At the end of the World War II the French Army was equipped with a variety of material of a range of qualities. The Allies had provided Stens, Thompsons and M3 submachine guns, and many others were used by the Army at the beginning of the campaign to recover French power in Indochina that included the Gnome & Rhone R5 (a French Sten copy), MAS 38, F.N.A.B. 43 and German MP40. In addition to the problems presented by the maintenance of these diversified materials, their use involved the provisioning of three different types of ammunition.

History

Faced with this indisputable fact, Headquarters reacted quickly and charged the Section Technique de l’Armée to draw up a new table schedule to develop a new submachine gun. The program was established on May 11, 1945. The ammunition retained was the 9mm Luger, which offered an excellent weight and power/recoil and was now largely available in the world. The other characteristics related to a simple design and economic production. During tests, other characteristics were added to include a cover on the ejection port, a folding (or telescopic stock) and a folding magazine housing.

In 1947, the three national small arms factories presented several prototypes: MAC with sheet metal tubular frames, folding metallic stocks and magazine housing, MAS with cast steel frames, delayed opening bolts as used on light assault rifles, with wooden or metal folding or non-folding stocks, and MAT with a weapon having a rectangular frame, folding magazine housing and wooden stock. In 1948, these guns were perfected and some of them used in Indochina as well as some other prototypes, such as the M.G.D. from Merlin-Gerin, the AME and the Hotchkiss prototypes. After having tested these many models, the Army fixed its choice in June 1949, with the MAT 49.

Production

The MAT 49 was developed by Chief Engineer Monteil and the director of MAT, Mr. Delamaire. Manufacturing was focused on sheet steel stamping as the development of these new techniques for the time had been made with the collaboration of German engineers working in Saint-Louis and the Dallet Company in Brives. Serial production began in January 1950, slowly at first, then at a more constant rate with 4,600 weapons per month in 1952 and up to 10,000 units later.

Improvements were made during its manufacture. In May 1950, the length of the frame became slightly longer and then over time a succession of minor modifications generally not affecting the interchangeability of the parts, but making it possible to reduce production costs. Thus, manufacturing time that was originally 6 hours was brought back to two hours in a ten year period. The use of crucible cast steel or sintered iron elements also considerably reduced the number of machine tools necessary for machining, as well as the raw materials.

The MAT 49 SMG was manufactured by Tulle Small Arm Factory, from January 1950 to the mid 1960s, with more than 700,000 weapons produced, and the Châtellerault Small Arm Factory, from May 1950 to November 4, 1954, with 125,143 gun being produced.

Description

Manufacture of the MAT 49 primarily consists of stamped and welded plates with just a few parts requiring machining. The receiver frame is rectangular. On the right is the ejection port with a cover actuated by a spring to be automatically opened when the bolt goes forward or rearward. The cocking lever is on the left with a cover. The external profile of the barrel is slightly tapered, is bored 9mm and has four grooves with 250 mm (9.84 inch) left turn. There are side vents at the chamber that allows the evacuation of gases in the event of firing out of battery. A perforated jacket surrounds part of the barrel length.

The bolt is a parallelepidic block with a cylindrical section before the head and has a fixed firing pin. The extractor is placed on the right and there are grooves for the ejector on the left. The lower face is machined in order to provide passage of the magazine feed lips on both sides. The bolt is longitudinally bored to let the recoil spring rod to pass through.

The pistol grip unit consists of two symmetrical parts assemblies welded according to the vertical median plane. It joins together the grip, the housing for the firing mechanism and the flanks supporting the magazine housing. The grip is made up of two plastic plates, secured by a through screw. The left plate is provided with a thumb rest. The trigger mechanism includes the trigger, sear and a safety part associated with the grip safety. The magazine housing is also a folding front grip.

Two models of magazines exist: the standard 32 shot model and the desert 20- or 25-round type with single column.

The stock is steel wire and affects the shape of a trombone. It slides in side tubes laid out on both sides of the receiver. A transverse push-button and notches in the arm of the stock makes it possible to adjust the stock in three positions for transport or parachute jumping with the stock entirely pushed back forwards, the intermediate position for the guard or ceremonies, and in the full extension for shooting.

The rear sight is a folding L with two eye pieces (100 or 200 m) and the front sight is protected by a hood.

This description relates to the most current model of the weapon produced between May 1950 and 1962. Later, one of the most outstanding modifications concerns the grip safety, which immobilises both the sear and the bolt until the trigger is squeezed. All the weapons that were provided with this device carry a five pointed star on the left face of the trigger.

From 1962, manufacture is further simplified in the Series K: the grip is entirely made out of stamped sheet metal with removal of the plastic elements and becomes ambidextrous, the barrel sleeve is fixed to the frame by arc welding, instead of electric points welding as used before, and the cocking lever is in the shape of a hook in place of the knurled cylinder.

Accessories

• Leather cartridge pouches are of natural color for the Army and Navy, black for the gendarmerie and Air Force, red for Saharan troops or white for ceremonial purposes. They measure 27 x 11 x 4 cm (10.6 x 4.3 x 1.5 inches) and can contain four magazines. These cartridge pouches are carried very high on the level of the abdomen are particularly uncomfortable.
• Cartridges pouches similar as above, but made of khaki nylon and closed by Velcro.
• Haversack in khaki fabric that contains five magazines. The use of belt loops makes it possible to carry them at a low level on the hips in a much more comfortable fashion. They were used by paratroops and commando units.
• Blank shooting plug.
• Cleaning kit in a leather pouch containing a loading tool, oil can and a cleaning rod in two parts.
• Leather sling of the same color as the cartridge pouches.

Use

Before the arrival of the FAMAS rifle, the MAT 49 submachine gun was issued to corporals, NCOs of the Army and the Navy, as well as the major part of the Air force. The gendarmerie replaced it with the HK MP 5 A3, Browning riot guns and also by the UMP SMG. The police now use the Beretta M12 S SMG.

A number of countries also used the MAT 49 including Algeria, Barbade, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroun, Centrafrican Republic, Chad, Comores, Congo, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Israel, Ivory Coast, Laos, Liban, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo and Viet Nam.

Variations

The MAT 54 (also called MAT 49-54) was a specific model developed at the request of the Police of Paris. It is characterized by a fixed wooden stock, a long barrel with a perforated cooling jacket, front sight protected by ears and two triggers allowing single shoot. There is also a devise that prohibits the use of the full auto trigger.

The MAT 54 S.B. is the standard length model with a wooden stock and a trigger mechanism allowing only single shot. This model was used by armoured car companies and prison guards.

The MAT 49 was rebarrelled in 7.62 mm Tokarev and used in North Vietnam. The barrel is slightly longer: 270 mm (10.6 inches).

Disassembly-Reassembly

Remove the magazine and clear the weapon. Put the magazine housing at 45 ° angle. Remove the stock. Press on the front lock to separate the frame and the pistol grip unit. Extract the bolt, recoil spring and cocking lever. Reassembly is in the reverse order.

Evaluation

The MAT 49 is an excellent weapon. It is manufactured with robust and quality materials. The design makes it very compact whether the stock is extended or not. The presence of a grip safety and the folding magazine housing are major safety assets. Control during firing is very manageable and precise shooting up to 50 meters is capable with two-shot bursts.

MAT 49

Caliber: 9mm
Ammunition: 9mm Luger
Overall length: 0.720 m (28.34 inches)
Length with stock retracted: 0.460 m (18.11 inches)
Barrel length: 0.230 m (9.05 inches)
Weight: 3.5 kg (7.72 lbs)
Magazine capacity: 20-32 shots
Cyclic rate: 600 rpm

MAT 49/54

Caliber: 9mm
Ammunition: 9mm Luger
Overall length: 0.900 m (34.43 inches)
Barrel length: 0.365 m (14.37 inches)
Weight: 3.950 kg (8.72 lbs)
Magazine capacity: 32 rounds

MAT 54 S.B.

Caliber: 9mm
Ammunition: 9mm Luger
Overall length: 0.750 m (29.52 inches)
Barrel length: 0.230 m (9.05 inches)
Weight: 3.4 kg (7.5 lbs)
Magazine capacity: 32 rounds

In view of history of semiautomatic pistols, Georg Luger was by all means one of the most famous. However, most of the works dealing with his construction and his designs were chiefly based on patent licenses and foreign records. The Prussian military archive in Potsdamer, Brauhausberg, which had possessed most part of the relevant documents concerning both the development of the weapon and its designer were destroyed during Allied air raids in 1945. It wasn’t until the 1970s that neither foreign nor local researchers had any idea that the Archive of the Historical Institute of Montenegro possessed twenty letters sent by Luger to Major Iliya Haydukovich during the period from 1906 to 1914. As far as we know, this is the largest collection of Luger’s letters. Up to now, only three other Luger letters had been published (sent to Swiss Captain Paul Probst in the period from July to August of 1904), and a facsimile of a post card sent by Luger to his son Bartholomew. Unlike the mentioned records, the documents in the Montenegrin archive contains valuable information about both the author, sales of Maxims and the weapon he was working on.

The hundredth anniversary of the Luger system P-08 Parabellum pistol, as one of the most famous pistol designs, was commemorated in Germany and most of the European countries as well as in the USA. In the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, Georg Luger was regarded as a national symbol of German prestigious technological superiority. However, the fact that Luger only perfected Hugo Borchardt’s design of the Parabellum pistol has been totally disregarded.

The Letters

Georg Luger’s twenty letters and one telegram that he sent from 1906 to 1914 to Iliya Haydukovich, the chief of the military workshops of the Ministry of the Army of Montenegro are kept in the Archive of the Historical Institute of Montenegro in Podgorica (AIICG). This discovery is even more interesting because all of his letters are written in Serbian language. The same archive preserves his correspondence with the Minister of the Army of Montenegro, General Mitar Martinovich (1870-1954). Since Martinovich similarly to Luger received his education in Italy, these letters are written in Italian which, according to his own words, Luger spoke better than Serbian.

Most of Luger’s surviving letters are handwritten. He didn’t start to type his letters in Latin alphabet until April 30, 1911, and on January 28, 1913 he obtained a typing machine with Cyrillic alphabet and was using it until he stopped his correspondence in 1914.

The Maxim Machine Gun

Around the end of 1905, the Ministry of the Army of the Principality of Montenegro decided on purchasing twenty four machine guns abroad. With approval by Russian tsar Nikolay II Alexandrovich Romanov (1868-1918), the Montenegrin prince Nicolas I Petrovich-Nyegosh (1840-1921) entrusted the head of artillery, a brigadier Mitar Martinovich, Prince Danilo Petrovich (1871-1939) heir to the throne, and the Russian military attaché, lieutenant-colonel Nikolay Mihailovich Potapov (1871-1946), with choosing the machine gun model. On December 20, 1905 the Montenegrin delegation visited the Hotchkiss factory in France and became familiar with the M1900 Hotchkiss machine gun. The next day at the factory’s shooting range, the field trial was performed. The negotiations were over on December 26, 1905 and after three days the Delegation left for London. On December 30, 1905, Potapov and Martinovich visited the head office of the Vickers, Sons & Maxim Ltd. company wherein they negotiated the terms with Albert Vickers (1838-1919) and sir Arthur Trevor Dawson (1866-1931) on purchasing twenty four machine guns of the New Pattern Maxim M1901. Prince Danilo independently visited the British Arms Company Rexer, which manufactured Madsen machine guns. Together with factory’s experts, Prince Danilo tested the Rexer-Madsen machine gun at the Wraysbury’s shooting range, 35km west of London on January 3, 1906. On January 4, the complete Montenegrin delegation witnessed the field trial of the Maxim machine gun at the Erith Works shooting range. The Montenegrins concluded that the Maxim was best of all tested machine guns and decided to recommend it to the Ministry of the Army of Montenegro. The problem was that the British firm required 8,000 crowns per a weapon and the total sum for twenty four machine guns exceeded their budget resources. The Delegation decided to leave for Germany to wait for the Ministry of the Army’s final decision.

They reached Berlin on January 15, 1906 and found there the decision from Cetinye on purchasing only twelve machine guns. Consequently, Potapov, Prince Danilo and Mitar Martinovich addressed to the management of DWM on January 17th, with a request for obtaining a draft of the agreement for purchasing the machine guns. Although, the seven-year agreement between DWM and Vickers, Sons & Maxim about mutual cooperation on production and sales of the Maxim machine guns had expired as early as 1898, the German plant was still producing the machine guns for commercial markets after the British original designs. Some parts were even produced in Erith Works and Crayford Works in Kent. This enabled DWM to deliver to the Montenegrins the same weapon that had been already tested in Britain. The Montenegrin delegation visited the DWM factory in Martinikenfelde on January 18th and on the 19th they were present at the field trial of the German made machine gun. On the 20th of January, Mitar Martinovich and the factory managers Paul Theodor Eduard von Gontard (1868-1941) and Max Kosegarten signed the agreement on purchasing twelve machine guns of the Maxim system in Russian calibre .3 inch (7.62mm). During a week-long stay in Berlin, Mitar Martinovich became acquainted with the factory’s associate and expert Georg Luger and the two of them became friends. As German was not spoken by the Montenegrins, Luger translated the talks into Italian to Mitar Martinovich.

Head of the Military workshops, artillery Major Iliya Haydukovich, received the finished machine guns from the Martinikenfelde factory manager Felix Haenisch on July 3, 1906. Due to several days of his stay in Berlin, Haydukovich too became a close friend with Georg Luger.

The quality of the construction on which Serbia will decide in 1908 proved that Montenegro had purchased their Maxim machine guns too early; not waiting for the weapon to be developed completely. Some details from Luger’s correspondence with Iliya Haydukovich suggested such a conclusion. Luger warned the Montenegrins by his letter of July 10, 1907 that twelve machine guns, which were bought a year ago, were incompatible with the Montenegrin hilly terrain because of their weight. Besides, in his letter of February 13, 1913 discussing possible purchase of the armour shields for the old machine gun type, Luger said that it was impossible to produce them without insight in the mount’s type. Sixteen days later, Luger writes that he was unsuccessfully searching in London for the original mount for the Montenegrin Maxim M1906, or at least for its drawings. However, that machine gun type production was discontinued long ago and the documentation was destroyed. It meant that the M1906 was manufactured on the basis of the old British licensed documentation.

According to Luger’s and Haydukovich’s correspondence, it appears that Luger advised Montenegro to obtain the new up to date machine guns. Undoubtedly, the most interesting information are those “secretly” sent by Luger to Haydukovich on July 10, 1907. He literally writes: “The German army requested long ago from DWM to construct a machine gun of less mass because the existing weapon was not suitable for transporting on impassable mountainous terrains.” The factory team, supported by Luger, managed to decrease the machine gun mass from 27.5 kg to 15.5 kg. Additionally, the wheeled version of the sled mount mass decreased from 64 to 30 kg. Thus, the weapon became suitable for the hilly terrains. Luger also suggested to the Montenegrins to wait until the new machine gun system was thoroughly examined and adopted by the German Army when the mass production would start, and to order it for their own needs afterwards. Apparently, Luger wrote about the most recent German version of the Maxim MG-08, which was being developed at that time. However, his given information was too optimistic in comparison to the result of the actual DWM production. The final version of the MG-08 had a mass of 20.8 kg (without water), or 25.3 kg with water in water jacket and the German sled mount, which could be carried or pulled by two men on shorter distances, had a mass of 37.5 kg. Nevertheless, it was still a step forward in comparison to the old wheeled version of the mount M901 of 67 kg weight. Unlike the wheeled mount, the new commercial tripod that was used on Serbian M1909, Bulgarian M1908 and even on the Montenegrin machine gun M1912, weighed 22.5 kg, which considerably exceeded the 15 kg that was optimistically mentioned by Luger.

Upon the Montenegrin urgent request for delivery of a new shipment of the machine guns, on March 30, 1911 Luger informed Haydukovich as follows: “That it is not possible to assemble more than 6 weapons from DWM combining Russian barrels in 3 linien (7.62mm) calibre with existing parts produced for German, Serbian and Bulgarian patterns. Assembling the weapons of different parts would last about two months and the price would be half of the sum paid in 1906.” In other words, Luger offered six Montenegrin machine guns to be assembled from the 7.62mm barrels combined with parts of German MG-08 or Serbian M1909 patterns as well as of M909 tripod by June of 1911. This time the Montenegrins were more cautious and gave up the idea of purchasing the offered mixed guns. A year later, Luger informed the Minister of the Army, Martinovich, that the German factory was ready to produce new 7.62mm Maxims for Montenegro at 20% discount in comparison with other commissioners. In early August of 1912, “Dipl.ingén. Georg Luger, Chef Constructeur b.d. Deutschen Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken” went to Cetinye from Berlin again.

On August 6, 1912, Luger and Brigadier Martinovich signed the agreement on delivery of 50 machine guns of the new Maxim system in 7.62mm calibre (commercial pattern of 1909) at the Ministry of the Army office in Cetinye. On the same day at 5 PM, Luger had an audience with King Nicolas who thanked him very much for his unselfish support in purchasing the machine guns. The agreement anticipated that DWM would deliver to Montenegro 50 machine guns with tripods but without armour shields, 100 spare barrels in 7.62mm calibre, 500 cloth belts with 250 cartridges and 300 wooden chests (each holding one cloth belt with 250 cartridges). Total price for the machine guns and accessories was 314,165.75 crowns. DWM gave a 29% discount price to Montenegro and the final total price was 223,057.68 crowns.

If the Germans had strictly observed the terms of the agreement they would have delivered the machine guns during January of 1913. However, because of the stagnation of the operations of Skodra (The First Balkan War), the Ministry of the Army of Montenegro insisted on rapid delivery of the weapons. In order to push things along Haydukovich left for Berlin twice: staying there from September 3rd to November 14th first time, and the second time from November 22nd to December 12th 1912, when he returned to the country with the weapons. Due to Luger’s support, Haydukovich’s mission was a success. The machine guns were completed in record time and transported by train from Berlin to Bari over Switzerland and Italy via Milano. In Bari, the shipment was loaded on the Greek steamship “Antigona” which reached the seaport of Bar (Antivari) on December 12, 1912.

Meanwhile, battle experience proved that the purchase of the machine guns without armour shields was a big mistake. Without shields, not only was the crew exposed to the opponent fire but the water jacket was often damaged disabling the weapon for further action. The Ministry of the Army tried to order the armour shields subsequently for both the new M1912 machine guns and the old twenty weapons of the M1906 pattern. On February 13, 1913, Luger informed Haydukovich that 25 shields for the new weapons would be finished in five days (on February 15), and the remaining twenty-five pieces would not be available until the end of the current month. On the other hand, DWM was incapable of manufacturing armour shields for the old M1906 weapon because the original mount and relating technical documentation did not exist any more. DWM suggested the Montenegrins to send to Berlin one tripod of the M1906 machine gun in order to manufacture the 12 requested shields for it. It appeared soon that there was a problem with delivering of the new type shields, too. By his letter of February 29, 1913, Luger informs Haydukovich that 50 new shields will start the journey via Milan not until March 2. Unfortunately, that contingent was stopped in Bari because of the Italian sailor’s strike (Luger’s Letter of March 13, 1913). That meant that the shields would not be available during the First Balkan War.

