On June 6, 1944, one of the greatest military operations in the history of humanity began. On one side was the Third Reich, a Nazi-controlled Germany seeking expansion and world domination. On the other side was an alliance of powerful free nations and armies from occupied countries seeking to be liberated from Nazi control. Between them was the English Channel, a body of water ranging from 150 miles wide to almost 20 miles wide depending on where you are at. Armies had crossed it before many times, including William the Conqueror during his bid for the throne of England, and the kings of England did so many times during the Hundred Years’ War for their claim to the throne of France. Napoleon had considered trying to cross the Channel to invade England, and Hitler had planned to do this as well but instead chose to invade the Soviet Union—a decision that would come back to haunt him.

Now, an army of free men and women was about to cross that cold Channel and liberate the people of France. First came the buildup, where soldiers, tanks, trucks, aircraft and other equipment in the thousands and millions were gathered in England. A special fake army was created in the port of Dover opposite the port of Calais to distract the Germans, while the real invasion force was prepared opposite the shores of Normandy.

This was D-Day, and it was a success. The first to land were the American and British paratroopers, who captured important strategic positions behind the beaches like the now-named Pegasus Bridge and the German battery at Brécourt Manor. Then tens of thousands of American, British and Canadian soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy, divided into five sections codenamed Utah, Omaha, Juno, Gold and Sword.

Americans took Utah and Omaha Beaches in the West. Utah was the beach with the least casualties on D-Day, while Omaha was the worst. It was the only beach that seemed to be in question, but then the navy got dangerously close to the beaches and fired directly on the German defenses. This allowed the Ameri-cans to get off beaches and advance a little bit inland. Between Utah and Omaha Beaches, the 2nd Ranger Battalion climbed the steep cliffs beneath Pointe du Hoc and took out the German defenses there. Meanwhile, the British landed at Sword and Gold Beaches, facing tough resistance. Between the two beaches was Juno Beach, where the Canadians fought a determined enemy and suffered heavy casualties. By the end of the day, all the beaches were taken, and more soldiers were on their way.

Yet the battle for Normandy was far from over. As the Allies advanced inland, they encountered an almost impossible obstacle in the form of the hedgerows. Since the times of the Romans, they were made with stones and dirt and were used to set boundaries between farms and keep livestock in. Bushes and trees grew on them, making it impossible for the Allies to see what was on the other side. Tanks were easy targets down the narrow roads, and when they tried to climb over the top of the hedgerows, their undersides—the weakest part of the tank—were exposed and made easy targets for anti-tank weapons.

Finally, the Allies took the anti-tank obstacles, called hedgehogs, which were on the beaches in Normandy, cut them up and put them on the front of tanks to be used like a plow. With the help of these Rhino Tanks, the Allies broke through the hedgerows and advanced inland. Soon, Saint-Lô, Caen, Cherbourg and other cities in Normandy were under Allied control, and on August 25, 1944, Paris was liberated by Free French forces. The next year, 1945, Hitler committed suicide on April 30, and the German Reich surrendered on May 2, ending the war for the Allies in Europe.

The Tour

The year 2019 marked the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings, and I wanted to go. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, like the anniversary of the Battles of Hastings or Waterloo, which I sadly missed, or the Battle of Agincourt, which I did not. And there was no way on earth I was going to miss this. Through Semper Fi magazine, my sister and I learned about Military Historical Tours, which was doing a special tour like they do every year on the anniversary. They were doing two tours, one that started on May 28 and one that started on June 2. I signed up for the shorter tour and bought my tickets to France.

Day 1

On June 3, the first day of our tour, we stopped at Memorial Pegasus in Ranville, France. On display was the original bridge itself, a bascule bridge designed to lift up to let ships pass underneath it. It crossed the Caen Canal and was also named after the neighboring town of Bénouville. It was replaced in 1994 and was eventually sold to Memorial Pegasus. Also on display at the museum was a replica of an Airspeed Horsa and a part of a Bailey bridge, as well as a few other military vehicles and indoor displays.

Our next destination was Juno Beach, where we stopped briefly to look around. We then headed up to the Arromanches-les-Bains, where one of the Mulberry harbors was installed. Mulberry harbors were portable harbors developed by the Allies, who believed it was easier than trying to take one of the heavily defended ports on the French coast. It turned out to be a great idea, and the Allies were able to move large amounts of ammunition, vehicles and other supplies through one of the harbors until other ports were captured. The other harbor at Omaha Beach had been heavily damaged, and the Allies could not use it.

Before we entered the town, we arrived at an orientation table that gave us a view of the town and the beaches there. A German radar station was located here, and only the base remains. No troops landed there on D-Day, and the town was taken by land. Near the table was a monument to the Royal Engineers and a weird tank that had been painted all over. The Arromanches 360o Museum-Cinema is also there with a special movie.

We stayed in Arromanches for lunch, then headed up to Longues-sur-Mer Battery. This battery was located between Omaha and Gold Beaches and was a pain to the Allies on D-Day. It withstood heavy attacks by bombers and battleships, until it finally surrendered the next day. After seeing Longues-sur-Mer, we headed over to Omaha Beach, where we first stopped briefly at the landing site of the 29th Infantry Division, then stopped at the Signal Monument and the Les Braves Monument at Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer. We walked around for a moment and explored the beach a little before we moved on to the Charles Shay Memorial, a monument to the Native Americans and Native Canadians who fought in France in World War II. We then visited the U.S. 2nd Division Monument on a hill overlooking Omaha Beach and made our way back to the hotel in Caen.

Day 2

On our second day, we headed up to the Overlord Museum. We were not there long, but I was still very impressed. Countless vehicles, uniforms, guns and other equipment form the American, British, Canadian, French and German Armies filled the museum, and the displays were crowded but well done. Outside were a number of other vehicles, including a large Sherman and a M10 Tank Destroyer, also known as a Wolverine. When we were done, we hopped back on the bus and drove up to one of the best parts of the whole tour.

The Best Part of the Tour

To say I was amazed at Pointe du Hoc would be an understatement. I had heard about it before and even remember playing a video game where the player is a Ranger there, but I wish I had known more. All over the cliff are bunkers and craters. The craters were over three men deep and were hard to get in and out. The bunkers were large and extended underground. Just imagining the battle that took place here is amazing. The view from the cliff was impressive as well. I was unable to get a good picture of the monument there because of the large numbers of people, but I do plan on returning.

Throughout the tour, we met a few World War II veterans. They were almost always in wheelchairs and were escorted by friends and family. I shook a few hands of these brave men of the Greatest Generation and thanked them for their service to their country. Also, throughout the tour, we saw military vehicles and reenactors everywhere. Most were dressed as Americans, but I do remember seeing a few Canadians and British. I saw no one dressed up as German military, and I think we all know why.

