During the mid-1980 period, the East German government Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR), embarked on an ambitious program to design and market their own variant of the small caliber Russian AK- 74 rifle, primarily for export sales. The impetus for designing the rifle was to generate an influx of foreign currency from non-Communist countries in order to boost the struggling economy of East Germany. East Germany had been a substantial manufacturer of military goods and weapons and exported large quantities of military material, but these sales had previously been largely limited to Third World, Warsaw Pact and Communist satellite nations.

During 1981, the DDR had negotiated an agreement with the Soviets to obtain licensing and technical assistance to produce the new small-caliber 5.45x39mm AK-74 in East Germany. By this time period the Soviets had obviously taken notice that East Germany, and other countries authorized to produce the 7.62x39mm AK-47 and AKM rifles, were exporting large numbers of the rifles, and these sales were providing competition that was affecting both Soviet sales and market prices of their AK rifles. East Germany alone was exporting nearly one-third of its AK rifle production. To insure that East Germany would not saturate the world market with their AK-74 variant (the MPi-AK-74N), the agreement included a clause that East Germany could not export any of the rifles that they manufactured. In an attempt to circumvent this contract clause the East Germans decided to redesign the AK- 74 and offer it to the world market chambered for the 5.56x45mm cartridge (.223 Remington), the same round used in the U.S. M16 rifle and the standard small arms cartridge of NATO. In addition to exposing a loophole in the Soviet agreement, the East Germans surmised that there was a huge potential market for the legendary reliability of the AK design chambered for the Western 5.56x45mm cartridge.

The development and the arrangement for production of the new East German rifle was initiated in 1985 by the East German Commercial Coordination Division, Bereich Kommerzieller Koordinierung or KoKo. A joint company Internationale Messtechnik Import-Export-GmbH (IMES GmbH – international measurement-technology import-export-Ltd.) and Ingenieur-Technischer-Aussenhandel (ITA) were responsible for export sales of weapons and military equipment. Having several separate export “companies” permitted the East Germans to provide arms and equipment to both sides of those engaged in conflict, as was demonstrated during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.

During September 1988, the evaluation of four pre-production prototypes of the Wieger rifle was underway at the Brandenburg rocket testing facility. The trials were being conducted and supervised by the East German Army: the Nationale Volksarmee (NVA). The test reports stated that the Wieger rifle was easy to handle, accurate in semiautomatic and full-automatic fire, and did not malfunction when subjected to intense mud, dust and rain conditions.

Initial production began at the VEB Geräte-und Sonderwerkzeugbau Wiesa plant, with a proposed yearly output of 100,000 the first year, and a subsequent planned capacity of 200,000 guns per year thereafter. The parts for the Wieger were produced at a factory located in Suhl and then sent east to the small town of Wiesa for final assembly. The weapons were designated as the Wieger StG 940 series. The Wieger name was a contraction derived from the factory in Wiesa and the country of origin Germany. The StG acronym represented Sturmgewehr, or storm rifle, the same name that had been given to the world’s first assault rifle, the German StG 44 fielded during the last months of World War II. By 1989, there were four variants of the Wieger 940 System being planned for initial production: the standard model StG 941 with a fixed plastic buttstock and 16.5-inch barrel; the StG 942 with a side-folding German-pattern singlestrut stock and 16.5-inch barrel; the compact StG 943 with folding stock and 12.6- inch barrel and the StG 944 a light machine gun version fitted with a bipod and 19.7-inch barrel. A 30-round box magazine was designed for the rifles along with a bayonet. All of the aforementioned weapons were in the Western 5.56x45mm NATO caliber. Only the StG 941 and 942 models were produced in any substantial numbers. East Germany also manufactured steel-case 5.56x45mm ammunition for the rifles during 1988 and 1989. The ammunition was produced at the plant VEB Mechanische Werkstätten in the town of Königswartha, East Germany.

Although the East German StG was basically a Kalashnikov design, it featured a several cosmetic changes that included an M16-style flash suppressor, an ergonomic inline buttstock, handguards and unique pistol grip with a finger rest, all fabricated from a modern lightweight and impact resistant plastic material. The buttstock of the fixed stock StG 941 model featured a curved removable end cap with two 13mm thick spacers that could be removed or added to adjust the length of the stock to comfortably accommodate practically any shooter. The Wieger rifle was select-fire having the selector positions marked with a numeral 1 for semiautomatic and for the full automatic position an infinity symbol. A 30- round steel magazine was standard, but there were also magazines produced from a clear plastic material similar to the Steyr AUG magazines. Later production models had the Soviet-pattern optical side rail riveted to the left side of the receiver.

The East Germans began to market their Wieger StG 940 series of small arms and received at least two substantial orders. One was from Peru, who was planning to arm their police and military with the weapon. They were currently armed with 7.62x39mm AK rifles, but wanted a similar, reliable AK design, in 5.56 NATO caliber. A second larger order was received from India for their army. Reportedly, small initial quantities of the Wieger rifle were delivered with 2,000 of the Model StG 942 rifles to Peru and 7,500 of the Model StG 941 to India. Although it appeared that the StG 940 series was going to be successful, fate stepped in. On 9 November 1989 the infamous Berlin Wall fell, followed by the collapse of the East German government. In the aftermath, the government of West Germany, the Federal Republic of Germany, took over responsibility for the newly reunited Germany. The Federal Republic of Germany was a NATO member and their army was equipped with Heckler & Koch rifles in 5.56mm and 7.62mm NATO calibers. H&K was also the primary manufacturer and exporter of small arms for West Germany. Having no interest in promoting or selling the StG rifle, the government killed the project and closed the Suhl factory in June of 1990. According to the Telegraph, a former East German newspaper, the contract cancellations required that a substantial penalty was required to be paid to countries having valid contract agreements and the new unified German government accepted the burden of the payments. India eventually designed and manufactured their own variations of the AK rifle with their Indian Small Arms System, INSAS, in 5.56mm NATO. The fate of the StG 940 rifles seemed to be sealed when the Federal German Government destroyed the last remaining 6,000 rifles in 1992. Most of the small arms and equipment of the defunct East German Army was sold off by the new government. A lot of the surplus DDR equipment began to show up in the U.S. surplus market, including a number of the Wieger rifle 30-round steel magazines.

The East German idea to offer the AK system in the NATO caliber had proven to be quite insightful. Not long after the collapse of the Soviet Union many former Warsaw Pact countries applied for, and eventually were granted membership in NATO. Being NATO members required the countries to use standard NATO military ammunition and for infantry rifles this was the 5.56x45mm cartridge. Most of the countries redesigned their AK weapon systems for the NATO ammunition. During 1992, the Russian factory Izhmash introduced the new 100-series of AK rifles. The new modernized AK line of weapons were offered in the traditional Russian 7.62x39mm and 5.45x39mm calibers and for the first time they offered two models, the AK-101 and AK-102 models, chambered in the Western 5.56 NATO round. The choice of calibers was made available in order to appeal to a diverse world market.

The Wieger StG 940 is Resurrected
There is little doubt that the East German Wieger rifle had the shortest production run of any AK variant. Few of the weapons were ever delivered and the remaining lot destroyed.

The recent proliferation of foreign AK parts sets and U.S. made compliance parts, along with low price tags, have made the AK rifle extremely popular with shooters and collectors in the United States. With the current demand for AK rifles in mind, Inter Ordnance, Inc. of Monroe, North Carolina (IO), a well-known source for unique military rifles and surplus items, has resurrected the East German StG 940 Wieger design by introducing their semiautomatic StG-2000- C and StG-2003-C AK pattern rifles.

SAR received both variants of Inter Ordnance’s new rifles for test and evaluation. The StG-2000-C rifle is chambered for the standard 7.62x39mm AK round. Its counterpart is the more recently introduced StG-2003-C chambered for the 5.56x45mm (.223) cartridge.

The basis for IO’s StG clones are factory- produced AK rifles imported from Romania. In order to be legal for importation to the United States the rifles must comply with Federal Statute 922r and thus are fitted with thumbhole stocks and receivers that will only accept single-column, low-capacity magazines. Despite the fact that the Romania imports are configured to be politically correct, they are factory built AK rifles and feature high quality hammer-forged chromium lined barrels, and should not be confused with some U.S. assembled Romanian imports that have gained a dubious reputation for such problems as canted front sights and magazine wells that make magazine insertions difficult or impossible without enlisting the use of a Dremel tool.

Once the rifles arrive at the Inter Ordnance facility they begin their transformation into Wieger rifles by adding the required number of U.S. made components, to include the fire control group that includes the Gordon Technologies/Tapco G2 components, and the Wieger design furniture to bring them into compliance with U.S. laws. Addition of the U.S. made components allows certain features like the pistol grip, flash hider and ability to accept a large capacity magazine legal. The Romanian imports used for the StG rifles use the WASR type receiver, which lacks the magazine guide indentations found on most stamped AK pattern receivers. The receivers have an accessory rail riveted to the right side that is designed to accept most Russian pattern optical devices. The one-piece front sight/gas block is the 90- degree design first implemented on the AK-74 to eliminate bullet shear that occurred when firing high-velocity cartridges. The StG rifles are finished with military-type flat black oxide.

The most readily apparent feature of the StG rifles is their black plastic stocks, pistol grip and foregrip that are configured quite differently than most AK pattern weapons. Shouldering the rifle, the operatorwill immediately find the weapon lighter and far more ergonomic, due in part to its longer buttstock.

The Wieger furniture is U.S. made and closely replicates that used on the original East German rifles. The buttstock is quite an improvement over the original AK configuration. Being longer provides for an improved cheek weld and increased length of pull while the stock is inline with the bore of the barrel. The pistol grip features a finger rest and an addition protrusion at its base. The unique two-piece foregrip is retained by a sheet-metal cap and lock. Removal of the foregrip differs and provides the only exception to the normal procedures for disassembly of standard AK designs. The foregrip is the later pattern without the right and left side cooling slots seen on the early Wieger rifles. The unique features of the furniture combine to make the rifle easier to control, (particularly with the original select-fire design) and more compatible with U.S. shooters than the original AK pattern.

Inter Ordnance StG rifles are shipped with an original East German sling, cleaning kit, manual and one 30-round U.S. manufactured magazine in order to be 100- percent compliment with the requirements of current federal law. Inter Ordnance offers a host of accessories for the rifles including a bipod with accompanying wire cutter/can opening tool, carrying case with magazine pouches and a variety of optical devices.

In addition to the standard StG-2000-C and StG-2003-C models, Inter Ordnance also offers two sniper variants the SSG- 2000 in either 7.62×51 NATO or 7.62x54mm Russian.

Special Thanks to: Inter Ordnance, Inc., Michael Free, Freedom Firearms, Mike Eros, Kalinka Optics, Michael Heidler, Germany

FIELD STRIP SEQUENCE
•1 Remove the magazine. •2 Manually retract the bolt and visually inspect the chamber to insure that there is no cartridge in the chamber. •3 Depress the recoil spring tab and lift the top cover upward and remove. •4 Push the recoil spring assembly forward to remove it from its dovetail retainer. •5 Slide the bolt carrier and bolt assembly rearward until it can be lifted upward from its guide rails in the receiver. •6 Slide the bolt assembly forward to remove it from the bolt carrier. •7 Remove the handguards. This is the only step that is different from stripping a standard AK. Push the retaining bracket rearward and slide the captive retainer pin out. The retaining bracket can be moved forward to remove the handguard halves. •8 To remove the gas tube assembly, rotate the retaining lever upward until the gas tube is free. •9 Tilt the back end of the gas tube and slide it rearward. •10 The STG 2003-C stripped for cleaning or routine maintenance.

