By Dean Roxby

The M1 Garand Rifle
By Bruce N. Canfield
ISBN: 1-931464-56-1
872 pages.
2,150+ photos and diagrams, many in color.
Hard cover and matching dust jacket
8.5×11 inches,
$96.99

Published by:
Mowbray Publishing,
54 East School St,
Woonsocket, RI 02895
(800) 999-4697
www.gunandswordcollector.com

This book is an absolutely fantastic reference work. Noted military weapons author Bruce N. Canfield has delivered a true labor of love with this massive book. At 872 pages, and approximately 2,150 photographs, line drawings, and illustrations, this is the go-to reference volume for the Garand rifle. In the Foreword, Bob Seijas, co-founder and chairman of the Garand Collectors Assoc. refers to this as “The definitive work on the subject.”

Naturally, the book begins with a brief look back at weapons evolution well prior to the Garand. After the switch to the self-contained cartridge, came manual repeaters. Around the turn of the 20th century, semiautomatic civilian sporting arms began to appear. After some initial reluctance, due to concerns of ammo wastage, the U.S. Army began to consider re-equipping with a semiautomatic rifle. The first chapter, Quest for Firepower, covers this early search. Several potential candidates are examined, including the Danish Bang, the Mexican Mondragon, the Mauser Self Loading Rifle, and various other lesser known designs.

Chapter 2 introduces us to John C. Garand and documents his early prototype designs. Interestingly, these first designs (T1919, and T1920) had detachable 20- or 30-round magazines. The 8-round enbloc “pinger” is the most distinctive feature of the final M1, and is often thought of as a shortcoming; but this was actually listed as a requirement. A document from February, 1921, is reprinted that states, “…the rifle may be fed from clips. The magazine may be detachable, but this is not considered desirable.” And “…should not exceed 10 rounds.”

As well, several other contenders in the 1920 and 1921 Ordnance Tests, and 1922 Comparative Tests are shown. Besides several variations of Garand designs, these include two types of Colt-Thompson Autorifle, a modified Bang, Berthier, Pedersen, and White designs.
Once the Garand was chosen to be the official service rifle, several other inventors came forward with designs they believed to be superior to the Garand. Separate short chapters on the Johnson, Petersen, and Winchester follow. The Winchester G30 was designed by Jonathon Edmund Browning, a half-brother of John Moses Browning.

Soon after it was adopted, the Garand faced actual combat. Several chapters follow the M1 through World War II. As well, there is a short chapter detailing foreign semiautomatic service rifles, such as the Soviet Russian SVT 38 and SVT 40, the German Walther G43/K43, and even a Japanese Type 5, a copy of the Garand. Five crisp color photos show this rare rifle off wonderfully.

Chapters on specialized sniper and National Match versions, Korean War service, use in other countries, U.S. Navy 7.62×51 use, and the shameful “demilitarization” (scrapping of fully functional guns) add a great deal of interesting and useful knowledge.

Research into selective fire versions (including retrofit conversion kits for existing M1 rifles) and detachable magazine versions as well as other post-war rifles are covered in Research & Development 1945-1950.

There are all sorts of little tidbits of Garand related info covered, ranging from the ubiquitous B&W WW2 factory girl photos, to a brief write-up of the Kent State Ohio event, and even photos of Lee Harvey Oswald’s Marine Corp score book. In the Post World War Two chapter is mention of “canning,” long term storage of firearms in sealed drums. Imagine finding ten new Garands in a sealed drum now!

Of particular interest to collectors is the section entitled Accessories and Accouterments. This section alone is 120 pages, so all manner of related items are covered. It is quite astounding to see what is out there.

The Components chapter is a very useful section for comparing the evolution of parts from early to late manufacture. Various bits such as the trigger housing, trigger guard, safety, etc., were simplified or otherwise changed throughout the life of the gun. This section helps to sort out the early from later versions. It is worth noting here that while this book does contain a huge amount of information, it is not a shop manual. It does not instruct the reader on how to service or rebuild a rifle. Nor does it claim to. This is not a complaint, but something to be aware of.

One small issue that could have been done differently is the tendency to refer to something in passing, then say, “This will be discussed later in this book.” but not give a page number to refer to. With close to 900 pages to sift through, this would have been a welcome feature. Aside from this one minor detail, I recommend this book without hesitation.

Shooting singles at the 16 yard line at The Nevada Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Trap Shoot.

By Mikey Entingh and Patty Sweat, Photos by Robert Butterfield

The Nevada Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) held their 14th annual PVA Trap Shoot at the Clark County Shooting Park, on March 20-22, 2015. The Nevada Chapter was chartered in 1999, covering Nevada and part of Utah from their headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada.

About the PVA

Returning home from World War II, a band of brothers with spinal cord injuries joined together and decided that, despite their traumatic injuries, they would continue to live their lives with dignity. Although the nation was grateful for their service, it offered few solutions to the challenges these men would face. In 1946, the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) was formed. The group began rallying on the basic necessity of accessibility, such as cutouts on sidewalks, parking spaces, wider doors, and later, press-open doors. This would prove challenging as the Americans with Disabilities Act was not in effect at the time.

Now, more than sixty-nine years later, The PVA is a leader in quality health care for their members, research and education, benefits, and civil rights for veterans worldwide. “Today, the work continues to create an America where all veterans and people with disabilities, and their families, have everything they need to live full and productive lives.” (www.pva.org)

Adaptive Sports are a huge part of the PVA. These sports promote health, wellness, and fitness, and the camaraderie that completes the package is a great stress reliever – a way to work out issues without actually sitting on a couch talking with someone. These activities teach individuals that what they once thought impossible, because of their injury or disease, is now possible. They open so many doors and once they realize “Wow, I can play basketball” or “I can hand cycle”, they begin to ask, “What else can I do?” Next thing they know, they are back out in society being productive citizens. “The PVA builds confidence,” Julie Johnson, Executive Director of the Nevada Chapter states. “‘Wow, I never tried this before,’ and next thing they know, they are coming back to their respective chapters wanting to participate in more and more sports. (Members) become more active within their chapters, volunteering at certain events, getting back to ‘that something special’ they had when they were active duty.”