After Pointe du Hoc, we drove over to Utah Beach. The museum of Utah Beach is impressive, with a B-26 Marauder in a hanger. Outside the museum was a Higgins Boat that you could walk into. Next to it were a few monuments, including one to the Higgins Boat itself. There was a monument to the creator of the boat, Andrew Higgins. Not far away was a monument to the “Frogmen,” underwater divers whose job was to clear various obstacles. Another monument was dedicated to the 1st Engineer Special Brigade, and one to the fallen men of the 90th Infantry Division was nearby.

Our next stop was the Maisy Battery. This place had only been discovered a few years ago and had an interesting story behind it. It had been built by captured Poles and other prisoners of war to keep it secret from the French, and the way it was built made it hard for the battleships of the coast to hit it. American Rangers eventually captured it with a few wounded and none killed. The operation was kept secret until a few years ago, when it was discovered by a British historian.

Day 3

On June 5, we first visited Brécourt Manor. Here, Easy Company from the 101st Airborne took a German artillery battery with tactics that are still in use today. There was a monument to the 101st Airborne Easy Company that stands on the side of the road. This engagement was made famous by the television series Band of Brothers, which chronicles the story of Easy Company and all the engagements they went through. There was actually a television system on the bus, and they played “Band of Brothers” while we drove through the Norman countryside.

Our next stop was the town of Sainte-Mère-Église. If anyone has seen “The Longest Day,” this is where the paratrooper John Steele was trapped on the church and could only watch from above as the fighting occurred in the town. He was later captured, but he escaped and helped capture the town. Today, every year, the town hangs a replica of John Steele on the church.

There is an outstanding museum at Sainte-Mère-Église, called the Airborne Museum. Opened in 1964, the buildings are built like parachutes. It has a CG-4A Glider you can walk into and a C-47 Skytrain which you can look down upon from a balcony. Another building has a special exhibit that allows visitors to relive D-Day as a paratrooper, starting in a plane that feels like it is in the air with model buildings below.

Sainte-Mère-Église is a nice little town. It was full of reenactors and tourists, as well as military vehicles. One diner had a dummy para-trooper hanging from the ceiling, and the shops were full of World War II souvenirs and other treats. In the church is a stained glass window displaying American paratroopers landing in the presence of Christ and the Virgin Mary.

The tour bus then took us to Bayeux, home to the Bayeux Tapestry, which tells the story of the conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy, also known as William the Conquer. The tapestry was created by someone close to William and tells the story of how and why he invaded England in 1066. It is amazing to look at, and we were given a special audio device that told us the story on the tapestry. It was housed in a good museum that had artifacts from the time of William and miniature replicas of the buildings from the time. We then returned to our hotel for the night.

Day 4—The Big Event

On June 6, Day 4, we drove to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial for the 75th Anniversary Event. We arrived early and were able to walk around the cemetery paths. From the front of the cemetery to the chapel in the center there was seating for thousands of people and large television sets to see the front. We eventually sat down and waited for the presidents of France and the United States to arrive. At one point, the screens showed the few remaining veterans of that fateful day in 1944 and all gave a standing ovation as the camera moved across the few remaining of the Greatest Generation. While we waited for the world leaders, two bands, an American one and a French one, took turns playing songs from both the United States and France.

Then President Donald J. Trump arrived with his wife, First Lady Melania Trump. A little while later, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron arrived, and the two made their way to the front of the cemetery, where a massive podium was set up. The podium covered the bronze statue called “The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves,” which shows a young man rising out of the water. It also covered up maps that showed the battle of Normandy on the wall.
French President Emmanuel Macron was the first of the two world leaders to speak. It was a good speech, where he praised the Americans and other Allies who fought on D-Day. “We know what we owe to you veterans. Our freedom. On behalf of my nation, I just want to say, thank you.” That day, Macron awarded five American veterans the Legion of Honour, the highest award that France could give.

Then it was President Trump’s turn to speak. He praised the men who died that day and the men who continue to live. “You’re the pride of our nation. You are the glory of our republic. And we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” He thanked the veterans personally and shook their hands. “In defeating evil, they left a legacy that will last forever.”

After the speeches, both presidents and their wives walked over to the side of the cemetery facing the sea and watched as planes flew overhead. The first to fly over was a more modern transport plane, which was followed shortly after by restored World War II bombers and transport planes. Then four jets flew over, and one broke away, performing the Missing Man Formation, the Aerial salute for fallen heroes. It was soon followed by a group of jets who used colored smoke to create the tricolor flag of France in the sky.

After the festivities, we waited a while for the bus and then returned back to the hotel. We were then treated that night to steaks from local cattle. Normandy is famous for its steaks and for a number of other dairy products, especially its cheese and butter. It is also famous for cider, poiré (perry), fish and apples.

Day 5

On June 7, Day 5, we went to the city of Rouen. We first visited the Cathedral Notre-Dame and explored the insides. In this Cathedral is buried the heart of Richard the Lionheart and Rollo the First to rule Normandy and ancestor to William the Conqueror and other kings and queens of England. We then walked through Rouen to where Joan of Arc was burned to the stake. We walked under the Gros Horloge, a large clock inserted into the side of a Renaissance arch. We arrived at the spot Joan was burned, now under a large pillar with a cross on it. Next to it is a modern church named after the saint.

We shopped around Rouen for a little bit before driving to our next destination, the home of Claude Monet, one of France’s greatest artists. The house is filled with great paintings, both by Monet and by other artists. The gardens are amazing as well, a perfect place to sit and relax.

Final Stop

Our next and final stop was Chateau de La Roche-Guyon, Rommel’s HQ during the Battle for Normandy. We did not stay long, but I did take a lot of pictures. It was a nice ending to a long journey. That night we arrived in Paris and said our goodbyes. I spent another day in Paris before returning home on June 10.

Au Revoir

The tour was outstanding, and the guides were nice and helpful. They were not controlling and let us have a bit of freedom. My fellow travelers were great as well. Most were veterans and enjoyed the tour a great deal. A special thanks to Shayne Jarosz, who answered all my questions and helped with the few problems I had. Another special thanks to Casey Feucht, who did much of the organizing for the tour. There were places and schedules we would never had gotten to if not for her.
As for Normandy itself, a few days were just not enough. There are so many museums, monuments, memorials and other sights to see in this part of France and not just involving World War II. I had a few regrets on this trip, and I plan to return to this wonderful land. Normandy’s history is a part of our history and should not be forgotten. If you have family and are planning a trip, take them to Normandy and always remember what you see here.

