying photographs are contributed by a guest writer, Alton Chiu. Alton currently writes for Small Arms Review, and has done a thorough job of photographing and writing about a Luger that he recently came across through a mutual friend of his. [Read More…]
What do you get when you combine German inspiration with Swiss design and machining? An arguably overcomplicated, yet completely brilliant design. Designed after the Second World War, the Sturmgewher 57 is a roller-delayed blowback design with some rather interesting [Read More…]
BREAKING NEWS from Nürnberg, Germany: H&K is manufacturing rifles chambered in .300 Blackout / Whisper. The doors to the Enforce Tac expo literally just opened minutes ago (at time of writing) and as we walked in we were surprised to see the new HK237 and [Read More…]
Ever wonder what the owner or CEO of a gun company carries for self-defense? Bill Wilson is the creative force behind Wilson Combat, and the company is now offering a clone of the custom gun he developed for his own use. According to the company, the new Bill Wilson [Read More…]
The Battle of which company that will get the German Armed Forces contract to replace the HK G36 has just begun, and the “fighting” is taking place at Enforce Tac, Germany, right now. Rheinmetall and Steyr Mannlicher in co-operation are showing their [Read More…]
One of the unique items Keith had in his machine shop was this clamp on Line-O-Site. It is a very basic cross hair that bolts onto the barrel of a rifle. Have any of our readers used one of these before? It seems so simple but I am curious how effective it is to just [Read More…]
While I was checking out Keith Products Co machine shop, Keith’s friend Rudy of CreativeReloadingSolutions stopped by. Rudy had Keith help him make his Ultimate Primer Punch. Now I don’t shoot enough shotgun that I need to reload shells but I have a grasp of [Read More…]
Springfield Armory Inc, released a semi-automatic civilian legal version of the classic M14 service rifle in 1974 using G.I surplus parts. Since then it has been a popular rifle, occupying practical, competitive, hunting, and historical collecting venues throughout the shooting community. It is [Read More…]
Thanks to my friend Tom for introducing me to Keith Biddle of Keith Products Co. He is a machinist that is only 5 miles from my house. Keith picked up machining from his father. Mostly self taught, Keith has been machining for most of his life. At first glance it looks [Read More…]