Inter Ordnance of America
P.O. Box 847
Monroe, NC 28110
Phone: (866) 882-1479
Fax: (704) -225-8362
Website: www.ionic.us

By Chris A. Choat

The new rifle that just arrived was a combination of the latest high tech materials and design elements. Its full length Picatinny rail was topped with one of the newest sights on the market; the Aimpoint Mark 4. It also incorporated front and rear folding back-up iron sights, a folding, collapsible buttstock and a vertical foregrip mounted on a bottom rail. It was “camoed” in two different colors of tan to help break up its futuristic form. The Aimpoint’s red dot was settled on the chest of the camouflaged form quietly moving through the dry brush just ahead. He took a few more steps and then paused at an exposed spot in the terrain. The selector switch was moved to the full-auto position and the trigger squeezed. The rifle made a slight whining noise and “bullets” literally seemed to pour from the barrel. The man flinched as the rounds impacted, but then stood and said, “I’m out!!”

This scenario didn’t happen in some far away war zone, it happened here at home in what’s known as an airsoft skirmish. The rifle is actually an exact copy of a gun made by FN (Fabrique Nationale) and the official designation is the FN SCAR Light. The term SCAR stands for Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle. The Light designation was given to the 5.56x45mm (.223) caliber rifle whereas FN also has a Heavy Model which is chambered in 7.62.x51mm (.308). The particular gun that is the subject of this article is called the CA SCAR Light. The “CA” stands for Classic Army, a Hong Kong based company that is the gun’s manufacturer. In fact, most of today’s airsoft guns come from China, Taiwan or Japan. The Classic Army brand is exclusively imported and distributed in the U.S. by Spartan Imports of California. Spartan carries a vast assortment of guns and accessories.

The gun is what’s known as an AEG, or Airsoft Electric Gun. Airsoft guns are nothing new, having been around for several decades. The guns of today basically have only one thing in common with the guns of the past; the ammunition they use. Airsoft guns fire 6mm plastic BBs. They are propelled by air which is generated by an electric motor that in turn drives a piston inside an air chamber. This is all done very rapidly and the cyclic rate of airsoft guns replicate their real counterparts. They have selector switches and do fire either full or semi-auto. Velocity of the fired BBs vary but run anywhere from 250 to 450 feet per second. Upgraded parts are available to boost velocity for almost any gun. Today’s guns are exact replicas of the real firearms that they copy sometimes right down to the manufacturers’ trademark markings. Since they are one-to-one copies, a lot of the accessories that are made for real guns will also fit on the airsoft models and, in some cases, this is also true vice versa.

The CA SCAR Light is one of the newest airsoft models to hit the market and it is a real beauty. Overall, the new gun has three distinct colors of desert camouflage on its surface just like the real SCAR rifle. The buttstock and lower receiver are desert tan, the upper receiver, pistol grip and magazine appear to be flat dark earth and the barrel, buttpad, iron sights, fire control parts and bottom and side Picatinny rails are black. When you pick up the CA SCAR Light the first thing that you notice is that the gun is not light; having some heft to it, and weighs the same as the real rifle at 3.5 kg (7.72 lbs.). This is due in part to the entire upper receiver being CNC machined out of aluminum. The upper receiver also has a full length Picatinny rail machined into it along the top. Rail slot positions are laser etched with numerals to make it easy to replace sights or optics in the same position. The gun also features machined metal Picatinny rails located on the forearm at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions. They are removable and are held in place with machined Allen screws.

The buttstock on these guns is a marvel. It is not only collapsible but also folds to the right side and locks into place on a projection just behind the ejection port. On the real gun this projection also doubles as an ejection port buffer. On the top of the stock is a 2-position cheekpiece. By pressing a button on the gun’s right side the cheekpiece can be raised to an elevated position and locked there, which allows for the perfect cheek weld for higher mounted optics. The stock’s rubber buttpad can also be removed to reveal a small compartment for parts, tools or spare optic batteries. The stock also contains the gun’s battery compartment. The gun uses what looks like a standard M16 A2 pistol grip that houses the electric motor that powers the gun. Above the grip is the ambidextrous selector switch. It has three positions safe (marked with the letter “S”), semi (marked with the numeral “1”) and autolower receiver, stock and grip are all made from fiber reinforced polymer.

The real SCAR uses standard M16 magazines and the airsoft version also uses any M-16-style airsoft magazine. The mag that comes with the gun is another small marvel. It is metal just like an original M16 magazine and concealed inside is a winding mechanism and a hopper that holds 300 of the 6mm BBs. These are loaded through a small sliding door located on the top. Once the BBs are poured into the hopper, the magazine is wound up by turning a small wheel that protrudes out the magazine’s bottom. A few turns of this wheel and the magazine is ready to fire. Load the magazine in the magazine well and the gun is ready. There is no need to cycle the charging handle, though the charging handle functions and is spring loaded to return to the forward position but doesn’t actually load the gun. When the charging handle is pulled to the rear it exposes a rotary dial. Turning the dial activates the “Hop-Up” mechanism. What this does is impart variable “back-spin” on the BBs as they travel down the barrel. The more you turn the dial the more spin is imparted. This backspin causes the BBs to fly more accurately as well as farther. This “Hop-Up” can also be adjusted for different weight BBs.

Magazines are changed just like on real rifles by pressing the ambidextrous magazine release. The magazine will not fire all 300 BBs without winding it. You seem to get about 150 rounds before it needs rewinding. Cyclic rate of the gun is right at 800 rounds per minute.

The gun uses a rechargeable, mini-type, 8.4 volt battery for power and is concealed inside the rifle’s buttstock. The stock is made so that a slightly larger 9.6 volt battery will fit as well. This larger battery ups the cyclic rate to around 1,000 rpm but caution should be used here as the higher rate of fire can wreck the rifle without a few other internal upgrades.Battery life is several magazines and it can be recharged in about 15 minutes with a fast charger. The rifle uses a quick disconnect plug so batteries can be changed in minutes to provide extended shooting time. The battery and charger are not included with the gun and must be bought separately.

6mm airsoft BBs come in weights from 12 grams all the way up to 30 grams. The 20 gram BB seems to be what most AEGs are designed around. This weight produces the best combination of high velocity and punch. A word of caution here: do not use the cheap discount store variety BBs in these guns. Spend a little extra and buy precision BBs. Precision BBs are just that – they are precision made and are of a consistent weight, diameter and are highly polished. They run smoothly in high grade AEGs and will not cause jamming or breakage of internal parts. These BBs are available on the internet or in local specialty shops and are well worth the slight increase in price. Just as in real firearms, if you use junk ammo you will have problems. Precision BBs cost around $12 for a 3,700 count bag of 20 grams so you can shoot all day for very little money. Remember these are made from high density plastic. Velocity of this gun was right at 340 fps with 20 gram BBs. They will not break glass or put dents in most metal (they will penetrate aluminum cans) but they will shoot through cardboard boxes as well as leave a nasty welt on your skin. They could also put an eye out; so as with any firearm don’t point it at anything you don’t intend to shoot. Also remember to be aware of potential ricochets as most shooting with these guns is done at less than 100 feet. Up to this range they are very accurate. The gun tested would shoot groups under 1 inch from a rest at 50 feet. At the same distance on full-auto it would shoot as many BBs as you wanted to shoot into about 2 inches. They seemto shoot forever and are very accurate even with open sights. The sights are click adjustable and very well made.

Simply put, these guns are a blast. They are well made and look just like the real thing. They accept all kinds of accessories, so there is no end to what you can add to them. The airsoft industry has definitely changed in the last few years and now includes just about any handgun, assault rifle, and sniper rifle you can imagine. There are also belt-fed M249 SAWs, M-60s in all variants and even an airsoft copy of the GE Minigun. It is 12 volt powered and shoots BBs by the pound. Also available in airsoft are hand grenades, 40mm grenade launchers with BB grenades, LAWs rockets and even Claymore mines that are bound to put a little excitement into a weekend wargame. Some of these are powered by CO2 and others are spring powered. These guns aren’t cheap but they are a lot cheaper than the real thing. The CA SCAR Light retails for $370 without the battery and charger. By the time you read this there will also be another version of the SCAR rifle on the market. It will be the SCAR CQC, close quarter combat version with a short barrel and will be available in tan or all black. If you can’t afford the real full-auto gun, or maybe you live in a state that prohibits ownership of them, try out an airsoft version. They are also great for pest control in your backyard without the use of deadly force. These guns are a lot of fun and the 6mm ammo is the cheapest thing you can shoot at today’s ammo prices. It would make a great birthday or Christmas present too.

SPARTAN IMPORTS
Dept. SAR
233 South Maple, Unit 14
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Phone: (650) 589-5522
Fax: (650) 589-5552
Website: www.spartanimports.com

Aimpoint T-1 QD Mount from GG&G

The new Aimpoint Micro T-1 is a great lightweight tactical scope, but the scope design does not accommodate flip-up lens covers. It comes with bikini lens covers that are not easy to remove, keep in place or reinstall and are easily lost. GG&G has now come up with a solution that is so unique, it has a patent pending. That solution is an Accucam Quick Detach T-1 Mount that includes a built-in provision that provides for the installation of a flip-up lens cover for the ocular end. Additionally, the kit includes a specially prepared flip-up cover that fits the objective lens. The Aimpoint T-1 easily and solidly installs onto the GG&G Accucam QD mount with four 3mm screws. The installation wrench is included in the kit. The ocular end of the T-1 scope fits perfectly into the small integral lens cover flange, and while providing the means to mount a flip-up lens cover, it does not interfere with the field of view. The T-1 mount is manufactured from solid billet 6061 T6 aluminum and is Type III hard coat anodized matt black per mil-spec. The new GG&G T-1 QD Mount is manufactured to mount directly to the AR-15/M16 integral rail. This will position the red dot just above the front sight post, yet is low enough to co-witness with the GG&G MAD, A2 or Spring Actuated A2 BUIS. The Accucam Quick Detach Locking Lever System provides the shooter with a solid method to quickly install or remove the T-1 from the weapon in just a few seconds. Unlike other QD systems, it is fully adjustable to fit either Weaver or MIL-STD- 1913 rails. The unique design also allows you to adjust tension to accommodate out-of-spec or worn rails. The finger loop on the mount is easily operated even with a gloved hand and its rounded edges are snag proof. For more information on this new mount as well as their full line of innovative firearm accessories, please contact GG&G, Dept. SAR, 3602 E. 42nd Stravenue, Tucson, AZ 85713. Phone: (800) 380-2540. Fax: (520) 748-7582. Their website is www.gggaz.com.