After the release of “Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter,” movie studios were trying to release their own big fantasy hits. Many of these failed to excite the audiences on that level, including “Eragon” and this month’s film, “The Golden Compass.” It is based on the “His Dark Materials” trilogy, a book series that is known for its anti-Catholic and anti-religious perspectives. Needless to say it was controversial, but there were other problems that helped the film fail at the box office.

One of the characters in the movie is Lee Scoresby, played by Sam Elliott. One of his weapons of choice is a pair of Colt Single Action Army Pistols. Also known as the Colt 45, it is the gun of the cowboy and is one of the greatest handguns of all time. It was tough, easy to use and load and dependable. It shoots the .45 Cartridge, though there are a few other calibers available, like the .38 Colt and the .357 Magnum. To load, simply open the loading gate and pull the hammer back two clicks. For safety reasons, some cowboys would only load five rounds rather than six, because the hammer was always resting on the firing pin.

In 1872, the United States Army held a competition for a new handgun for its soldiers. In the end, it was the Colt that emerged the victor, and a legend was born. It saw action in the Spanish-American War, the Philippine-American War and was used by range hands, sheriffs, marshals, outlaws and Native American warriors during the golden age of the American West. It was not the only gun in the west, but it became the most iconic, with men like Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Bat Matterson and Buffalo Bill Cody being among the men who used it. Both sides supposedly used it at the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and it was used by the troopers who rode with Custer at the Little Big Horn.

This gun is popular in movies, especially Westerns. Some of the most memorable films include “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral,” “Tombstone,” “A Fist Full of Dollars,” “Open Range” and “Shanghai Noon.” It is seen in countless John Wayne movies, like “Rio Bravo,” “Rio Grande,” “The Sons of Katie Elder,” “The War Wagon,” “True Grit” (1969), “Rio Lobo,” “The Shootist,” “Fort Apache,” “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” and “Big Jake.” They were even in more modern themed films like “The Expendables,” “The Expendables 2,” “The Mummy” (1999) and “Red Dawn” (1984). These are all good movies, and I recommend all of them.

“The Golden Compass” is a mixed bag. The effects are well done; however, there are twists that are weird, and the ending battle is actually laughable. The anti-religious themes in the books were not really present in the movie, taken out in order not to offend people. Many critics argue that this hurt the film, but there are other problems with the film that play an equal part in its downfall. Some of the acting is not that good, and there are points of the film that came across as poorly done, especially the ending. If you are interested, check it out, but it just wasn’t for me.

SAR would like to thank the movie wizards at Bapty, Ltd in London, UK, for their help in this article.

In 1990, a book was released that would help create one of the greatest franchises of all time. Its name was “Jurassic Park.” It is the story of a greedy businessman using his fortune to clone dinosaurs on an island off the coast of Costa Rica. He plans to build a zoo for millions to come and see the beautiful creatures. As an aside, there are also investors hanging over him. Things go horribly wrong and the dinosaurs escape, killing many innocent people in the process. The book was a huge success. However, the before the book was released, there were already movie companies eyeing it for production.

The lucky winners were Steven Spielberg and Universal Pictures. The result was the 1993 film “Jurassic Park,” one of the greatest movies ever made. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Samuel Jackson, and Wayne Knight. There are a few differences between the book and film. John Hammond, the billionaire behind the park, is a much more likeable person in the movie than in the book, where he is a cruel and unlikeable man. Many characters who died in the book survive in the movie and vice versa. The movie was a huge hit and naturally got a sequel, “The Lost World: Jurassic Park.” The sequel was not as well received as the first, but it did lead to a sequel in 2001’s, “Jurassic Park III.” That movie was poorly received, almost ending the franchise.

Then, in 2015, “Jurassic World” hit the theaters. A massive hit at the box office, it was considered the best of the sequels. The story is about the company from the first film successfully setting up the park. Excited with their success, they decide to create a new genetically engineered dinosaur to draw in more crowds. Unfortunately, the dinosaur, Indominus Rex, breaks out and causes damage all over the park.

The main characters are Owen Grady and Claire Dearing. Claire’s nephews are visiting the park and are caught in the middle of it when the Indominus Rex breaks out. The film proceeds to follow the two as they search for her nephews and find a way to take down Indominus Rex.

In the movie, Owen Grady, played by Chris Pratt, uses a Marlin Model 1895SBL. This gun is a redesign of the original rifle made in 1895. That was actually a remodel of the 1893 rifle, only made to handle larger rounds. The Model 1895 remained in production until 1917 but was rereleased in 1972. In the early 2000s, Remington bought Marlin and took over the production. Later, it was bought by Sturm, Ruger & Co.

The weight of the gun is about seven and a half pounds with a total length just over 37 inches. Most of the metal is stainless steel, while the stock and the forend grip are made of gray laminate. The ammunition used by the Model 1895 SBL is 45-70 Government soft point rounds. This round was first produced in 1873 and is still in production today. The rifle can carry six of these rounds in the magazine tube and one in the chamber.

The scope used on the gun in the movie is Leupold FX-11 Scout 2.5X28. In the photo, one can see the sling from the movie, with fake extra rounds inserted into special slots. On the left side of the gun is the serial for the gun, along with what looks like a QR code imprinted to the right of it. To the right of these on the barrel are the words 1895SBL with the name of the company, the place it was manufactured, the model, and the caliber of the gun. There is no writing on the other side of the gun that the author could see but “Lever Rail” is written on the top-mounted scope rail, along with “Patent D577.094” next to it.

Other guns used in the movie include M16A2s, HK417s, and M4A1 carbines. After the Indominus Rex escapes, a team is sent after it but is ordered to use non-lethal equipment. (It does not end well.) One of the team members is seen using a UTAS UTS-15 shotgun, which was not that effective against a giant dinosaur. One of the highlights of the film is when the CEO of the park takes his own helicopter out to hunt down the Indominus, using an M134 Minigun to shoot at it. (Again, it does not end well.) In another scene, there is a special video presentation where a comedian shoots unbreakable glass with a Smith & Wesson Model 29.

“Jurassic World” is a good movie. In my opinion it is not as good as the first “Jurassic Park” movie but could be a contender for second place in the franchise. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are good in their parts, as are most of the other actors and actresses. The CGI on the dinosaurs is good, but it is not the greatest. The main dinosaur villain is intimidating, and I was scared at points. There are parts of the plot that are a bit laughable, like where the head of security has the incredibly stupid idea of using dinosaurs in the military. If you want a movie about dinosaurs and a warning about messing with things beyond our control, this is a great movie for you to enjoy.

Serial Number: MR379021

We’d like to thank Ben Rothwell & Tony Watts of Bapty, Ltd, for access to many of their fine movie use firearms, to help record the history.