For the services he had rendered to Montenegro, King Nicolas I awarded Georg Luger in 1906 with the Order of Danilo of IV class (Officer) and in 1910 with the same Order of III class (Commander).

Intelligence Data

According to the correspondence, it seems obvious that Luger professionally supported and advised the Montenegrins. On July 10, 1907 he wrote to Haydukovich: “I am bound by my word to support and defend your interests and behave as being one of you.” He gave detailed data about other countries’ armaments asking for conspiracy of confidentiality in that regard. On December 30, 1906, he informed Haydukovich that, “Turkish Government had commissioned 50 machine guns.” In the letters of May 19 and July 10, 1907 he reports that the work on finishing the Turkish machine guns were being accelerated. That weapon was 7.65mm calibre and “adopted to fit the wheeled version of sled mount M1901 that could be pulled on the wheels or carried on horseback. The mount mass was 67 kg and machine gun and carriage mass was almost 100 kg (sic), which means that the weapon was too heavy for the hilly terrains.” Luger did not hesitate to mention that the “two Turkish officers responsible for receiving material were completely ignorant as to the machine guns and, in addition, they showed no interest in learning anything, but were only embarrassed because smoking in the factory was forbidden.” On the other hand, Bulgaria ordered 112 and Rumania 16 machine guns from DWM at that time. The letter of July 10, 1907 tells us that 50 Turkish machine guns were finished at last and sent by a ship from Hamburg to Constantinople. Bulgaria and Rumania decided on the wheeled version sled mount, featured like the Turkish mount. Three months later (October 12, 1907), Luger writes to Martinovich that Bulgaria expanded its order from 112 to 144 machine guns.

The next reports did not come until 1911. Thus, Luger informs the Montenegrins that Bulgaria ordered 88 more machine guns (total of 232 weapons), that Serbia will have 230 Maxims in two months (in June of 1911), and Rumania, which previously had bought 28 machine guns, ordered 250 more weapons, and announced an expanding of the agreement to 350 machine guns in total.

The most detailed report is that of May 22, 1912. According to Luger, Turkey purchased 330 Maxim machine guns in total as well as 80 Hotchkiss M1900 weapons and possessed 800,000 Mauser rifles in 7.65mm calibre. Serbia bought about 180,000 Mausers in 7mm calibre and 230 Maxims M1909. Bulgaria possessed 230 Maxims, of which two thirds were of the old M1904/1907 pattern and one third of the new M1908 pattern as well as 200,000 Mannlicher 8mm M1888 and M1895 infantry rifles. Rumania was in possession of 300 machine guns of the new Model 1910 pattern and 28 of the old Model 1907, 250,000 Mannlicher 6.5mm M1893 rifles and about 100,000 old single shot breechloader Henry-Martinis. Finally, Greece possessed 100,000 Mannlicher-Schönauer 6.5mm (M1903) rifles and 25 Maxim machine guns, and at that time, it was inspecting the Schwarzlose 6.5mm M1907/12 machine gun.

Luger Parabellum Pistole

In the letter of December 30, 1906, Luger informs Hajdukovich that he sent a “Parabellum” P-04 pistol as a gift to General Martinovich on December 28. It took much time to prepare the pistol for sending. Actually, the engraver made two unsuccessful attempts to engrave the monogram with the crown above it. The third attempt was not much more successful either, but as he was time limited (the pistol was to reach Cetinye as a Christmas gift by January the 7th according old calendar) the weapon bearing a failed monogram was sent in spite of it. An unanswered question is whether Luger commissioned the standard Prince Nicola’s cipher (NI surmounted with crown) commonly found on the rest of Montenegrin arms or it was General Martinovich’s monogram. Another problem was that Austro-Hungary did not allow ammunition transit for the pistol and Luger inquired about whether it was safer to send 1,000 cartridges by ship, via Hamburg. On January 8 he informed Haydukovich that he was about to travel by ship to the USA for three weeks because of pistol business at Springfield Armoury. Obviously it was a trip for the Parabellum .45 ACP trial, which lasted from January 15-26, 1907 at Springfield Armoury. In his letter of February 12, 1907 he informs Haydukovich that on his return to Berlin he was told that the Montenegrin Ministry of the Army had already received the engraved Parabellum in velvet-lined walnut case, including accessories and extra magazine, and that he had finally provided Austrian transit license and sent disputable ammunition to Montenegro.

In addition to the letter of May 19, 1907 to his friend, he sent an old description “for own pistol which, as you know, we call Parabellum” which was made for Swiss pattern in 7.65mm (Pistole Ordonanz 1900). A few months later in July he sent to Cetinye the “description of pistol public trials that took place in Switzerland in 1898 and 1899, which was published in French in 1900.” In the enclosed letter, Luger did not miss to mention, “Borchardt is mentioned in this document because, this time, he took part in financial matters only!” Obviously, Luger intended to deny any importance of Hugo Borchardt (1844-1924) in pistol development and ascribe the fame to himself while praising the commercial success of the weapon. Accordingly, he wrote on July 10, 1907 that, “his pistols were in hot demand and were being made for Russian officers. Due to these circumstances, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Russian military attaché von Taticheff and colonel von Michelson.” In fact, Luger met relatively unimportant officials of the Russian embassy Aleksei Borisovich Tastishchev (1904-1990) and military attaché, colonel Alexander Alexandrovitch Mihelson. Three months later, on October 12, he stated that “a large quantity of Parabellum was being manufactured for Russia, Germany and Switzerland,” and on August 9, 1913 he writes as “he is busy with pistols because a quantity of 125,000 weapons have been ordered for the German army and 18,000 for Holland and the USA.” Obviously Luger exaggerated because of commercial reasons. Actually, the USA had never decided on the Parabellum pistols and according to the surviving documents, not more than 5,000 pistols in standard 9mm calibre had been marketed in the USA.

However, in the mentioned letter of May 19, 1907, Luger writes that the description of a new German pistol design in 9x19mm calibre (Selbstladepistole 1904, the precursor of P-08) was still being worked and he wouldn’t send it until it was officially published. Actually, the German army forbade the weapon delivering before that. Haydukovich needed the description because Luger had presented him the P-04 9mm pistol on the occasion of their meeting of July 1906 in Berlin. In fact, Luger wrote about the Rule “Leitfaden betreffend die 9mm Selbstladepistole (Luger), Berlin, Kriegsministerium,” which was not published until the second half of 1907.

In the letter of March 30, 1911 Luger informs Haydukovich that he gives him the standard German Kriegsmarine pistol P-08 as a gift. He sends his dismantled weapon and because of the Austrian embargo on selling the arms to Montenegro, he wrote in the mailing declaration, which he addressed to “Mr. Iliya Haydukovich” that he was sending Physicallische Instrumente. Namely, he did not mention either the rank or closer data about the recipient in order to keep the Austrians from finding out that the recipient was a military officer.

We believe that the Parabellums presented to the Montenegrin officials were indeed an expression of friendship because Luger was aware that Montenegro was short of money to order this weapon for its army. The Serbian market was more interesting in this regard. In his letter of July 10, 1907 Luger wrote to Haydukovich: “Next week I leave for Serbia to negotiate there about my pistols. Regrettably, I do not have the recommendations for HM King Petar I Karagorgevich (1844-1921) and the ministers. With God’s help I might be lucky over there.” Presumably, Luger sent to Haydukovich the quoted letter of July 10, 1907 hoping to obtain a private support from the court. Actually, Serbian King Petar I Karagorgevich married the eldest daughter of the Montenegrin prince Nicolas I, the Princess Zorka (1864-1890) in 1883, which means that the Serbian king was son in law of the Montenegrin ruler. However, Luger was not quite familiar with inter-dynastic frictions and disagreements between the two rulers and the Montenegrin officials were unable to recommend him to Serbia.

Secondly, we must say that Luger was insincere in this regard. As the matter of fact, the Ministry of the Army of the Kingdom of Serbia decided on purchasing 100 modern machine guns during 1907. DWM submitted its commercial 7x57mm Maxim in response to the open competition. On behalf of the factory, Luger escorted the weapons to Belgrade and took part in all trials at Kragujevac, Chachak, and Valyevo. Hence, Luger was able to give necessary instructions on the spot and settle minor stoppages. At the meeting of March 6, 1908 the Commission, decided on the Maxim system machine gun for the Serbian Army with minor alterations. Therefore, several days later the additional trials of the Maxim machine gun were performed on permanent automatic fire of 15,000 rounds. The tests were over on March 10 and the Commission sent an official report to General Stepa Stepanovich, Minister of the Army. On May 20, Stepanovich ordered all the observations to be delivered to Berlin in order to make DWM able to react and improve the weapon as soon as possible. The improved weapon was returned to Belgrade in the autumn and on October 3, the Ministry of the Army ordered the Commission to check up whether noted deficiencies were removed. As the machine guns satisfied all the requirements, the Serbian Commission made the decision on March 6, 1908 to adopt the commercial Maxim M1909 7x57mm machine gun. The Serbian Minister of the Army, by his Act of November 2, 1908, approved the introduction of the M1909 Maxim system machine gun in 7x57mm calibre into service (standard Serbian infantry calibre of the 1899 Mauser system). Soon after, through Damyan Brankovich, the agreement was signed with DWM according to which the individual price of the machinegun was 10,000 dinars. The weapons were delivered to Serbia during 1909. Under the influences of Damyan Brankovich and Georg Luger, Serbia commissioned from DWM 130 more machine guns of the same pattern and calibre. The machine guns were delivered along with the M1909 commercial tripods weighting 22.5 kg and armour shields (Schild 08) in size of 620×740 mm and the weight of 13.8 kg. According to Luger’s information sent to Haydukovich on March 30, 1911, the shipment of 230 commissioned machine guns were to reach Belgrade by May of the same year. After the success in the First Balkan War, Damyan Brankovich informed Georg Luger on February 18, 1913 (after the Armistice lasting from December 4, 1912 to January 29, 1913) that “the Serbian machine guns were acting …perfectly and did credit to the Serbian Army.”

Consequently, Luger was not on a business trip to Serbia in 1907 for the sake of pistols but because of the machine guns. Next, Luger already had firm relations in Serbia due to Damyan Brankovich. Damyan J. Brankovich was the owner of Belgrade’s transport and trade association and a man with good connections in Germany. He was an agent of the Norddeutsche Lloyd Bremen-Bremerhaven as well as an agent of the Krupp concern, DWM and Mauser. Brankovich considerably influenced on Serbia to make the decision on the German Maxim machine gun, but he too made efforts to promote Luger’s Parabellum. Thus, he reported to Luger on February 18, 1913: “As to the pistols, I managed to keep the issue unclosed and hopefully it will be solved in our favour.” Unfortunately, WWI stopped further negotiations.

It seems strange that DWM did not submit the Parabellum to the Serbian first open competition for choosing a new service revolver in 1903. The Austro-Hungarian military attaché in Belgrade, Major Joseph Pomiankowski (1866-1929) writes to his chief of the general staff, Friedrich Graf von beck- Rzikowsky (1830 -1920): “Auch an die vielen….The matter of fact is that the Serbian Army did not adopt any of the offered pistols but retained the six-shot revolver 7.5mm of the Nagant system M1891.” Under such circumstances, it seems likely that Luger saw his chance to offer his weapon independently.

In spite of Luger’s death on December 22, 1923, Brankovich continued offering his pistol to the new state: the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The last attempt that followed was on May 4, 1933 at the time when Yugoslavia was testing Scfnellfeuerpistole Mauser-Nickl. Actually, August Weiss (1886-1980) moved to Oberndorf on May 1, 1930 with the aim to install the production line for the Luger pistols there. In that time DWM and Mauser AG united into the Berlin-Karlsruher Industrie-Werken AG, and the Oberndorf plant took over the production of all pistol patterns. All the machines, half products, old parts and prototypes of the Parabellum in 7.65 and 9mm calibres were brought there. The factory manager Zillinger sent through Brankovich to the Yugoslav Ministry of Army and Navy an offer for a shipment of 15,000 Parabellum pistols in calibres 7.65 and 9mm with a notification that the first batch would be assembled of existing parts transferred from Berlin. As late as on May 4, 1933, Brankovich answered with regret that the Yugoslavs were not ready to order anything but completed, newly manufactured weapons so that the negotiations about Parabellum purchasing finally discontinued.

Regrettably, no single piece of Parabellum presented by Luger to the Montenegrins has been preserved. King Nicolas I offered to the Austro-Hungarians an armistice on January 13, 1916 but Vienna accepted nothing but unconditional capitulation. On January 19 at 3 PM, the King left for Shkodra from Podgorica and proceeded to Italy and France never to return to Montenegro. Brigadier Mitar Martinovich, together with a group of the officers, withdrew with the Serbian Army and became a General of the Yugoslav army afterwards. However, during the chaotic operations of 1916, he failed to take his “Parabellum” with monogram along. The ministers who stayed in Podgorica together with the King’s son Mirko, considering that according to the article 16 of the State Constitution, they had rights of acting as the Government made decision to dismiss the Montenegrin army. The Order on disbanding (No.128) was issued to the Army on January 21, 1916. By decree signed on January 25, 1916 the Montenegrins were ordered to lay down their arms. According to the terms, the Montenegrin officers were permitted to retain personal arms (the swords and the Gasser M1870/74 11.3mm revolvers). However, in June of 1916, the officers were disarmed and sent to internment. The Austrians collected luxurious weapons as war loot and took them to Austria and further destiny of these pieces has been quite unknown.

The same case was with the machine guns. No single piece of M1906 and M1912 machine guns has been preserved. Only one Serbian Maxim M1909 survives in Belgrade and it is in possession of the Military Museum. The people presented this weapon to the Army and it bears Cyrillic dedication on the upper side of the receiver: “The people of the Nish District to their heroic Second Infantry Regiment of Prince Michael.”

It is even more interesting that on August 23, 2006 at an auction a rare 7.65mm Luger Model 1900 (old model) pistol, serial No.415 was offered. Standard specification with the chamber having the Serbian Royal Crest and the toggle with the DWM motif with early dished toggle grips, grip safety and chequered walnut grips. A year later, on October, 15, 2007, the same weapon was offered again at another acution house.

The weapon bears the manufacturer’s initials DWM and proof marks showing crowns over the letters B, U, and G. What makes the pistol an interesting piece is the Serbian Royal Crest. However, the crest is erroneous in many ways: The flints on the shield are not recognisable, the crown surmounting the shield is of an irregular shape and the eagle’s heads are not recognisable either. Luger possessed the original stamp of the Serbian Royal Crest, which was stamped on the M1899 Mauser rifle so that he was able to use it. It is hard to believe that the engraver himself made a number of mistakes in this point.

Besides, the Crest engraving differs significantly from the pattern in which the factory initials DWM were engraved. If it is really a genuine piece, the question that arises is why Luger who carefully recorded all the pieces he had given the Montenegrins as presents, has never mentioned the Parabellum intended for the Serbian officials.

Some claim he was one of the most important figures in the Class 3 firearms world, a courageous individual who was willing to take on the ATF, a major benefactor of the NRA, the founder of a world-class arms museum and a mentor to many. Others viewed him as an abrasive, tightfisted, petty man, ready to challenge family, friends and customers alike at the slightest perceived wrongdoing. Indeed, he was all these things and much more. This article sheds light on the life of this complex individual through whose hands thousands of machine guns passed… maybe even one of yours.

Small Arms Review has published many articles about famous figures in the gun world. For these luminaries, the focus was on the chronology of their business dealings in developing the gun industry as it exists today. Each contained a brief outline of their lives with little mention of their personal affairs. They are famous and respected for what they did, invented or created.

J Curtis Earl was famous as an early and influential Class 3 dealer who amassed one of the largest private gun collections in the world. But he was legendary for his abrasive personality and sometimes questionable business practices. At the time of J Curtis Earl’s death on July 19, 2000, he had amassed a throng of embittered individuals to whom the mere mention of his name would prompt scornful, disparaging remarks.

His passing was reported in Volume 4, Number 4, January 2001 issue of Small Arms Review with a brief, factual summary of his life and a description of the infamous ATF raid and his Senate testimony. Back then, sensitivities about Curtis Earl were still raw and the timing was not appropriate to go into much more detail. Even today, a few reacted bitterly when asked to recall events about Curtis for this article. They responded, in effect, “Why should I help promote his fame?”

We are neither attempting to build his fame, nor are we doing a character assassination. Nearly a decade later, it is possible to step back and objectively describe the man, both the positives and the negatives. This three-part article lays out the facts, and the readers can make their own determination as to who J Curtis Earl was. There are thousands in the gun world who have had personal interactions or business dealings with him. Were their experiences consistent with the others who dealt with him? Were their experiences unique? This article may bring closure to these and many other questions. Plus, to those unfamiliar with the man, it will most assuredly be a fascinating journey.

This first part describes his well-known personality characteristics and the early events in his life that shaped the man. Part two, in an upcoming issue, will outline his business strategy and a detailed description of his breathtaking inventory of NFA weapons. Part three will describe his growing isolation from the gun community and his quest for a lasting legacy.

A unique aspect of each part is the inclusion of detailed information and photographs of his personal life. Yes, as in past articles, we describe his specific business dealings and the famous guns he owned, but if this were all that we portrayed, we would provide no insight into the man himself. And this narrative is as much about the man as it is in how he made millions as an early Class 3 gun dealer.

This article is the result of the integration of scores of sources; most of the information is revealed here for the first time anywhere. Surprisingly, relatively little hard documentation exists on J Curtis Earl. Rumors and stories abound, however. For example, he was believed to have equipped his AT-6 aircraft military trainer with machine guns. Not true, but this rumor provides a perspective of just how odd the stories are that evolved. Separating fact from fiction was our primary goal. Again, we want to present the available information to readers so they can make their own assessment.

Primacy was given to public records such as Senate testimony, census, birth, marriage and trust records. Family members were interviewed and a draft of this article was reviewed by his daughters, first wife and several of his grandchildren. Their recollections are considered true and accurate: they were there, as it were, at the time of certain events. First-person descriptions of events from friends are considered accurate to the extent that they describe the actual events that they observed. A few events directly observed by reliable individuals were not included since they were, frankly, too controversial and potentially upsetting to the family.

A number of direct conversations between Curtis Earl and others are repeated and these are considered accurate in so far as the story told. They represent the world as experienced and sometimes embellished by Curtis. For example, sometimes his stories varied depending on whom he was talking to. A similar problem occurred when evaluating the few newspaper and magazine articles in existence: they typically were based on what Curtis provided the writer.