The PVA showcases their sports annually at an event called the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, and it moves from city to city each year. This year it will be held in Dallas, June 21-26 with more than 600 wheelchair athletes from all over the United States and Great Britain competing. Events include basketball, swimming, table tennis, billiards, bowling, bocce ball, shooting (both air rifle and pistol), and trapshooting. There are also a number of track and field events, hand cycling, and quadriplegic rugby – a legitimately violent sport – also known as Murderball, popularized by the documentary film Murderball (2005). The NVWG is a huge undertaking every year.

PVA Shooting Sports

PVA Shooting Sports run their competitions just like any other shooting competition that is able-body. There is no distinction between anyone that is injured or able-bodied. They follow the Amateur Trapshooting Association rules, with one exception: an award for High Overall Spinal Cord Injury Winner. “You’ll see amputees, non-visible wounds, and wheelchairs. There will be individuals present that I served with, that were injured from Iraq and Afghanistan.” states Andy MacDonald, Associate Director for Shooting Sports.

The competition is a non-registered shoot, which means it is not recognized by the Amateur Trapshooting Association – yet. Nevada PVA Trap Shoot still attracts members from other chapters just to support because, “It’s fun and we love doing it. We get paid for this, that’s the best part!” Andy and Julie exclaim and give each other high-five. “As a shooting program, we have the largest of any veterans organization out there, most of them combined. We hold the flag for that, and have been doing this since the 80s with 2-3 shooting competitions a month across the country.”

Shotgun Competition

Saturday and Sunday, 21-22 March, were allotted days for the trapshooting portion of the competition. It consisted of 100 single targets at the 16 yard line and 50 pairs of doubles, also at the 16 yard line for Saturday. On Sunday, 100 targets at a handicap yardage (18-27 yards based on proficiency) was shot.

Among the sponsors and supporters were, Fiocchi USA, Leupold, Glock, Safari Sun, Rolex Vans, SKV Shotguns, SoftTouch Customs Stocks, Invacare and Better Life Mobility Center for the Chapter.

“Adaptive sports is number one in opening doors for involvement in so many areas. I’ve been involved with the PVA since 1987 and I attend as many PVA shooting events as I can, not only to support the organization and to see the guys I have ties with for over 30 years, but for the camaraderie that you can’t get anywhere else. When I was injured, a PVA service officer came into my hospital room and I had never heard of the PVA until that moment. The service officer answered questions that no one else could and I’ve been involved since,” states Gordon Moye, Vice President of the Arizona Chapter and member of the PVA National Sports Committee.

Dan Mitchell, a loyal supporter of the PVA and former President of the Osage Sportsman’s Club in Park Rapids Minnesota, tries to attend at least four shoots a year. “PVA (are an) awesome group of people! We all look forward to going to the shoots. There are 12-14 shoots a year, all over the United States, with new people joining every year with the common goal in trying to shoot well. These shoots, as well as the PVA family, really help out the psychological part of being a wounded veteran and disabled.”

This was Nevada Chapter’s 14th Annual Trap Shoot; one of the longest in the circuit. Other shoots are held in Redlands, Green Bay, Sumner, Baltimore, and Tampa.

Veterans Assistance

There is a misconception that PVA is just for paralyzed veterans. Quite the contrary, they assist in veterans that are identified as quadriplegic, walking quads, incomplete paras, walking paras, walking members, spinal cord injury, or disease; they are a big supporter for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease, brought to light to many by the recent Ice Bucket Challenges).

PVA partners with hospitals and are informed immediately by social workers if their patient is a veteran with a spinal injury, and they are assigned a National Service Officer (NSO), who will assist in claims and attend to their families during transition and sustainment. Paralyzed veterans national officers and the PVA’s 34 chapters represent thousands of veterans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The focus of the PVA NSO is on the mission. However, if approached by veterans that do not fit the categories mentioned above, NSO’s do not turn them away. They instead guide veterans to another organization that may better suit them.

Paralyzed Veterans of America, Nevada Chapter

The mission of the Nevada PVA is to improve the quality of life of the U.S. military veterans and others who have spinal cord dysfunction through the use of advocacy, research, sports and recreation, education and communication.

Whether veterans left the military decades ago or recently transitioned into the ‘civilian sector’, all veterans miss the camaraderie. There’s an unspoken bond of duty, honor, and service formed among veterans that have served, especially in combat and overseas. No matter when, where, or how you served, or what branch, there is a connection amongst veterans – a supportive role in the understanding of the issues that may affect their well-being, or get in the way of relationships, work, or daily activities. PVA not only aids in the healthcare and benefits for Veterans who have been injured or developed a debilitating disease, it helps reestablish that connection.

For more information, including upcoming shooting events for 2015, please visit www.pva.org/shootingsports or contact Andy MacDonald, Associate Director for Shooting Sports, at andym@pva.org.

For more information on the Nevada Chapter, please visit http://nevadapva.org/ or contact Julie Johnson, Executive Director at nvpva@aol.com.

The High Standard AKMS is a basic pattern underfolder.

By David Lake

High Standard Firearms is back in a very good way. For too long the brand has been associated with the rimfire target pistol. The brand has, and still represents, top shelf quality. Hi Standard .22 pistols were successfully employed in the resistance against the malevolent despots in 20th century Europe and earned well deserved recognition as accurate target and sporting pistols. And though, still in production, the Hi Standard .22 pistol has spawned numerous clubs and collector societies who celebrate the old Hi Standard pistol.

Some years back, Interarms was rolled into the High Standard family. Interarms has commanded a worldwide market share of international commercial arms trade for the past 60 years. They’ve been the source for countless waves of surplus and foreign commercial small arms hitting our shores. Even with increased restriction on arms importation, they’re still hard at it. And the 922(r) compliance clause is no obstacle, as all of High Standard’s imported rifles come fitted with the required U.S. made componentry. Anyone who has ever built an AK type rifle from a de-milled kit and receiver flat, then tracked down and paid for the U.S. compliant parts, and ultimately assembled the rifle, would do well to consider looking at the lineup of High Standard/Interarms imports before your next home build project. The guns from High Standard are excellent; and easy to get into for under a thousand dollars.