Magpul Introduces New Polymer PMAG

The Magpul Polymer Magazine (PMAG) fits the M16 series and other 5.56×45 NATO compatible weapons. It features numerous enhancements intended to improve reliability, long-term storage, overall durability and is designed to fit 30 rounds without any need for downloading. A loaded magazine inserts and locks easily in a closed bolt weapon or may be stored for extended periods with the unique Impact Cover in place. The PMAG also features a special anti-tilt follower that prevents binding and improves feeding consistency. An optional MagLevel Round Indicator System allows for visual identification of round count on either side of the magazine. The Impact Cover snaps firmly onto the top of the PMAG via interlocking tabs (unlike aftermarket dust covers) and can be quickly removed with one hand.Fitted into place, the Impact Cover provides impact protection for the feed lips, prevents dirt/dust intrusion, and eliminates distortion of the feed lips caused by longterm loaded storage. When separated, the Impact Cover serves as a magazine tool that facilitates unloading and disassembly. A lanyard hole is included to prevent part loss. The proprietary Anti-Tilt Follower works in conjunction with the magazine body to stabilize the loaded round stack. The PMAG body features a constant internal curve (unlike metal magazines with a curve-to-straight transition) and allows for consistent round stack regardless of round count. This configuration prevents many of the common feeding malfunctions seen in other magazines such as nose-diving and bolt-over head failures. The optional MagLevel Round Indicator System tracks the amount of loaded rounds remaining in the magazine. This dual window system is visible from either side of the magazine allowing for ambidextrous function. Unlike transparent magazines without this feature, the MagLevel tracks all the loaded rounds in the magazine from first to last including the final remaining rounds hidden by the magazine well. For more information please contact Magpul Industries Corp., Dept. SAR, P.O. Box 17697, Boulder, CO 80308. Phone: (303) 828- 3460. Fax: (303) 828-3469. Website: www.magpul.com.

Saiga 12 Drum and Forearm Rail from Alliance Machine

Alliance Machine LLC has just introduced their new 20- round drum magazine for the Saiga 12 shotgun. Called the WraithMaker, the new drum is CNC machined from 6061 aircraft grade aluminum and hard coat anodized for extreme durability. The new drum also features hardened stainless steel feed lips and sealed internal bearings. The WraithMaker will fire most brands of 2-3/4 inch shells from birdshot to slugs. The second new product is their new Quad Rail Mount System for the Saiga 12. The rail mount is also made from 6061 T6 aluminum and hard coat anodized. It features a top rail that extends back over the gun’s receiver for mounting optics plus side and bottom rails. The quad rail mount is made so that the gun’s dust cover and bolt can be removed without removing the quad rail mount itself. For more information on these two new products, as well as service upgrades for the Saiga 12 shotgun, please contact Alliance Machine LLC, Dept. SAR, P.O. Box 605, Boonville, IN 47601. Phone: (812) 897-4908. Website: www.wraithmaker.com.

CTK Precision Introduces New P3 Mono-Grip

CTK Precision has just introduced their new P3 Mono-Grip; a vertical foregrip and a monopod all in one. The P3 Mono-Grip turns a vertical foregrip into a shooting rest with a simple turn of the wrist. The new Mono-Grip provides a rock solid support, but still gives you the flexibility and versatility when you need it most allowing you to immediately pivot your firearm from left to right to get on target fast. It is CNC machined from billet aluminum for high strength and light weight (only 6.4 oz.). Other features include a hard coat anodized finish and flat sides for attaching pressure switches. A collapsed height of 4.75 inches and an extended height of 8 inches allow the use of a 30-round magazine. The spring loaded, pop out design adjusts from a grip to mono-pod in seconds. The durable rubber foot on the bottom resists slipping and will not harm finishes. The new Mono-Grip fits all Mil-Spec 1913 Picatinny rails. For more information, or to place an order, please contact CTK Precision, Dept. SAR, E5861 Herzberg Road, Marion, WI 54950. Phone: (715) 754-2891. Website: www.ctkprecision.com.

Laser Devices Introduces New High Power Tactical Lasers

Laser Devices, Inc., manufacturer of state-of-the-art visible and infrared aiming lasers, handheld and weapon-mounted tactical lights and small arms training systems is pleased to announce the new high power models of the Inline and Offset Tactical Aiming Lasers-ITAL-HP and OTAL-HP. These two new models feature a high power focusable/defocusable infrared (35mW) (835nM) beam. When focused, the beam provides pin-point aiming and pointing. When defocused, the beam spreads to provide supplemental infrared illumination for use with night vision devices. Each device is also equipped with a low-power setting to reduce the output power to an eye-safe level for use indoors, at close range and for force-on-force training exercises. A focusing ring on the front of the housing allows the user to focus or defocus the laser depending on their mission requirements. Defocusing the laser provides supplemental spotlight illumination to search shadowed areas. When the laser is focused to a point it can be used for precise aiming of the firearm or as a target pointer. The ITAL-HP and OTALHP are activated using a remote cable pressure pad switch. This electronic switch allows the user to operate the laser in a momentary mode by pressing and releasing the switch or to instantly activate the laser in a continuous ON mode by tapping the switch twice. A built-in safety circuit automatically turns the laser off after five minutes of continuous activation. Like the original ITAL and OTAL the ITAL-HP and OTAL-HP are manufactured to meet MIL-STD-810F requirements for reliability under the most adverse environmental conditions from desert heat to arctic cold. Fully waterproof to 3 meters and precision machined from hard anodized aircraft grade aluminum, the ITA-HP and TOTALHP are virtually indestructible. Powered with a single AA battery, these devices are lightweight (6.1 ounces) and compact (3.7 inches long and 1.75 inches wide). ITAHP and TOTAL-HP are available with two mounting options: Quick Release Throw Lever mount or Knurled Thumb Screw mount and supplied with one AA battery and a remote cable pressure pad switch. Optional accessories include pattern generating optics and a diffuser to provide wide area illumination at close range. ITAL-HP and OTAL-HP are powerful infrared laser devices that are only available to law enforcement and military agencies. In addition, they are subject to U.S. Export control through the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations. For more information, please contact them at Laser Devices, Inc., Dept. SAR, 2 Harris Court, Suite A-4, Monterey, CA 93040. Phone: (831) 373-0701. Fax: (831) 373-0903. Website: www.laserdevices.com.

Wilson Combat Introduces the Elite Tactical Magazine for the 1911

Wilson Combat, developer and builder of the legendary 47 Series magazine, announces a completely new 1911 magazine for serious, particularly combat oriented, shooters: the Elite Tactical Magazine, or ETM. Designed from the start as an 8- round magazine, it is the ultimate single stack magazine. The ETM features a heavier, stainless steel tube that’s more resistant to spreading and lip failure than any previous magazine, by any manufacturer. The re-designed spring is new and is more reliable and longer lasting than anything previously available. Numbered cartridge observation ports are located on the rear edge of each side of the tube, 1 through 10 numbers are etched on the base pad for tracking your magazines, and an innovative base pad allows for a longer tube and less spring compression, with a perfect flare for a sure grip when removing a magazine under adverse situations. Every component is either stainless steel or super tough nylon, making the ETM impervious to the elements. For more information on this new magazine, as well as their complete line of guns and accessories, please contact Wilson Combat/ Scattergun Technologies, Dept. SAR, 2234 County Road, Suite 719, Berryville, AR 72616. Phone: (870) 545-8618. Fax: (870) 545-3310. You can visit their website at: www.wilsoncombat.com.

The 35th annual International Trade Fair for Hunting and Sporting Arms, Outdoor Articles and Accessories, was held in Nürnberg, Germany, from March 14 – 17, 2008. Formerly the “Internationale Waffen Ausstellung” (International Weapon Exhibition) the show is frequently referred to as “IWA,” despite the change in name. As one of the largest European tradeshows dedicated to shooting, hunting, and outdoor activities, nearly 600,000 square feet of exhibition space was filled by 1,046 exhibitors from 51 countries, including over 100 exhibitors from the United States. Approximately 30,000 individuals from over 100 countries attended the show. Of note were several new product releases from well known and lesser known manufacturers.

Heckler and Koch, JS

Heckler and Koch Jagn und Sportwaffen (HK JS) displayed a new civilian version of the HK416 rifle, dubbed the MR223 rifle. While similar in exterior appearances to the HK416 rifle, subtle engineering differences were observed. The changes were explained as necessary in order to comply with European and Canadian firearm regulations.

The four significant differences between the MR223 and HK416 were the rear take down pin on the MR223 lower receiver was relocated 6mm to the rear, preventing the installation of a 416 upper receiver on an MR223 lower receiver. In addition, the MR223 chamber has a protrusion, preventing the installation of a standard AR-15/M16 bolt carrier into the MR223 receiver. In the event that an AR-15/M16 bolt carrier was installed in an MR223, the bolt would not fully seat within the chamber, and the rifle would not function. The MR223 bolt carrier has a corresponding notch to match the chamber protrusion, allowing the rifle to function properly with use of an MR223 bolt carrier. Finally, the firearm was not equipped with a flash suppressor, although the muzzle was threaded to allow the installation of a flash suppressor if desired.

As the distributor responsible for distributing Heckler and Koch firearms throughout Europe and Canada, the products on display by HK JS are not readily available for sale within the United States, but offer a glimpse into the company’s marketing strategy. Presumably, any civilian legal HK416 rifle sold within the United States would be made within the US, and would not be neutered in the same manner as the European version.

Sport Systeme Dittrich

Sport Systeme Dittrich (www.ssd-weapon.com) displayed six classic semiautomatic versions of German firearms. Manufactured to the same original manufacturing dimensions and specifications as the originals, Sport Systeme Dittrich currently manufactures semiautomatic versions of the FG42 machine gun, MP3008 and MP38 submachine guns and the STG43 and MP44 assault rifles. Already on sale within Europe, three models have reportedly been submitted to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Firearms Technology Branch for examination, review, and import approval.

The BD42 (the semiautomatic version of the FG42) utilizes gas operated, closed bolt operation, and retails for approximately 6,000 Euros (approx. $9,400 as of June, 08). The BD44 (the semiautomatic version of the MP44) is also gas operated, fires from the closed bolt, and retails for approximately 2,200 Euros (approx. $3,400). Reportedly, the hardware between the semiautomatic and fully automatic versions are interchangeable, with the exception of the bolt. The semiautomatic receivers will not accept a fully automatic bolt, thereby precluding an easy conversion of the semiautomatic firearm from semiautomatic to full automatic fire. Given the current exchange rate between the Dollar and the Euro, the semiautomatic versions offered are quite costly, yet cost significantly less than the transferable fully automatic versions.

The BD38 (the semiautomatic version of the MP38) and the BD 3008 (the semiautomatic version of the MP 3008) both fire from the open bolt, and presumably could not be imported for commercial sale within the United States.

Glock

Glock (www.Glock.com) revealed two new grip patterns for the Glock pistol, and sought consumer input on a preferred pattern. Currently dubbed the “Rough Textured Frame,” both patterns seemed to offer increased grip and control via the use of an aggressive grip pattern when compared to the current production grip pattern. Both grip patterns functioned well, without affecting the overall function and reliability of the firearm.

Also of note, Glock has reportedly manufactured a disposable wet suppressor made entirely of plastic. According to a Glock representative, the suppressor is intended for use with one or two magazines of ammunition before losing effectiveness. Upon completion of use, the suppressor is thrown away. Admittedly, a disposable plastic suppressor would challenge the current US consumer suppressor market. Luckily, the disposable suppressor is reportedly still in the developmental stage, and not for sale. Although on site at the show, the plastic suppressor was not on display and requests to view the available model were politely refused.