Second- and third-hand descriptions (i.e., a friend told me that Curtis did such and such) are given little credence unless several individuals provided multiple examples of such events. In this jumbled universe of information, no doubt there may be inaccuracies in this article, but the overall presentation is believed accurate.

Curtis War Stories

Within the senior ranks of the NFA community, everyone has a Curtis Earl story; his reach was just that wide. To begin this article, it is instructive to tell three of my own “Curtis stories” to illustrate a representative cross section of the personality traits he exhibited throughout his career. At the time these events occurred, I was unaware of their telling implications and it was only after conversations with others that I recognized the underlying themes. In other words, while the stories are mine, the inferences are absolutely consistent with the broader context in how he interacted with others and ran his business.

In many respects, these traits were as famous as the weapons he sold, so it is appropriate to start with these first. Following these stories, we will return to the beginning and describe the events which may have influenced and shaped the man that so many thought they knew.

Curtis Stories

In 1996, I was in the market for a Reising and a friend told me that Curtis Earl probably had a wide selection in stock. Since I live near Phoenix, I gave him a call to set up an appointment to examine his inventory in person. I wanted to convey to him the message that this was a serious inquiry and already had done some research, including talking to some of the other dealers in the area. A few sentences into the conversation I mentioned a particular local Class 3 dealer, and this instantly resulted in a ten-minute tirade over why this dealer was a low life, incompetent cheat and SOB. I was totally flabbergasted by this uncalled for diatribe spewed at a potential customer. (Trait 1: He could unleash his wrath even upon total strangers if his mood or feelings about an issue prompted it.)

I later learned that the subject of his wrath was one of the early local dealers that, in Curtis’ mind, directly took business away from him. (Trait 2: He had an almost paranoid hatred of competition.) But Curtis was in a unique position, namely, an unsurpassed inventory, and I set up an appointment in spite of the baffling conversation. (Trait 3: He knew he could, and did, get away with a lot of bad behavior because of his unique collection.)

I asked a friend and local gun collector, Charles (Chuck) Olsen, to meet me at his house since he had known Curtis from a decade earlier and I assumed that this would help in the negotiations. That earlier relationship ended when Curtis told him, “Don’t bother calling me unless you are ready to do business.” Olsen took him at his word. (Trait 4: He could terminate a relationship in a second, and sometimes rather bluntly, if he perceived there was not something in it for him.)

I was twenty minutes late to the appointment, but was not overly concerned since it was at his house and knew that Olsen would be there ahead of me. After all, Chuck and I were ready to talk business. As it later turned out, this brief delay proved pivotal since it provided the opportunity for Curtis and him to reacquaint. Indeed, after this get-together they became close friends until the day he died. (Trait 5: On rare occasions, Curtis could become even contrite and apologetic and be willing to reestablish friendships.)

As I walked up to his door, Curtis came charging out, sans welcoming smile, stating that “I am going to have to charge you $50 for wasting my time, you’re late.” A rather odd way of starting a business relationship, I thought to myself. (Trait 6: Diplomatic business manners were infrequently exhibited; and Trait 7: He would often overstate the importance of his time and self-worth.)

He brought Chuck and me back to the vault and showed me the several dozen Reisings, mostly parkerized military versions, all at premium prices. I later learned that Curtis always charged top prices for his merchandise. The compensating factor, of course, was that a $1,000 Reising then is a $5,000 machine gun today. (Trait 8: He was absolutely correct in his predictions of the market and he used it to his business advantage.)

The second story occurred several years later when he was shipping the major portion of his weapon collection to the Idaho State Historical Society for the J Curtis Earl Memorial Exhibit. He had an inventory of ammunition for a 37mm Bofors and 25mm Puteaux and needed to dispose of it before shipping the cannons. He chose the best way possible: shoot it. A small group of friends were contacted to participate in the “disposal,” including Chuck Olsen who invited me along.

We arrived at his home at the appointed time and no one was around. Instead, we found what could best be described in legal jargon as the mother of all “attractive nuisances”: the two cannons on a flatbed and an unsecured truckload of ammunition and other weapons. (Trait 9: Towards the end, he had almost a cavalier attitude, not paying much attention to the potential implications and dangers of such behavior, not to mention the issue of monetary loss.)

We tracked him down at a restaurant and soon we were headed up the Black Canyon Freeway with a string of gawkers staring at the weaponry on the move. The group was comprised of experienced shooters, and there was no review of the range rules. Reactive targets were set up and the firing began. I had an M16 with optics and proceeded to pick them off on semi-auto. Curtis went ballistic and shouted, “No optics.” I removed the offending optics and started to pick them off with open sights. Curtis again went ballistic, “Full-auto only!”

I used aimed fire on the first round and proceeded again to take out targets, albeit with an accompanying burst of noise. Yet again, Curtis went ballistic. At that point, I had had enough and shouted back, “What do you want me to do? Point down range and just spray?” (Trait 10: He often had unwritten or unspoken rules, at least until you violated them and then all hell would break loose. It was thus difficult to keep in his good graces.)

When the cannons were unloaded and positioned, he gave the “honors” to one of his closest friends to fire the first round from these antiques not shot in decades. I got far away and shielded myself with Olsen’s van. What I found fascinating was that Curtis also removed himself from the proximity of the cannons and stood beside a truck. A dozen years later I had the opportunity to discuss this event with his friend that did the firing and he too had noted at the time that Curtis retreated to safety. (Trait 11: He always looked out for his own welfare. The welfare of others, including close friends, could be strangely problematic.)

The final story, and one that probably is the source of much of the consternation over Curtis’ business dealings, concerns a shoot that occurred after the sale of the machine guns from the J Curtis Earl Automatic Weapons Collection at the Champlin Fighter Museum in Mesa, Arizona. Several Class 3 dealers were present, including one that had recently acquired a Soviet PPS-43 submachine gun. Another dealer, also present, was one of the several dealers involved with these museum weapons after the collection was disbursed. It was the first time that very knowledgeable people had fired and thoroughly examined this weapon since it was sold to Champlin.

In Curtis’ catalogues he went into some depth to describe how you tell the good from the bad when it comes to remanufactured guns that are potentially “accidents waiting to happen” and the need to deal with “someone you can trust.” But upon close examination, the gun turned out to be a reweld, significantly lower in value than an uncut original. I watched the dealer’s jaw drop as he recognized that he would have to disclose this information in the next transfer and take a potential loss.

Some of this responsibility to “inspect first, buy second” fell on the shoulders of the interim dealers, but the point is that buyers found themselves in similar situations where the description given on a gun, sometimes bought sight unseen in other states, did not seem to match the item delivered. For example, on one occasion he held up a bottle of cold bluing to a friend and proudly declared, “This little bottle has made me tens of thousands of dollars.” (Trait 12: He claimed to always be fair in his business dealings, but this assertion would not always match reality.)

After reading these stories, seasoned NFA weapons collectors and dealers may be thinking, “Yup, these twelve traits pretty well summarize who Curtis was.” But he was far more complex than this. For example, Robert Segel, senior editor for this magazine experienced another dimension. As Robert explains, “I was interested in machine guns at a very early age. While attending a gun show with by father at the age of 9, I got my first machine gun – a Dewat Sten MkII for $25. I still own that gun. Of course I was too young to own a live one, but Dewats were within my realm. When I was about 13 or so, I ordered Curtis’ catalog and found an excitingly wide range of machine guns within my reach. I called and he was extremely helpful offering me whatever I wanted and if it was live, he would deactivate it for me. Even though I was a kid, still with a kid’s voice, I had done my homework, asked intelligent questions and apparently came across as a true potential, long term client. After a couple of phone calls, I raised the money to fly down to see his collection in person (wow!) and pick out an M1 Thompson in 1965. Over the next several years I bought 7 guns from him and he was always very patient with me and instructive about these guns, almost like a mentor to me. I have no ‘war stories’ about Curtis. All my dealings with him were straight forward, polite and honest.”

His granddaughter, Michelle Earl Cruson, experienced the humorous side of him. She shares some of her memories: “During one visit around Halloween, I displayed my pirate costume, complete with a plastic sword. I stashed it in the pillowcase I used to carry my goodies. As I was leaving, the bag poked me in the leg. Lo and behold, he had put a real antique sword in its place. He called it a ‘toad sticker’ and now my sword is displayed in Curt’s museum at the Idaho State Historical Society. Near the end of Curt’s life, when Hospice came, they asked him if he had any guns in the house. He cheerfully replied, ‘Yes, lots of them, everywhere!’”

So who was he – the mentor, the friend to some, the jokester, or the cantankerous, difficult business man? To gain some insight, it is necessary to start at the beginning and explore the major events that shaped the man.

Growing Up J Curtis

Curtis was born on July 15, 1924 in Tremonton, Utah to Jesse and Wanda Earl. His father, a farmer and WWI veteran, was born into a large family of farmers with four sisters and three brothers. His grandfather, Charles, was originally from Canada. By the 1930s, Curtis’ uncles, Leo, Frank and Ernest, were branching out into the grocery, sales and printing businesses, respectively.

What is intriguing is that even at the age of 5 he is listed along with his younger sister Marilyn as “J Curtis” on the 1930 census. But what did the “J” stand for? His daughter Pat explains, “He was named after his father, Jesse Wilson, but my grandparents did not want him called Jesse, Jr. so they named him ‘J Curtis’ from the very beginning and without the period. I suppose he would sometimes include the period because most people would expect it and think it was a typo if it was missing.”

He was a depression-era child which no doubt influenced his propensity for extreme frugality in later life, but unlike many of that period, his family was relatively well-to-do. At the age of seven, he became interested in collecting arrowheads on the family’s extensive property, which soon expanded to hunting and collecting other forms of weaponry, including cartridge collecting. The specifics vary as to how he got interested in guns. Max Rigby, his best friend from that period, said, “I believe his first gun was a .22. His Dad would take him out rabbit hunting with it. He also had a falcon when we were in high school that he trained to hunt. It was really interesting, I enjoyed going out with him.”

As far as his interest in machine guns, he told friends that he was given a crew served WWI weapon that was being thrown out by the local veterans group. In a 1981 newspaper article, he was quoted as saying that one of his father’s friends was going to throw out a pile of WWI souvenirs and rather than seeing them lost, “I laboriously hauled it home, using my bicycle as a cart and making several trips through the pre-pavement period mud lying between Tremonton and Garland some three miles away.” A 1983 prospectus for his business states, “His first two guns were acquired at the tender age of nine, he still has those two guns, both Maxim 08/15 machine guns.”

He attended grammar school in Fielding, Utah and at a young age suffered a major, life-changing event that would haunt him all his life. He would tell friends that when he was ten he was helping his father tar the roof and afterwards, while cleaning the tar off his hands and arms with gasoline, the volatile residual ignited when he got near the fire used to heat the tar.

What actually happened according to his daughter Pat was, “At the age of seven, while playing ‘Cowboys & Indians’ behind their Fielding farm home, Dad wanted their smoldering campfire to be bigger. He was drenched in gasoline while filling a small can from the old pump by the garage. As he poured the can of gas onto the embers, it flared and caught him on fire. Grandma Earl said she heard screams and saw him, totally engulfed, running around the back yard. She grabbed a blanket and ran to him. He was burned over most of his body, but it was the severe, third-degree burns over twenty percent of his body that took a very long time to heal. Most people in the area who knew of the event said that it was only by the power of Grandma’s prayers that he survived.”

Much later he told friends that the medical bills nearly bankrupted the family and his father resented him because of this. While plausible, this story is not true. Not only was the family quite wealthy, but Max Rigby recalls that he was treated at the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City and the church picked up the balance of the bills, as was common in those days since the family was a “member in good standing.” Curtis seemed to have a knack for eliciting sympathy rather than rigidly adhering to the facts. In this case, it was the hard-working son versus the boy playing with gasoline.

He was in enormous pain and the family was so distraught that they did everything to help Curtis. For example, he asked for a pet monkey and got it. He also took up an interest in plinking while convalescing after the accident. Plinking sparked more than just an interest in weaponry; it led to a lifelong interest in hunting and the great outdoors. In addition, he became interested in the Boy Scouts, worked his way up to Eagle Scout and treasured his badge all his life.

One thing he was definitely not interested in was farming, and friction began to develop between him and his father. His father was a hard-working stickler, and he expected no less from his son. He would later relate stories to close friends about how his father would even resort to corporal punishment if he did not meet his expectations. He told another friend, Mike Todd, that his father did not want him to have the machine guns that were being discarded by the WWI veterans and made him haul them back on his bicycle. He took them back, crying all the way, and hid them.

One thing that was certain, even among friends and relatives, he did not talk a lot about his relationship with his father. Dotti Cottle, his first wife, describes how he got along with his parents, “His mom doted on him. His relationship with his dad was work and money-oriented.”

The Early Days

He attended Bear River High School in Tremonton and as Max Rigby explained, “He was a charmer. He had a knack for getting all the girls at the high school dances. We went on dates together and had lots of fun times.” This interest in beautiful women continued all his life, to both his detriment and benefit. After attending high school, he went on to The University of Utah for a year and later to Utah Agricultural College, now Utah State University, for five. In 1949, he graduated from the School of Forestry with a B.S. degree in Wildlife Biology with minors in Civil Engineering and Photography.

It was during the 1940s that he developed a love for flying and received his private pilot’s license in 1943. He told friends that he tried to enlist in the military during WWII, as his father had in WWI, but was rejected because of the damage done by the burns. One spot on his thigh never closed properly and was a constant source of concern for infection. As late as 1990, he was trying new procedures for skin grafts at the University of Utah Burn Unit to close the wound.

He was able to volunteer, however, to fly observation missions for the Civil Air Patrol near the end of the war. This proved to be the perfect combination since he could satisfy his love for flying and also have access to free rationed aviation fuel. All his life he sought such winning combinations. But nonetheless, to family and friends he repeatedly stated that it was hard to see all his friends serve, some coming home heroes, but not him.

During college he married his first wife, Dotti, in 1946. “After his parents sold the farm in Fielding, his father bought into the Fish Haven Resort. Curt worked at the resort during the summers of his college years, renting the boats, working in the restaurant and maintaining the guest cabins. That’s where we got to know each other since my parents ran the main store and post office in Fish Haven, Idaho.”

In addition to the resort, Curtis’ father, Jesse, ran a business in Logan, Utah that sold some of the first automatic washing machines. Dotti worked with him instructing the ladies on the use of their new Bendix Washer. Jesse’s 100-year-old home in a prestigious part of Logan had the first automatic garage door opener in town, another business line that the industrious Jesse expanded into.

All the while, Curtis continued to expand and upgrade his weapon collection, particularly from veterans returning from the war. No doubt, the family indirectly helped in this regard from a financial standpoint. Dotti explains, “Grandpa Earl (Jesse) gave us a home on Center Street as a wedding gift. It was big and had four apartments in it, which brought us a little income. In 1948 our son, Michael Curtis, was born while Curt was out rabbit hunting.”

The family moved to Owensville, Missouri after he was hired by the Missouri Conservation Commission in 1949 to support the development of the August A. Busch Memorial Wildlife Area. He often told friends that this wildlife management area was his proudest accomplishment and must have influenced his later building of the Idaho Aviation Foundation.

Just after his first daughter Pat was born in 1951, the family moved to Phoenix where he secured a job as a wildlife biologist working on five federal projects as a project leader for the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. While he loved working on wildlife conservation projects, his deep-seated interest was in flying. Even his sister Marilyn caught the flying bug and worked as a United stewardess in the early 1950s. He similarly infected two of his children and two of his grandchildren (Michelle and Terrance).

His childhood friend Gail Halvorsen may have contributed to this love for flying for both him and his sister. Marilyn remembers fun times with Gail and the Halvorsen family. Gail became a command pilot during WWII in the United States Air Force. He became famous during the Berlin airlift as the original “Candy Bomber” who threw candy to the blockaded children as the C-47s and C-54s approached the airport. After the end of the blockade, Colonel Halvorsen did a “victory tour” around the state of Utah and Curtis flew in an accompanying plane taking photographs, some of which appeared in the book Halvorsen wrote about his life, The Berlin Candy Bomber.

It also may have been this love for flying that led to a major change in careers. In 1952, he went to work in the quality control and inspection planning department for Garrett AiResearch, a manufacturer of small gas turbine engines. The family lived on Diamond Street not far from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Pat states, “In that house we had gun cases everywhere and we often drove to the airport to watch the airplanes take off and land. Dad loved animals; we had a dog (Butch), a cat and a pet desert tortoise so large that we tried to ride it. We were taught to respect weapons and thought everyone had guns and did such things.”

The Turbulent 50s and 60s

But those relatively carefree days would soon be over. The marriage began to unravel, but not before Dotti was once again pregnant. His frequent scuba and fishing trips to Mexico, the land of the lovely señoritas, no doubt contributed. A frequent traveling companion on these trips was a secretary at Garrett. He was not happy about his wife’s frequent trips taking the kids back home to Utah. It was an extremely stressful period and Christine arrived two months premature in 1955, the day after the divorce became final. Christine was so small at birth that the nickname “Tina” remains to this day.

Curtis claimed to friends that his father disowned him after the divorce. As stated earlier, his relationship with his father was tense at best much of the time. But in reality, his father helped him buy the Diamond Street house and set him up with the income from several businesses including a furniture manufacturing plant and several warehouses. Finally, when his father died in 1974 he received a sizable inheritance. There is a certain bitter irony in this, considering how he structured his own trust at the end of his life.

Dotti took the three children and moved back to Utah, living in the Earl’s big family home for the first few months while they wintered in a warmer climate. She found work as a secretary and returned her lifestyle to her calmer Mormon roots. Curtis remarried around 1959 to Beulah Holmes of Phoenix. Beulah had children of her own, slightly older than those of Curtis, and his own children got along well with her. But once again things started to unravel, this time on both the work and the marriage fronts.

Curtis was terminated from his job at Garrett in 1960, not for poor performance, but for what can best be described as a conflict with a certain female employee. Resolution of the matter involved company security coming to Curt’s house and leaving with hundreds of “artsy” photos of the young woman, although they didn’t get them all.

Curtis went through a string of jobs, most lasting brief periods, some part-time and overlapping. He went to work for Hollar Tool Engineering, Skyway Manufacturing, and DeVelco Manufacturing, all in quality control. He then changed careers again and went to work for Del Webb, an Arizona real estate, development and construction operation in Phoenix as a project estimator, then back to quality control for Apex Manufacturing while also working at Arizona Land Corporation. For a while he was selling real estate in Holbrook, Arizona. All this occurred from 1960 though 1968.