The AK variant represented here carries the model designation, “AKMS.” The rifle is presented very true-to-form with its eastern-European heritage and is patterned after the Polish underfolder. It’s an immensely common rifle on the world stage. Not exotic, it’s more a “bread and butter” AK with a folding stock for easy transport and storage. The High Standard AKMS is built using a U.S. made barrel and receiver. The trigger, hammer and disconnector are also U.S. made parts – and they are good parts at that. They’re properly hardened and ground and finished. The trigger pull on this rifle is as smooth as an AK trigger can be… and that’s saying a lot considering how bad the AK trigger can be. Pull weight averages 6 pounds. The barrel features a chrome lined bore and chamber for prolonged life. The bolt and carrier group are smooth and well made with no rough edges or tool marks. The bolt slides smoothly and quietly when operated back and forth. All the other bits on the gun are foreign-manufacture parts that have been selected for proper condition and function. The AKMS is made of selected quality parts, with the requisite attention to detail in its finish and assembly. It’s just a good quality basic pattern underfolding AK rifle.

In operation, the gun performed admirably. Its reliability and function were largely dependent on the ammunition fed into it. When we loaded lacquered cased ammo, we did experience some frequent feeding issues. The bolt would just fail to completely close at battery. This would result in a “click” rather than a bang when the trigger was pulled, as the hammer impact would finish closing the bolt, leaving insufficient energy remaining to impact the firing pin to full effect. This recurring malfunction was absolutely not the fault of the rifle. With the Teflon coated steel cased surplus ammo, and all commercial brass ammunition, the AKMS performed the way we expected it would. If an AK is not reliable, it’s nothing. Perfect reliability is the hallmark of the AK and it variants. Accuracy from the AKMS was also on par with any other AK rifle. At 25 yards off-hand, this gun would print an easy 2-inch group. At 100 yards, 10-inch groups were possible with some effort. The basic AK sight picture has never been much to speak of. The round front post catches glare and the rear blade and notch are difficult to use with any great proficiency. This AKMS, like any AK variant, can be counted on to hit practical sized targets, at close to moderate distances. Premium ammunition and the incorporation of optics can be counted on to greatly improve the AK’s inherent accuracy potential.

No frills, no hype, no nonsense. This rifle’s only claim to fame is that it is a true AK. With that, it can claim heritage to 66 years of sustained success, and can count itself among the other 80 million or so (to be fair) that have been crafted and then used in some capacity in almost every country on the planet, to be modest.

The ZG 1229 Vampir was attached to the MP 44 by using the standard ZF-4 sniper scope rail. Note the heavy backpack.

By Michael Heidler

Germany began research on infra-red (I.R.) equipment in the early 1930s. The main development work was done by the well-known companies AEG (Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft) and Carl Zeiss. In 1942, a device named ZG 1221 was tested on a Pak 40 anti-tank gun. Because of the increasing air superiority of the Allies, the daytime travel of tank units became more and more dangerous so General Guderian suggested an I.R. sight modified for use on a Panther tank while travelling at night. Towards the end of the war the development was going on and field trials were still being done. Also, information and samples of all this equipment had been sent freely to the Japanese.

At the end of the war, the German battle group Kampfgruppe Uhu (eagle owl) consisting of some 260 officers and men was captured by British troops near the city of Fallingbostel in Lower Saxony. The equipment captured intact was held for examination by a troop of an A.A. Brigade. The battle group was a training unit and had not used their equipment in action. It was under the command of Major Graf von Werthen and Hauptmann Rietz.

Vehicles fitted with I.R. gear were: 16 Falke, 4 Uhu, and 3 private cars (including 1 Volkswagen)

All the equipment was examined in detail by the team and the German officers were interrogated throughout the day on May 14, 1945. That night a working demonstration was given, under very clear weather conditions and the moon was very low. A few days later Major Graf von Werthen and Hauptmann Rietz were sent to England. Also all Vampir devices together with one MP 44 assault rifle, two Falke (including vehicles), one Uhu, one ZG 1221 and one pair of binoculars were shipped to the ARI (Army Research Institute). The rest of the equipment was handed over to the Americans.

The undermentioned pieces of equipment all consisted basically of transmitter and receiver. The former was a source of light screened to transmit only I.R. radiation. The latter comprised an image converter to form a visible image of the I.R. picture. The several pieces of equipment differed fundamentally only in size. Different code names or numbers were employed according to the size of the gear; the application to which it was put, or the vehicle to which it was fitted. The image converters are of the cesium electronic focusing type, operating from a high tension source.

The demonstration was given on the training ground at Fallingbostel previously used by the German unit. For the demonstration of Vampir, the ground was uneven, and covered by coarse grass and birch shrubs. For all other devices the ground consisted of a very open stretch of sandy ground, clear of vegetation for at least 1,000 yards, and free of “dead ground.” The sand was grey, streaked with lighter patches.

The following part is a slightly corrected excerpt of the report written on June 4, 1945:

ZG 1229 Vampir (ZG = Zielgerät / aiming device). This is a man-borne equipment intended for use with the MP 44 assault rifle (Sturmgewehr). The transmitter is a 35 watt lamp of diameter about 5 inches and the receiver a telescope of unit magnification about 14 inches long and 2.5 inches diameter. The two together weigh about 5 pounds and are mounted on the assault rifle. Power for transmitter and receiver is drawn from a power unit carried in a pack. This power unit weighs about 30 pounds and has a life on one charge of 3 to 5 hours. The high tension unit for the receiver produces 11 kilovolts.

The immediate impression in the demonstration was of great brilliance and good contrast in the picture. British and German troops were used as targets with the following results:

The equipment was said to have been used operationally with very good results. The particular use to which it had been put was for protecting vehicles from infantry attack at night. Two men equipped with Vampir were stationed on the rear of the vehicle for this purpose. It was considered by the investigators that the special gear had been fitted to a weapon which was too heavy for protracted use.