Located in northern England, the city of Leeds houses one of the largest collections of historical weapons. The Royal Armouries Museum holds hundreds of thousands of artifacts dating back centuries and even millennia. It was originally located in the Tower of London, but was moved in the 1990s to Leeds. It opened in 1996 and has become an essential part of the city. It is free to enter and is quite popular for both locals and tourists. 

The ground level of the museum has a restaurant and a museum shop. The shop has a wide array of books, toys, magnets and other products. Also for sale are swords—both historical and fictional replicas. It has been a while since I ate at the restaurant; although I remember it being very good. There are actually a number of restaurants nearby, including a pizzeria, and across the canal is a famous Indian restaurant, “Mumtaz.” 

To go to the next level, there are four elevators, though only one goes to the fifth floor. The amazing alternative is to walk up the stairs in the Hall of Steel. In the form of an octagon tower with the stairs on the outside wall, the hall contains over 2,000 museum pieces. Pistols, rifles, breastplates, helmets, bayonets, swords and spears decorate the inside. The hall only goes to the second and fourth floors, but there are stairs on those floors that allow you access to the others. 

The first floor is not really meant for visitors. It contains a library with books dating back centuries on almost every military subject and an education center. You need special permission to go to the library, so it is best just to go to the next floor instead. The old MOD Pattern Room library is now inside the Royal Armouries library. 

The second and third floors are the War and Tournament galleries. The War gallery contains artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age. There are a number of exhibits throughout the second floor, including ones about the Hundred Years War, the English Civil War, the Battle of Waterloo, the Battle of Culloden and the weapons of the American Revolution. The Waterloo exhibit includes a massive diorama on a table with thousands of toy soldiers lined up like the different armies at the real battle. There are also two theaters that talk about the Battles of Agincourt and Marston Moor. 

One exhibit on the first floor of the War Gallery is about the Battle of Pavia, fought between King Francis the First and Charles the Fifth of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1525. The display shows a group of pikemen and gunners holding off a group of knights. Behind the display is a painting of the battle itself. Pavia was significant because Francis was captured, and a large number of French nobles were killed off. 

The second level of the War Gallery features exhibits of the Great Rebellion of India in 1857, the American Civil War, the Crimean War and World War I. There are also two exhibits featuring machine guns. One is devoted to the Gatling gun and its descendants, including the M134 Minigun, the YAK-B and the revolving cannon. There is also an exhibit devoted to the wars in Africa, including the Zulu War. One of the best exhibits is the Observation Post, which is looks like a modern military center as seen in the Middle East. 

Opposite the War Gallery is the Tournament Gallery. On display are large suits of armor that were worn at the medieval tournaments. This includes two sets of armor worn by Henry the VIII for the Field of Cloth of Gold, a tournament in France. There is also a special armor on display called the Lion Armor. It is covered with carvings of lions, and the head is shaped like one. There are also some old lances and horse armor on display. 

The fourth and fifth floors feature the Oriental, Self-Defense and Hunting Galleries. The Oriental Gallery is my favorite. The displays include human and horse armor from Japan, Turkey, Mongolia, Africa, India and China. Weapons include a repeating crossbow, Chinese staff weapons, finely ornamented muskets and even a replica of a Terracotta soldier. There is a large section of the gallery devoted to Japan. The display includes a tea house built in the middle of the hall, large display cases filled with Japanese muskets, bows, spears, naginatas (Japanese halberds), and, of course, samurai swords. There are even two videos that play there, one for the traditional horseback archery of Japan and one on how a samurai sword is made. 

Next to the Oriental Gallery is the Self-Defense Gallery. It contains the many weapons used by civilians around the world including cane swords and small pistols. There are also a few movie guns and swords on display, including swords from “The Lord of the Ring” franchise. Above the Self-Defense Gallery is the crossbow range. Here you can shoot a number of crossbow bolts for a few pounds. Also on this floor are a few displays containing weapons from Southeast Asia, Europe, Japan and India. 

Across the way is the Hunting Gallery. Displayed here is hunting equipment from medieval times to modern day. One of the biggest displays is the Whaling section, which explains the now almost outlawed trade and how it worked. There is a large whaling canon here, as well as a video showing how it was done. Other artifacts include old hunting bows, crossbows, boar spears, shotguns and other hunting guns. 

The museum houses a number of different amazing artifacts that include a sword that once belonged to Napoleon, a prototype of the Maxim Machine Gun—one of the four “Forerunners” made by Sir Hiram Maxim in the 1880s—a well-preserved Ming Dynasty sword and the previously mentioned whaling cannon. The two most famous artifacts at this museum are the Horned Helmet and the Elephant Armor. The Horned Helmet, or Maximilian’s mask, was a gift from the Emperor Maximilian to Henry the VIII. It is a strange looking helmet, with a human face, a pair of horns sticking out the side and what looks to be a pair of glasses covering the eyes. The Elephant Armor is in the Oriental Gallery and covers a large replica of an Indian elephant, with two armored riders sitting atop the beast. 

Outside the museum, the city of Leeds is relatively safe. There is a large shopping area nearby on the other side of the river, as well as a train station that can take you to other cities and towns. The city of York is about 30 minutes away and has a wonderful shopping area and museums. You can actually go almost anywhere in England by train. If you are feeling adventurous, Scotland is two to three hours away by train. 

The Royal Armouries Museum is worth the visit. It will probably take a few days to see everything there. To make things more fun, special events include employees showing some of the artifacts and explaining how they were used. There are also one-person shows where they dress up like the people of the time period and tell the stories of the battle or the conflict as if they were there. If you are in northern England, take your time and visit the Royal Armouries. 

ROYAL ARMOURIES MUSEUM, LEEDS 

• Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed December 24–26 
• Free admission 
• Armouries Drive Leeds United Kingdom LS10 1LT 
• 0113 220 1999 
• royalarmouries.org 

The Dirty Dozen & The Wild Geese

“The Dirty Dozen” hit theaters in 1967 and was a big success. It was well liked by audiences, though there was some criticism for the violence, which was pretty rough for the time. It stars Lee Marvin, a World War II Veteran who was once awarded the Purple Heart. In fact, the film is full of WWII veteran actors, including Robert Ryan, Clint Walker, Telly Savalas, and Charles Bronson of the “Death Wish” series. It is the story of a group of criminals in the US Army being recruited to take out a group of top German Officers, hoping to make the D-Day Landings easier in the process. It is actually based on the novel of the same name, written by E. M. Nathanson, who took inspiration from the Filthy Thirteen, a real fighting unit from WWII. Unlike “The Dirty Dozen” from the film and book, Filthy Thirteen got their name because they wouldn’t shave or bath for weeks, and were not a collection of criminals who were promised a better sentence.