As for his marriage, this one was much more tumultuous than the first. So bitter and acrimonious had the relationship grown that Curtis was in fear of his life. Chuck Olsen explains, “Curtis told me that he knew his wife had a .380 automatic and knew how to shoot it. The marriage deteriorated to the point where he thought that she possibly might use it – on him – so he removed the firing pin. One morning not long afterwards when shaving, he heard a snap behind him and the clink of a round hitting the floor as another round was chambered.” This story has been confirmed by his granddaughter, Michelle Earl Cruson, and others.

Needless to say, he was soon divorced. He remarried a third time to Mary Bess, but that only lasted a few years. His fourth and final marriage was to Lois Haselton in 1968, but it lasted literally a few days. The most consistent thread in this turbulent period was his uninterrupted dedication to gun collecting and flying. Sometimes he could creatively combine the two. At Arizona air shows, he set up a display of aircraft machine guns and explained the connection between guns and airplanes. From his (accurate) perspective, aviation advanced exponentially when airplanes became the delivery platform for weapons and the forward eyes of our troops. The guns, he would say, “were the fangs and claws of the war birds.” Kids of all ages were drawn to his booth.

He loved this attention and wanted to extend the concept to a permanent display. That may have been one of the reasons that years later he insisted that the Champlin Fighter Museum’s display of weapons bear his name, even though all the guns were owned by Doug Champlin. It also may have given him the inspiration for the J Curtis Earl Memorial Exhibit at the Old Idaho Penitentiary.

Another point of stability in this turbulent time was the frequent visits to his children in Logan, Utah. Friends got the impression that he was estranged from his children all their lives, when in reality he flew up several times each year and showered them with interesting gifts such as a live tarantula and baby alligator. His three children always looked forward to these visits.

The 1960s were turbulent times of job changes and dissolved marriages. His third marriage only lasted a few years. His fourth and final marriage lasted literally a few days. The most consistent thread in this tumultuous period was his uninterrupted dedication to gun collecting, flying and his visits to his children in Logan, Utah.

The end, in 1968, to the “marriage that did not count since it was so short,” as he would joke, also brought an end to the overlapping part-time jobs: in 1968 he was in the gun business full-time. The precise reasons that he became a full-time Class 3 dealer are not known. It was probably a blend of numerous factors. No doubt, being under the direction and control of corporations did not suit his style; déjà vu working for his father on the farm.

Another likely factor was the fact that from childhood he had developed the skills of an astute dealer and trader. He would shrewdly buy two guns, keep one and sell one then buy two more with the profits, repeating the process over and over for decades. A 1981 newspaper article stated that he “started out in the military arms business while still a kid. He supported his wildlife-management education at USU variously from farm work, gunsmithing, hawking war surplus sporting goods, and even aerial shooting (for bounty and furs) from an old Cessna 140 airplane.”

Yet another factor may have been a twist of fate. He told friends that a wealthy individual in the air cargo freight business was interested in collecting and investing in machine guns but could not legally own them. He helped Curtis apply for his Class 3 FFL in 1964. (Author’s note: 1965 is often cited as the start of his business; 1964 is the date given in the 1983 business prospectus and may represent the date he submitted the paperwork.) Curtis would later claim that there were only two other such dealers in the country, one in Wisconsin and one in Illinois.

The wealthy businessman would provide the money but Curtis would own and store the guns; the businessman could shoot them when he was with Curtis in Phoenix. Recognize that this was long before the straw buyer concept was even imagined, and, of course, Curtis kept possession of the guns. He was given the opportunity to fly around the country and began making key contacts in police departments that later proved invaluable. It was another one of those win-win situations that Curtis loved.

Curtis claimed that the businessman caught his wife cheating and this led to a tragic murder-suicide. All the guns, papered to Curtis, became his. This story is “real” as told firsthand to others, but again, the truth may lie elsewhere. He also told friends that he had received a large settlement from the judgment on a car accident, severe enough to require a fusion of vertebrae in his neck. Monthly income from the storage units given him by his father paid the day-to-day expenses. Additional money may also have come from the continued support from his father back in Utah. It is unlikely that he would ever admit this.

One thing was certain: he was reaching critical mass whereby the revenue from the part-time gun business was exceeding the income from his more traditional corporate jobs. In addition, he was living frugally and plowing the profits from gun sales into the purchase of more guns.

Regardless of what propelled him to graduate from collector to dealer, the net result was that on December 29, 1965, Curtis formally opened for business as a part-time Class 3 dealer until he went full-time in 1968. His first entry in his “bound book” was a Sten gun. (As an aside, throughout his life he used standard Ideal System Company eight-column ledger pages bound side-by-side and set up according to ATF record-keeping requirements.) The last entry was an MG-42 on July 14, 1999. The ledger tracked as follows:

• 1960s: 528
• 1970s: 1,556
• 1980s: 454
• 1990s: 27
• Total: 2,565

With a Title II inventory such as this and since he included his address in his ads, security was a constant issue. He built a separate structure on the property with overall dimensions of 12 by 27 feet, which included a vault with a time lock door imported from Spain and originally installed in the First National Bank in Florence, Arizona. Both his house and the external storage areas had what he described in the prospectus as “sophisticated security systems.” In reality, it was rudimentary according to close friends.

He always had a watchdog, usually a German shepherd, plus an assortment of hidden, loaded guns around the house and in his car. He built a special bracket to hold a 12-gauge shotgun under a coffee table, kept a .38 under a hat on top of the refrigerator and used as his primary defense weapon a WWII vintage .45 marked United States Property, SN 965435. He had it at the ready in a cut-off leather military shoulder holster stapled to the headboard of his bed. This gun would later be confiscated by the police in one of the darkest periods of his life just before he died. The Business Strategy

Clearly, the 1970s were the peak of his business, but it would be the very early days that proved critical since they laid the foundation of his business development strategy. As the 1983 business prospective detailed, “This business was built up over the years by primarily buying everything in the Title II gun line that he could afford. As the annual increase in the value of all of these items is far in excess of any other commodity, he continually poured his profits into more inventory and antique guns, he exercised the ‘new pots for old’ approach and acquired many collections and large lots from states, governments, and law enforcement agencies. He specializes in good, clean guns… he has become the largest dealer in the U.S. with an inventory most probably in excess of all of his competitors put together!”

By the 1970s he not only was the largest Class 3 dealer, he was also one of the most influential. As mentioned in part one of this series, his father and three of his uncles were in the retail and sales business; maybe he picked up some of the skills from them and understood the power of advertising. He was one of the first to run national ads in widely read magazines such as Gun World, Guns and Guns & Ammo.

The ads may have been small, but they caught the eye of thousands who bought his catalog that was nothing short of breathtaking for NFA collectors with its dozens of illustrations. Between 1968 and 1983 he had distributed over 65,000 brochures. By 1983 he was receiving nearly $15,000 annually from catalog sales alone (nearly $34,000 in 2009 dollars). Curtis also was quick to adapt new photo technology, owning several Polaroid cameras and getting into home video back when cameras required a suitcase-size recorder. For those interested in getting a closer look at a particular gun, he offered to take and send a custom photo, “$1 submachine gun photo, $2 light, and $3 crew served or heavy guns.” He even made and sold tapes of guns to potential buyers with a narration of the gun’s statistics and qualities.

Curtis did three things in his catalog that greatly benefitted the collecting public. First, he educated them that they could own machine guns and explained the process to legally acquire them. For example, wording from the 1976 catalog states, “Machine guns are legal. They always have been! However, old wives’ tales to the contrary are bolstered by our American new media (sic), the reverse of this has been very effectively drilled into the public’s brains.”

Second, he pointed out the rarity of the classic original guns and the impact on supply and demand: “It is now simply a matter of supply and demand… with the demand far greater than the supply!” and its impact on price: “Any machine gun worth having will demand premiums unheard of today; they will fall in the same category as the Colt Patersons or Walkers, or any of the other highly sought and very costly collectables.” He was correct, of course, but in those early days he never anticipated the astronomical rise after the 1986 ban on the manufacture of transferable machine guns.

Part of his logic on the inevitability of price escalation was based on the impact of the transfer tax. “On each transaction of a live gun, the value of that gun is increased by $200.00.” As he detailed, the owner of the gun in each succeeding transfer would want to recoup his original cost, plus expenses, plus a profit. As he explained, after several transactions, “The $59.50 Thompson (Author’s note: Interarmco was selling these at this price in 1967) is now listing at $500.00. The new buyer pays the $200.00 federal tax, making his total cost for the gun $700.00… and ad infinitum.”

Third, he provided a summary of the classes of machine guns, key dos and don’ts, the possible problems with remanufactured guns or “re-wats,” the regulations and the legal traps, sometimes in brutally frank terms. For example in his 1988 catalog, after the dust had settled on the historic ATF raid, “(Un-registered) guns brought home by an earlier collector as a war memento, or something from prohibition days… will show up… now and then… but contraband they are, and contraband they will most likely always be… good for spare parts only. The BATF Gestapo loves to find the ‘innocent’ owner of such items… You may as well get caught with a kilo of ‘H’.”

Curtis had eight business advantages that, in sum, no one else had. First, he had a lifetime of collecting, bargaining knowledge and contacts. He knew guns and where you could get them. Second, he had a tremendous inventory from day one of the business. Third, the market timing was in his favor. He went into business during the golden period, long before the astronomical rise in machine gun prices and the field was packed with competition. Fourth, he had the capital to buy large lots of weapons from collectors, police departments, movie studios and prisons. Fifth, he had a knack for self-promotion and advertising. Sixth, he had something that few had – an airplane and a pilot’s license which allowed him to traverse the country looking for deals. Seventh, he could work out of his home, thus eliminating the cost for a storefront. Zoning was not an issue. Eighth, he had fortuitous luck as explained next.

The Thoresen Gun Runs

Mentioned earlier was his chance encounter with a wealthy air cargo freight business owner that may have helped jump start his dealer career. Again, this may or may not have occurred, at least to the extent Curtis would tell the story to several friends. But there was no question about another chance occurrence, one that eventually was described in the 1974 book, It Gave Everybody Something To Do, by Louise Thoresen.

Born Louise Banich into a blue-collar family of meager means, at the age of twenty-one she met and married William Thoresen, a Chicago trust fund millionaire. He may have had wealth, but he was also an unstable manipulator and petty criminal who had visions of grandeur, including dreams of establishing a military arms museum in San Francisco.

Louise wrote, “So once again I was caught up in his schemes and agreed to embark with him on this new adventure – into the upper echelons and lower depths of the gun dealing world.” Curtis’ ads had caught his eye and he made arrangements to meet him at his home in “Santa Fe, New Mexico.” In the book the characters’ actual identities and locations were not revealed. Curtis was “Orval Lee.”

Jumping directly to the end from Curtis’ standpoint, this wealthy individual paid for Curtis to fly around the country, build key contacts and support William Thoresen’s efforts in assembling an arsenal reported by federal agents to weigh as much as 70 tons. Fast-forwarding to the end of this story from Louise’s standpoint, the marriage disintegrated, he abused her and in a famous California trial, she was acquitted of the murder of William by reason of self-defense.

A careful read of the book reveals more than just Curtis’ fortuitous encounter with Thoresen to expand his network on someone else’s dime – another one of the win-win deals he loved. It also revealed the near paranoia and suspicions that influenced a few of the buyers and sellers from that period. On page 192 Louise wrote, “Within two hours, two FBI agents came to our motel and arrested William on the fugitive warrant from Tucson.” (Author’s note: ATTU was the Alcohol, Tobacco Tax Unit of IRS, as it was called back then before independence from the IRS in 1970 or so) “We later learned that Orval Lee had begun making immediate inquiries about William and the ATTU and the FBI… He knew from the FBI that William had been arrested, but he was still chary that it was all part of an entrapment plot to nail him.” (“Him” is emphasized in the original.)

On page 202 Louise continues, “‘I do not want to go there,’ Orval said. ‘You take care of it. You take me to Newark Airport now’… No amount of persuasion would change his mind. We did not understand what all the panic was about, but we drove him to Newark Airport anyway… It should have occurred to us that Orval Lee’s sudden departure from the gun run was much more than an omen, but neither of us was very good at looking into the future.”

Hours later Louise Thoresen was arrested for “storing explosives at an airport and attempted interstate shipment of explosives and contraband firearms.” Years later Curtis would tell friends that he thought the Thoresens were trying to set him up in an ATF sting operation.

Double Dealing and Contraband

On page 194 Louise implies that Curtis was ready to facilitate contraband deals, “Look, let me tell you something, Lee said expansively. ‘The ATTU told me not to do business with you at all. But I think you’re a nice guy… your wife is nice… He looked at me with much more than casual interest. ‘I’ll work with you on it… I’ll take a deposit on the papered weapons you want, crate them and store them in a bonded warehouse till we can transfer them to your name. And in the meantime,’ he grinned expectantly, ‘maybe I know about a few things you can buy right now from friends of mine. Unpapered. Machine guns you wanted, wasn’t it?’”

Thoresen’s comment about the lustful look-over was absolute pure Curtis. No doubt that happened. But I have been unable to uncover so much as a shred of information that he ever knowingly dealt in contraband. From the 1930s to the 1960s, the world of machine guns was different than it is today and as documented in earlier interviews in Small Arms Review of leading historic figures in the industry. The draconian controls today did not exist in days past.

Maybe there were some less than perfect deals, but it is highly unlikely that Curtis, a financially well-off dealer, would have put his collection, which was his pride and joy, and his growing business, which was a major source of income, in jeopardy, all to earn a few extra bucks. He was definitely always looking to abscond with a few extra dollars or score some trinket he had his eye on, but felonious activities were unlikely.

He did run into an issue in 1976 that eventually resulted in the confiscation of 13 machine guns and one silencer. In his bound book he listed their removal as “ATF Commandeered.” He bought from the Kearny, Arizona police department one Ruger AC-556 machine gun, three M60 machine guns and one M-11 submachine gun. The ATF alleged that the transfer was arranged to take advantage of the police and military discount on the price of these new guns – in effect, a straw purchase through Donald Lane, the Police Chief. In addition, some manufacturers would only sell directly to the military and law enforcement. ATF allegedly used this as justification for the subsequent search warrant and raid in June 1977. Curtis claimed that all these transfers were done with full approval of the ATF.

Curtis was extremely cautious, to the point of paranoia. For example, he frequently would tape record telephone conversations and some of these tapes still exist. Even the ATF was aware that he would record conversations. These recordings stand as vivid testimony to Curtis’ skill as a crafty tactician and brutal negotiator. Several involved talks with Louise Thoresen after she was acquitted of murder and re-acquired all the properly papered guns that were part of the estate. She told Curtis that she was offered $5,000 by the ATF to set up dealers.

In her book, Thoresen also raised the possibility of Curtis being an agent for the government, essentially a snitch. On this, the record is clear. He was. Curtis helped from time to time when he wanted to court favors or defensively position himself.

His July 1979 Senate testimony was explicit, even mentioning some of the Thoresen dealings and tape recordings:

Senator DeConcini: In what manner did you cooperate with the agencies?

Mr. Earl: Primarily acting as an informant to the FBI and ATF people in turning in people who I know were bad guys.

Senator DeConcini: You had acted as an informant for ATF?

Mr. Earl: Many, many, many times.

Senator DeConcini: At their request?

Mr. Earl: No sir; because I felt it was the duty as a citizen to do so.

His daughter Pat was aware of her father’s cooperation with ATF, “In 1983 I was working for TransWest Air Service in Salt Lake City at the front counter renting airplanes. Two ATF agents flew in and waited at one of the nearby tables until they got their orders to pursue a suspect. They flew off and returned in less than an hour. In the meantime, the office had called and asked for them and inadvertently mentioned that they were from ATF. I assumed that they lost their suspect and mentioned something to effect, ‘Looks like somebody got away from the ATF.’

“One of the agents was surprised and asked, ‘How do you even know what ATF is?’ In typical Earl fashion, I told him bluntly, ‘You guys have been pretty nasty to my father, J Curtis Earl.’ One agent immediately said, ‘One of my first ATF assignments was to check his books for several illegal weapons we were trying to locate. I spent all day and found nothing. When I was leaving, your father asked what prompted the inspection and I told him exactly what we were looking for. He responded, ‘I do not deal in illegal guns. You should have asked me in the first place.’ Then he proceeded to tell me exactly the information I needed and the whereabouts of the guns. I have a lot of respect for that man.’”

Getting back to the original point, namely, Thoresen’s version of what went on. Just how truthful was she in all this? Autobiographies are inevitably spun to favor the author. She killed her husband and she was, to some extent, rationalizing her actions. In the book she made numerous references to deals in transferable, properly papered guns across the country in which Curtis allegedly was involved. Cross-referencing his bound book from that period reveals no connection to these possible deals. The book may be accurate in broad terms, but in terms of any specific illegal operations which may have involved Curtis, the evidence is weak.

A Collection of Dreams

By 1983 Curtis had amassed an inventory of approximately 800 NFA firearms. There were complete “sub-collections” of machine guns which he divided into the categories of (1) assault rifles; (2) light and heavy machine guns; (3) submachine guns; and (4) silencers and silent weapons. These were further broken down by country of origin. He had complete or nearly complete collections of English, Japanese, French, German and American guns plus others, from the first machine gun invented up to, at the time, the latest U.S. M60. He also had a nearly complete collection of aircraft machine guns. There were military, commercial and even prototypes. He also became the primary distributor of the E. H. de la Garrigue half-scale miniature Thompsons.

The center of the collection and what he was most noted for, aside from some specific guns mentioned later, was what he claimed to be the only complete Thompson submachine gun collection in the world. So extensive was his collection that Gordon Herigstad, author of Colt Thompson Serial Numbers, sought out and was given access to his bound book records in 1995. Later, after Curtis died, he produced a separate listing for all Thompsons Curtis had from 1965 through 2000. On Curtis’ bound book at one time or another were the following:

• 199 Colt Model 1921, 1927 and 1928 Navy
• 109 Savage Model 1928-A1 and 1940-41 Auto-Ordnance
• 81 Savage Model M1 & M1A1 and 1942 Auto-Ordnance
• 67 1952 Numrich Arms Corporation Thompson Model 1921 & 28
• 35 West Hurley Model 1928 & 27-A1 Semi-Auto

He had five consecutively serial numbered sets (i.e., 10 Thompsons total). Some were movie guns from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios or television guns such as those used in the TV series, The Untouchables. Many were from police departments around the country or from notorious prisons such as Attica, Sing Sing, Folsom and San Quentin. One incredibly engraved and ornate 1921 Thompson was dubbed the “Midas Touch” and it made the cover of the July 1973 issue of Guns & Ammo. This was another form of advertising that attracted new, high-end customers.