FG 1250 (FG = Fahrgerät / driving device). This is equipment analogous to Vampir, but larger in scale fitted to an MG 42 gun carried on a Sd.Kfz. 251/20 half-track vehicle. The transmitter is a 200 watt lamp, resembling a large motor car headlamp, of diameter 8 inches. The receiver is a telescope of length 20 inches and diameter 5 inches. Power is supplied from a power pack operated from the vehicle battery.

Alternative methods of presentation are available. In the arrangement most frequently used, unit magnification is obtained with large viewing lens which enables both eyes to be used. An auxiliary lens can be inserted to give enlarged, monocular vision. A reticule is fitted for aiming. Men standing were clearly discernible at 400 yards. The beam width appeared to be adequate.

FG 1252. This is the transmitter and receiver only of FG 1250 intended for night driving. For this purpose a 100 watt lamp is used in the same lantern, and a diffusing glass is fitted to give a wide beam. An early form of this equipment was termed Spanner. The equipment was seen in action on a Volkswagen. Compared with the British E equipment the picture was of greater brilliance and contrast, but the lack of stereoscopic vision and the distortion at the edges of the picture made its use difficult over rough terrain. The German drivers were, however, able to maintain a high speed on roads where progress was as fast as with normal headlamps.

Falke (falcon). This term is applied to the Sd.Kfz. 251/20 vehicle equipped with both FG 1250 and FG 1252.

Puma. This term is applied to the Panther tank equipped with FG 1250.

Sperber (sparrowhawk). This term is applied to the Panther tank equipped with both FG 1250 and FG 1252.

Uhu (eagle owl). This is the largest German Army service equipment, consisting of a screened 60 cm searchlight as transmitter and a telescope giving 10 times magnification, of length about 24 inches and diameter about 10 inches, as receiver. The receiver has an objective of 40 cm focus and relative aperture f/1.4. The latter instrument may well be a pre-production form of the Uhu receiver. The equipment is mounted on an unarmed Sd.Kfz. 251/20 vehicle which also carries an 8 kilowatt generator for the searchlight. The vehicle is intended for reconnaissance purposes and to illuminate targets that could be engaged by Puma. The searchlight has a beam width of approximately 3°, and consumes 5½ kilowatts. Two filters are used.

The searchlight and receiver are mounted in permanent alignment, on a mounting which includes the observer’s chair, and which can be traversed through 360°. An arrangement for altering the elevation is also provided.

A half-track vehicle was used as target, at a range of 1,000 yards, and the apparatus was trained on the vehicle by the German crew. On observing through the telescope, the investigators questioned the accuracy of adjustment, as the target was indistinct. The adjustment was confirmed by a member of the crew, but it was subsequently found that the beam had not in fact been trained on the vehicle, but on some other object. The vehicle, when properly illuminated, was well seen by one of the team. These circumstances are reported in some detail since they illustrate a feature of Uhu which had already been noticed, namely that the beam is narrow.

Uhu and Puma in combination were said to have been used by two units on the Eastern Front with immense success; it was claimed that 67 Russian tanks had been knocked out in one night. These two units and the unit captured were said to be the only three German units equipped with I.R. gear. Gear for other units was, however, said to be in existence hidden in various places, which are known to Major Graf von Werthen.

ZG 1221. This is a 36 cm searchlight which has been produced only on an experimental scale. Its performance was not assessed.

Binoculars. This is a pocket receiver, without transmitter, developed experimentally. It is the smallest equipment available. One half of the instrument is a night glass, the other half an I.R. receiver. Its performance was not assessed.

Major Graf von Werthen was asked to state the extent to which the equipment had been used in operations. He indicated that it had been used by small groups on the Eastern Front, but that full reports were lacking. When asked why the equipment had not been used on the Western Front, he stated that this policy had been laid down by Guderian, but was unable to explain the reason for it. One reason could have been the fact that the Germans knew that the British had an infra-red receiver of compact and simple design, which could have been used for detection of searchlights.

Nevertheless, when used in action, the units equipped with I.R. gear often achieved successes. Some Panther tanks of the Panzerdivision Clausewitz are told to have overrun an American anti-tank position on the Weser-Elbe Canal on April 21, 1945. Also the Panzer-Division Müncheberg successfully used I.R. gear for repelling Russian night attacks during the intense Battle of the Seelow Heights east of Berlin. Unfortunately, not much official paperwork is left today and most of the reports written down after the war can’t be confirmed and are questionable.

(Thanks to Gregory Hagge, U.S. Army Ordnance Training & Heritage Centre, Fort Lee, Virginia/USA)

Billy Mitchell’s Winchester Model 94. (Photo Jaclyn Nash, Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History)

By George E. Kontis, PE

Whenever I go through any collection of firearms, I always feel lucky when I find a gun with someone’s name on it. A scrawled name or message on a gun gives us clues as to who owned it and where it was used. A lot more history dots could be connected if there were just a few more guns with names and other information on them.

Take the example of Billy Mitchell’s Winchester Model 94. It’s easy to identify as his name and date are carved into the stock. The date tells us that his rifle wasn’t too old as it had only been introduced six years earlier. In 1901, Billy wasn’t very old either. At age 22, he was stationed in Alaska, serving in the Army Signal Corps following a tour of duty during the Philippine insurrection. Since the name and date are rather crudely carved, and upside down as well, it’s pretty certain Billy didn’t do this to enhance the appearance of his rifle. There is a far more interesting story.

Anticipating the thrill of a big game hunt, Billy found an Eskimo who agreed to go as his guide. Considering modern communication methods were absent in those years, it was a huge leap of faith to travel far out into the Alaskan wilderness and accept a guide’s famous last words: “You hunt here. Don’t worry; I’ll be back for you later.” But, Billy had faith that the guide would not be too far away, and would return as promised. After a couple of days had passed and the guide did not reappear, Billy began to lose hope. Not only was he sure he would not live to see his friends and family again, he was certain there would be little left of his remains. Then it occurred to him that at least his rifle might survive. If he took action, it might serve as a means to help identify whatever was left of him.

