Old Reliable When I had the funds available, I set out to find a good quality No.4 Lee-Enfield. After doing some research, it seemed like No4 Mk1* Canadian “Long Branch” models demonstrated the best accuracy overall, due to better receiver steel and [Read More…]
At a recent amnesty program held by the Israeli Defense Forces, a first model Dror in .303 British turned up along with a number of other small arms that had been surrendered as part of a drive to return historical small arms from IDF veterans or otherwise. In this [Read More…]
After World War II, the UK sought to modernize its small arms, many of which were based on designs originating from before the First World War. For its medium machine gun, the British were still using the reliable but increasingly obsolete Vickers water cooled gun in [Read More…]
A trend towards ever more powerful and longer-ranged ammunition was cut short by the realities of the First World War: Technologies not previously invented or accounted for, such as the man-reaping machine gun and the portable infantry mortar, made the existing infantry [Read More…]
The paradigm was established by the 1870s: Future infantry combat would focus on a combination of entrenchment, and long-range concentrated fire from well-drilled units to defeat the enemy beyond his own effective range. The arms race for a smaller-caliber, [Read More…]
The first new rifles in the prototype batch made by Sako in Finland have been issued to Canadian Rangers, and initial reports are positive. The rifle, which has been designated “C-19”, will replace the venerable but aging .303-caliber Lee-Enfield rifles [Read More…]
Reader Tied sends us this historical photo of armorers (armourers?) of the Women’s Royal Naval Service re-arming the eight .303 caliber machine guns of a Hawker Hurricane fighter at the Fleet Air Arm airfield at Yeovilton, Somerset, 2 September 1943.
In the twilight of the blackpowder era, the British tested many designs in one of the biggest firearms competitions of the era, in an effort to replace their increasingly obsolete Martini-Henry rifle. The winning design was the brainchild of Scottish-American designer [Read More…]
To fully immerse yourself in history, sometimes you have to go out and make some yourself. With this in mind, we at TFB are announcing our Mad Minute Contest. Rules will for the contest will be laid out below, but first what is a Mad Minute? For that, we turn to Matt of Historical Firearms: [Read More…]
Peat was used by the Vikings to make swords and cannon balls by the American revolutionaries. Today it is used by the Scots to make Whisky, the Irish to heat their homes and the Fins to make electricity. It is well know that peat is an excellent preserver of ancient [Read More…]
Since the last time I wrote about the Australian International Arms M-10 Lee Enfield clone the company has expanded their product line, secured a EU importer (Polish firm LD Diana) and may be exporting to the US in the near future. I was very surprised to learn that [Read More…]
Piet, a South African, emailed me information about a wildcat he shoots. The .416 Strauss aka. the 416-03 Strauss in named after the inventor, a friend of Piet. .303 British (left), .416 Strauss (middle, loaded with a 350 gr Speer bullet in a Norma case) The parent [Read More…]
James found this photos of a pair of homemade pistols that appear to be chambered in .303 British! Apparently they, along with the cartridges, were confiscated from some students. Can you imagine the blast of burning power that must shoot out of these! I found the [Read More…]
StrategyPage has a article about the resurgence of Lee-Enfield rifles in Afghanistan and use against NATO troops: Afghan traditionalists are changing the way the Taliban fight. This can be seen by the increase in the use of sniping by the Taliban. In the last year, NATO [Read More…]
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 [Read More…]
I read many shooting magazines from around the world and I came across this advertisement in an Australian magazine. It shows what must to be the current AIA M-10 range being produced. I scanned it into the computer. Click the image below to enlarge it. Australian [Read More…]
Your Privacy Choices