His inventory also included approximately 200 Title 1 firearms, some standard, but mostly rare collectable rifles, pistols and shotguns, especially Lugers, Mausers and Winchesters. There were also seven cannons ranging from 20 to 75mm. He had tons of ammunition and accessories; some rare accessories were more valuable than the guns that they were designed for. A lot of the inventory was impressive just because of the sheer volume of particular models. Aside from the Thompsons, he had 66 MAC M-10s and M-11s and 44 Reisings. He also had a mind-boggling collection of German MG 34s and 42s – 33 in all.

The 1983 business prospective totaled the value as follows:

Firearms (Title I and II)

• $1,450,000
• Destructive Devices
  60,000
• Accessories and spare parts
  150,000
• Ammunition
  15,000
• Total
  (1983 dollars)
  $1,675,000
• Total
  (2009 inflation adjusted dollars)
  $3,600,000

Of course, gun values did not track inflation, a fact pointed out by Curtis himself. If one were to make a guess of the average value of the guns at $10,000 each, one can see that this inventory, if it existed today, could approach $10 million. This is all just idle speculation since some of these guns would sell today for somewhere between a few hundred dollars to a hundred thousand dollars or more each. Examples of a few of the more exotic guns in this later category included the following:

• Charles Nungesser, WWI French flying ace’s Lewis aircraft machine gun responsible for 38 German kills
• Pancho Villa’s Lewis machine guns confiscated by Arizona authorities in their original shipping containers
• Thompson experimental 9mm model serial number S1
• Thompson Model M1A1 presentation commemorative made for President Eisenhower
• FN-FAL select fire Serial number 1
• Gewehr 43, semiautomatic Mauser code ac44, presented by the Walther people to Alfred Jodl, WWII German military commander

The MGM Automatic Arms Collection that he acquired at public auction in 1970 was so extensive that he prepared a special catalog detailing the items. They represented all of the machine guns used by MGM in their movie and television productions over a 40-year period. This included World War I and II movies, Pancho Villa and the Spanish American War movies and “general shootouts of all descriptions, including the Tarzan flicks where three of the Vickers were used.”

Television series included Combat and Rat Patrol. These were guns used by Wallace Berry, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, John Wayne, James Cagney and others. Twenty guns were transferable and those that were not, such as several of the .50 caliber Brownings, were parted out and the receivers destroyed by the ATF. This MGM lot also included spare parts and accessories, some in mint condition.

According to a letter dated January 8, 1992, 188 guns in his collection were sold to Windward Aviation, Inc. (Champlin Fighter Museum). Indeed, there were so many transferred in that one sale that he prepared a special rubber stamp to make each entry in the ledger. Even after this single lot sale in 1987 and other individual sales, he still had approximately 520 Title II weapons in 1992 because of new additions. These figures did not include his personal guns and all of the specialty items such as ancient weapons and armaments. Many of these went to the J Curtis Earl Memorial Exhibit in Boise, Idaho.

Business with the Rich and Famous

Needless to say, Curtis and his collection were attracting international attention, including interest from very wealthy and connected individuals. From time to time Curtis would relate stories to friends who took these in, but sometimes wondered if he exaggerated. After his death, however, a number of photographs and other records verified these stories.

Some of these prominent connections were not related exclusively to guns. For example, he claimed that he would scuba dive with Jacques Cousteau in Mexico. He also was a friend of Frank Tallman, a stunt pilot, who worked in Hollywood in the 1960s and 1970s. Tallman was the president of Tallmantz Aviation which supplied a fleet of operating B-25 Mitchell bombers to recreate a Mediterranean wartime base as depicted in the 1970 movie Catch-22. The flying was done in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico and Curtis dressed in a uniform and sat in the co-pilot’s seat. The production required three months to shoot and the bombers flew a total of about 1,500 hours. Curtis was in heaven: he could not be in WWII for real like his friend, Halvorsen, but he got to play a bomber hero in the movies.

He had pictures of himself with actors such as Mr. T (born Laurence Tureaud) who starred in the television series The A-Team and autographed photos from celebrities such as Grits Gresham, host of ABC’s The American Sportsman series from 1966-1979. There were copies of records of export licenses for guns sold to Middle Eastern sheiks. Curtis would marvel to others at how these otherwise complicated export deals would proceed through the bureaucracy at lightning speed for the diplomats. One friend relates the story of arriving at his house to find a shiny new Ferrari in the driveway, “Curtis and the owner had been fighting over the price of a case of ammo – like their very existence depended on the last few dollars of price difference. The case of ammo wouldn’t fit in the trunk, so it rode in the passenger seat.”

He entertained his friends with these stories, but the events were also a harbinger of something else… a growing interest by federal agencies.

The Feds Arrive in Force

During the 1970s there was a series of compliance inspections by the ATF at Curtis’ residence in central Phoenix where he also conducted business and stored his collection. For the most part these were routine, but by the mid 1970s the tenor with the government agencies began to change, even though he had been cooperative with the ATF. In a number of instances his actions were, in fact, to inform on their own agents who were conducting sting operations of questionable legality.

He was “influencing people” but not “winning friends” within government bureaucracies and, eventually, this and other factors such as the Kearny, Arizona, gun deal led to the infamous 1977 raid. The details of that raid plus an entrapment scheme using a woman he briefly dated were covered in Volume 4, Number 4, January 2001 issue of Small Arms Review. There are, however, several additional points of note.

Curtis was extremely cautious, having almost a second sense when trouble was brewing. For example, Curtis told friends years later that he sensed something was odd the day before the 1977 raid. A telephone lineman showed up and spent a lot of time working on the telephone pole behind his house. The ATF was setting up a direct communication line to Washington.

In the Senate testimony he stated that as the raid unfolded, “A guy went running across the lawn, stretching the longest telephone extension you ever saw – something like a 250 yard telephone line.” The ATF knew he potentially had recording devices on his business line and they apparently wanted to immediately plug into a dedicated, secure line. This was in the days before cell phones.

In December 1978 the government presented evidence to a grand jury on the Kearny, Arizona, gun deal – the issue that triggered the 1977 raid. The grand jury returned a “no bill” against Curtis, but indicted Donald Lane, chief of the Kearny, Arizona, police department on two counts. However, in early February 1979, the chief was acquitted on both charges. In November of that year Curtis initiated a lawsuit against several agencies for $8.4 million for “malicious prosecution.” He would later claim to friends that he had to drop the lawsuit because, “If I don’t, the Feds will not renew my dealer’s license.”

The legal difficulties were costing tens of thousands of dollars and were wreaking havoc on his business. In July 1979 in Senate testimony he stated, “For the last two years I have been working under a suspended license. I no longer have a legitimate license to send to my dealers and customers. I have a two-bit letter that tells me I can work as an authorization on this letter in lieu of my license, which, in effect, tells everybody I do business with I am in a bad light with ATF, and most people don’t know what a letter is. They are not used to seeing it. They don’t know if I am in business or not, and it is greatly damaging my business reputation – what is left.”

The description of the raid and Curtis’ testimony is mandatory reading for all NFA collectors (transcript available online, Google: Curtis Earl CIS 1980 S181-2). Indeed, a 2003 Neal Knox report in Shotgun News, highlighted Curtis’ testimony and the fact that it was one of the first real exposures of the problems with the NFA record-keeping problems that remain unresolved to today.

The Tensions Build

Curtis may have prevailed in this costly David vs. Goliath battle in the 1970s, but the stress was having an impact on his health and his interactions with others. Some of these stressful situations were through no fault of his own.

For example, Curtis stated in the 1979 Senate hearings, “A friend, FBI agent Kelley Sanderson, was ordered officially to not contact me, not have anything to do with me, and this was a direct result of an ATF visit to him. It is a sore deal… I took a picture of Kelley and his little boy, father and son, the kid holding the miniature (Thompson) and Kelley holding the big one. They demanded a statement why would he allow himself to be photographed, used in my book and advertising my brochure, which I have been putting out since 1966… Today, he calls me maybe once every six months to see if I am alive. He is scared to death he will be transferred to Timbuktu.”

In addition, a life-changing tragic event intervened once again. His daughter Pat relates, “Dad was thrown into a tailspin when Mike, his son, died in an airplane accident at the age of 23, the day after he graduated from USU. Between December 1966 and March 1972, Mike logged 1,741 hours of flying; that’s a lot. Having been in the ROTC at USU, he was scheduled to go into the Air Force upon graduation. He was Dad’s pride and joy, his life, his legacy.”

Curtis continued to make trips to Utah to not just see his two remaining children, but also the growing number of grandchildren. In some respects, he was like the proverbial Dutch uncle who could shower interesting gifts, play with the grandkids and then, literally, fly away. Pat recalls, “The grandkids enjoyed visits with him. Not every kid on the block could say they got to shoot a Thompson machine gun with their grandpa, or learn about falcons, or how to swing a two-handed sword. Adventures with Grandpa Curt were rich.”

But life with relatives did not come without a price, at least for them: gifts and love always seemed to come with his unwritten and, at least initially, unspoken rules and conditions. It was quite simple, there was the “wrong way” and then there was “his way.” And it was always his way or the highway.

Blood relatives always cut a lot of slack for kindred. But with customers and especially dealers in the NFA business, these affronts did not go down well at all. Even U.S. senators did not escape his sting, as illustrated in the 1979 testimony transcript, “Before I start, I would like to give you (Senator DeConcini) a belated thanks for sending your assistant to my license revocation hearing, and for the five seconds he spent there during our six-and-a-half-hour session.”

He was relentless right up until the time of his death. What’s more, he knew it. In his 1973 résumé he stated that he was “a bit opinionated in what I believe.” In addition to being a rather odd comment in a résumé, it was the understatement of the century. He proudly posted a framed inscription on the wall of his home that stated, “No man should go through life without a little trouble.”

While his interactions with others were the stuff of legends, they were rarely put in writing. One of these documented examples was in correspondence between Curtis and a rich, Scottsdale-based business executive who had bought nearly $150,000 in weapons from Curtis over a relatively short period. The businessman wrote, “I have become frustrated and have decided to terminate the relationship.” Curtis shot back with the opener, “To the smart X-suit peddler from the dumb X-farmer.”

Roger Cox, author of the 1982 book, The Thompson Submachine Gun, wrote on page 12, “This dealer… had a machine shop produce some thin, boxy looking imitations (of compensators). When this dealer published his catalog, he referred to these poor copies as ‘First Model’ compensators… Since this unscrupulous dealer was the first person to give any kind of designation to different types of compensators, his scheme was adopted by nearly everyone. It is foolish to perpetuate this fraud.” This allegedly was Curtis.

The Cycle of Friendship and Animosity

Most personal and business relationships would start amicable enough only to end in bitter hostility. This was a pattern that was repeated all his life. As stated at the beginning of this three-part series, everyone has a Curtis story and we have already provided a sampling. Some of the most outlandish, although verified by reliable and independent sources, cannot be put into print. There are several areas, however, that we will explore further because they are representative of why he was so legendary.

We recognize that if he were alive to defend himself, he would have a different take on all of this. But there are some stories that are just irrefutable and supported by multiple, credible sources. Indeed, in preparing this article we would hear both sides: as he told it to friends and again, as told from the other party.

He was frugal to a fault. Sometimes his frugality was comical, as when he took the time to paste scores of two-cent postage stamps on a package. Sometimes it was baffling. For example, many readers would expect that a famous multi-millionaire gun collector would have as his personal defense gun a custom weapon by the likes of Armand Swenson or Frank Pachmayr. Instead, he asked his friend of nearly 40 years, Mike Todd, to build his from mismatched WWII surplus parts, specifically, a Remington Rand frame, an Ithaca slide and a mixture of internals.

Curtis absolutely thrilled in absconding with some trivial item from someone else. Mike Todd states, “I suppose that some may call it kleptomania, but on a number of occasions I was shocked to witness him take some trivial item and put it in his pocket. It was as if he was not even aware of what he was doing.” One individual interviewed for this article reported that he returned some ill-begotten items to their rightful owner after Curtis died. Other highly credible sources have told similar accounts such as the widely circulated story that security procedures were changed at the UK’s Ministry of Defence Pattern Room soon after a visit from Curtis.

Sometimes the excitement of a potentially questionable deal got the better of him. For example, the thought of owning historical military aircraft intrigued him and in 1982 he traded a Cessna 180 for a WWII AT-6 trainer. By 1989 he had sufficient money to not just buy prop-driven airplanes, but jet fighter aircraft. He bought a Chinese MiG-15, but the wings were improperly removed, destroying critical cables. He decided to manage the process himself and went to Beijing. Pat recalls, “He also bought dozens of new Chinese flying jackets – something really rare in the U.S. – and stuffed them in the fuselage. Well, it backfired. Customs found the jackets; he had to pay a fine and he gave most of them away.”

These stories are fascinating and amusing, but they do not get to the area that was the source of so much consternation. Curtis had to win every negotiation no matter how petty and dictate the terms of every transaction. Even if he gave something away, he still felt it was his to control or even take back. He may have been a multi-millionaire, but he obsessed in his ability to obtain things that others wanted and thereby control or influence others. Indeed, he reveled in it. Some specific examples help illustrate this trait.

Steve Earl, his grandson, states, “In 1997 my wife, Monica, and I visited Curt at his house in Boise. We had a great time and later that year I called and asked about my dad’s (Mike Earl) Maxim machine gun that he told me I could have. I also told him I would like to get a Tommy Gun from him, as this would be a great memento of my Grandpa. He told me he needed to drive his motor home to Boise and that if I did this road trip with him, he would give me the two guns. I flew to Phoenix, he did the paperwork for the two guns and I drove back as far as Logan with him.

“Curt called me that fall and asked if I could build him a used computer for a friend. I said I would be glad to and asked if he would like us to come up for Thanksgiving. He was alone and said he would really like that. We went to Boise, set up his friend’s computer and did a lot of yard work. He asked if I had sent in the paperwork for the guns yet, and I told him that my apartment was packed from top to bottom and that I would send the paperwork in just as soon as I had a place to put the guns in a safe place.

“I got a certified letter in the mail a month later and was told to tear up the paperwork for the guns as they had been sold to someone else. I called Curt and asked what was going on. He said this was because I didn’t send him a Christmas card. I explained that I had been overwhelmed with school, work and selling computers and that I hadn’t sent anyone a Christmas card that year. Well, having inherited Curt’s temperament to an extent, I told him exactly what I thought about this and then some.”

A similar story is told by Mike Todd. “Curt promised me a rare .50 Browning. I was busy and did not immediately submit the paperwork and at Christmas, the year before he died, after giving him my gift, he informed me that he had sold the gun and donated the money to the NRA. He told me, ‘It could not have meant much to you if it was taking you so long to get the paperwork in.’”

Yet another story is told by his daughter Tina. “In 1981 my husband and I helped him paint the Phoenix house and trim up the palm trees. After doing this, he surprised us and gave us a boat that had sat in his yard, unprotected, for about 10 years. We thought it could be a good long-term project and something to enjoy for years to come.

“All told, we spent nearly $1,000 over the winter buying new tires for the trailer, cables, electrical stuff and wood that we used to fix the top of the boat over the winter months in our spare time. All winter Dad kept on us to get it done so we could get it in the water. He said a friend was interested in restoring it if we didn’t want to do it. One day the next summer Dad showed up, hooked it up and took it away. He never gave us a dime in compensation.” Curtis would later tell his friend Mike Todd that he had paid for all the repairs and his daughter was letting the boat get destroyed through neglect.

Reaching the Limits

The point of the preceding stories is that if Curtis did this to family and friends, one can only imagine what happened to strangers or business associates. For many, such as this author, they do not have to imagine; they have heard dozens of such stories in the NFA community. But recognize that there is a distinct difference between the anger experienced over a bad business deal and the pain felt when Curtis interacted sometimes with friends, relatives and even lovers.

The problems he wrought finally reached a threshold limit for some Class 3 dealers and organizers of local shoots. One stated, “For years I would invite Curtis to my private shoots, but it got to the point where I would get calls from shooters who would contact me in advance to see if Curtis was coming. They would flatly refuse to go if he planned to be there… and these were people who got along with everyone. They had vast NFA collections and were respected by everyone. I finally had to tell Curtis that he could no longer come. That essentially terminated our relationship.”

Few Friends, Lots of Money

The tensions also were having their toll on Curtis’ health. By the mid 1980s he suffered a minor heart attack and eventually would have two angioplasties and a triple bypass operation. He prepared a prospectus to sell the business through Smira, Oliver and Associates of Phoenix with him staying on to serve as a consultant to the new owner. There were no takers in 1983 and he again attempted in 1992 to sell off the business, but once more, no takers. By the 1990s, the addition of fresh inventory had dropped off considerably and he was mostly selling off the stock he already owned.

Curtis had a weapon collection of unimaginable dreams, hundreds of acquaintances he called friends and a profitable business (he once complained that he had to pay taxes on a $200 Thompson that he had just sold for over $20,000). But in reality, he had few close, trusted relationships. Ian Scott, a gun collector from New South Wales, Australia, provides further insight. “Curt phoned me up in 1998 and more or less summoned me over to see him. He was making up his will and told me he wanted to include me in it. About two weeks later I flew to Boise to stay with him for a little more than a week. He was on his own and after a few days I realized he was a lonely old man in this great big house full of guns that collectors would give their front teeth for and few family or friends would come near him.

“I thought of all the influential and wealthy people he had met over the last 30 years that he could have been with yet here was me, a bulldozer driver from Australia, all he could scrape up to spend part of the summer with. And, like my other holidays with him, I forgot how many times I had to bite my tongue and shut up. But despite all this, I always liked him from the first time I met him in 1980, possibly because we both grew up on a farm and, as he did, I started collecting war souvenirs at around the age of nine.”

Their friendship was cemented after Australia banned the ownership of most guns in the wake of a 1996 shooting at a Port Arthur tourist spot. Ian could have received “fair market value” for his guns, but chose instead to ship one of his best guns, a Winchester Model 1897 trench gun, to Curtis as an outright gift. Curtis would later point to this gun on his wall in his display area and reveal that no one had ever done such an act of generosity before. It deeply touched him, maybe because it was so uncharacteristic of him, at least up until the time near his death.

As indicated, his relationships with his daughters and his grandchildren were volatile and unpredictable, to say the least. One would get in his good graces only to be on the outs again for some offending remark or for some trivial affront. Be they adults or teenage grandchildren, Curtis cut no slack. As his daughter Pat explains, “He would claim that he did not respect those that would put up with his gruff, but when people did challenge him, that was the end of the relationship. This happened to my son Terrance who got along very well with Curtis for a while.” Indeed, among family, his temper was legendary. Max Rigby, his childhood friend, summed up the situation, “We know he had a heart. You could still dig down and find it; but I think a lot of people put up with his temper because of his toys and his money.”