Besides his name and the date, on the opposite side of the stock he carved a picture. It might be a stylized sun, as some curators at the Smithsonian Institute believe. Others, like me, think it’s a picture of the guy that left him there – a wood-carved wanted poster. Fortunately for all of us, the guide did return because Billy Mitchell went on to play an important role in American military aviation, and today is recognized as the father of the United States Air Force. He’s the only person in history to have an American military aircraft with his name on it – the Mitchell B25 bomber.

In the case of Billy Mitchell, the name on the gun was to identify the soldier. During the Civil War, a soldier would sometimes mark his gun so he could tell which gun was his. This was particularly true with Confederate soldiers who often supplied their own firearms. Should you survey any group of Civil War guns, you’ll likely find that more Confederate guns are personalized than Union ones. It’s also probably true that Union soldiers then, as now, had to obey regulations that prohibited defacing U.S. Government property, like their assigned rifle. Firearm collectors and resellers will tell you that unless a person is famous, having a name on a gun decreases its value. If you came across an old .68 caliber muzzle loading rifle with a cut down 18-inch barrel, you may not consider it to have much value, considering it had been extensively customized. But that same rifle, with the name of the Confederate soldier and the unit he served in becomes an item of historical significance, like the Hub Coob rifle that rests today in the Milwaukee Public Museum. There are two other names on the stock that look like they were added at a different time. After the war ended, Union soldiers burned many of the Confederate records so research becomes more difficult but not impossible. At least with the names and date, there is a place to start.

Unfortunately, many of the Confederate firearms with names don’t give the complete name which makes the historical identification challenge difficult. The Milwaukee Public Museum turned up a nice Confederate rifle, a .72 caliber Austrian percussion carbine that was nicely fitted with sling swivels, cavalry bandolier, rod and ring. The stock is incised with an encircled cross and name or initials JEHCB. Literacy wasn’t then what it is today, so the Museum calculates it was his best attempt at JACOB, which was a very common name in those days.

If you’re important enough, somebody just might give you a gun with your name on it, but don’t be surprised if there are strings attached. Henk Visser headed up a Dutch firearms manufacturing firm, NWM, and was always on the lookout for new business opportunities. Henk saw merit in the Stoner 63 machine gun and obtained a license to manufacture it outside the U.S. intending worldwide sales. He was hot on the trail of a $35 million dollar contract with the Army of the Philippines, and as a marketing ploy, decided to present one to the Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos. Henk’s personal touch was to have it nicely engraved with
Marcos’ name.

Henk almost had it right. President Marcos did have a particular affinity for collecting serialized things with famous people’s names on them. The names he preferred were names like Lincoln, Jefferson, Grant, and Franklin, and those he liked unmarked and preferably in small denominations. Honest and honorable, Henk was only prepared to go as far as the engraved machine gun so he lost the business. The gun never did get to Marcos and the specially marked Stoner 63 has become part of the collection at the Institute of Military Technology in Titusville, FL.

Today there are a lot of good reasons why someone might want their name on a firearm. It might be to memorialize service with a military or law enforcement unit, or possibly to commemorate an award or other recognition. There are plenty of places where you can get the metal on your firearm professionally engraved and there are new laser engraving machines that do the job at a reasonable cost. For the AR series, I personally like the option of having an engraved ejection port cover. These fit on any AR rifle and can be easily removed if the rifle is sold or if the owner prefers it on a different firearm.

My engraved ejection port cover was purchased from Leo Armory where I was able to communicate my design and pay for it through Leo’s easy-to-use web site. Within a day I received a proof back that offered a couple of options for lettering fonts and proposed layouts. I made one design change that added a day and one more proof to approve, but the following day I was notified by email that my custom ejection port cover was on its way to me.

Whether used or owned by famous people, ordinary folk, or real knuckleheads, I like to see guns with names on them. While any kind of message can be engraved, historians like me would appreciate your name, spelled correctly, if you don’t mind.

Field stripped CMMG Mk 9. The Mk 9 PDW is equipped with 9mm specific hammer, trigger springs, recoil buffer and action springs.

By Todd Burgreen

A recent trend that can no longer be ignored or dismissed as a fad is the number of pistol models stemming from what was typically associated with rifle pattern weapons via removing the buttstock. AR type pistols are dominating this genre via weapons featuring shorter than 16-inch barrels sans any rifle stock; only a buffer tube is protruding from the rear of the receiver. While many will have a wry smile cross their face when discussing AR pistols, AR pistols are in compliance with BATF regulations or we would not be covering it in this magazine. For individuals that have no legal access to a National Firearms Act Short Barrel Rifle (SBR), the AR pistol may well be the closest they can get to achieving such firepower in such a compact package. Along these same lines, the expansion of states issuing concealed carry permits along with honoring other states permits is another reason why AR pistols are currently so popular.

The AR pistol featured herein is the CMMG Mk 9 PDW chambered in 9mm. CMMG additionally offers the Mk 9 chambered in .300 BLK and .22 LR. The CMMG Mk 9 PDW 9 pistol is about as far away from a “traditional” handgun as you can get. The pistol is a stockless version of the 9mm AR SMG and is the latest twist on what Colt started in the early 1980s with its Fourth Generation SMG Model 635 9mm. The Colt Model 635 is patterned off of the M16/AR platform firing from a closed bolt and had the same physical characteristics as the M16/AR-15 including sights, operating controls, and trigger. However, the Colt 9mm AR utilizes a blowback operation method rather than the M16/AR-15 direct impingement gas system. The CMMG Mk 9 PDW 9mm pistol springs from this Colt heritage operating with Colt or modified Uzi magazines. While the original Colt was select fire, the CMMG Mk9 PDW evaluated in this article is semiautomatic.

CMMG decided to forego the slip-in magazine block conversion of a normal AR lower to accommodate the slimmer 9mm AR magazines; instead an integral magazine well is molded into the CMMG lower receiver. The Mk 9 PDW is equipped with 9mm specific hammer, trigger springs, recoil buffer and action springs. The CMMG modifications enhances reliability as there is no chance of conversion block moving once installed as some are prone to do. In conjunction with this, the integral 9mm magblock provides a feed ramp for rounds being fed into the chamber.