Madbull Airsoft and Red Wolf Airsoft

Red Wolf Airsoft (website at: www.redwolfairsoft.com) in conjunction with Madbull Airsoft (website at: www.madbullairsoft.com) has reportedly received an exclusive license to manufacture an airsoft version of the Transformational Defense Industries (TDI) Kriss Super V submachine gun. Previous communications with TDI have reported the planned sale of a semiautomatic Kriss Super V rifle, however for those enthusiasts that desire a fully automatic submachine gun, this may be the only way to possess a realistic look-alike, without resorting to the purchase of a post-86 dealer sample machine gun. The airsoft version is still in the developmental stage, with only a wax model available on display at the show. Full production is expected by press time.

German Sport Guns

The recent release of the German Sport Guns GSG-5, .22 caliber HK MP5 look-alike is well known throughout the firearms industry. However, German Sport Guns announced the production of a .22 caliber AK47 look-alike, endorsed personally by General Mikhail Kalashnikov. As the inventor of the AK47, this is reportedly the first AK47 rifle to be personally endorsed by Kalashnikov. No price for the planned .22 caliber AK was discussed.

Also of note was the large inventory of realistic airsoft guns on display by German Sport Guns. A quick comparison between an airsoft MP5 to the GSG-5 .22 caliber rifle demonstrated well manufactured products, with an attention to detail. Given that the GSG-5 rifle is a faithful copy of the original Heckler and Koch MP5, the differences between the .22 caliber firearm and the airsoft version were very slight, and barely noticeable. Knowing the simplistic design and diminutive size of a .22 caliber rifle, one would expect additional models to be released in short order. Examination of the airsoft versions of the British L85 bullpup, French FAMAS F1, and SIG 550 series were promising, and .22 caliber versions of these rifles would likely sell very well within the commercial US market.

Smith and Wesson/Powertech

Smith and Wesson, together with Powertech (www.swflashlights.com) displayed tool room prototypes of a new weapon illuminator system. Powered by two CR123 batteries, the Mk-300 illuminator offers a 200 lumen CREE LED main light, a 10mW green laser/target designator, and two IR capable LED navigation lights. Designed to give the operator total control, the unit offers two switches: a four position rotary switch to power the main light and laser, and a second switch to control the navigation LEDs. The main switch allows the operator to choose from light only, laser only, light and laser, or power off. A secondary three position switch allows the operator to choose between powering one LED or both. In this manner, the operator could choose between utilizing an IR LED in conjunction with night vision equipment, while allowing the other LED to provide visible light. Finally, the unit allows the operator additional control via a switch integrated into the grip, allowing momentary on/off or constant light.

The pre-production model allowed the unit to be mounted to any mil-spec M1903 Picatinny rail system. The production model will reportedly also allow the use of a LaRue Tactical LT 107 rail mount. Retail price will be approximately $450, and although final production had not been initiated as of the show, the units are expected to be in full production by the time of publication.

IWA 2008 was a great success, and offered a glimpse into the European firearms markets. The 2009 show is scheduled for March 13-16, 2009, in Nürnberg, Germany. Additional information regarding the show can be found at www.iwa.info.

Jason. Wong is a Washington licensed attorney. He regularly provides legal counsel to manufacturers, importers, and exporters in the firearms and defense industries via his law firm, The Firearms Law Group. You can email Jason at jmwong@FirearmsLawGroup.com.

Most owners and operators of both the full auto and semiautomatic series of the .30 caliber Browning machine gun know of the difficulties in removing and reinstalling the driving spring and driving spring guide rod in the bolt. What most don’t realize is the ever present danger that these two parts represent.

When stripping the Browning and removing the bolt, the driving spring is compressed and locked in the bolt by the driving spring guide rod. The guide rod, under pressure, gets locked into the bolt by two little studs attached to the end of the guide rod that get turned just a quarter turn to lock the guide rod into two small recesses inside the bolt. These studs have been known to fail and when that happens the guide rod becomes a missile that can do great bodily harm to you or to someone nearby. The same result can happen if the guide rod has not been fully turned that quarter turn and seated correctly and the studs slip out of their recesses. The velocity is enough that if hit squarely in the chest, a cracked sternum and heart failure can occur, and, if hit in the eye area, besides blindness, is enough to actually enter the brain causing severe injury, or death. It is, in effect, like a loaded gun, and the rear of the bolt with the guide rod under compression by the driving spring should always be pointed in a safe direction, whether on the work bench or at the range.

The guide rod and driving spring should always be removed when the bolt is out of the gun, making the bolt “safe,” so as to not have to worry about where its rear is pointing, thus allowing one to concentrate better on the job at hand such as setting headspace, checking sear spring tension, firing pin protrusion, cocking lever action or cleaning. Additionally, if the bolt is stored out of the gun (always a good security precaution), the spring should not be kept compressed inside the bolt.

There are many hazards in removing and installing the guide rod under tension. Besides the danger of a parts failure of the guide rod studs breaking, or the guide rod is improperly seated, the screwdriver, coin or cartridge rim you are using to push the guide rod in or out under pressure can slip causing the guide rod to fly backwards at a great velocity. Additionally, trying to compress the long driving spring into its “well” in the rear of the bolt can cause the spring to kink, affecting operation. These problems have been endemic to the operators of Brownings since its inception: until now.

Often, the simple solution escapes everyone and it took 90 years for someone to recognize the problem and provide an easy and safe answer to it.

Dolf Goldsmith, world renowned authority on Brownings, has often warned of the dangers that the guide rod and driving spring represent. To that end, has devised a simple disassembly/reassembly tool consisting of just two parts that is easy to use to remove and replace the guide rod and driving spring safely. In this he was assisted by his friend, Gordon Harris.

This disassembly/reassembly can be accomplished with the internal bolt parts in place or removed. The two parts consist of a securing plate with two bolt guide studs and a spring/guide tube and a driving tool with a special cup that is affixed to the end of the guide rod.

Using the Tool

Instructions for using the Browning Machine Gun Bolt Driving Spring and Driving Spring Guide Rod disassembly/assembly tool are simple.

• 1) After removing the bolt from the gun, to disassemble the driving spring and the guide rod from the bolt, remove the extractor and place the bolt by its cocking handle hole and its extractor hole over the two pins of the bolt securing plate with the rod aligning with the tube.
• 2) Insert the driving tool through the tube and against the end of the guide rod, twist it to ensure the blade is in the slot at the end of the rod and give it a quarter turn in a counterclockwise direction until it can be felt that it is loose. Ease the guide rod and spring out through the tube under spring pressure.
• 3) To assemble, proceed as in 1) above, and insert the spring and the guide rod in the tube of the securing plate and into the bolt.
• 4) Place the driving tool against the slot in the end of the guide rod, and make sure it locks into place. Then, by pressing against the handle, compress the spring inside the tube. Push it all the way in until it stops, then give the driving tool handle a quarter turn in a clockwise direction to lock the small studs on the guide rod into their recesses in the hole at the rear of the bolt. Make sure by feel that the guide rod is turned all the way and that the studs are inside their recesses, and that the guide rod stays in place inside the bolt. While doing this, keep a firm grip on the driving tool handle so that the spring and guide rod cannot “escape.” The spring and its guide rod are now assembled into the bolt, which can now be lifted off of the securing plate and the extractor replaced.

Caution

Remember, once the spring and the guide rod are locked inside the bolt, NEVER look at the bolt from the rear and always keep the rear of the bolt pointed in a safe direction. The assembled unit must be handled with the same care as one would give a loaded handgun with a hair trigger. It is possible for the driving spring rod to not be fully engaged and slip, also, the small pins holding the guide rod in the bolt have been known to fail. People have been injured and even blinded and caution is of paramount importance.

This disassembly/assembly tool should be in every Browning owner’s tool kit. The tool can be used with the bolt assembled or stripped. Not only does it ease the removal and insertion of the driving spring and guide rod, it has the added benefit of introducing a much needed safety factor for the process.

The Browning machine gun bolt driving spring and driving spring guide rod disassembly/assembly tool can be ordered from Dolf Goldsmith, Long Mountain Outfitters, LLC or ask your local Class III dealer. The cost is just $69.95 with shipping and handling included.

  Source:

Dolf Goldsmith
P.O. Box 791870
San Antonio, TX 78279

Long Mountain Outfitters, LLC
631 N. Stephanie St., #560
Henderson, NV 89014
Phone: (702) 564-0948
Fax: (702) 558-1728

If you read The Legal Side by our Firearms Attorney in this issue, it should now be very apparent to everyone just how important the NFATCA is to every NFA owner in the country. We played a major role in that decision. The NFATCA is working far beyond what anyone expected. We continue to work for the good of all of the community and hope that every NFA owner realizes that this one single effort has done more for our community as a unified organization than any other effort in the history of NFA ownership. And, we are currently on top of virtually every issue that faces the NFA community.

Most of you don’t know that for over a year now the NFATCA has been working closely with ATF on a matter that affects more than 1,700 transferable machine guns that are in many of your hands today. Unfortunately, there was some question as to whether the upper or the lower on the FNC rifle was the recognized receiver of this gun. To add to the confusion, on some guns, you could find the serial number of the gun on both places. So the question came up many times from within the Bureau, as well as within the industry, as to what is the recognized receiver on an FNC rifle: the upper or the lower?

Conversion of the FNC rifle with a registered FNC sear has been going on, with ATF approval, for over twenty years. In the early days of this conversion there was no defined written process as to how to receive approval for converting a gun using a registered FNC sear. In many cases an ATF representative would visit the manufacturer and look at the process and would say, “The manufacturer’s process was fine.” End of story. Because there was no formal approval process these guns were readily converted, sold and transferred, over and over again. Because the sears were properly registered and the guns were recognized in section “h.” (additional information) as the host gun, no one ever questioned the validity of the conversion. Literally hundreds of the FNC guns were converted and recognized as fully transferable machine guns. Then, all of a sudden, someone in the Class III community posed the question, “What really is the receiver on an FNC; the upper, or the lower?” Remember the old axiom to be careful what you ask for. In this case, that was surely true. What occurred next cost both the Bureau and the NFATCA countless hours of research and negotiation to reach a final and complete understanding of this single question.

Take into consideration that if the lower is officially recognized as the receiver, and the receiver was in fact modified to accept an FN sear, then you would have created a Post 86 machine gun because even though you are using a registered sear, you would have been modifying the receiver, in effect, making a “new” machine gun. Stop and think about that for a moment. It is truly scary to think that over 1,700 FNC converted machine guns would all of a sudden be re-classified as Post 86 machine guns, simply because the noted receiver of these guns had been modified to accept the sear. This was a huge problem and our greatest fear. What was once a $7,500 investment would now be, for the most part, worthless to the average owner of these converted machine guns. Once the NFATCA learned that this was a possibility we feverishly began working with the Firearms Technology Branch, ATF counsel, and executives within the ATF to defend a position for the entire community. Our position was that the true receiver in the FNC family of rifles was the upper, not the lower portion of this weapon, and modification of the trigger assembly for the use of a sear was in fact modifying gun parts and not the receiver. Nearly 70% of the FNCs imported into the US by HOWCO or Gun South saw a serial number on the upper only. In most cases the serial number did not appear on the lower. This is a great point to ponder when you consider the similarity on the conversions of the HK family of rifles: installing a sear in the trigger pack or gun part.