He did, however, start to build a relationship with his granddaughter Michelle Earl Cruson, Steve Earl’s half sister, which lasted until his death. Michelle was excited about learning to fly and her grandfather enthusiastically bought her a 1946 Cessna 140 and helped her with flying lessons. She commented, “He was very protective and specified who could instruct me. Grandfather also gave me a gun and insisted I obtain a concealed weapons permit. Once he went so far as to hire a private detective to investigate one of my past boyfriends. I thought it was cute. I had a great respect for my grandfather.”

Michelle continues, “I knew he had a reputation for being strong-willed, I suppose that is an Earl trait. My husband says I have a head like titanium at times. However, Grandfather had a heart of gold even with that gruff exterior. Sure, he made me cry at times and I sometimes did not understand him, but we clicked because we shared common interests such as flying, scuba diving, and we both loved nature. Every visit was like an enchanted adventure. Flying into and fishing together at Johnson Creek, Idaho, we caught our limits, and when prospecting in Yellow Pine, Idaho, we found gold. To me these were magical times.”

Probably his closest male friend was Gary Christopher, a nuclear engineer by profession, a pilot and a writer for aviation magazines. Some say that Gary was, in essence, the adult son that he never had. In addition, there were the previously mentioned Chuck Olsen and Mike Todd.

He also had two women friends that lasted for decades. Some, such as his granddaughter Michelle, were mostly familiar with Kay. But many knew Clare Wolf, his close companion of nearly 30 years who would accompany him to key family functions. But in the very end, this relationship was terminated suddenly and cruelly.

How were they able to get along with him where few others could? Gary Christopher provides some insight. “I had listened to so many of Curtis’ stories of him bitching about customers, business associates, dealers and others, that I quickly recognized that under no circumstances could I have anything remotely resembling a business relationship with him.” Olsen recognized the same restrictions, “You just could not get sucked into any type of deal. I tried once on a trivial deal involving some Thompson drums and immediately recognized this would only lead to disaster.”

There were a few other close friends, but these just mentioned were the ones that were there with him, literally, to the very end. He could “squeeze a penny until it cried,” as someone once said, but he could also be generous in the extreme at the same time. If the stars were all aligned in perfect order, and if you had the personality and skill to help keep these aligned, Curtis could be an absolutely wonderful, fun person to be around. (Author’s note: My wife once had dinner with him and a group of friends and found him to be absolutely charming and funny.)

The Quest for a Legacy

As the end of the millennium approached, Curtis started to turn his attention to building a permanent legacy. He would tell family members that he was worried that his life’s work would disappear, that a “safety-minded” government would confiscate his weapons and lock them up or melt them down. He believed that a museum was a way to share his life and teach the history of weapons to future generations. As described in Part One, at Arizona air shows decades earlier, he set up a display of aircraft machine guns and explained the connection between the evolution of guns and airplanes. He loved this attention and wanted to extend the concept. He wanted something permanent, however, and in keeping with Curtis’ persona, something that he controlled.

He started to talk to various museums and once the word got out, many came courting his favor. He loved the adulation as they wined and dined him. One of the main reasons that he chose the Idaho State Historical Society was that they agreed to renovate a separate, dedicated wing in the historic Old Idaho Penitentiary and name it after him, the J Curtis Earl Memorial Exhibit. An excellent virtual tour of the museum is available online (Google: Idaho State Historical Society).

Curtis, formally trained in wildlife biology, loved Idaho’s 12 wilderness areas, frequently spending summers there with Clare in a camping trailer and eventually buying a second home in Boise in 1986. He also established the J Curtis Earl Idaho Aviation Foundation in 1998 as a companion organization to the Idaho Aviation Association. It was formed for the purpose of preserving airports within Idaho and, in particular, those associated with the Wilderness Within Reach program.

For those who only knew Curtis through these specific donations and charitable activities, he was highly admired. Friends and relatives said that it was admiration above all else, possibly even love, that Curtis desperately craved. He needed his name on the plaque on the wall, as it were, as a permanent reminder to others. His friend, Gail Halvorsen, the Berlin airlift hero, was admired for who he was and his kindness to others. Curtis must have known down deep that he needed to use his wealth to gain the admiration he so desperately sought.

The Final Days

In early 2000, Curtis was feeling ill and was having problems with his throat. It was quickly diagnosed as cancer. Initial treatments failed, including the removal of numerous lymph nodes in his neck and jaw. His doctors recommended extensive radiation treatments and provided brochures explaining the side effects. As Gary Christopher recounts, “I watched him take the information and toss it in the trash can in his kitchen.” He would rather die at home than go through that horrific treatment process.

His doctors insisted that he would need to be hospitalized to get proper care. Not surprisingly, he became extremely agitated with his doctors and even their receptionists, so much so that one physician reportedly threatened to contact the police have him arrested if he came back to the office (he must have known about Curtis’ “arsenal”). Eventually, Curtis agreed to 24/7 home nursing and hospice care. The cancer was spreading to his brain and he would be in considerable pain and in need of extensive medication, more akin to what one would receive in a hospital.

He had an attorney in Tucson, but he fired him and called in someone he had known for years who also had been a past customer. He liked this attorney’s aggressive style, he told friends, and it appeared he also liked his attractive wife. Curtis may have been ill, but he was still Curtis.

His small circle of friends, the lawyer and his wife, and his granddaughter Michelle were the only ones allowed to know of the gravity of his illness or come to his assistance, but his condition was deteriorating rapidly. Although his résumé stated that he was a Protestant, Curtis was born into a strict Mormon family, but he was not religious. And at this stage of his life, as he was dying from cancer, he could find no comfort in his religion.

The situation was becoming grim and chaotic. Mike Todd, his friend for decades, became increasingly frustrated at what was happening, “I tried to intervene at one point and Curtis did not back me. It had reached the point where I thought it was best if I got out of there before I became too angry and do something I’d regret.”

One night the situation turned really frightening. Curtis became agitated and delirious and pulled out the .45 he kept in a holster on the headboard of his bed. Clare, fearing that he may injure himself or others, called 911 seeking medical help. Not surprisingly, the police were sent first, confiscated the gun and detained him in a hospital facility until his condition stabilized. Curtis went ballistic and never spoke again to Clare. Later the attorney and Gary went to the Phoenix police department with the appropriate paperwork and retrieved the gun. The house was cleared of his loaded “security guns” within reach and most were given to Chuck Olsen.

In the final months, the “J Curtis Earl Trust” started to “change” and to friends and relatives these alterations appeared to have been based more on petty grievances in his altered state of mind than any sort of rational logic. To be sure, some such as Michelle, his granddaughter and pride and joy, were appropriately recognized in the Trust, but others received not so much as a penny even though their relations had extended over decades or they were blood relatives. For example, both his sister Marilyn and his eldest grandson, Steven Curtis Earl, the only heir to carry on the Earl lineage and Michelle’s half-brother, were specifically excluded.

The wife of his attorney received the Boise home. The attorney also became the trustee of the estate with enormous discretionary powers. In January 2007, records indicate the attorney resigned from the State Bar of California in the wake of disbarment proceedings after he was “convicted of possessing an assault weapon.” In addition, he was arrested in 2005 by “federal customs officials in Miami, Florida, as he returned to the United States” because he “allegedly created the phony transactions that hid the income. (He) allegedly failed to report more than $6 million in income on his state income tax return for 2003.”

The preceding documented facts, of course, do not imply that anything improper occurred with the Trust. Some friends and relatives, however, still wonder to this day what went on in those final days. Pat requested in 2000 a detailed accounting from the trustee, also a CPA, and received a one-page handwritten note that said little. In addition, Michelle reports that she had to once fly to Phoenix to take him to court to resolve outstanding issues.

So bothered was Ian Scott over the treatment of some of the friends that years afterward on a visit to the United States, he distributed the gold coins that Curtis gave him to those that had received nothing. Similarly, Curtis’ daughters shared their inheritance with Curtis’ sister Marilyn and grandson Steve.

On the other hand, he gave his Cadillac to the mailman who always went out of his way to properly deliver packages to the door, out of the rain. He also gave a quarter of a million dollars to the NRA because, as Chuck Olsen would later relate, “Guns have always been good to me and I wanted to do something for all gun owners.” He gave his portion of an Arizona gold mine to the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming. Again, his generosity and petty vindictiveness reached both ends of the spectrum.

So who was J Curtis Earl?

In the end, his cremated remains were put in a .30 caliber ammo can and placed in his beloved AT-6 airplane. Gary Christopher and Michelle Earl Cruson (who were both there by his home bedside when he literally drew his final breath) departed from a gathering of friends and relatives at the Deer Valley Airport in north Phoenix. They flew off to Idaho to scatter his ashes on the back-country airstrips that he loved – a fitting urn and scattering of the ashes, if there ever was one.

Pat says it best, “My dad, J Curtis Earl, was a rambunctious, complicated enigma of a man who lived his life with passion. He gave 100% to things that he cared about; a master at staying focused on his goals and tuning out distractions.”

In some respects, trying to answer the question of who he was is like the poem published in 1873 of the six blind men and the elephant. Each had a different perspective, depending on what part they touched. I once asked Gary Christopher, “What makes him tick?” He responded, “If you are trying to find the answer to that question, you will get nowhere.” He was right, but I would like to think I shined some light on this complicated man.

As for Gary, Mike, Ian and Chuck, they saw a man surrounded by many people, even the rich and famous, but down deep Curtis was a very lonely person. Gary would relate, “He would call me up and almost in a pleading tone say, ‘Lets get together and do something, even if it is wrong.’” Other close friends and relatives saw this side of him. They also recognized that he was a man who treated so many others unfairly, but who suffered horribly at the end.

For fellow members of the NFA community who thought they knew this enigma, it is not right for us to summarily brush him off in a few words such as “unbelievably difficult.” That he was and so much more. But at least now you have a better idea of J Curtis Earl. No one really knew him, least of all himself.

Epilog

As we described in Part One of this series, we have neither attempted to build his fame, nor do a character assassination. We have laid out the facts through detailed research, numerous interviews and the patience and support of his closest friends and relatives. A unique aspect of the article has been the inclusion of detailed information and photographs from his personal life. Yes, we have described his business strategy and famous gun collection, but this article would have provided no insight into the man himself if we left it to only those areas. This article has been as much about the man as it is in how he made millions as an early Class 3 gun dealer.

Preparing this article has been a unique experience for the author. J Curtis Earl’s friends and relatives are an exceptional group of individuals. Recalling events and digging through photo albums brought back some wonderful memories, but, especially for the direct family members, it also brought back into focus some incredibly painful events. We wish to personally thank them for their support in preparing this article. In particular, we wish to thank relatives Pat Earl Anderson, Marilyn Earl Winsett, Steve Earl, Michelle Earl Cruson and Tina Earl Wolford; wives and companions Dotti Cottle Campbell, Clare Wolf; friends Chuck Olsen, Gary Christopher, Max Rigby, Ian Scott and Mike Todd; and others that assisted us in preparing this article such as Randy Myers, Idan Greenberg, Robert Segel, the Idaho State Historical Society and many unnamed sources.

Arsenal, Inc. is a Las Vegas based company that has become synonymous with high quality Bulgarian AK-47 type rifles with a long history in excellence and innovation. They have just adopted a new project, and while it is similar to their traditional product line in some aspects, it also couldn’t be further away. For those of us in the “scattergun” world that have been waiting for something different to happen with the smaller caliber Saiga shotguns, our day has arrived.

The Russian-Bulgarian Connection

In the pages of Small Arms Review we have spent a great deal of time reviewing the products by Arsenal, Inc. From original and refined to radical and pioneering, they have yet to disappoint. Their common thread has always been the Bulgarian designed AK family of guns. Their latest project utilizes the Russian manufactured Saiga .410 shotgun. We really didn’t know what to expect and our curiosity was peaked.

Regular readers of Small Arms Review know we have spent a considerable amount of time learning about the wildly popular Saiga shotgun system and sharing our findings. Until this time, the emphasis has been placed on the 12-gauge. This exercise will focus on the .410 platform and given Arsenal, Inc.’s thirst for quality and originality, these specimens have been built to the exacting specifications of the original Russian AK-74 system.

The Arsenal, Inc. System

Having handled some of the “off the shelf” Saiga .410 guns in the past, we were uncertain how this project would play out and fit into the normal style of the Arsenal, Inc. established product line. From the muzzle to the butt plate and everything in between, the Saiga .410 has been modified with hand selected premium components to replicate the AK-74 in every way possible. With their reputation of high quality and attention to detail on the line, the Arsenal, Inc. Saiga .410 project was a bold move and has proven to be every bit as worthy of bearing the Arsenal, Inc. name as we had hoped.

These shotguns are manufactured in the famous Russian Izhevsk factory and still bears the telltale arrow and triangle markings from this establishment. The guns are brought into 922(r) compliance and remanufactured in the United States, using American made parts, with exacting detail to the original Russian AK-74. All new markings on the shotgun receiver are done with the original font type and placed in their correct locations. The selector notches have been properly positioned and even marked with the letters “S” and “F” in the proper place. The correct magazine dimples, not used on standard Saiga shotguns, are added to aid in guiding magazine placement and even the “X” and “Y” reinforcement stampings are used on the SGL41.

In order to properly replicate the AK-74, a new safety/selector lever with the original shape and dimple position has been added along with the correct trigger guard and magazine latch. The gun has been redesigned to utilize the right retainer for the lower handguard and an exactingly accurate, vented gas tube and AK-74 muzzle brake, complete with the standard 24×1.5mm right-hand threads and bayonet lug drilled for the cleaning rod like the original. As an additional feature, the SGL41 has retained the original 15×0.75 threads under the new muzzle brake allowing the owner to use multiple chokes to tune the system to specific game and ammunition.

The fire control group has been replaced with the Arsenal, Inc. double stage parts ensuring a clean and crisp break with every squeeze of the trigger. The left side of the receiver has a standard Com-Bloc military scope rail allowing the use of numerous optics and accessories.

The furniture is the standard military AK-74 polymer furniture also utilized on their SGL21 and SGL31 rifle line, complete with stainless steel heat shield in the lower handguard and Warsaw Pact length buttstock with metal butt plate and spring-loaded cleaning kit access door. The sling swivels are on the left side of the buttstock and the gas block, respectively.

The takedown procedure for regular cleaning and maintenance is identical to the rifles in the AK-74 line, including the locking top-cover latch, top cover, recoil rod with captive spring and bolt/carrier unit. Any AK aficionado will immediately feel at home when field stripping the SGL41.

Live Fire Testing the SGL41

Prior to our first trip to the range we picked up a quantity of Winchester 3-inch ammunition. Armed with several boxes of 11/16 ounce #6 shot and 1/4 ounce hollow point slugs, phase one would be a simple function test with both loads, loaded into the stock 4+1 magazine intermittently. After running several magazines with zero failures of any kind we proceeded to the accuracy testing. We started with the #6 shot which boasted 1,135 fps and from 25-yards a 5-round burst peppered every section of a standard B27 target. With every 5-shot burst, the results were the same, total and complete coverage. It is our understanding that Buckshot is where this system really shines but as of this writing we have been unable to locate any from our usual sources.

The next exercise was to shoot the slugs with the aid of the open sights. These rounds boasted a muzzle velocity of 1,800 fps. With every group fired, off hand at 25-yards, the results were the same with each new magazine. The first round would hit exactly where it was intended with the remaining 4 rounds opening up away from the bulls eye and typically stringing to the right a bit.

Conclusions

Arsenal, Inc. has built a reputation for quality firearms over a very long period of time. They followed suit with their SGL41. The fit, finish and function met our high expectations for this system. There was never a failure to function at any time. The recoil with both rounds was almost nonexistent, although the slugs had an occasional light sting to the cheek when fired. There was also a considerable amount of muzzle flash when shooting slugs. At an introductory MSRP of $599 for the SGL41 as tested, we expect it to be a popular addition to fill many collection voids. We also expect the price to increase very shortly as this special price is over $700 less than it would cost to do the same build from a Saiga-410, piece by piece.

Arsenal Inc. SGL41 Specifications

Caliber: .410 (.410x3in.)
Barrel length: 19 inches (483mm)
Overall length: 38.5 inches (978mm)
Weight, empty: 6.85 pounds (3.11kg)

Located in the beautiful and historic city of New Orleans, Louisiana, this museum originally opened as the National D-Day Museum on June 6, 2000, the 56th anniversary of the invasion of Europe in World War II. Its focus was that monumental time when the Allied forces mounted the largest invasion ever and in particular the Battle of Normandy. In 2003, it was designated by the U.S. Congress as America’s National World War II Museum. While still having a large focal point on D-Day, the museum has expanded its exhibits to encompass the larger picture of World War II by the contribution of the United States and its Allies to the victory in Europe and the Pacific.

The National World War II Museum tells the story of the American Experience in the war that changed the world – why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today – so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. It celebrates the American Spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifice of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and the Home Front.

The Museum closed for three months after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans in 2005, re-opening on December 3 of that year. A museum banner promoted this re-opening by proclaiming “We Have Returned,” a phrase the banner juxtaposed with the classic World War II photograph of General Douglas MacArthur striding through the surf on his return to the Philippines.

In 2009, the museum began a $300 million expansion that, when complete, will create a six-acre campus of exhibition pavilions. Already completed as of last November is The Solomon Victory 4-D Theater, the Stage Door Canteen and the American Sector restaurant. Still to come are the Campaigns, U.S. Freedom, Liberation and Restoration pavilions to be completed by 2015.

While this museum is not an “arms” museum, it does display the general arms as used in World War II by both the Allies and the Axis powers. The Museum’s Collection contains an impressive array of military uniforms, weaponry, medals, artwork and personal items of the war such as photos, correspondence and mementos. While many of these items are on display, others are currently housed in the Collections vault for future permanent and special exhibitions.

The museum consists of three floors. The ground floor has the main gallery entrance with a large atrium that displays hanging from the ceiling a C-47 that took part in the Normandy invasion, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge and Operation Varsity as well as a German Me 109, and a British Spitfire. There is also a display of some military vehicles including a Stuart tank and a Jeep with a Browning .50 cal. mounted on its pintle. The ground floor also houses the coffee shop and the museum store.

The second floor exhibits begin with the Prelude to War and continues with The Road to War, America Goes to War, the Home Front and a display on the Higgins boats, which were built in New Orleans. Continuing on the second floor, the exhibits cover the war in the Pacific with War in the Pacific Begins, The Battle of Midway, a multimedia Pacific D-Day timeline, the Tools of War, and the Atomic Bomb.

The third floor covers the Planning for D-Day and Hitler’s Atlantic Wall with exhibits of Fortress Europe, The Tools of War, The Commanders, A Bodyguard of Lies, The GIs in Britain and Nightdrop into Normandy. This is followed by exhibits of D-Day: The Beaches, D-Day: The Aftermath, From Normandy to Berlin and The Nazis Quit.

The museum is open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Mardi Gras Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Entrance to the museum is free. No flash or video photography is allowed and no tripods are allowed in the museum galleries.