The 9mm AR bolt is very different in configuration from a 5.56mm AR bolt. The bolt carrier on the 9mm AR needs to be much heavier due to operating via blowback method. The 9mm AR bolt group is one piece as compared to the 5.56/.223Rem rotating bolt head. The 9mm bolt face is integral to the bolt and does not rotate or feature locking lugs. Along these same lines there is a slot in the 9mm AR bolt making room for fixed ejector that protrudes up from the magblock sliding along its length. The bolt still recoils into the buffer tube located in the stock; thus side folding stocks are not an option with the 9mm ARs.

The CMMG Mk 9 PDW has an 8.5 inch 1:10 barrel made from 4140 chrome moly. The CMMG Mk9 weighs just over 5 pounds with free floated RKM7 KeyMod hand guard and measures 24 inches in length. CMMG uses Magpul MOE pistol grip and forged M4 style upper made from 7075-T6 aluminum as is the lower. An A2 flash hider is mounted with ½x36 thread pattern. The 1:10 twist rate is better suited to take advantage of the full range of 9mm loads – 115 grain thru 147 grain. Also, the 8.5 inch barrel gets the most out of the 9mm, which is typically loaded to maximize 4-5 inch barrel lengths common in pistols.

Recent experience working with various AR pistols had the unexpected benefit of becoming familiar with different means of discrete transport of weapons larger than a typical handgun. It was a simple matter applying these lessons learned with the AR pistols to the CMMG Mk 9 pistol. A weapon like the Mk 9 pistol has its own advantages in terms of handling, ease of concealability and increased portability that is hard to resist when compared to a rifle. Most individuals struggle with the balancing of weapon carried versus discreteness. This is why handguns are the prevalent choice of weapon carried. This is not because handguns are the most effective choice; just the easiest to have around at all times in most social settings. One way of maximizing the CMMG Mk 9 pistol capabilities is as an “off body” pistol candidate thanks to its relative compactness and potential firepower. Here the Mk 9’s pistol designation is important for anyone with a Concealed Carry Permit. Potential gear enhancers in this role would be the new discrete carry bags offered by BlackHawk such as Diversion Carry Board Pack and Workout Bag. Both BlackHawk products offer “hide in plain” site utility with enhancements to accommodate a weapon and ancillary gear. Many frown on “off body” carry due to not always being attached to one’s weapon. Individuals will have to come to their own understanding of what is acceptable to them in this regard.

No weapon, no matter theoretical advantage offered, is worth anything if not reliable. As with most self-loaders, magazines are the crucial linchpin. The Colt 9mm modified Uzi magazines are considered the best of the lot of 9mm AR magazines. The Mk 9’s increased capacity, as represented in the available 25 and 32-round magazines, is another advantage over a traditional handgun chambered in a similar round. The Mk 9 arrived with one 32-round magazine with 25-round magazines accessed as well.

A compact weapon like the CMMG Mk 9 PDW AR pistol has its own advantages in terms of handling, ease of concealability and increased portability that is hard to resist compared to a rifle. What does the AR pistol offer in terms of real utility in its pistol form? The answer here is nebulous based on user expectations and intentions. For many, an AR pistol, while enticing due to firepower potential, lacks much in terms of accuracy past normal handgun ranges with the added negative of weighing over 6 pounds. For others who have no legal access to a NFA SBR, the AR pistol may well be the closest they can get to achieving rifle firepower in such a compact package. While definitely categorized as a fun firearm, the AR in its pistol form is somewhat limited in its effectiveness when compared to a rifle formatted AR. Or is it if a user can adapt to its limitations?

No one can be all knowing in every facet of a subject as broad as weapons and personal defense. Suarez International, with CEO Gabriel Suarez, is a favored resource for information and training doctrine. Readers are urged to visit the various Suarez sites, including Warrior Talk forum, to gain a better understanding of how to deploy the AR pistol with greater efficiency. Agree with him or not you are sure to come away with a better appreciation of the AR pistols potential. For example, Suarez highlights a method adapted from Czech Special Forces he has worked with where the buffer tube is floated/placed on the cheek providing three points of contact for more stability and thus accuracy.

Various methods were used with test firing the CMMG Mk 9 PDW AR pistol. This consisted of two handed holds ala typical handgun and SAS sling tension method initially made popular in the 1980s. The SAS sling method (aka Israeli method in some circles) utilizes a sling attached to the rear of the receiver forming a loop. The loop goes over your shoulder and you push the weapon forward with your strong hand on the pistol grip and your weak side hand on the forend. The sling is sized to keep the rear of the receiver at the same distance from your nose as a standard stock. This technique gives you three points of contact – rear grip, fore grip and sling. Anecdotal accounts make mention that the SAS arrived at the sling method for CQB actions due to not be able to achieve a cheekweld on their H&K MP5 stocks while wearing a gas mask. The sling method has faded in popularity with Tier One units as weapons and methods have evolved. However, its use is still relevant for anyone contemplating serious use of the CMMG Mk 9 PDW pistol. In short, the weapon is “punched” out creating tension on the sling that serves as a point of contact between the user and weapon. While not optimum and not nearly as effective as a true rifle stock cheekweld, the sling method proved better than merely attempting to hold the Mk 9 ala pistol method, especially when the goal is rapid fire rounds downrange with a semblance of accuracy. This accuracy advantage is further accentuated by the Mk 9’s mitigated recoil thanks to the firing from a closed bolt and minimal muzzle blast of the 9mm.

Accuracy from a “bench” position with the CMMG 9mm AR pistol measured 2 inches at 25 yards. Accuracy from non-supported shooting positions opened up as could be expected. A pleasant surprise was hits being the norm out to 35+ yards. One immediate upgrade for the CMMG Mk 9 PDW pistol would be the install of a red dot optic and/or laser aiming device. This would simplify aiming compared to aligning rear and front sights. This is easy to do thanks to the Mk 9’s M4 flat top railed receiver and forend. A Meopta MeoSight III reflex red dot was mounted on the CMMG Mk 9 PDW pistol. Flip up back up iron sights from Magpul would be an alternative sight option. The MeoSight III is Meopta’s recent red dot offering weighing less than 2 ounces and offers 1,000 hour battery life. The 3 MOA red dot simplifies aiming during close range quick reacting shooting. Meopta is a leading European and American optics manufacturer that has been in existence since 1933. Most have no idea what they are missing in terms of optics offered by Meopta. Meopta produces one of the most diversified high performing line-ups of optics on the market.