After much and lengthy discussion and work within the Bureau, the NFATCA successfully negotiated a position with ATF to protect the FNC and any future conversions of this weapon’s platform. Our efforts, and most importantly our relationship with ATF, are paying off for everyone. The ATF ruling, 2008-1, was a major win for the entire community and a key accomplishment, especially for the relationship that both the BATFE and the NFATCA have worked so hard to bring together. This single effort exemplifies what can happen when we all work as a team.

The NFATCA would especially like to extend our thanks to Acting Director Sullivan and his entire team in working so closely with us on this one single issue.

I would encourage everyone to read the ruling in The Legal Side column in this issue. It is critical for all of us to understand that the NFATCA is successful and is working to not only improve the relationship with our governing body, the BATFE, but to improve the communications, the understandings, and the many rulings that affect all of us. Yes, things can change, and our relationship with the Bureau allows us the opportunity to make things work.

Still wondering why you should join the NFATCA? This is a perfect example of the things we can accomplish. Come and join the spirit of a relationship that is working for all of our benefits. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: United We Stand, Divided We Fall. In the face of an uncertain political climate, join and support the only organization that is working on your behalf, the NFATCA. Visit us at www.NFATCA.org.

“The Gun That Made the Twenties Roar”

Many stories involving the Thompson have been written over the years. The first near complete historical publication was The Gun That Made The Twenties Roar by William J. Helmer, first published in 1969. Prior to this publication, most stories on the Thompson were only a rehash of old news and magazine articles – some accurate, some not. Mr. Helmer’s attention to detail from the beginnings of General Thompson’s dream in the early 1900s until the end of World War II is exceptional. However, instead of continuing his scholarly efforts, he chose to end the story with a brief summation about what happened after Maguire Industries, Inc. sold off the Thompson submachine gun.

In a few short paragraphs, Mr. Helmer told of a corporate re-organization where the once famous Auto-Ordnance Corporation was renamed as a division of Maguire Industries, Inc. and how later, the Thompson was transferred from Maguire Industries to Kilgore Manufacturing Company, then to Frederic A. Willis and finally to Numrich Arms Comapny.

According to Mr. Helmer’s footnotes, much of this information was provided by George Numrich, the last party in this series of transactions. Of course, it was all new information at the time so everyone was pleased just to learn how the Thompson actually made the move from Maguire to Numrich.

Until now, this is all that has been recorded about the Thompson during the last years at Maguire Industries. In 1945, the Thompson submachine gun at Maguire Industries was packed away in crates and lay dormant in a warehouse taking up space until an unexpected offer to purchase the Thompson in 1949 came from the Kilgore Manufacturing Company of Westerville, Ohio. Kilgore reportedly had no interest in the Thompson, but apparently thought a market existed for the Thompson in Egypt. Kilgore reportedly paid Maguire $385,000. The Kilgore deal with the Egyptians never materialized and Kilgore later sold off the Thompson without ever opening the crates.

Maguire Industries

Why Maguire Industries sold the Thompson can be resolved in one word: money. Russell Maguire was a very capable businessman who saw a great opportunity with the nearly defunct and broke Auto-Ordnance Corporation; a business entity that had been going nowhere for many years. With Maguire’s money, talent and hand picked management team, he turned this soon to be liquidated business into a great and profitable manufacturing empire. Maguire also had the foresight to look past the end of World War II and realize the Tommy Gun business was going to end. After all, under his watch, the Auto-Ordnance Corporation was responsible for the manufacture of over 1,750,000 Thompsons – all the world would need for many years to come. Actual production of the Thompson ended in February 1944. Maguire wisely packed away the Tommy Gun at the end of the war and diversified his business enterprise for the years ahead.

Unfortunately, the years after World War II were not very kind to Maguire Industries. Part of the reason may have been the loss of his Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer, Eugene Powers, who left Maguire Industries in June 1945. Powers had been with Maguire since the beginning of the Thompson venture; he was actively involved in the negotiations to purchase the Auto-Ordnance Corporation and the creation of the Thompson Automatic Arms Company. By 1949, Maguire Industries was having serious monetary losses. Powers came back to Maguire Industries in 1950, shortly after the sale of the Thompson, and returned the corporation to profitability.

Frederic A. Willis

The president of Kilgore in 1949 was Henry Watkins. In a short letter to Mr. Helmer in 1964, Mr. Watkins disclosed how Kilgore Manufacturing was introduced to the deal that led to the purchase of the Thompson from Maguire Industries by a man named Frederic Willis, a former Vice-President of the Auto-Ordnance Corporation. Specific details of the actual deal brokered by Willis involving the sale of the Thompson between Maguire Industries and Kilgore Manufacturing are unknown.

The revelation that Frederic Willis actually brought the Thompson deal to Kilgore is very revealing. Willis was hired as a Vice-President of the Thompson Automatic Arms Corporation (TAAC) and its subsidiary, the Auto-Ordnance Corporation (AOC), by Russell Maguire in June 1940. Willis was a former Army officer and a veteran of the Mexican border service and the First World War. His first assignment was the arms expansion program at TAAC/AOC. Willis was quoted in a 1940 New York Times article as saying, “With current methods of warfare, the submachine gun is to modern military units what the blitzkrieg is to modern military tactics. It steps up tremendously the firepower of the individual soldier or unit.”

It appears Russell Maguire sought out one or more of his former executives in an attempt to sell the Thompson business. The bond between Maguire and Willis must have been very strong. During his tenure with Maguire Industries, Willis authored a book on the Thompson submachine gun, privately printed at least one copy, and presented it to Russell Maguire.

With Kilgore looking to expand its business line and Willis looking for a buyer of a product no longer needed by Maguire Industries, a deal was struck. Eugene Powers was not involved in the 1949 deal between Maguire and Kilgore, but he related to Mr. Helmer in a letter dated May 1, 1964, that, “The drawings, blueprints, dies and other assets strictly related to the submachine gun were sold, I believe, to Kilgore.”

George Numrich reported to Mr. Helmer that he had heard the deal between Maguire Industries and Kilgore “was transacted from start to finish in less than 48 hours.” Obviously, this could have only happened if Russell Maguire was directly involved in the sale.

The Kilgore Manufacturing Company

The Kilgore Manufacturing Company was started in 1912 by Joseph D. Kilgore in Homestead, Pennsylvania to manufacture small cast iron cap pistols and mechanical toys. In 1918, Kilgore moved its operation to Westerville, Ohio. At one time, Kilgore was the largest toy cap pistol maker in the United States. Kilgore expanded its product line in 1929 with the establishment of the International Flare-Signal Division in Tippecanoe City, Ohio. During World War II, Kilgore became very active in the manufacturing of munitions and pyrotechnic devices. The Westerville plant had a north and south side that was separated by a main highway. The north plant was engaged in the manufacture of toy guns and caps. The south plant was used to manufacture items for government sales, mainly pyrotechnic devices. Interviews of several former Kilgore employees disclosed that after World War II, Kilgore was searching for ways to supplement the toy line and expand its business operation.

The 1964 letter by Kilgore President Henry Watkins also told how Kilgore Manufacturing Company purchased “the tools for the Thompson submachine gun” from Maguire Industries. Watkins stated Kilgore made the purchase intending to sell the tools to manufacture the Thompson to a foreign country. Watkins did not reveal the foreign country or the reason the deal did not occur, but did state Kilgore “never actually manufactured any (new) submachine guns.” However, Kilgore did acquire in the sale, or assembled from parts after the sale, some complete Thompsons. Watkins told how Kilgore had “a license issued by a Federal agency” and actually sold “about a half dozen guns” before getting out of the machine gun business.

According to George Numrich, who later purchased the Thompson from Frederic Wallis, Kilgore reportedly paid Maguire Industries $385,000 for all rights and interest to the Thompson submachine gun. As this story unfolds, it will become quite apparent that Willis would have been a very informed party regarding each sale of the Thompson since it left Maguire Industries.

The Thompson at Kilgore Manufacturing was described by retired Kilgore VP Robert Long as a “hush hush venture” that was run out of the front office. According to Long, the rank and file employees at Kilgore knew nothing or very little about this project. Mr. Long had very little contact with the “machine gun outfit” at Kilgore; however, he does recall seeing a machine gun at the plant one day that had a drum attached underneath it in a building on the south side of the plant. The building was broken up into various rooms and the machine gun stuff was located in one of the rooms. Mr. Long remembered the building was not in use before the Thompson parts were moved into it; he also recalled the building was last used to make chemical igniters for flamethrowers.

Was Kilgore only purchasing the tools to manufacture the Thompson with the plan to sell these assets off to a foreign government? The search for answers involved many interviews with every former and retired Kilgore employee that could be located. Unfortunately, due to the passage of time, many have passed away. However, one employee knew exactly what the author was taking about when the interview topic referenced the Thompson. Interestingly, this employee, Bob Tillman, was never at the Kilgore plant in Westerville, but was hired by Kilgore after the Kilgore operation left Westerville, Ohio in 1961 and moved to Tennessee. While searching for something in an old file cabinet that had been moved down to Tennessee from the Westerville plant, Bob noticed an unusual sales brochure with a picture of a gun and the Kilgore logo. It was definitely not a cap gun, and not something Bob had ever seen associated with Kilgore. This brochure was rescued and set aside; shortly thereafter, the file cabinet and all remaining contents were discarded. The brochure tells a story by itself and also reveals another business venture contemplated by Kilgore management officials who purchased the Thompson. The brochure’s striking resemblance to older Thompson catalogs is uncanny. Without doubt, someone at Kilgore used an original Auto-Ordnance catalog as a guide for the design of the Kilgore Thompson sales brochure.

In 30 short years the Thompson motto had gone from General Thompson’s, “On the Side of Law and Order” to Kilgore’s, “Fire Power Is Peace Power” – an uncanny similarity in message. Kilgore apparently liked the use of slogans or motto’s for the products it produced. The motto for the well known Kilgore safety flare was, “Light your way for safety.”

Page 4 of the brochure referenced how Kilgore is a manufacturer of the Thompson submachine gun. It also advertises that spare parts “are available for immediate delivery” for all models of the Thompson. This is the only Kilgore brochure on the Thompson that has been located to date – and the only Thompson brochure found in the aforementioned file cabinet.

The H.P. White Laboratory

Careful reading of Mr. Helmer’s treatise on the Thompson did reveal a small clue about the happenings at Kilgore involving the Thompson. Hidden away in the footnote section is reference to an event that indicates the officials at Kilgore did not just purchase the Thompson to store or sell parts.

It appears someone at Kilgore opened some of the crated parts and found at least two Model 1923 Autorifles that were submitted to H.P. White Laboratory, Bel Air, Maryland, for testing purposes in 1949. Inquires at H.P. White revealed that Kilgore was a customer of H.P. White Laboratory in 1949. Not only did Kilgore submit the Model 1923 rifles for testing, Kilgore also hired H.P. White to design a firearms range. Additional reports were made by H.P. White for Kilgore on a “comparative evaluation of a 7.92×57 prototype military rifle to the 7.62 Russian Tokarev rifle” along with reports on the Garand rifle, the Johnson rifle, and the MP43. The reports were dated July 13, August 5, August 10, and August 30 – all in 1949. The reports were addressed to: Dan Robinson, Ordnance Engineer, Kilgore Manufacturing Company, Westerville, Ohio

Interestingly, no report was located involving the Thompson Autorifles dated June 18, 1949. All efforts to obtain copies or review the remaining reports at H.P. White have been unsuccessful.