“The Dirty Dozen” is a classic guy movie. In the movie “Sleepless in Seattle,” after a woman has stopped crying over a movie she had just watched, the two men in the room suddenly recall the death of a character in “The Dirty Dozen” and start tearing up, much to the woman’s enjoyment. In 1985, a made for TV movie aired staring some of the original cast, called “The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission.” It was soon followed by “Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission” and “Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission.” The movies aren’t great and are obviously made for TV, with parts fading to black at certain points for the commercials. The last two movies see the return of Telly Savalas, though he plays an entirely different character from the one he played in the first movie.

In the first of the sequels, “The Next Mission,” Lee Marvin’s character, Maj. John Reisman, recruits a new Dirty Dozen to infiltrate behind enemy lines disguised as Wehrmacht soldiers. They are armed with the MP40 submachine guns, one of the finest guns of the war. Maj. Reisman is actually given a special gun, an MP40 with a shorter barrel than the others. In reality, no such gun existed during WWII and is entirely movie magic made by the machine shop at Bapty, Ltd in London, England.

The MP40 was one of Germany’s best and most prolific weapons during WWII, with over one million guns made. It was light, easy to shoot, and carried a 32 round magazine. The MP 38, its precursor, was actually slightly more expensive because of the milled receiver (MP40s are stamped) but was not as well received. Both were actually designed by the same men, Berthold Geipel and Henrich Vollmer. Much of the action it saw was on the Eastern Front in Russia, with some sent to North Africa where the allies got their hands on them. The MP40 was such a great gun that it was used well after the war by Norwegian tank crews and the armies of the Netherlands, Yugoslavia, and Austria. The Soviet Union even took the countless MP40s they captured in their war with Germany and sent them to their satellite states and to numerous rebel groups around the world, including the North Vietnamese.

As mentioned before, the “Dirty Dozen” sequels are not that great. “The Next Mission” does have an interesting idea in that the dozen are being sent to assassinate a top SS Officer who is planning to kill Adolf Hitler, because the Allies are worried that someone more dangerous and “much more competent” will take his place. The plot of the “Deadly Mission” is to rescue a group of scientists from the Nazis and destroy a dangerous weapon of mass destruction. The plot of “The Fatal Mission” is to capture a group of German intellectuals who are trying to start a Fourth Reich in the Middle East. If you enjoy these movies, by all means, enjoy, but they are nothing compared to the original “The Dirty Dozen” classic.

During the cold war, the Ak-47 was found all over the world as the weapon of choice for the USSR and its Communist allies, as well as countless rebel and terrorist groups. To counter this, the US had the M16 assault rifle, but many of its allies depended on another weapon, one that had come out of Belgium. Created by the company FN Herstal, The FN FAL (or Fusil Automatique Leger, French for Light Automatic Rifle) was at one time the primary assault rifle for over ninety countries, including Israel and most of the NATO countries.

Designed by Dieudonne Saive and Ernest Vervier, the FN FAL is an excellent rifle that has stood its ground against the arguably more popular AK-47. Its usual caliber is 7.62x51mm NATO although the British tried it in .280, and has an effective range of 200 to 600 meters with open sights. It comes in many variants, including the L1A1, or SLR, which saw service in the UK and most of its Commonwealth Nations, including Canada, the first country to order the rifle in large numbers (The Commonwealth Nations used the “Inch Pattern” FALs while the others basically used the “Metric FALs”). It has been replaced in some of these countries by the SA80, the C7 Assault rifle, and the Steyr AUG, but is still used in a few areas of Law enforcement and is popular with civilians.

The FN FAL saw service in many conflicts, including the Vietnam War, the Bay of Pigs Invasion, and the Rhodesian Bush War. It was used on both sides of the Falkland War and saw service in the Israeli army throughout the Suez Crisis, the Six Day War, and the Yom Kippur War. It is even being used today with the Syrian and Libyan Civil Wars, and the Mexican Drug War.

Though it is a great rifle, the FN FAL has a few problems. One problem is the weight. It is heavier than the AK-47 by two pounds or more, and that is without the ammo, which is also heavier. The Israeli rifles tended to jam because of the sand that got into the gun. It also has a strong recoil that feels like somebody is punching you in the shoulder. Perhaps the weirdest problem is the firepower itself. The bullet tended to go through walls and enemy combatants alike.

In the film “The Wild Geese,” the FN FAL is one of the most common guns used. One of them is the FN FAL with a shortened barrel that was carried by Tosh Donaldson, portrayed by real life professional soldier Ian Yule, who served with Colonel “Mad Mike” Hoare in the Commando unit which inspired “The Wild Geese” and all over the world. He was also a stunt man on the movie Ben-Hur. In truth, this Shortened FAL is movie magic from Bapty, Ltd, for there was no FAL that had a shortened barrel at the time. The Bapty FAL is made from a British L2A1 rifle. There are a few that do have them in recent years, including the Armtech L1A1 SAS and DS Arms’ OS-58.

“The Wild Geese” is a good movie. It stars Richard Burton, Roger Moore, and Richard Harris as a group of mercenaries hired by a private mining company to rescue a political prisoner in Africa. It had a bit of a controversy because it was filmed in apartheid South Africa. Despite this, it did well in the United Kingdom and in other parts of the world, but did poorly in the USA for a number of reasons. The Wild Geese is also the name used by many of the Irish fighting units that fought for Spain and France during the sixteenth, seventeenth, and the eighteenth centuries. If you have time, look up the history of these units and, of course, the movie “The Wild Geese.”

In the 1980s, a wave of great action television shows hit the small screen. “The A-Team,” “Airwolf,” “Knight Rider,” and “MacGyver” have become iconic to audiences of all ages and have cult followings even today. But the most iconic, remembered, and well-loved is without a doubt is “Magnum P.I.” starring Tom Selleck. The show was a big hit on television and even won a number of awards. It also has a modern remake starring Jay Hernandez, though it is not as good as the original.

The show follows Thomas Magnum, a private investigator who works as a security expert at a private beach villa owned by a wealthy writer. He shares the property with a World War 2 British veteran named Jonathan Quayle Higgins the 3^rd. The two rarely get along, with Higgins’s two security dogs constantly chasing Magnum and Magnum constantly borrowing and destroying things under Higgins’s protection, as well as getting dragged into a number of cases. Magnum’s two best friends are Theodore “T.C.” Calvin, the owner of a helicopter tour company, and Orville “Rick” Wright, the manager of the King Kamehameha Club. Magnum often recruits T.C. and Rick in his cases, with T.C. flying him to spy on people and Rick using his underground contacts to get important information.