A wide range of 9mm loads were tested including 115 grain, 124 grain, and 147 grain JHP and FMJ loads from Black Hills, Federal, Hornady, and Winchester with several hundred rounds fired downrange. Brass cased ammunition proved utterly reliable during range visits. Steel or aluminum cased ammunition experienced difficulties. The blowback operating method may be the cause for this with it being more susceptible to malfunctions if its operational timing is affected during the extraction/ejection process with steel or aluminum cased ammunition versus brass. An interesting ammunition side note was the use of 9mm surplus acquired via Century International Arms some time ago. The Century surplus was a “hot” SMG 9mm variant. This ammunition had proved problematic in handguns due to high pressure issues; no such issues were experienced with the CMMG Mk 9 AR pistol. The CMMG Mk 9 functioning with this ammunition was well received due to a couple thousand rounds on hand.

Several magazines’ worth of ammunition were spent engaging plate racks and man-sized steel targets with the CMMG Mk 9 PDW. Drills quickly moved past stand and deliver drills to more dynamic drills involving movement, magazine reloads, and firing from behind cover. The combination of the heavy bolt and magazine placement in the center of the weapon grip serves to balance the pistol. Accurate strings of fire consisting of multiple rounds sent downrange had no problem keeping rounds smacking steel due to minimal muzzle climb and muzzle blast. In an effort to determine utility of the Mk 9 AR pistol a plate rack featuring multiple 6 inch round targets was engaged at 15 and 25 yards combined with a TacStrike 1/4 scale steel target at 50 yards. This was an effort to establish typical field accuracy with the CMMG Mk 9 compared to prior experiences and expectations with a more traditional handgun form. Volunteers assisting with range T&E at Echo Valley Training Center had skepticism. These doubts were based on the lack of a stock on a weapon originally designed to operate with a stock. These initial doubts were overcome with the CMMG Mk 9 PDW/Meopta MeoSight’s combo’s performance.

Many will argue that there is no defensive/tactical value in such a non-traditional pistol as the Mk 9; just use a full size rifle or typical handgun. However, some will be lured to the CMMG Mk 9 (or other AR pistols for that matter) for the intriguing nuance of maintain handgun status with a semblance of AR performance based on manipulation techniques mentioned earlier. Would the CMMG Mk 9 PDW AR pistol be a first choice of firearm for personal defense for most? No, but in the same breath it would be far from the bottom of the list as well. The ability to be transported discretely may translate into it being the weapon most readily available if a situation arises unexpectedly while away from home or main weapon location.

The fact the CMMG Mk 9 PDW AR pistol is classified legally as a handgun offers users who have a concealed carry license a certain amount of flexibility compared to a true rifle or NFA classified weapon. We are talking about carry options based on a handgun label. Here is where the AR pistol’s true asset in one’s inventory becomes evident. If considering the CMMG Mk 9 pistol for serious defense or tactical role, it would be best to view the AR pistol through the lens of a personal defense weapon (PDW) versus a rifle. The CMMG labeling of the Mk 9 PDW refers to this. CQB/Direct Action and personal security detail operations are the arena of personal defense weapons; a near perfect analogy to the civilian personal defense realm. The CMMG Mk 9 PDW AR pistol is more potent and offer longer effective range than a traditional pistol if trained to use effectively and appreciate its nuances.

SITES OF INTEREST

CMMG
www.cmmginc.com

Meopta U.S.A., Inc.
www.meopta.com

Century International Arms
www.centuryarms.com

Echo Valley Training Center
www.echovalleytrainingcenter.com

Canvas shoulder bag containing the Russian Maxim M1910 gunner’s kit. Note the three-piece cleaning rod assembly affixed to one side of the shoulder strap with the bottom of the rods inserted in a pouch sewn along the side of the bag.

By Robert G. Segel

Machine guns are highly complex operating pieces of machinery. The function of smooth metallic operations of belt feeding, initial extraction of the cartridge from the belt, chambering, firing, cartridge extraction from chamber, ejection, and belt advancement all operate in a symphony of movement of springs, cams and operational forces that must be perfectly timed and in sequence. A number of factors can contribute to bringing this ballet of movement to a halt: broken parts, weak springs, carbon build-up, dirt, improper parts placement or alignment, etc.

Barring physical or combat damage, it is the responsibility of the machine gun operators to maintain their equipment in reliable working order – their lives depend on it. Without taking the gun out of service to be returned to the rear for armorer work, simple cleaning and worn part replacement can, and is, done by the gun crew. To achieve this, a gunner’s kit is provided to each gun for simple cleaning and field repair maintenance.

Beginning with the Russian Maxim M1905 and then the updated M1910, the Maxim saw extensive service for Mother Russia spanning over 40 years ultimately to the end of World War II. Produced in the millions, each gun was issued with a gunner’s kit to help keep the gun in action.

The World War II Russian Maxim M1910 gunner’s kit was a simple heavy canvas bag with a fold-over top that was secured by a leather strap and roller buckle with another strap and roller buckle on the two side internal flaps. All leather straps are double riveted in place. The bag is fitted with a two-piece adjustable leather shoulder strap fitted with a roller buckle. The short buckled end has a leather loop riveted in place with a fold over push tab to hold the three-piece cleaning rod assembly in place externally from the bag. The bottom of the three-piece cleaning rod fits into a stitched pouch along the outside side of the bag. The bag has a number of pockets stitched internally to hold different tools and or accessories.

The kit contains a large combination tool with a muzzle booster wrench on one end and a muzzle booster carbon scraper on the other end. Also included is an ammunition cloth belt awl, fusee spring tension scale, broken shell extractor, broken shell extractor handle, screw driver, wood handled brass hammer, asbestos barrel packing string, knife to cut the asbestos packing string and to scrape carbon, rubber snow cap gasket, three punches, barrel brush, bore brush, blank firing device, oil can, alkaline solution can, spare firing pin and spare firing pin spring.