The National World War II Museum
945 Magazine Street (entrance on Andrew Higgins Drive)
New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: (504) 528-1944
Fax: (504) 527-6088
Email: info@nationalww2museum.org
Website: www.nationalww2museum.org

By Maxim Popenker

Soviet Spetsnaz troops played a key role in Soviet military doctrine, in both local operations (mostly in third world countries such as Afghanistan) and in possible global war in Europe. In either case, Spetsnaz required, among other things, weapons that could be used with at least some degree of stealth. The silenced 9×18 PB pistol, as well as 9×18 APB machine pistol, filled the bill for military-type silenced pistols, but only to the certain extent.

What is even more important to our story is that there was another customer of highly specialized small arms within the Soviet ‘power’ system – the all-mighty Committee of the State Security, or the KGB in short. Among other things, the KGB was deeply engaged in secret espionage and counterespionage operations across the world, with many undercover agents looking for western secrets while trying to keep Soviet secrets from Western rivals. This game, obviously, was quite dangerous and undercover agents sometimes were required to protect themselves with lethal force while maintaining maximum stealth. Another part of the game was political murders and termination of defectors, which also required highly specialized weapons for stealth execution.

The father of the current breed of such weapons in Soviet service was Igor Stechkin, author of the famous APS machine pistol. During the mid-fifties, he was requested by KGB to create a deep-concealment weapon, disguised as something that looks completely safe, and firing poison-tipped bullets without any noise or flash. To achieve the latter effect, Stechkin employed a rather old principle of capturing hot powder gases (prime source of the sound and flash during the discharge) within a confined space. The first attempts to produce weapons using this idea in the USSR can be tracked to just prior to WW2, when Soviet designer Gurevich converted a Nagant revolver to fire saboted .22 caliber bullets. Each bullet was loaded into standard 7.62mm Nagant cases using 7.62mm sabots. The muzzle of the revolver was fitted with a second cylinder with a tapered bore (7.62mm at the rear, 5.6mm at the front), so, when gun was fired, the bullet was able to pass through the front cylinder, while the following sabot was jammed in the tapered bore and captured most of the powder gases inside the barrel. After a short while both cylinders (mounted on the same extended axis pin) could be rotated for the next shot. After shooting, captured sabots were to be pushed out of the front cylinder manually. Of cause, such a system was extremely bulky and complicated. It also must be noted that simpler versions of the same concept were known (or at least patented) well before Gurevich. The author was able to find a U.S. patent No. 692,819, dating back to 1902 and titled “Means for effecting noiseless discharge of guns,” which describes a cartridge that contains an internal piston to capture powder gases within the cartridge case, once the piston has moved all the way to the front of the long case, pushing the bullet out with some energy.

The first noiseless cartridge developed by Stechkin was designated SP-1 (Spetsialnyj Patron 1 – Special Cartridge model 1). It was based on a 9×18 case, loaded with a special bi-caliber bullet and small piston, which was located between the bullet base and powder charge. The bullet had a front part of 7.62mm caliber, with the base being of 9mm caliber, and it was intended to be fired through the squeeze-bored barrel with decreased caliber muzzle. That way, the bullet base was squeezed to the 7.62mm and then free to exit the bore, while the piston was jammed in the bore, capturing powder gases inside the barrel. Of course, this system was to be used only in manually loaded single-shot weapons, and one such weapon (recently declassified) was made to imitate a tin cigarette case, with three 9/7.62mm barrels and firing mechanism fitted inside.

The SP-1 cartridge never went past the prototype stage, but within several years Stechkin designed his next internally silenced cartridge, known as SP-2. This one also contained a small powder charge behind the piston, but this time powder gases were to be captured inside the bottlenecked cartridge case, which looked somewhat similar to that of the 7.62×39 M43 round. Since the pusher piston was relatively short, and before discharge seated deep in the cartridge case, the bullet had to be made long, but relatively light. To achieve this, Stechkin used a metal jacket taken from an unassembled 7.62mm pistol (7.62×25) bullet and fitted it with an aluminum core that extended back from the jacket to rest on the piston.

This round apparently was produced in very limited numbers and used in some ‘Q-style’ weapons, such as the three-shot pistol disguised as a tin cigarette container. Also, it was probably used in the earliest model of the more convenient-looking two-barrel derringer-type pistol, which served as a predecessor to the MSP pistol described below.

The following part of the history is very dim at its best, but what is known is that in around 1965 the KGB, as well as its most important rival within the Soviet intelligence system, the GRU (Intelligence Department of the General Staff, Soviet Army), both adopted the “noiseless pistol complex,” which consisted of the integrally silenced 7.62mm cartridge, known as PZ (Patron “Zmeya” – “Snake” cartridge) and the 2-barreled, derringer-type pistol known as the S4. The PZ ammunition, which was the heart of the system, consisted of the machined steel case 63mm long, with screw-in base. It featured a tapered inner bore, with a single stage pusher piston inserted from the rear. A small amount of special propellant was loaded behind the piston, and the base was securely screwed in to form an air-tight, variable volume container for powder gases. The cartridge base itself was a complicated subassembly as it contained a standard primer, a small firing pin behind it, and a screw-in bushing to keep the primer and pin in the base under the pressure of powder gases. The projectile was inserted from the front. It was a standard 7.62mm pointed bullet as used in 7.62×39 M43 ammunition, with possible intent to fool the investigators and make them look for a sniper that fired an AK or SKS rifle from a stand-off distance, rather than to look for a secret agent that shot the target from almost point-blank range. Over time, the PZ cartridge evolved through several minor variations in the shape, design of the base plug and primer retaining arrangement, with the definitive version known as PZAM. It is believed that this weapon complex saw at least some use in the hands of the GRU Spetsnaz during the Soviet incursion into Afghanistan, and, in modified form (S4M pistol and PZAM ammunition) it can still be found in the armories of certain highly specialized units within the Russian Military and Internal Affair ministry.

Being more or less effective, the S4M apparently still left something to be desired, especially from the point of view of the plain-clothes agents of both KGB and GRU. Both pistol and ammunition were too heavy and bulky for intended use, and during the late sixties Igor Stechkin returned to his drawing board with the intent to design a more compact weapon of comparable performance. He started with the ammunition. The limiting factors in size and weight of the internally silenced ammunition are the strength of the case (which has to withstand high pressures without bursting even when removed from the chamber) and the length of the piston, which takes space between the bullet and the powder load. The case strength issue was apparently solved with the use of a special propellant of somewhat reduced power and by allowing the case to be fire-formed at the neck by the moving piston when fired, and the piston length was decreased with adoption of the two-part telescoped piston. Of course, the two-part piston is more complicated and thus expensive to make, but during the Soviet times KGB budgets were never short for new toys, and, in fact, it is possible that the overall new cartridge was still less expensive than the PZ series due to the use of a single-piece drawn steel case with conventional primer (crimped in the base) instead of the multi-part machined steel case of the PZ series. Load for the new round was the same M43 bullet, weighing 7.9 grams (122 grains), but the muzzle velocity dropped to about 145 m/s (475 fps), resulting in muzzle energy of only 83 Joules (61 Ft-Lbs) – about 2 times less than that of .32 Auto/7.65 Browning ammunition. This performance may look quite marginal at its best, but one must remember that this ammunition used relatively heavy pointed bullets, which provided better penetration than lighter, blunt-nosed pistol bullets, and, not less important, that this gun was to be used by highly trained personnel that knew where to put each bullet for maximum effect.

With new ammunition on hand (index SP-3, metric designation 7.62×37), Stechkin and his team at the Tula arms factory then developed another derringer-type, break-open pistol with two barrels, which was adopted by the KGB and Soviet military in 1972 as MSP (Malogabaritnyj Spetsialnyj Pistolet – small special pistol), and it still remains in limited service with elite units in Russian law enforcement (mostly in anti-terrorism units).

Shooting the Guns

The author was only able to fire the MSP, as the military facility which had both MSP and S4M in its reference collection was out of PZAM ammunition at the time. Loading the clip with two rounds was a relatively simple operation. The pistol was then loaded with the clip and cocked using the lever. Firing commenced from 15-meters range; off-hand. The noise of the firing was almost unrecognizable even in the indoor range and without earmuffs, and the loudest sound came from steel backstop behind the target being struck by the bullets. It is easy to imagine that, if being fired in the streets even in the quiet time, the shots will not be noticed unless someone will directly spot either the gun or the fallen target. The accuracy was rather acceptable – both bullets struck about an inch one from another (spaced vertically) very close to point of aim (about 2 inches below POI, in fact, but I personally would attribute that to the inaccuracy of the shooter rather than the gun). Penetration was not tested, but it seems that it was considered adequate for its intended purpose by those who used this gun in the line of duty.

S4M Noiseless Pistol

The S4M is a two-barreled pistol with tip-up barrels. Cartridges are loaded and unloaded in pairs, using a specially designed steel clip. The pistol has neither ejector nor extractor, as the clip is removed manually during reloading. The trigger is single action, concealed hammers being cocked manually by pulling down a special lever, located at the base of the grip. A manual safety is located at the left side of the frame, above the grip and, quite unusually, has three positions – topmost is for safe, middle is to fire only one (bottom) barrel, and bottom position allows firing both barrels consecutively by pulling the trigger twice. One might only speculate the reasons for this arrangement. Sights were fixed, with drift-adjustable rear blade. The barrel lock lever was located on the left side of the frame behind and slightly above the trigger. Not surprisingly, the gun is devoid from any manufacturer or model markings or proofs. Ammunition is also devoid from any headstamps and markings.

MSP Noiseless Pistol

The MSP is a two-barreled pistol with tip-up barrels. Cartridges are loaded and unloaded in pairs using a specially designed steel clip. The pistol has a special extractor that retracts the clip with spent cases partially from the gun, and then the clip is removed manually. The trigger is single action; concealed hammers being cocked manually by pulling down and to the rear a special two-piece lever located at the base of the trigger guard. A manual safety is located at the left side of the frame just behind the trigger. Sights were fixed with drift-adjustable rear blade. The barrel lock lever is located on the left side of the frame behind the breech area of the barrel cluster and must be pushed up for unlocking.

Like its predecessor, the MSP is devoid of any manufacturer or model markings or proofs. Ammunition is also devoid of any headstamps and markings.

MSP Noiseless Pistol

Trigger type: Single action
Caliber/Ammunition: 7.62×37/SP-3
Muzzle velocity: 145 m/s (475 fps)
Weight empty: 530 g (18.7 oz)
Length: 101 mm (4 inches)
Barrel length: N/A
Capacity: 2-rounds in separate barrels

S4M Noiseless Pistol

Trigger type: Singe action
Caliber/Ammunition: 7.62×63/PZAM
Muzzle velocity: 170 m/s (557 fps)
Weight empty: 600 g (21.2 oz)
Length: 147 mm (5.8 inches)
Barrel length: N/A
Capacity: 2-rounds in separate barrels

History

There were three versions of tripods manufactured specifically for the Browning Model of 1917 and M1917A1 water-cooled heavy machine guns and accepted as Standard. In order, they were the Model of 1917 tripod, the Model of 1918 tripod (also known at the time as the Cygnet Tripod) and the M1917A1 tripod. The Model of 1917 tripod was covered in detail in Vol. 10, No. 4, January 2007 issue of Small Arms Review.

The Model of 1917 tripod, while an excellent and stable platform, did not lend itself well to indirect fire, was heavy and relatively complicated to use. Another problem was that a total of 72,500 Model of 1917 machine guns were built during and immediately after World War I but there were only approximately 20,000 Model of 1917 tripods manufactured (which is why the Vickers Mk IV tripod was often pressed into service for use with the Model of 1917 machine gun). In an attempt to address all of the issues mentioned above, in 1918, a new tripod was quickly developed and adopted as the Model of 1918.

There were four manufacturers of the Model of 1918 tripod. They were: The New Britain Machine Company of New Britain, Connecticut, The Nelson Blower and Furnace Company of Boston, Massachusetts, The Winton Company of Cleveland, Ohio and The Standard Equipment Company of Cleveland, Ohio. In all, 31,700 Model of 1918 tripods were produced.

Unfortunately, the new Model of 1918 tripod proved to be a debacle. With its five leg adjustment clamps for three legs, the gun was exceptionally difficult to set up quickly, the cradle arm was fragile and was not a rigid platform for the gun due to lack of support at the rear of the cradle causing unacceptable disbursement of fire, and the Model of 1917 Belt Box did not fit correctly in the flange bracket attached to the side of the cradle. These attributes made the tripod extremely undesirable and generally despised by the troops that had to use them. So reviled by the soldiers and their commanding officers as slow to set up, unstable and unsafe, they clamored to be reissued the older Model of 1917 tripods. Their requests, surprisingly, did not fall on deaf ears and the Model of 1918 tripod was withdrawn from service, placed in storage, designated as Limited Standard and the Model of 1917 tripod returned to service with some slight modifications until the M1917A1 tripod was developed in the 1930s.

The inventory of Model of 1918 tripods in storage were eventually disposed of with approximately 6,000 of them being sent to England in 1940 under the Lend-Lease program along with a similar number of Model of 1917 machine guns. It is not known exactly what happened to the remaining inventory of Model of 1918 tripods but it is strongly suspected they were eventually scrapped and destroyed sometime immediately after World War II.

The Model of 1918 tripod is a very rare accessory to find in the United States, but because of the numbers sent to England in 1940, and used, they are commonly found in museums across Great Britain.

Description

The description of the Model of 1918 Tripod is best related in Machine Gun Service Regulations, Section 22, prepared by the Ordnance Department in collaboration with the Machine Gun Training Center, Camp Hancock, Augusta, Georgia. War Plans Division, Washington, D.C., January, 1919, War Department Document No. 856.

The Machine Gun Tripod, Model of 1918, usually known as the Cygnet Tripod, consists broadly of eight major parts: 1, the cradle; 2, the cradle support arm; 3, elevating mechanism; 4, traversing head; 5, pintle; 6, gear guard; 7, traversing worm; and 8, tripod legs.

The cradle is a bronze casting and is the intermediate member between the gun and the tripod mechanism. It floats about its horizontal axis. A bracket for holding an ammunition box is also attached.The cradle support arm supports the rear end of the cradle through the elevating mechanism. This arm is pivoted horizontally about the same point as the cradle and moves with it when the gun is elevated or depressed about the central axis.The elevating mechanism is connected between the rear end of the cradle and the rear end of the cradle support arm and provides a means for measuring small amounts of elevation or depression. It has the capacity of 138 mils.The traversing head supplies the bearings upon which the head revolves. Through upward extending lugs it also supplies the bearing upon which the cradle and cradle support arm revolve. This revolution is governed by adjusting the wing headed clamping nut on the screw which passes through this upper bearing.The pintle is of bronze and has a leg lug on its under side, a movable circular scale and hollow cone pintle on its upper side and a worm gear about its circumference. It is on this part that the traversing head revolves, being bolted through its center to the axis of the cone pintle.The gear guard is made of aluminum and encircles and embraces the worm gear of the pintle. It is formed in half circle sections, bolt jointed at one side and bolted to the worm bracket of the traversing head at the other side. The gear guar moves with the traversing head. The traversing worm is mounted in an open sector of the gear guard in a carrier pendantly hinged to the worm bracket of the traversing head. It is moved in and out of engagement through the action of a flat headed clamping screw.The tripod legs are of steel tubing having flat disked fin-based feet with holes in each disk for pegging down, if required, and are pivoted to the leg lug on the under side of the pintle by a traverse pin with threaded cotter pin retained clamping nuts on each end. The long rearward tripod leg has a forked upper end which embraces the leg lug on the pintle. The two outside surfaces of the leg head are cut in the form of serrated disks. The two short forward legs of the tripod are made in two sections and jointed with serrated disks. The upper ends of the legs are also serrated and engage with the serrations on the upper end of the rear leg.

A leather strap attached to the rear leg provides means for strapping the legs together when folded for packing or transportation. In this case the legs are placed at right angles to the tripod head and parallel with the gun cradle and its support and all clamps tightened.

Elevating Mechanism

A slow-motion elevating hand wheel is provided with a mil clicking device. Turned in a forward direction (i.e. forwards away from the gunner) raises the gun, and turned in the reverse direction lowers the gun. Each click represents 1 mil alteration.

Larger alterations in angles of elevation than that provided by the slow-motion elevating hand wheel may be accomplished by loosening the elevating clamp and raising or lowering the gun.

Traversing Mechanism

A slow-motion mil clicking traversing gear is provided. With the traversing gear clamp screwed up so that the teeth of the traversing gear are engaged, the traversing handle when rotated in a clockwise direction traverses the gun to the left, and when rotated in an anti-clockwise direction traverses the gun to the right. Each click represents 1 mil traverse.

When the traversing gear clamp is unscrewed so that the traversing gear teeth are disengaged, the gun is free to be traversed by hand.

Small angles of traverse can be read off from the small dial on the traversing hand wheel. Zero setting can be established by loosening the dial lock nut and tightened at the desired setting.

Larger alterations in angles of traverse than that provided by the slow-motion traversing wheel may be accomplished by loosening the traversing clamp and traversing the gun by hand. Angles of traverse may be read off from the traversing dial which is provided with an adjustable zero setting that can be turned by hand.

Ammunition Boxes

The early wood ammunition boxes for the Browning were well made of high quality oak with dove-tailed joints and were designed to hold one loaded 250-round fabric belt. Designated as the Model of 1917 Belt Box, they were intended for use on the Model of 1917 tripod. These boxes had slits cut into the sides at the front that allowed the box to be mounted into a flanged bracket mounted on the left side of the tripod head. These rectangular boxes all had square corners.

When the Model of 1918 tripod was developed, it was found that the Model of 1917 Belt Box did not fit the new Model of 1918 tripod as the bottom corner of the box nearest to the gun would not clear the outline of the cradle and would not fit properly in the ammunition box bracket holder attached to the left side of the tripod cradle. Thus, a 45-degree angled cut was made on the bottom/side of the box. This ammunition box was designated as the Model of 1918 Belt Box and all subsequent wood Browning boxes were manufactured with this 45-degree cut along the bottom and fit all models of tripods. Other than the 45-degree angled cut, the Model of 1918 Belt Box was identical with the Model of 1917 Belt Box. Specifications Model of 1918 Tripod

Weight: 45 pounds
Extreme height when set up: 2 ft. 6 in.
Minimum height when set up: 1 ft. 0 in.
Total capacity of elevation: 600 mils
Total capacity of depression: 745 mils
Capabilities of slow elev. mechanism: 138 mils
Capabilities: Quick traversing, Slow traversing, Quick searching, Slow searching

We have tested numerous spin-offs of the popular HK rifles and submachine guns over the years and we were excited to try the latest offering from MKE and marketed by American Tactical Imports (ATI): the AT-94A2. While it has the general look, feel and function of the HK94 carbine, there are many internal changes that those at ATI have diligently worked out with BATFE Technology Branch to allow this Turkish manufactured carbine to be importable through the miles of red tape wrapped around the import regulations.