The Thompson at Kilgore

Numerous interviews of former Kilgore employees resulted in very little information concerning the Thompson at Kilgore. However, this all changed with the interview of former Kilgore employee John Ruyan. John started working for Kilgore in 1947 or 1948 as a chemist. He was later placed in charge of the south side of the Kilgore plant in Westerville. John recalled that Kilgore bought out a corporation that owned the Thompson and had the parts shipped to the Westerville plant. He does not know the exact reasoning behind why Kilgore decided to purchase the Thompson, but he believes the company was trying to expand its product line and thought the Thompson would fit right in with the other ordnance work it was doing. At the time, Kilgore made explosives and flares for the US Army – but John never did see the connection between the explosives, flares and machine guns.

John recounted the following story about the Thompson at Kilgore: “The crates containing the Thompson parts were locked in a building on the south side of the Kilgore plant. The north side of the plant, separated by East Broadway in Westerville, manufactured the cap guns, caps, toys and later, plastic items. The south side of the plant manufactured flares and munitions and was where the government business was conducted. The building that stored the Thompson parts had bars on the windows and doors installed before the Thompson parts arrived, and only one person, the project manager, had the key. While at Westerville, Kilgore Manufacturing was a very secure plant with fences and guards. The officials at Kilgore would not have taken a risk of losing any guns or parts. I was only in the building that contained the Thompson parts two or three times. I do not recall the exact year or years all of this occurred, but I believe the 1949 to 1951 time frame would be about right. I was in the building one time to take measurements to build a manufacturing or production line for the manufacture of flamethrower igniters. I am pretty sure the Thompson Project Manager was a man named Dan Robinson. Dan would have been in his 40s or 50s during that time. Whenever anyone at the plant needed access to that building, they had to go get Dan and he would accompany them to the building, open the door and stay with them until they left. I always assumed the government was somehow involved with this project the way the Project Manager guarded the parts. The crates were about 4 or 5 foot long, about 1 foot wide and 2 foot deep. The crates were full of gun parts and the parts were labeled. I would guess the number of crates I saw containing Thompson parts was somewhere around twenty, maybe less. The crates were stacked around the floor beside tables in what appeared to be the set-up for a production line to assemble the guns. I do remember a crate or two actually on the tables but most crates were on the floor beside the tables. I am fairly certain no individual parts were actually on the tables when I was in the building. I have set up many production lines over the years and it was obvious to me the intent of the layout I saw was to assemble guns. The set-up and parts I observed was in this building for approximately a year, maybe less, before being moved to make space for other government projects. I do not know what happened to the crates of Thompson parts.”

When asked to tell what story he remembers most vividly about the Thompson at Kilgore, John replied, the Thompson parts “grew dust” – he does not know of any activity involving the Thompson parts at Kilgore. The building that housed the Thompson parts is still standing, as are many of the buildings from the old Kilgore Manufacturing plant. In the ensuing years, the building has been partitioned inside for several different small business endeavors. Two new additions have been added on to the building over the years – but the original building is still intact.

John was in the US Army during WWII and handled a Thompson with a side cocking knob. John thought the parts he saw were for a Thompson with a side cocking knob. He never saw a completed or assembled Thompson at the Kilgore plant.

All efforts to date to locate Dan Robinson or his family have been unsuccessful. Only a few of the former or retired Kilgore employees interviewed actually remember Robinson by name. Retired Vice-President Long believes Robinson was the employee that landed the munitions deal with Pakistan for Kilgore. These are the same munitions that exploded at a port in South Amboy, New Jersey on May 19, 1950, killing 31 people and injuring approximately 400 others. Dan Robinson is cited by name in a June 30, 1950, United States Coast Guard “Report of Investigation of the explosion at South Amboy, New Jersey 19 May 1950.” Robinson is introduced as the “Works Manager of the Kilgore Company” where he describes to government officials the specifications of the anti-tank and anti-personnel mines manufactured at the Kilgore plant.

The explosion at South Amboy Harbor had a profound effect on Kilgore Manufacturing and certainly could have changed any future plans Kilgore had involving the Thompson submachine gun. The explosion resulted in many years of protracted litigation for Kilgore, Hercules Powder and several other companies. The explosion had a major impact on the operation of the plant. At the time of the explosion, Kilgore was owned by the Commercial Credit Company. The potential losses faced by Kilgore as a result of the explosion caused a complete reorganization of Kilgore. In order to stay in business and preserve future assets from potential legal judgments, the Commercial Credit Company sold all the assets of the Kilgore Manufacturing Company to a new company, named Kilgore, Incorporated. Commercial Credit retained the liquid assets of Kilgore Inc. in escrow account to protect against the lawsuits then pending. When the lawsuits were later settled, the Kilgore Manufacturing Company was dissolved into the parent corporation, Kilgore Incorporated.

The Egyptian Thompson: Do They Exist?

In 1963, Mr. Thomas B. Nelson reported in his reference book, The World’s Submachine Guns, the existence of a submachine gun referred to as an Experimental Egyptian Thompson. This .45 ACP submachine gun was reported to have the following markings stamped on top of the receiver: Auto-Ordnance Corp., Bridgeport, Connecticut, Reg. in U.S. Patent Office. The Egyptian Thompson was reportedly made in Egypt in the early 1950s and is “very crudely manufactured.” Mr. Helmer also noted the existence of this Egyptian Thompson in his footnotes and understood the possible significance or link between this Thompson, Egypt and the Kilgore Manufacturing Company. Mr. Helmer believed this Egyptian Thompson could have possibly come from parts of one of the prototype guns designed by Auto-Ordnance Engineer William Hammond in 1942. Hammond was the designer of the Auto-Ordnance Model T2, a submachine gun with a tubular receiver that was designed to one day replace the Thompson. In a letter to Mr. Helmer dated August 10, 1967, retired Auto-Ordnance employee George Goll stated that he did not know anything about an Egypt submachine gun and added that “these guns could not have (been) made from any parts left over from Hammond Gun since there were only two Hammond Guns made.” George Goll was not involved with the Thompson at Kilgore.

The reported Auto-Ordnance receiver markings have led to much speculation over the years that this Egyptian Thompson was somehow involved in the reported deal between Kilgore and Egypt. The Egyptian Thompson is currently on display at the National Firearms Centre in England, previously known as the Ministry of Defense Pattern Room. Noted British firearms enthusiast and researcher John Cross agreed to examine this Egyptian Thompson and reported the following information: “This submachine gun is very crudely made. There are no markings or numbers of any sort on any part of the gun. The gun pictured in Mr. Nelson’s book is indeed the same gun as on display at the National Firearms Centre. There is no background information on this gun at the Centre. However, a careful study of the Register of Firearms at the Centre indicates the acquisition would have been in the 1956 timeframe, around the exact time of the Suez Campaign of 1956. (A joint British and French armed expeditionary campaign that returned the Suez Canal back to British and French control after it was Nationalized by the Egyptian government.) The buttstock appears to be sawed off from an Italian Carcano rifle and has a poorly fitted alloy No. 4 buttplate. The foresight is similar to the Thompson Model M1A1 but homemade, and the rear sight is taken from some old military rifle, possibly a Martini. There is no provision for semi-automatic fire. It contains only two Thompson parts, the magazine and barrel – which is screwed only hand tight into the receiver. The extractor and the front part of the reduced diameter of the bolt have been brazed on the rear section of the bolt and then badly case hardened in an open furnace. The firing pin is machined into the breech face of what could possibly be the front section of a M1A1 Thompson bolt. Interestingly, the main spring cap is the sawed off base of an EC 43 steel .45 caliber ACP casing. The main spring was either originally not long enough or had broken and had been brazed together. The bolt body consists of a rear section of several sections welded together. The pistol grip is a machined block with the grips made of several sections of 1.5mm steel welded together in the same style as a Lewis gun. Despite appearances, the magazine catch is not from a Thompson gun.”

John made the following comment in regard to test firing this weapon: “As I had not remembered to bring my suit of armour or safety glasses with 1 inch thick glass, no attempt was made to fire this weapon!”

The mystery of the so called Egyptian Thompson was finally solved. With none of the reported Auto-Ordnance Corporation markings and obvious small workshop-like manufacturing techniques and parts, it can be positively stated this weapon is not related to the possible deal that Kilgore Manufacturing may have been negotiating with the Egyptian government in 1949 and/or 1950.

The Willis Syndicate

Approximately 3 months after the South Amboy explosion, Frederic Willis and three associates purchased back from Kilgore the “tools” for manufacturing the Thompson. Approximately fourteen months later, Numrich purchased the Thompson assets from Willis and a group of investors Numrich referred to as the “syndicate.”

Currently, the identity of only one of Willis’ associates involved in the Thompson deal with Kilgore is known. This associate is Theodore Hayes, most often referred to as “Teddy” Hayes. What is not generally known is Teddy Hayes was hired by Russell Maguire in the spring of 1942 as a Vice President of the Auto-Ordnance Corporation in charge of sales to the War Department and U.S. allies. While with Auto-Ordnance and later Maguire Industries, Hayes was described in the Washington DC Times Herald as “a natural for the post he holds, and important portals throughout the nation’s capitol open to him without a knock.” Hayes’ office was not at the Bridgeport plant, but in the nation’s capitol. His address as Vice-President of Maguire Industries was 726 Jackson Place, diagonally located across the street from the White House.

All efforts to locate members of Frederic Willis’ immediate family and identify the other two associates involved with Willis and Hayes have been unsuccessful. Very little information involving Mr. Willis has surfaced since he left Auto-Ordnance. Unfortunately, the man that brought the Thompson deal to Kilgore and later purchased and then sold the Thompson passed away in 1967.

It is interesting to note Frederic Willis is listed as the seller on several (maybe all) of the Thompson submachine guns and receivers acquired by George Numrich in 1951. The Thompson Collectors News lists Thompson submachine gun, serial number NAC 5, as being acquired by Numrich Arms Company from Fred Willis on December 1, 1951. In Gordon Herigstad’s excellent reference book, Colt Thompson Serial Numbers, Thompsons with serial numbers NAC 2 and NAC 15 are also listed as being transferred to Numrich from Fred Willis.

The Numrich Arms Company

It was very puzzling how the great majority of former and retired Kilgore employees knew absolutely nothing about the Kilgore Thompson. One would have thought the delivery of a huge quantity of machine gun parts to a small town in Ohio would have been a noteworthy event. Could the twenty crates of parts remembered by Kilgore manager John Ruyan be all the Thompson assets – and for $385,000?

The answer to the location of the Thompson assets packed away in crates and stored in a warehouse by Maguire Industries may have been answered in a Numrich Arms Company undated brochure published in what appears to be the mid 1950s. The introductory paragraph tells the reader that the brochure is a “little booklet showing a few scenes of our West Hurley, N.Y. plant.” It then states, “No pictures of our Bridgeport, Conn. or Long Beach, Calif. warehouses are included since mostly cased goods are kept there.”