In the show, Magnum’s gun of choice is an M1911A1. The one he used throughout the series is in the NRA Museum in Fairfax, Virginia. The gun that is photographed is the second, and was also used by other actors in the show (There are always duplicate hero guns to keep from slowing the show if there’s any problem). It has the serial number just above the trigger on the right side and has the name of the factory to the upper left just above it. Above it on the slide is where the words Colt’s Government Model are engraved. On the other side, the words are Colt’s MK IV / Series ’70 Government Model 9mm Luger Caliber. (Movie 1911s are frequently 9mm, easier to blank).

The M1911A1 first entered service in 1926 and has become of the America’s favorite firearms. It was in service until the 1990’s, where it was replaced by the Beretta M9. Some elements of the armed forces still use it, including some elements of the Marine Corps. The M1911A1 and other variants have also been adopted by other nations around the world, including large numbers of Latin American countries, the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, and a few others. Today, it is popular with civilians and veterans, though it can be a bit expensive.

The M1911A1 is actually an improved version of the M1911 pistol. The original gun is good, but there were some issues on the battlefield and a number of improvements were needed. The front sight was widened and the trigger was shortened. The hammer is enlarged slightly and the spur above the grip is made longer. These improvements were small but helped the gun quite a bit. Both pistols shoot .45 ACP from a 7-round magazine. They both weigh just over three pounds.

There were other guns used in the series to include a number of pistols like the Walther PPK, Colt Detective Special, and Smith & Wesson Model 15. In one episode, Rick takes out a hitman with a Mac-10 Submachine gun. In one episode, a Mac-10 is made to look like an Uzi submachine. Why they did this the author has no idea, as in a later episode an Uzi is seen. In flashbacks to Vietnam, M-16A1 Rifles are seen being carried by US soldiers. In some flashbacks, Vietnamese soldiers are seen carrying Valmet Rifles, instead of the AK-47s, since Hollywood did not have ready access to those guns in that timeframe.

“Magnum P.I.” is one of the greatest television shows of all time. Tom Selleck is great as Thomas Magnum and will probably be remembered best for this role. John Hillerman plays Higgins and is great in the role, especially since he is not British. Roger E. Mosley and Larry Manetti are also good in their parts, as well as the guest stars like Kwan Hi Lim, Gillian Dobb, Kathleen Lloyd, and Jeff MacKay. Special praise is reserved for Eugene Roche, who does a great job playing St Louis private detective Luther H. Gillis. The action in the show is great and some of the mysteries are well done, though some stories can be a bit predictable. If you want a great show to binge watch though, “Magnum PI” is one of the best and it will have you wanting to go to Hawaii and drive a Ferrari at top speeds around those beautiful islands.

SAR would like to thank the Weapons Department of Independent Studio Services in Sundale, CA for allowing us to photograph and record the history of these Movie Guns.

The Colt 1911A1 used by Mel Gibson as Lt. Col. Hal Moore.

The Colt 1911 used by Sam Elliot’s character, Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley.

The Vietnam War is one of America’s most misunderstood conflicts. Unlike in World War II and Korea, where the enemy was often on the other side of a battlefield, the battle lines were almost invisible in the jungles and highlands of Vietnam. The Viet Cong (VC) blended in with the population and waged a brutal insurgency in the country, launching hit-and-run campaigns, bombings and ambushes against both the South Vietnamese and the American Armies. The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) would also cross the border and launch attacks on military bases. The “American War” lasted over 16 years and saw over 58,000 American fatal casualties and cost millions of Vietnamese lives. In the end, with lack of support for the war, the United States withdrew its forces from Vietnam and the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, fell in April 1975.

Since the war ended, Hollywood has not been kind to the American Armed Forces. While there were some incidents where a few American soldiers did do some horrible things, nothing in comparison to the VC and NVA atrocities, Hollywood usually paints the American military with a broad negative brush in Vietnam-related movies. Compared to how American soldiers are portrayed in World War II movies or any film about an earlier conflict, soldiers in Vietnam movies are often portrayed as monsters. This anti-military attitude can still be seen in the film industry today, though it is not as common as it used to be.

In 2002, a movie broke away from this attitude. “We Were Soldiers” is based on the book We Were Soldiers Once … And Young. It tells the story of the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang Valley, where American soldiers, led by then Lieutenant Colonel Harold G. Moore, first clashed with soldiers from the NVA. The battle lasted 5 days and resulted in almost 500 American casualties (237 KIA) and thousands of North Vietnamese Army casualties (559 KIA). The initial fight was 450 Americans versus almost 4,000 North Vietnamese Army soldiers. The book was written by Harold G. Moore and journalist Joseph L. Galloway, who was on the ground in the fight at Ia Drang.

In the movie Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore was played by Mel Gibson. His second in command is Sergeant Major Basil L. Plumley, played by Sam Elliott. Hal Moore graduated from West Point and served until 1977, serving in both the Korean and the Vietnam Wars, eventually becoming a Lieutenant General. Sadly, he passed away in 2017. Basil Plumley first joined the Army in 1942 during World War II and saw combat in Operation Overlord (D-Day) and Operation Market Garden. He next saw combat during Vietnam, where he joined the First Battalion, Seventh Cavalry under Hal Moore. He served until 1974, but continued to work for the Army as a civilian. He passed away in 2012.

In the movie, Lieutenant Colonel Moore uses a Colt M1911A1, and Sergeant Major Plumley uses a Colt M1911 pistol. The M1911 was one of the greatest pistols in the history of the United States military, seeing service in World War I, World War II, Korea and of course Vietnam. It also saw service in the militaries of New Zealand, China and many others. It is still in service in a number of countries and some local police agencies in the U.S. It is popular with collectors and gun owners in the U.S. in general. The M1911A1 was “typed” in 1926 and was an upgraded version, with small changes having been made to make it more reliable and easier to shoot—a result of lessons learned from World War I.

 The M1911 shoots .45 ACP ammunition, generally with 230-grain ball projectiles. The ammunition is loaded in a seven-round magazine in the grip of the gun, though soldiers usually had an eighth round in the barrel or “one in the pipe,” as they called it. The gun uses two safety systems, a grip safety and a manual safety. The grip safety requires squeezing the lever on the back of the grip to shoot. The manual safety is next to the hammer on the left side of the pistol. The pistol weighs less than 3 pounds, including ammo.

Other guns used in “We Were Soldiers” include AK-47s used by the NVA, though they are seen using other guns like the SKS and even an MG34 machine gun. The Americans used the M16 rifle (XM16E1 configuration), M60 machine guns and M79 grenade launchers. At one point, helicopters in the film use GE M134 Miniguns. Early in the film, there is a sequence showing French soldiers fighting Viet Minh in 1954 in the same general area as the 1965 battle, called “French Mobile Force 100.” In this sequence, the French carry the MAS-36 rifle, Browning Hi-Power pistols, MAT-49 submachine guns and use Browning M1919A4 machine guns mounted on jeeps. The Viet Minh are seen using SKSs, ZB26s and PPSh-41s as well as PPS-43s.