The AT-94A2 is a 9x19mm carbine that resembles the long gone HK94. Our test gun was shipped with an A2 (full length) stock that resembled that of the .223 HK93, which is much thinner in the front than the traditional HK94 and MP5 stock and has a metal section where the stock is pinned to the receiver instead of a large, plastic end that slides over the receiver section. It was confirmed that it is indeed a modified HK93 stock used with this configuration and the reason will be explained a little later in this article.

At first glance, other than the rear stock, nothing was immediately particularly different about the MKE AT-94A2. It was supplied with a slim-line forend and a full 16.25-inch barrel, in order to remain a Title I firearm. While this Turkish-manufactured specimen is not quite as smooth and clean in its lines as its German predecessor, it is still an attractive piece and an excellent alternative for those who want a 9mm semiautomatic carbine in the style of possibly the worlds most popular late generation submachine gun.

Same Thing, Just Different

Just like the original MP5 submachine gun and its semiautomatic relatives, the AT-94A2 is a closed bolt, 9x19mm, roller delayed blowback action. The chamber is fluted and the barrel is rifled with a 6-groove, 1 turn in 10 inches, right hand twist. The front sight is an enclosed protected post and the rear sight is the customary rotating drum with 4 aperture settings. The operating procedure is identical to the standard German guns.

As previously mentioned, in order to comply with import laws there have been numerous internal changes from the original H&K design in order to comply with 18 U.S.C. 925(d) (see sidebar this article). The most obvious change upon initial examination is the internal dimension of the magazine-well. It will not accept a standard MP5 9mm magazine due to the addition of two rods inside the magazine well that coincide with the slotted magazines available from ATI. Another internal difference is the addition of a block in the rear of the receiver that prevents the installation of a fully automatic bolt carrier. This is not going to be a positive aspect for our registered sear or trigger pack users but was necessary to comply with the import regulations to import the gun in its current, carbine configuration.

The biggest difference is not even noticed until the gun is disassembled – and a big difference it is. As previously mentioned, the stock is a modified HK93 stock and the reason is revealed as soon as the rear takedown pin is removed. The grip portion has been permanently attached to the stock giving a similar appearance to an AR-15/M16 when the receiver is separated for cleaning and maintenance. Because of this non-traditional parts relationship, the assembly after basic fieldstrip is a little tricky but an easy task once studied a little. As are all legal semiautomatic HK type firearms (aside from the very early SF imports) the trigger group is locked on a shelf with no pushpin on the front.

Range Time

The AT-94A2 was test fired at the Small Arms Research facility in Maine over several days. Ammunition used included 115-grain FMJ Wolf Performance Ammunition, Winchester (white box) 115-grain FMJ ammunition and 147-grain Atlanta Arms JHP ammo. All ammunition performed well and we only experienced a single malfunction of any kind during the entire test period. After firing several rounds with no cleaning or maintenance an ejected casing seemed to find a path under the bolt and down into the trigger pack. Upon opening the action and shaking it, it fell out on its own. We could not duplicate the malfunction and have no idea when or how it happened. The feeding was smooth and the ejection was very positive with all ammo. 10-round strings (due to the 10-round capacity of the provided magazines) were fired and all ammo performed quite well. Most of the shooting was completed at 25 yards and 50 yards. Due to the small caliber and open sights it isn’t typically a platform that would be regularly utilized at distances beyond that. Several 10-shot groups averaged 2.14 inches overall and a separate muzzle velocity chart has been included to show the performance from this particular platform.

Conclusions

The time spent with the AT-94A2 was reminiscent of the first few outings, decades ago, with the original HK94s and MP5. Although a little awkward in some of the areas where the changes have been made, the excitement of another variant was still there. The function in every area was not only acceptable, but also actually quite impressive. The mechanism is tight and positive and all aspects were correct. The magazines lock tight, the rounds present themselves correctly, the feed, fire, extraction and ejection are positive and performed without failure except for that one time. The trigger is very smooth, although a little long and the release will even surprise you until you spend a significant amount of time with it. Accuracy exceeded our expectations for a pistol caliber carbine with open sights, regardless of the type used at the time. The oddities encountered with the new AT-94A2, such as the stock/trigger group combo, the magazine and FA bolt block are all too easy to be looked at as negatives from those of us who are sear and registered pack owners. The addition of several U.S. parts or a simple SBR NFA registration may make those concerns a non-issue anyway, but this early in the game we are cautious not to make guesses in such matters. What we do believe with some amount of certainty is that for someone who simply wants a semiautomatic version of the world famous MP5 without breaking the bank on an original, elusive, collectable, German gun, this may be the gun they thought they would never be able to own. When you add in the fact that it runs great and is very comfortable to shoot, with an MSRP of $1,549, it will be a certain reason to celebrate. For more information on the AT-94A2 and the rest of the ATI lineup, please visit them on line at www.americantactical.us.

Sources

American Tactical Imports
(800) 290-0065

AcuSport Corporation
(937) 593-7010

Amchar Wholesale, Inc.
(800) 333-0695

Importation / Manufacturing Red Tape Revealed

Due to the regulations in 18 U.S.C. 925(d) and 922(r), it is extremely difficult for many popular firearms to be imported or manufactured domestically from imported parts if they do not meet certain “Sporting Purpose” criteria. This has been difficult to completely understand and follow since its inception and remains confusing today. Some firearms are defined by make and model, and others by characteristics, and this has led to the higher prices and lower quantities of these guns available today.

Though scrutinized since 1986, guns that were civilian-style semiautomatic variants of foreign machine guns were redesigned to meet the United States regulations and generally treated as any other semiautomatic firearm for purposes of importation. In 1989 ATF (now BATFE) created a new class of firearm known as “Semiautomatic Assault Rifles” and a new criteria followed (18 U.S.C. 925(d)) to qualify (or disqualify) all semiautomatic firearms before importation would be approved. This is where the real confusion started. With many foreign manufacturers unwilling to retool their product lines only for the civilian market of a single country, most imports of many popular and common firearms ceased very quickly. Without listing multiple pages of specific models and manufacturers, the basic disqualifiers (listed directly from the BATFE website) are as follows:

…ATF’s finding was based, in part, on the determination that these rifles have certain characteristics that are common to modern military assault rifles and that distinguish them from traditional sporting rifles. These characteristics include the ability to accept a detachable magazine, folding/telescoping stocks, separate pistol grips, ability to accept a bayonet, flash suppressors, bipods, grenade launchers, and night sights. It was decided that any of these military features, other than the ability to accept a detachable magazine, would make a semiautomatic assault rifle not importable…

After the 1989 decision, many semiautomatic firearms that failed the initial sporting purpose test were simply modified of their disqualifying characteristics, other than the ability to accept a detachable magazine and were allowed to be imported as long as not specifically named on the list of unimportable firearms. This was the period we saw many new model designations imported in different, neutered configurations. In 1997 under the direction of the President and the Secretary of the Treasury ordered a new review of the imported versions and expanded the list to include even more firearms, including these new, currently compliant models which took effect in April of 1998.

Immediately after the original 1989 importation ban it was not uncommon for the new guns to be “remanufactured” domestically to bring them back to their original configuration since it was an importation ruling and did not cover firearms manufactured domestically. This is where 18 U.S.C. 922(r) comes into play, making it illegal to reassemble or remanufacture an imported firearm in an unimportable configuration if the firearm still used too many foreign parts in the end product. This is where the parts list came from and spurred the domestic manufacture of numerous parts that used to be commonly imported. Relating to the assembly of “nonsporting firearms”, 922(r) is as follows:

Section 922(r), Title 18, U.S.C., makes it unlawful for any person to assemble from imported parts any semiautomatic rifle or any shotgun, which is identical to any rifle, or shotgun prohibited from importation under section 925(d)(3) of the GCA. Regulations implementing the law in 27 C.F.R. 478.39 provide that a violation of section 922(r) will result if a semiautomatic rifle or shotgun is assembled with more than 10 of the following imported parts:

1. Frames, receivers, receiver castings, forgings, or stampings
2. Barrels
3. Barrel extensions
4. Mounting blocks (trunnion)
5. Muzzle attachments
6. Bolts
7. Bolt carriers
8. Operating rods
9. Gas pistons
10. Trigger housings
11. Triggers
12. Hammers
13. Sears
14. Disconnectors
15. Buttstocks
16. Pistol grips
17. Forearms, handguards
18. Magazine bodies
19. Followers
20. Floorplates

By John Brown

Stability and continuity seem to walk hand in hand and the longer something stays in place the easier it is to develop a deeper more meaningful relationship. We tend to take things for granted and assume that all is well with many of the things we value such as relationships and the like. So goes the story with ATF and how we work with the Bureau on a daily basis. Getting an agenda together and making progress with that agenda is tough when the players change. One agenda for one director may not be agreeable or suitable for another. This is no different than corporate America or the political environment that we all live with every day. The simple matter is that all things change whether we like it or not. We want everyone to understand that the entire infrastructure that the NFATCA has worked so hard to come to know at the executive levels of ATF is ever changing. Nearly all of the personnel that we have worked with for the last several years have now changed. Although a scary sense among all of us that have worked so diligently to develop these relationships, we all know that change is a certain thing and one must be willing and able to adapt as necessary. With all the changes occurring within ATF, we as an organization must shift our attention to a new group of executives, all of which come to us with outstanding reputations. With a new group we will work diligently to keep hold of our agenda this year and convince this new team that our interests are common and our needs as an organization continue to evolve.

At the top of the team at ATF we have been working with the Deputy Director Kenneth Melson for well over two years, supporting his nomination and dealing directly with him on many NFATCA issues. Director Melson has welcomed us with open arms and has followed many issues with the industry closely. We especially want to acknowledge his extraordinary listening skills. In the many meetings that we have enjoyed with the Director it is apparent that his ability to listen, analyze, and make suggestions are among the best we ever experienced. Director Melson exemplifies the old adage, “You have two ears and one mouth. Always use them in that ratio!” We have found ourselves fortunate to have Director Melson leading the charge at ATF.

As has always been the case, we find Assistant Director Billy Hoover right along side Director Melson in working with the industry. Mr. Hoover has always been right on the front lines with the NFATCA and has been a trooper in his work with the industry. His support is as solid as a rock in our industry in his leadership position. Mr. Hoover continues to work with the NFATCA in a variety of roles assisting us at every angle.

The newest player on the block, taking the position as Assistant Director is Arthur Herbert. Arthur has taken the position once occupied by Carson Carroll, whom many of you will remember revived the amnesty issues. Having an extensive background at ATF including working as the Director of Industry Operations for the Washington field office, Mr. Herbert will be one of the key players that the NFATCA will be working with in 2010.

Another key player that has replaced Audrey Stucko in the Deputy Assistant Director’s position is Teresa Ficaretta. Teresa has been working from the Chief Counsels office with the NFATCA for many years now on so many issues that they are too extensive to list. Teresa has worked closely with the NSSF, F.A.I.R., and the NFATCA for many years. She was instrumental in working the resolution of the FNC sear issue, one of the many successes of the NFATCA. We look forward to working even closer with Mrs. Ficaretta on the many items on our agenda this year.

Following Teresa is one final change being made at the NFA Branch in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Ernie Lintner has moved on to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania as the Area Supervisor. Ernie hopefully will stay in the field just long enough to return to the Washington area and rejoin the executive staff sometime in the future. Replacing the NFA Branch Chief is Ed Saavedra who comes to Martinsburg from Utah as an Area Supervisor. Please join the NFATCA in welcoming Ed to his new position as NFA Branch Chief. We will most likely meet Ed in the fall at the Knob Creek shoot where we will have the pleasure of formally introducing him to the industry.

As can be seen, the entire infrastructure that we work with at ATF is under major reconstruction this year. This will require a tremendous amount of time, energy and work for the NFATCA to stay on top of our efforts to keep the teamwork alive between our organization and every level at ATF. To keep the energy alive we need your support. If you have the opportunity to work with any Board member, take advantage of a learning experience that will enlighten you in all aspects of the NFA world. I keep coming back to the expression that we have used for many years, “United we stand, divided we fall,” which should remind all of our readers why the NFATCA adopted the motto “Power Through Experience.” To explore opportunities for you personally within our organization please join us at www.nfatca.org.

New .308 Hydraulic Buffer from Buffer Technologies

The .308 rifle becomes an even more versatile and efficient weapon by adding a new hydraulic buffer now offered by Buffer Technologies. The .308 is well known by law enforcement officers as a versatile and reliable weapon and one that many trust with their lives. However, because of its reliability, the .308 gets constant use, and can cause parts to wear down. This new product helps reduce shock, protect optics and improve accuracy. Other benefits include faster target acquisition, recoil reduction, suppression of bolt bounce, lower firing rates and drop in replacements. The new.308 hydraulic buffer is created from black oxide finished steel and black anodized aluminum. It weighs .38 pounds, has a 5.8 inch compression length and is designed for the .308 chambered rifle with a full length buttstock. Buffer Technologies is a Missouri-based manufacturer and distributor of tactical weapons accessories for law enforcement, military and shooting sports. For more information you can contact them at Buffer Technologies, Dept. SAR, P.O. Box 104903, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Phone: (877) 628-3337. Fax: (573) 634-8522. Their website is www.buffertech.com.

ATN Introduces Night Shadow Binoculars

American Technologies Network, Corp. (ATN), a leader in night vision technology, has built in their exclusive “Smart Technology” into their Night Shadow Night Vision binocular line. ATN’s Smart Technology includes a proximity sensor that automatically turns the night vision binocular on when it’s brought into a viewing position. No more fumbling for on/off buttons in the dark or creating excessive movement or sound when predator hunting. An added plus to the proximity sensor happens because as the unit turns itself on or off automatically it saves on the battery life and the life of the unit itself. ATN’s Smart Technology also includes easy-to-use digital controls and a long-range Infrared Illuminator which allows the viewer to see in total darkness with perfect clarity. ATN’s family of Night Shadow Night Vision binoculars include the popular Generation 1, which is an affordable night vision tool for camping, predator hunting, fishing or personal security. Built on the same high quality and durable foundation, the ATN Night Shadow is also available in Gen.2+ CGT technology that provides a 45-54 lp/mm resolution with automatic brightness and gain control as well as bright light protection, HPT which is a multi-alkali compact 18mm format MCP image intensifier increasing sensitivity, resolution, signal to noise ratio and modulation transfer function, Gen.3, Gen. 3A, Gen. 3P, WPT which is ATN’s White Phosphor Technology allowing the viewer to see crisper black and white images instead of the traditional green images and Gen. 4 filmless autogated technology making the Gen. 4 Night Shadow a perfect tool for military or law enforcement applications. They can be reached at American Technologies Network Corporation, Dept. SAR, 1341 San Mateo Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080. Phone: (650) 989-5100. Fax: (650) 875-0129. Visit their website at: www.atncorp.com.

New XRAIL System for Shotguns

Roth Concept Innovations (RCI) designs and manufactures high capacity solutions for your shotgun. RCI introduces the New XRAIL System. The XRAIL System is an auto indexing loader for shotguns. The XRAIL System operates as a magazine extension for shotguns that allow up to 23 rounds of ammo without altering your gun. It takes only minutes to install and no gunsmithing required. The XRAIL System works easy and efficiently. Load the XRAIL the same way you would normally load your gun. Once the main tube is full, rotate the XRAIL System to the next auxiliary tube and load. Repeat until all tubes are full. When shooting, the tubes automatically rotate as the ammo is unloaded. The XRAIL System is an add-on XRAIL System that fits Benelli and Remington shotguns and is available in both standard and compact versions. The new XRAILs are made of hard coated black anodized aluminum and stainless steel all non corrosive with black nylon or clear polycarbonate unified tubes. The compact unit weight is 1 pound, 8 ounces empty and the full version weight is 2 pounds, 1 ounce empty. All XRAIL and RCI products are 100% made in the USA. For more information about the XRAIL please contact Roth Concept Innovations, LLC, Dept. SAR, 3825 East Calumet Street, Suite 400-173, Appleton, WI 54915. Phone: (920) 585-6534. Fax: (920) 731-6660. Visit their website at: www.xrailbyrci.com.

Insight Technology has New X2/X2L LED Series Tactical Illuminators

Insight Technology, the world’s leading provider of tactical lasers, illuminators, thermal imaging equipment, and red dot sighting systems release their new X2/X2L LED Series Tactical Illuminators. The X2 series are the world’s first and best subcompact weapon-mounted light/laser units now delivering a peak output of 80 lumens from a new LED emitter. The X2L LED features a visible red Class IIIa laser with a range of 200 meters. Both models are powered by one CR2 lithium battery for a run time of 60 minutes. The X2L LED Series easily mounts to most subcompact pistol rails utilizing Insight’s patented Slide-Lock interface. The ambidextrous rocker switch allows the X2 LED series to be activated in either a momentary on or constant on mode. A two position laser switch on the X2L turns the laser on and off so it can be used in a white light only or white light and laser mode. Replacement LED kits available later this year. The X2/X2L LED series improve light output, extend run time, and increase durability. For more information please contact them at Insight Technology, Dept. SAR, 9 Akira Way, Londonderry, NH 03053. Phone: (606) 626-4800. Fax: (603) 668-1084. Their website is www.insighttechgear.com.

New SAW Sling from EMA Tactical

EMA Tactical is proud to introduce their new SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) sling. The SAW sling is designed to be used by the operator when carrying crew served weapons. The whole squad depends on the soldier with the SAW and carrying it is tiresome. Designed with the comfort of the soldier in mind and understanding the need for a heavy duty sling in the marketplace today, the new SAW sling spreads the weight over a very large surface of the upper body. With the new SAW sling the soldier arrives at his destination in a much less fatigued condition than with an ordinary sling and is ready to complete the mission. The 4 inch wide, 1 inch thick padding is 33 inches long protected in a Cordura outer covering with a mesh lining for wicking moisture on the underside. The edges are protected with nylon piping. A 2 inch wide nylon webbing is securely stitched along the length of the padding and with box X stitching at both ends for extra reinforcement. There are metal strap length adjustment slides at both ends of the nylon webbing. Overall sling length can be adjusted between 57 and 75 inches. Heavy duty metal safety hooks are wrapped with vinyl backed nylon shrouds to eliminate noise from rattling and provide a secure attachment to the SAW. Manufactured in Israel by Marom Dolphin, EMA Tactical is the exclusive distributor of Marom Dolphin products in the USA. For more information please contact them at EMA Tactical, Dept. SAR, 1208 Branagan Drive, Tullytown, PA 19007. Phone: (215) 949-9944. Fax: (215) 949-9191. Website: www.ematactical.com.