In a 1964 letter to Mr. Helmer, George Numrich stated the Willis syndicate held the Thompson assets in a warehouse that they “never went near” prior to the sale of the Thompson to his company. While not completely definitive, it is certainly noteworthy that Numrich also stored cased goods at a Bridgeport, Connecticut warehouse; the home of the former Auto-Ordnance Corporation and location where the Thompson was packed away and stored in crates by Maguire Industries in 1945.

An Internal Revenue Service Investigation

An Internal Revenue Service investigation was started as a result of Numrich Arms Company registering with the IRS Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division (ATTD) approximately 95 guns. A 1967 letter from the Director of the ATTD to Mr. Helmer revealed this investigation documented the Kilgore Manufacturing Company purchased from Maguire Industries in early 1949, “the equipment and inventory to manufacture the Thompson Submachine Gun.” Included in these assets from Maguire were “a number of assembled submachine guns and sufficient parts to assemble others.” Kilgore later sold these assets to Frederic Willis and three of his associates on August 7, 1950. According to George Numrich, Kilgore “had not renewed their license” when they sold the Thompson “package” to Willis. The transfer of these submachine guns and parts from Kilgore to Willis resulted in a taxable event according to US laws and regulations relating to the transfer of machine guns – and the IRS wanted the tax that was due and owing. Representatives of Kilgore held several conferences with ATTD and the tax liability was “settled on a fair and equitable basis.”

The ATTD investigation also included the sale of the Thompson assets by Willis to the Numrich Arms Company on October 23, 1951. Willis was found not to be a qualified dealer or manufacturer under the National Firearms Act, hence the resulting assessment of transfer taxes against “Willis and his three associates” in what the ATTD termed a “business venture.” The investigation goes on to say that after a complete review of all the facts, the tax liability against Willis and his three associates was “compromised in an appropriate manner.” George Numrich later informed Mr. Helmer that he believed Kilgore paid $15,000 in taxes. Numrich also heard the Willis “syndicate” was trying to settle with the IRS for $300.

It is now very clear why Kilgore was assessed the transfer tax. Kilgore had definitely opened at least some of the crates, understood the need for federal licensing to manufacture and sell National Firearms Act weapons and sold at least a half dozen submachine guns. In addition, a quick review of the Kilgore brochure explains why the officials at Kilgore could not claim they did not contemplate a plan to manufacture and market the Thompson in the United States. Additional information on the Thompson guns sold by Kilgore or what happened to the Thompson parts at the Kilgore plant is still a mystery.

Kilgore Today

Kilgore, Inc. relocated from Westerville, Ohio to Tennessee in 1961. Around the time of the move, Kilgore merged with another company owned by the Commercial Credit Company – the Harvell Corporation. At the time, Harvell was well known for its houseware products. Two plants were initially opened, one in Bolivar, TN and one in Toone, TN. The plant in Bolivar manufactured toy cap pistols and houseware products, the plant in Toone manufactured caps and military pyrotechnics. The name Kilgore, Inc. was changed to Harvell-Kilgore Corporation. In 1963, Commercial Credit sold the Harvell-Kilgore Corporation to the American Snuff Company of Memphis, TN. American Snuff later became the Conwood Corporation. Because of declining sales, Conwood later ceased production of houseware products and dropped the name Harvell from the corporate name. In 1981, Allegany International purchased the Kilgore Corporation. Around 1985, Kilgore stopped the production of cap guns. In 1991, the production of caps ended when the cap making machines were sold to a company in New York. The Kilgore Corporation was acquired in 2001 by a British company and is now known as Kilgore Flares LLC, a member of the Chemring Group. Kilgore has been involved in many ventures throughout its history, but two areas, toy cap pistols and pyrotechnics have always been the mainstay of the business. Today, the toys and caps are no more, but Kilgore Flares is a known leader throughout the world in the development and production of airborne expendable countermeasure decoy flares.

The Kilgore Tommy Guns

Kilgore did produce a toy Thompson while located in Tennessee. It was part of a toy set known as the “Special Agent Playset.” This toy first appeared in the 1973 Kilgore Toy Catalog.

The Special Agent Playset was featured in Kilgore Catalogs until 1977 or 1978. In 1979, a new Playset, “Tactical Assault Command Squad,” was featured with a similar Tommy Gun. This Playset was also included in the 1980 Kilgore toy catalog.

Tim Goss, a prominent Kilgore collector from Westerville, Ohio, reported all the Tommy Gun Playsets, along with the individual toy guns and accessories contained in the Playsets, are quite scarce today.

The End of the Kilgore Story

Unfortunately, the end of the Kilgore story is far from complete. Given the passage of time it is going to be very difficult to obtain additional first hand information from the parties involved at Kilgore. Many parties interviewed for this story were in their 80s and 90s. Additional documentary evidence will certainly surface in the future, much like the information in this article that came to light. However, one issue that can now be laid to rest is what Kilgore planned to do with the Thompson business. Kilgore was (and always has been) a manufacturing company. The Kilgore brochure clearly shows Kilgore planned to be a manufacturer of the Thompson submachine gun. Of course, the manufacturing of the M1A1 Thompson by Kilgore did not take place – other than the possible assembly from parts of a few guns. The IRS investigation and other sources cited above, established that Kilgore purchased the Thompson from Maguire Industries and firmly established ownership of the Thompson for Kilgore Manufacturing, the Willis group and the Numrich Arms Company.

New Panther Sportical 7.62 Rifle from DPMS

DPMS Firearms, LLC takes the affordable 5.56x45mm Panther Sportical to the big-bore market with the introduction of the 7.62 NATO Panther Sportical. This introductory level, large-bore rifle is capable of transitioning between the forest and the rifle range with ease thereby bridging the gap between the sporting and tactical markets. Chambered in 7.62 NATO, this lightweight rifle features a 16-inch chrome-moly steel heavy barrel, a slick-side upper receiver and carbine length GlacierGuards. The aluminum upper and lower receivers feature a uniform, Mil-Spec hard-coat anodizing. A semiautomatic trigger group, integral trigger guard, A2 Pistol Grip and the Pardus 6-position, telescoping carbine stock complete the introductory rifle. Two 20-round steel magazines, a cleaning kit and hard case for storage come standard with each rifle. The rifle weighs just 8.3 pounds when empty. Optic is not included with the rifle. Available now, the 7.62 NATO Panther Sportical retails for $989. DPMS Firearms, LLC is an industry leader in providing quality AR-style rifles, components and accessories. No other company offers more styles or configurations of AR rifles. DPMS also provides choices for high-power and small-bore shooters by offering several rifles chambered in .204 Ruger, .223 Remington, 5.56×45 NATO, .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.8×43 SPC, 7.62×39, .308 Winchester, .300 Remington SAUM and .338 Federal. For more information on this new rifle please contact them at DPMS Firearms, LLC, Dept. SAR, 3312 12th Street SE, Saint Cloud, MN 56304. Phone: (320) 258-4448. Fax: (320) 258-4449. They can be found on the web at www.dpmsinc.com.

A New Version of the Famous Sterling Submachine Gun

CPS Company announces, A Gun from Dagenham, American Redux 1958-2008. It is their new line of limited edition Sterling L2A3 submachine guns available beginning this fall. These fully transferable NFA submachine guns are the result of eight years of research and materials acquisition to authentically document and reproduce the original British military version of the well-known Mk4 submachine gun. Between 1956 and 1959, Sterling Armament Company, Dagenham, Essex, England produced approximately 26,000 L2A3 submachine guns for the British Ministry of Defence, before the MoD decided to finish production requirements themselves. As a result of a court settlement, Sterling went on to make the Mk4 version and sell it commercially around the world; while the L2A3 remained exclusively with the British military, never available for sale or permanent export anywhere. Total Government and Sterling L2A3 production reached 190,000. Only a handful remain today in overseas museums as the rest were declared obsolete and destroyed in 1994. These historical recreations are marked GUN, SUB MACHINE, 9mm L2A3 and serial numbered as Sterling production pieces. Each one has additional Government modifications of a reinforced butt stock, checkered magazine release button and finished in smooth black paint, applied over a phosphate treatment. Additionally, four new-in-wrap magazines, original No.5 bayonet and scabbard (both MoD refurbished), sling, military handbook, F1 magazine pouch and a serial numbered Certificate of Authenticity are fitted together inside a custom birch display case. For more information contact CPS Company, Dept. SAR, P.O. Box 261, Monticello, WI 53570-0261. Phone: (608) 274-7946. Fax: (608) 276-7477.

StormWerkz Introduces New Krinkov Scope Mount

StormWerkz has just added two new scope mounts to their line of firearm upgrades for the Bulgarian/Russian and Yugoslavian Krinkov AKs utilizing the military standard Picatinny rail. Both Weaver and Picatinny rings and adapters fit this mount. Previously, the only way to mount an optic on a “Krink” was the use of a side mount, which can be expensive, or by using a rail fastened over the gas tube that can expose the optic to extreme heat. StormWerkz has taken care of the problem and its new mounts fasten to the gun’s top cover right in front of the rear sight. It fastens with 4 socket head cap screws through the top cover for a rock solid attachment. They have designed it to make as much rail as possible in the space available on the top covers. These affordable Krink scope mounts are ideal for many of the new compact optics on the market today. The mount body is completely CNC machined from aerospace aluminum and anodized matte black. Each mount comes with screws, wrench, drill bit and a drilling template. For more information contact StormWerkz, Dept. SAR, 408 15th Ave East, Superior, WI 54880. Phone: (218) 349-6175. Website: www.stormwerkz.com.

While the theme this year at the 137th Annual Meetings & Exhibits of the National Rifle Association was a “Celebration of American Values,” the NRA leadership warned of a major political storm approaching over gun rights.

Held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, May 16-18, this well-attended event drew over 66,300 people to the meetings. The exhibit hall, which contained the booths of firearms and accessory makers, gun collectors and hunting trip outfitters, boasted over 400 exhibitors.

During the Annual Meeting of Members, NRA Executive Vice President, Wayne R. LaPierrre, warned of a “perfect storm” (in the political sense) approaching for those who cherish Second Amendment freedoms.

After showing a series of filmed interviews with residents of New Orleans who had their firearms confiscated by police in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, LaPierre said the political storm approaching is the worst he has seen in the thirty years he has been working for the NRA.

“Behind every anti-gun law, or candidate, or editorial, or movie is a ruling class that can’t stand you taking responsibility for your own safety,” LaPierre declared. “The ruling class wants you to believe that they’ll protect you so that you will be dependent on them.”

Citing such self-appointed “ruling classes” as Time, Newsweek, 60 Minutes, Sarah Brady, and the United Nations, LaPierre said they all believe the same “elite conceit” – you shouldn’t protect yourself; the Government should. “But we know there’s a little problem with that – they don’t give a damn about you! They couldn’t care less about your safety. That’s the bald-faced truth… that’s the one constant that runs across all the ruling classes and it’s killing the Second Amendment. They all say you can’t be trusted with responsibility for your own protection.

“Huricane Katrina should’ve taught this nation that the elites who say they’ll protect everyone…won’t protect anyone! Those hurricane victims couldn’t count on police, electricity, or phones; you couldn’t call 9-1-1. But they could count on the looters, and the rapists, and the robbers, who all arrived right on time. And that’s when the ruling class ordered troops door-to-door to confiscate the good guys’ firearms – at gunpoint – when they needed their guns the most” …during “the first forced gun confiscation in American history.”

