This US Navy training video at GENE SLOVERS US NAVY PAGES website shows how the 1950s mechanical fire control computers worked. It is explained simply enough for a layman to understand. I found it fascinating to watch. It is crazy to think that the ballistic software on [Read More…]
These advertisements appeared in issues of Guns Magazine in 1959. The following advertisement for Norma ammunition surprised me because it is so modern looking in contrast the above ads. Compare it with the cover of Hornady’s Handbook of Cartridge Reloading [Read More…]
The last gun Garand worked on before retirement was the T-31 Bullpup. From the Springfield Armory website … U.S. RIFLE GARAND T31 “BULLPUP” .30 (T65E1) SN# 2 Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Ma. – Limited prototype experimental [Read More…]
A reader emailed me these photos of a revolver which belonged to his Grandfather during WWI. It looks to me like a fancy Webley. Does anyone know what model gun it is and who made it?
The Kriegsmarine apparently issued mini-RPG rounds for their double-barreled flare gun. Crazy.
The T48 was the designation of the FN FAL entered into the competition to replace the M1 Garand. The T44 (later called the M14) won the competition but the Marines appear to have kept their quote of T48 rifles. These have been meticulously photographed by an Australian [Read More…]
This article was published in the June 1934 issue of Popular Mechanics magazine (via. Modern Mechanix) … Weighing 150 pounds and resembling a cannon more than a firearm, a huge, brass-barreled, portable field piece has been recovered from the sea, where a pirate [Read More…]
Unbeknown to me, Ruger has had a Youtube channel since May of this year. Last week they started a series on the history of firearms. The first episode, about early hand cannons, “aired” last week and is worth watching. Also online are Part 2 and Part 3.
CombatDriver writes at HighRoad.us … I discovered this light machine gun last month at a SF team house here in Afghanistan. Its an old post WWI French Mdle 1922 light machine gun in 7.92mm Mauser. There were two models one that fed from a box magazine on top and [Read More…]
After writing the The quest for high-capactity firearms post, readers told me about other interesting attempts at high capacity guns. Porter Revolving Turret Rifle 9-shot; .48 caliber. In excellent overall condition. Bore is excellent plus; 28″ barrel. Metal is [Read More…]
A common misconception is that the desire for high capacity firearms is a relatively new phenomenon. This is far from the truth. Since the at least the mid 1800s designers had been experimenting with many novel ideas in an attempt to increase magazine capacity, mostly [Read More…]
Designed to be as inexpensive as possible, assembled from mostly stamped sheet-metal parts, the Liberator was a single shot pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge the US military was using for standard handguns and submachine guns. It was so cheap that each one set [Read More…]
Simon, aka. Simon_the_Brit, was an Armorer in the British Army. He sent me photos of the M16 he was issued with during the British Army jungle training in Malaysia, which he participated in sometime between 1984 and 1986. I was surprised to learn that at the time, just [Read More…]
[ I am pleased to present this guest post written by James A. Zachary Jr. James blogs at The Next Chapter ] Norm Flayderman’s Guide says that Williamson Derringers have serial numbers running into the 20,000 range but speculates that the Moore Patent Firearms Company [Read More…]
In 1973 a pair of pistol made for Pedro IV of Portugal, worth 100,000 euros, where stolen from the Military Museum in Lisbon. They have finally been recovered. The Publico reports (translated with google) … Designed by master gunsmith Arsenal Real in Lisbon [Read More…]
The Automag was a revolutionary pistol when it was invented. It is recoil operated and uses rotating bolt similar to the AR-15. Despite the gun being a commercial failure (it cost far more to make than the sale price), it was the inspiration for the Desert Eagle and the [Read More…]
After a nearly 6 months hiatus I was very pleased see a new post at Tam’s The Arms Room. Her latest blog post in the Sunday Smith series covers the S&W Number 1 revolver.
I recently blogged about boot pistols, a type of early CCW gun carried during the Civil War and postbellum era. The feminine equivalent of the boot pistol was the muff gun. (the name refers to the original definition1 , not the modern day slang). They were the same sort [Read More…]
This under hammer percussion pistol was manufactured, probably in the mid-late 1800′s, by Bacon & Co. These types of guns where known as “boot pistols”. I don’t know for sure where the name comes from, but would guess these were backup guns [Read More…]
I have seen guns made from bronze alloys before, but never an autoloader. Back in 1932 Colt and the Springfield Armory teamed up to test the suitability of using a die cast bronze alloy for gun parts. The Golden Gun The gun is exhibited at the Springfield Armory Museum. [Read More…]
Being the complete and certified gun nut that I am, few thing excite me more than coming across unique and exotic firearms, the more unique, exotic and arcane the better! Sucang, a resident of Xinhua, Taiwan, sent me these photos of his antique shotgun. He was hoping [Read More…]
JMB’s Utah 6,912 square foot home is currently on the market for $374,900. The NY Times reports: COMMON SPACES: Most of the house is original, including a banister stretching from the entry to the attic, beveled windows, hardwood floors and fireplaces. There are [Read More…]
Regardless of the technical merits, numerous methods employed since WWI to shoot around or over cover. More here.
Manu of Indian Defence News emailed me a link to a online reprint of a New Zealand newspaper article that was originally published on 13 May 1909. It says how New Zealand and Australia army rifles destined to Great Britain ended by being used by rebels on the Indian [Read More…]
The T26, otherwise known as the “Tanker” Garand, was an experiential 18″ barreled carbine version of the M1 Garand. It was designed late in WWII for use in the Pacific jungles. Tom emailed me photos of his new T26-style M1. Tanker (top) fitted with [Read More…]
The Rock Island Auction Company are holding a massive auction next week (April 25, 26 & 27). Thousands of guns are being auctioned from some prestigious collections. All the guns can be viewed online and it makes for interesting reading. Here are a few interesting [Read More…]
As the western world moved away from full power battle rifles such as the H&K G3, FN FAL and M14, Heckler & Koch developed the HK32 and HK33 chambered in 7.62x39mm and 5.56x45mm respectively. Both were based on the G3 design and roller-delayed blowback operating [Read More…]
The Italian army adopted the Beretta BM59, basically an M1 Garand chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO capable of select fire. It was about as successful as all the other select fire battle rifles adopted around the world (not very). From Wikipedia: After World War II, Italy [Read More…]
Can any of you remember a time in your life where laser guns were not just a few years away? Sven found a photo that was published in a German military journal from 1964. Very rifle like. Click to expand. The caption: “The laser rifle…that was developed by [Read More…]
James explains what the antiquated term means and the history behind it.