“We Were Soldiers” is a great movie. It was well-received by critics and audiences alike and is considered one of the better Vietnam War films. The actors do a great job, especially Mel Gibson and Sam Elliott. Madeleine Stowe does an outstanding job as Hal Moore’s wife, Julia Moore. Barry Peppers is good as Joe Galloway, as is Greg Kinnear as Lt. Col. Bruce P. Crandall and Ryan Hurst as Sgt. Ernie Savage. The battle scenes in the movie are compellingly done and can be a bit brutal at times, so perhaps it is not a film to show children. In any case “We Were Soldiers” is a must-see for everyone who loves war movies.

Dan Shea’s Time On Set

I knew that my father (and father of Small Arms Review), Dan Shea, had something to do with this movie and asked him about it.

“I was invited out as Small Arms Review to cover the movie set at Fort Hunter Liggett in California,” he said, “which had terrain and basic vegetation very similar to the II Corps highland area of Vietnam in the Ia (river) Drang valley on the Cambodian border side near Pleiku. My good friend Mike Papac was lead armorer, and I had supplied him with some intel pamphlets from my library—1956 British Viet Minh reports with uniforms, tactics and equipment. Very helpful in the French Mobile Force 100 scene. We also spent a bit of time going over making all the M16s appear to be XM16E1s, which Mike was an absolute stickler for. Anyway, I was out messing around with Mike Dillon and Miniguns—he heard I was headed to the set—and he had four M134 Miniguns to ship to Mike Papac and decided to fly his vintage U.S. Army-painted Huey from Phoenix to Hunter Liggett, via LA. He and his son Chris flew with me as baggage, we stopped in LA and picked up Syd Stembridge and flew the coast of California at 50 feet over the surf, up over the redwoods; it took about 11 hours from Phoenix. Before we got to the Valley of Wind I was sidesaddle at the door and monkey-strapped on the side, and Mike said, “Close the door, no one rides like that.” I said, “Huh, imagine that” and came in. I guess slick jockeys don’t look back at “cargo grunts.” Coming in on the set just after the napalm scenes, with Mike scooting the Huey done up as U.S. ‘Nam-era paint, was something spooky! Anyway, we delivered, spent a couple of days, and here’s the most important thing: wherever I went, I found guys in the right age group, and they were all ‘Nam vets … undercover. They didn’t want anyone to know they were ‘Nam vets and all said, “I’m here to make sure they do this right for a change.” They damn sure did, great movie. Mike Papac’s attention to detail was exemplary, and everyone else doing costume and equipment was on the same page. I was blown away; been on more than a few “‘Nam movie” sets with all the baloney. What amazing detail all of them did on this one!”

Special Note: The movie does not cover the battle at L.Z. Albany that happened after the film’s ending. Here the American soldiers were almost wiped out in an ambush by the NVA. Over 130 soldiers died and 124 were wounded. Because of this, both Americans and Vietnamese claimed to have won the battle.

Knob Creeker Note: For those who knew the late “Big Dan” Robinson, Dan was in Delta company at LZ X-ray.

Special thanks to Mike Papac of Cinema Weaponry!

The year is 1971. San Francisco is a city living in fear. A deadly killer roams the area, killing random people and scaring innocent people for years to come. The killer sent letters to police, taunting them and boasting that he killed over 30 people, though only five have been confirmed to be his victims. To this day, the Zodiac Killer has never been caught or identified, making his murders some of the most notorious in history.

The Zodiac Killer was the inspiration for the main villain in the movie, “Dirty Harry.” Scorpio, a reference to the constellation of Scorpius, is a crazy sniper who threatens to kill innocent people if the city of San Francisco does not pay him money. This is different from the real Zodiac Killer who never asked for a ransom. Scorpio is played by Andrew Robinson, who is best known for playing Elim Garak on the show Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Robinson does a good job playing the sick and twisted Scorpio, who will not hesitate to kill even children.

At one point of the movie, Scorpio gets his hands on a Walther P38 and takes a bus full of children hostage until SFPD Inspector “Dirty” Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) comes in and saves the day. The Walther P38 came into service in 1939 in order to replace the Luger P08 and is considered one of the greatest handguns ever made. It saw service throughout World War II and many conflicts afterward, with over a million guns being made. The gun is still in service today in some places and is popular with collectors.

The Walther P38 shoots 9x19mm Parabellum from an eight-round magazine. It weighs about 2 pounds and is less than 9 inches in length, the barrel being about 5 inches. It is easy to load and unload, with the switch sticking out in the bottom called a “hill.” An interesting feature of the gun is the loaded chamber indicator, where, when there is a round in the chamber, a pin will stick out above the firing pin so the operator can manually feel there is a round in the chamber. The safety is on the left side of the gun, just in front of the hammer.

The production of the P38 came to an end after World War II, but started again in the late 1950s. In the 1960s, a new variant of the gun, the P1, went into production. The biggest difference between the old and new variants is the frame of the gun. The old ones had steel frames while the P1s have aluminum frames.

Other guns in the movie include a Colt Detective Special pistol used by Callahan’s partner, Inspector Chico Gonzalez (Reni Santoni), a Winchester Model 12 shotgun used by a bank robber and a Winchester Model 70 rifle used by Callahan during his hunt for Scorpio. Scorpio himself uses a Sporterized Arisaka Type 2 Paratrooper Takedown rifle to shoot random people. He also uses an MP40 submachine gun twice in the movie, once on a rooftop in a shootout with Callahan and again in a shootout in a park with Gonzalez. But the most famous gun in the movie is Callahan’s Smith & Wesson® Model 29, a cannon of a handgun that has become as iconic as Dirty Harry himself.

“Dirty Harry” is an outstanding movie. It was an instant hit at the box office and well received by critics and movie goers alike. Client Eastwood is great as Harry Callahan, and Reni Santoni does a good job as Inspector Gonzalez. The movie helped start a series of films starring Eastwood as Harry Callahan. Eastwood was already a big star with the number of westerns he had done, but he became a legend thanks to “Dirty Harry.” This is a classic for action movie lovers and a great movie for all.

In 1854, Japan was forced to end its centuries old isolation by Commodore Matthew Perry and open its doors to the modern world. After a brief civil war, Japan went into a period of mass modernization. Seeing the powers of Europe expanding and conquering less powerful nations, the leaders of Japan decided that they needed to be aggressive as well. They first defeated China in the First Sino-Japanese War, gaining Korea and Taiwan. They then shocked the world by defeating Russia in 1905. During World War I they sided with the Allies and took Germany’s territories in the Pacific and China.