LaPierre went on to cite examples of how the “elite ruling class” has fought NRA’s efforts at enacting “Castle Doctrine” laws (that allow folks to defend themselves within their homes), protecting workers who keep firearms in their parked vehicles in company parking lots, undoing the repressive firearms regulations of Washington, D.C. and New York City, as well as the global gun ban schemes of the United Nations.

“The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun,” LaPierre asserted, “is a good guy with a gun. Instant responders are always better than first responders. Because instant responders can prevent the kind of tragedy that first responders can only clean up.”

In closing, LaPierre said that despite the billions spent by the “elite conceit” to mold public opinion, Americans are not buying the disinformation. Every public opinion poll comes down on the pro-gun side. “Year-after-year, more Americans say the NRA speaks for them, than does the Democratic or Republican Parties, the U.S. Congress, or The New York Times,” LaPierre concluded.

NRA Achievements

Chris W. Cox executive director of the NRA’s lobbying arm, the Institute for Legislative Action, cited recent political achievements:

• True Right-to-Carry is a reality in 40 states.
• Castle Doctrine laws have been passed in 22 states so far.
• Hunter protection laws are in place in all 50 states.
• Range protection laws and state preemption laws are in effect in 47 states.
• The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act is working to protect the firearms industry from frivolous lawsuits.
• Worker Protection laws, that would stop employees from getting fired for keeping firearms in their vehicles on company property, are being considered by numerous state legislatures.

Cox warned that these achievements could be stifled if either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama are elected President in November. Citing the infamous perfect anti-gun voting records of both candidates, Cox picked up on the remarks of Obama at a private fundraiser for San Francisco millionaires during which Obama mischaracterized average gun owners as being so bitter about their sorry lives that they cling to God and their guns.

“Well Barack, we are bitter and we should be!” Cox retorted. “We should be bitter that these elitist hypocritical snobs try to play us for a bunch of fools. We should be bitter that Hillary and Obama look gun owners in the eye and lie about their support for the Second Amendment. But when Hillary and Obama mouth off like they have and vote like they have and lie like they have and trample Second Amendment freedoms like they have, you bet the members of this proud Association are bitter. For gun owners across America, this is how bitter looks and sounds. And come November…let’s show ‘em how bitter votes!” Cox concluded.

John McCain’s Remarks

Likely Republican Party Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain appeared and spoke to the NRA membership as well. Stressing that since he first ran for Congress in 1982, he has opposed efforts to ban gun shows, ban ammunition, ban magazines and ban so-called “assault weapons,” as well as waiting periods for gun purchases.

McCain was forthright enough to admit, however, that he hasn’t always agreed with the NRA on every issue. He detailed his support for NICS background checks for firearms sales at gun shows which he called “a reasonable requirement.” He noted that he opposes federal regulation of all private sales such as transfers between family members.

Campaign finance reform is another area of disagreement between McCain and the NRA that the senator touched on. The McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act was legislation that McCain helped draft and which NRA has opposed since its inception as it restricts lobbying activity. McCain said the intent of his bill, which is now law, was to change the way campaigns were financed as he said elected officials were formerly being influenced to put the interests of donors ahead of the public interest. “It is neither my purpose nor the purpose of the legislation to prevent gun owners or any other group of citizens from making their voices heard in the legislative process,” McCain said.

McCain went on to emphasize what he said is a clear difference between his candidacy and that of Sens. Obama and Clinton, “If either…is elected President, the rights of law-abiding gun owners will be at risk,” he stressed.

He recalled how Sen. Clinton was quick to affirm her support for the Second Amendment after the uproar over Sen. Obama’s remark that gun owners cling to guns and religion out of bitterness. Clinton’s actions prompted Obama to make another remark that backfired on him: “She’s running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsmen, how she values the Second Amendment. Like she’s in the duck blind every Sunday, packin’ a six shooter!” McCain added the comment, “Someone should tell Senator Obama that ducks are usually hunted with shotguns.”

The NRA had not endorsed a candidate for president during the time of the Annual Meetings.

This year’s banquet speaker was nationally syndicated political commentator Glenn Beck who gave an entertaining presentation on current events as well as a touching and frank discussion of his rise from abject poverty to prominence and affluence in a short period of time. In keeping with tradition, NRA President John C. Sigler, presented Beck with a custom flintlock rifle at the conclusion of his address.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal was introduced to the membership as a “fast rising political star.” Jindal addressed the membership and spoke of the gun-grabbing atrocities afflicted on the law-abiding by the police and national guardsmen in his state in the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina. At the conclusion of his address, Jindal was presented with The Harlon B. Carter Award by Christopher Cox.

Latest Firearm & Accessory Products

On the convention floor, acres of the latest firearms and related products were shown and available for handling by attendees. While it is not possible to cover everything that was seen, here are some highlights.

Taurus is now offering its popular 1911-style pistol with “Bull’s Head Walnut” grips. These new premium walnut wood grips are checkered with a unique combination of the European stipple and American checkering patterns. The result is a most handsome and distinctive set of grips and are available on both the blued and stainless version of the Taurus 1911 or can be purchased separately.

Long Guns

In the rifle arena was the new M1 Carbine in a paratrooper walnut folding stock model produced by Auto-Ordnance. Specs include an under 36-inch length and a 26-inch length with the stock folded (making for a very compact package), 18-inch barrel, weight of 5 lbs. 6 oz., parkerized finish, blade front and flip style rear sight. It is furnished with one 15-round magazine. Overall fit and finish seems better than on the originals.

Optics

In the optics segment, Trijicon, Inc. has introduced a new addition to its AccuPoint line of riflescopes, the 3-9×40 crosshair – part of a series of battery-free illuminated crosshair riflescopes. The Trijicon AccuPoint series utilizes an advanced combination fiber-optic and tritium self-luminous aiming-point illumination system that results in maximum success for the hunter as there is no need for dependency on failure-prone batteries.

At the center of the crosshairs is the self-luminous aiming point which automatically adjusts to changing light conditions. There is also a manual override to allow users to adjust the brightness to their personal preference in a given shooting situation.

The 137th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits are now history but for those who were able to attend it was an enjoyable and memorable experience. Next year’s event will be held in Phoenix, Arizona. It will certainly be worth your while if you are able to attend.

Momentum Gaining for e-Form 4473

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, ATF has been seeking public comment on the efficiency of its Firearms Transaction Record, ATF Form 4473.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is among the organizations urging ATF to adopt an electronic Form 4473 that would be voluntary for both consumers and dealers. The e-Form 4473 would presumably be in a format that is not connected to a government database that could be used as a backdoor gun registration system.

NSSF said the benefits of the e-form 4473 would include:

• Enhancing the utility and clarity of the information to be collected.
• Minimize the burden of consumers and dealers in completing the form through the use of automated electronic and technological collection techniques, e.g. permitting electronic submission of responses to the questions asked.
• A reduction in mistakes in filling out the form, e.g. dealers could not be found in violation when a consumer enters “Y” to a questions instead of “yes”.
• A reduction in ATF inspection time at licensees premises in reviewing 4473 forms.

The author publishes two of the small arms industry’s most widely read trade newsletters. The International Firearms Trade covers the world firearms scene, and The New Firearms Business covers the domestic market. Visit www.FirearmsGroup.com. He may be reached at: FirearmsB@aol.com.

I Landed in Warsaw, Poland, then drove the seventy or so klicks to Kielce for the annual MSPO Show that is held there. Driving through so much history gave pause for thought, as did the seductive name “Radom” on one of the towns I passed through on the way. Radom as in the Radom pistol, which gave wings to daydreams of walking into small gun shops with piles of Radoms on the back shelf, collecting dust. This did not happen, of course. Poland is a very nice place to visit, and it seems to be in layers today- a modern country on top of a post war failed communist economy, but under all of that the strength and deep military history of a thousand years of commitment and industry. The next MSPO will be the 16th annual event and it is scheduled for 8-11 September, 2008, and I strongly urge those with the means and interest to attend this yearly show. Vendors who have not yet signed up may be out of luck at this point but should definitely plan for 2009. -Dan

Each year, when MSPO is announced, there is a “Lead Nation” chosen. This “Lead Nation” is responsible for setting a tone, putting their best foot forward and showcasing their products and support for the Polish defense industry and MSPO. At the meeting in 2007, it was the United States as lead Nation and in 2008 it will be Sweden.

In 2007, there were 364 companies from 24 countries present and the US contingent represented 31companies.

MSPO has grown into the largest military show in Eastern Europe, and its prominence in the defense industry is growing every year. Along with the trade show and live demonstrations, there are several days of seminars on arms and military subjects.

MSPO is fast becoming a “Must attend” show for those in the international arms trade, and SAR heartily recommends attending.

Bumar Group represents most of the Polish arms manufacturers as the export group and the sponsor of many of the booths at MSPO Bumar Sp. z o. o. www.bumar.com

For information on the MSPO 2008 show:
www.mspo.pl
For information on TargiKielce- the events and convention center:
www.targikielce.pl

Beryl Wz96

Poland’s new Kalashnikov variant is the Beryl wz96. SAR has a feature on this rifle coming soon from Leszek Ehrenfecht. Presented here are three variants- the Beryl, the Mini-Beryl, and the Beryl Commando. Manufacturer is Fabryka Broni “Lucznik” Radom Sp. z. o. o. and their website is www.fabrykabroni.pl

PM-98/98S Submachine Gun 

The PM98 is a modernized version of the 1984 made PM84 closed bolt submachine gun. The PM-06 is the 2006 modernized offering, incorporating a picatinny rail like the PM98s.

ZUR-23-2T

Poland has excellent production facilities for the famous ZSU-23-2, the workhorse Anti-aircraft system from the old ComBloc. It’s been modernized with electric controls and in the KG configuration adds two GROM missiles. The old ZSU (Type) 23 (Caliber 23mm) and -2 (2 guns) carries the ZUR configuration in Poland. The T configuration has no missiles, but an onboard fire control system that allows for air targets and ground targets with automatic integration of ballistics for various ammunitions used.

WKM-B NSV type

The side-shuttle styled “NSV” 12.7mm machine gun is here adapted to the ground mount “Infantry” configuration. There are knee supports for the shooter to add to tripod platform, and a shoulder support similar to the Vinghog M2HB softmounts seen in SAR recently. Zaklady Mechaniczne Tarnow S.A. www.zmt.tarnow.pl

UKM 2000 D

By far one of the most interesting finds at the show was the UKM 2000D variant of the PKM. With its side folding buttstock making it more paratrooper friendly, and the fact that it is in 7.62x51mm NATO caliber were outstanding. This author tried to get a better look into the mechanism, but the staff there would not permit it. They insisted that this model utilizes not only the NATO 30 cal, it uses the standard M13 disintegrating metallic link, the same as the M60 and the M240 series use. This is a radical change from the offerings that most companies are trying in this caliber, usually requiring the end user to switch to PKM pull out non-disintegrating metallic belts. Expect a deeper report on this item. UKM2000P is the standard infantry version, UKM 2000D is the folding stock version, and UKM 2000C is the tank version. P and D versions have Picatinny style rails.

Zaklady Mechaniczne Tarnow S.A.
www.zmt.tarnow.pl