In 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria and added it to their ever growing empire. Many historians argue that this is when World War II really began. Six years later, they declared war on China and launched a campaign that would go down in history as one of the most brutal wars ever. Atrocities committed by Japanese soldiers are still remembered by all the nations that fought them. During the conflict, Japan conquered French Indochina. In retaliation to these actions, the United States put an oil embargo on Japan. In retaliation Japan attacked the American Navy at Pearl Harbor, “awakening the sleeping giant.” Japan managed to conquer Hong Kong, Malaya, Singapore, the Philippines and a large number of islands in the Pacific until the Americans crippled the Japanese navy at Midway. The Americans and their allies then proceeded to drive the Japanese back to their homeland and force them to surrender with the help of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The weapon of choice for the Japanese army was the Arisaka Rifle. Designed by Colonel Arisaka Nariakira, the rifle first saw service during the Boxer Rebellion in the form of the Type 30 rifle. However, there were a number of problems with rifles, including jamming and bursting cartridges. So in 1906, the Type 38 was introduced. It was an improvement and over three million rifles were made, but there were still problems. The ammunition, 6.5x50mmSR Arisaka, was not good at long ranges, so Japan introduced the Type 99 in 1939. This rifle shot 7.7x58mm, a caliber of ammunition that was also used by the Type 92 Machine Gun but not interchangeable. All these rifles would see service during World War II in China and the Pacific region.

In the movie “Dirty Harry,” the villain Scorpio uses an Arisaka Type 2 Paratrooper Takedown rifle to shoot random people. This rifle was one of three guns that were submitted for the paratroopers. The first two, the Type 100 and the Type 1, had five hundred of each made, but the Type 2 was more successful, with over nineteen thousand made. It was modeled after the Arisaka Type 99. To take apart, you have to pull a bolt on the side of the gun out and pull them apart. To put the gun back together, just keep the bolt out of the way and put the barrel back in, then put the bolt back inside. It shoots 7.7x58mm from a 5 round internal magazine. It weighs about nine pounds and when put together it is about three and a half feet long. The gun originally had dust covers to cover the bolts, but they were seen as a hindrance by the soldiers and they usually threw the covers away.

Many of the Japanese guns of World War II have the 16 petal chrysanthemum either crossed out or grounded off. This was because all guns of Imperial Japan were property of the Emperor and the majority of soldiers saw surrendering the guns as a disgrace. Many American soldiers ground the “Mum” off as well. The gun from the movie has the chrysanthemum on it, making it somewhat rare. The gun from the movie has also been sporterized, with the wooden buttstock replace with one of a hunting rifle.

As mentioned in the previous article, the movie “Dirty Harry” is a great film. The Arisaka Rifle, however, can be seen in other films. “Sands of Iwo Jima” is a good movie where you can see the few Japanese soldiers in the film carrying the Arisaka Type 99. The same rifle could be seen in the film “Windtalkers,” though this movie was not as good as the older film. Other movies where the rifle is present is “Empire of the Sun,” “The Thin Red Line,” “The Great Raid,” and any film based in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

Sergeant Roger Murtaugh is a well-liked police detective from Los Angeles with a loving wife and three children. Martin Riggs is a suicidal narcotics officer and former Special Forces soldier who is still in mourning over the death of his wife three years before. After Riggs almost kills a criminal on a drug sting, he is transferred over to homicide and is partnered up with Murtaugh. The two men do not get along, but they are forced to put aside their differences to solve a murder of a close friend.

This is the story of “Lethal Weapon,” a movie that came out in 1987 and was an instant hit. It stars Mel Gibson as Martin Riggs, Danny Glover as Roger Murtaugh, and Gary Busey as the evil Mr. Joshua, a thug working for the villains. The movie did well at the box office and was well liked by critics. It was so successful that it spawned three sequels. The quality of these sequels varies depending on who you ask. (The author of this article has not seen the first two sequels yet, but barely remembers “Lethal Weapon 4”)

In one part of the movie, someone close to the two detectives is kidnapped and the two are forced to meet the perpetrators in the middle of a desert. Before they arrive at the destination, Riggs leaves the car and runs through the desert carrying an HK PSG-1 sniper rifle. He sets up at a good position and covers Murtaugh as he meets with the kidnappers. Riggs manages to take out a decent number of the crooks before he himself is captured from behind.

The 7.62x51mm Heckler & Koch PSG-1 was first produced in 1972. It has been used by German and other military and police all over the world. It was created in the aftermath of the Munich Massacre, where a group of Israeli coaches and athletes were held hostage and later killed after a failed rescue attempt. Among the many criticisms leveled at the authorities, one was that the sniper rifles used were not up to the job. In response, the German government turned to Heckler & Koch for a new sniper rifle and the PSG-1 was created.

The PSG-1 is a great sniper rifle. It was not developed as a military rifle but solely made for special police task forces like the GSG-9 and other such groups. However, a few militaries do use it and it has seen combat in a small number of conflicts. It is very expensive and very rare, with only a few hundred in the United States.

It was modeled after the G3 rifle but has a number of internal modifications that separate it from the infantry gun. The sniper rifle has a longer barrel than the G3 rifle and it comes with an adjustable buttstock. Another interesting item of note, is that there are no iron sights. Each PSG-1 rifle comes with a Hensoldt ZF 6×42 sniper scope. The scope has a range of over 1,900 feet and has a button on the left side that allows the reticle to light up for a couple minutes. The rifle could be used on a small special tripod or a bipod, depending on the choice of the shooter. It shoots 7.62mm NATO from either a five round or a twenty round magazine.

There is a funny story about the rifle from the movie. A certain individual who will not be named was working for the gun rental company as a secretary and was a huge Mel Gibson Fan. When the person found out the rifle was used by Mel Gibson, the individual swapped the trigger shoe for a different one and kept the one from the movie for him or herself. For those who don’t know what a trigger shoe is, it is a device put on the trigger to widen the surface for the shooter’s finger. This makes the trigger feel lighter and makes the gun easier to shoot.

Other guns used in “Lethal Weapon” include Rigg’s personal sidearm, a Beretta 92F. Murtaugh himself uses a Smith & Wesson Model 19, for which Riggs jokes that it is old school. Mr. Joshua is seen using a Colt XM177 Commando from a helicopter and uses a Beretta 950 Jetfire when confronting Murtaugh.

“Lethal Weapon” is a great movie and is considered one of the best buddy-cop films of all time. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are great at their roles and have good chemistry on screen. The other actors are also good, including Gary Busey, and Darlene Love as Roger Murtaugh’s wife. The comedy is good and there are some great action scenes. The only real problem is the villains are a bit forgettable except for Mr. Joshua. Aside from this, “Lethal Weapon” is defiantly worth a watch.