A Marine rifle team leader scopes out suspicious activity while on a dismounted foot patrol in Nadi Ali district, Helmand province. This Marine has the Viking Tactical Two Point sling and has opted for a Magpul angled grip, which he isn’t even utilizing to balance his rifle. He has also opted for placing his magazines on a patrol belt instead of his front to leave his chest free. This allows for a much better prone position.

By Miles Vining

(Editor’s note: Marines are not authorized to carry unauthorized equipment. Sounds obvious, but the way it’s worked in combat from history’s day one is that the guys will choose what they like, and will always try to solve problems. SAR is neither condoning this nor encouraging this, but the reality is that combat use by Marines gives some interesting feedback for the potential buyer of products. The author is a true “gun guy” and we found his observations quite enlightening).

Almost more so than the traditional hunting bolt action rifle area of interest, today the AR or “Black Rifle” accessory business is huge and booming in the United States. The majority of these parts are intended for the civilian and law enforcement markets, which is ironic considering that this spawned out of the M16A2/A4/ M4 primarily in use by the U.S. Armed Forces. Some products are highly regarded and raved about in the States by civilians but reviews of how these products actually work in combat are very few in number. Peaceful conditions or competitions are quite contrasted when actually used under fire.

Between the months of September 2013 to May 2014, the author was a Marine Infantryman with 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan. There the battalion used helicopter borne raids, dismounted and mounted patrols to take the fight to the Taliban. At this stage of the war most of the missions were centered around going into far off districts to hit Taliban command and control centers, and to protect the security of BLS (Bastion, Leatherneck, Shrobak, three combined bases that are ISAF’s front line in Helmand Province). These weren’t the days of Operation Mushtarak and pushing through the stronghold of Marjah, or the deadly districts of Sangin and Musaqula in which battalions of Marines fought the Taliban on a daily basis. But there was plenty of kinetic action with 1/9 in which the unit was engaged.

The following review of certain accessory items is strictly the opinion of this author. Some may agree or disagree. Regardless, it is worth repeating that these are the opinions of one soldier. This review is going to be on items that are T/O to an 0311 as well as items that the author personally supplemented to help in combat operations. Being well versed in the AR market, the author had some of the accessories that are often sought after in the civilian world and used them on deployment.

The author was issued an M4 carbine made by Colt. All Marine M4s are made by Colt and our M16A4s were on the FN Herstal contract. His billet was that of a team leader and the company made it a policy to get M4s to every Marine in a leadership position, as well as a new “Grenadier” position. As an SOP, a T/O Marine fire team has the team leader with an M4, a gunner with a SAW (although this is changing to the M27 IAR since its adoption in 2011), a grenadier with an M203A2 40mm
grenade launcher, and a point rifleman with an M16A4. But this changes from unit to unit to contend with operational tempo. For example in my former company it would be the team leader with an M203A2 but new TTPs switched it to a separate grenadier Marine.

Trijicon RCO

The Trijicon 4x Rifle Combat Optic (RCO, aka the ACOG) is a phenomenal scope. The way we operate in theater, we cannot afford to be gentle with our weapons as much as we care for and constantly clean them. They are going to get dirty and they are going to get tossed around in MRAPs and MATVs over extremely intense terrain. They are going to be launched skyward when IEDs detonate. This harsh treatment is going to take place and it’s all part of the work hazard.

Nevertheless, our RCOs are extremely rugged and I have yet to see one break. They might shift their zero every once in a while if they take a severe beating but it isn’t by that much. To counter this we have held a BZO range every month in country and this has helped alleviate that wandering zero problem. As for the fighting, the 4x magnification is outstanding. The ROE has become increasingly restrictive every year the war has dragged on and making sure the enemy to be engaged has a weapon or not has been a strategic priority for ISAF forces. An EOTech would have been great in Iraq but most engagements in Helmand take place at 300 meters or further. As for the actual RCO, there’s some different uses of it.

Many RCOs are being issued with the plastic honey comb designated as the “Anti Reflection Device” or the ARD. The effectiveness of this piece is a moot point. Our dismounted patrols are usually 5 or more Marines per patrol. Already a huge target, spread out 15-20 meters apart, a little reflection from an RCO is not going to add to this target rich environment for the Taliban. Snipers have a much better use for this device as any target indicator from a hide site can mean the team is compromised. The plastic piece is held into the RCO by a taut elastic band wrapped around the base of the RCO. Eventually it gets knocked out of alignment and completely off and sometimes lost. Although it is a great idea of an addition to the weapon, its actual use through experience somewhat negates it entirely.

Insight AN PEQ 16B LED

Back in the early Iraq War days, Marines were issued the AN PEQ 1, basically just a IR and visible laser emitting module. This was upgraded in the early 2000s to the AN PEQ 15, which was smaller, had some more enhanced features when it came to adjusting lasers, and had the option of different types of IR lasers. Usually this was issued along with a massive Surefire flashlight. Then the AN PEQ 16 came around and it included a white light LED which made the separate weapon mounted Surefire light not required. Some units still use the PEQ 15, namely rear echelon units and Sniper Platoons. For a Scout Sniper Platoon, the PEQ 15 is favored because of its contoured design to the handguards, less weight and battery requirement, and because Snipers are generally not searching houses so don’t need the LED light as much as a line platoon that is constantly searching dark compounds or clearing buildings at night. The addition of the LED made rifles lighter as the flashlight was not present but one of the downsides is that the light itself takes up a lot of battery power. The PEQ 15 ran on a single 123 volt battery while the PEQ 16 runs on two, and even with this added power, the light will drain it rather quickly in a matter of a few hours. But if the user doesn’t use the light and just uses the IR or visible lasers, the unit will last a good while, a month or so of constant use on patrol.

Both models came with a slot that a remote ON/OFF button could be attached to. Marines generally attached this button to the magazine well via Velcro, directly in front of the trigger for quick activation. Holding down the PEQ 16 ‘s ON/OFF button will place it in momentary mode, while double tapping it will turn it to constant on and single tapping will turn it off.

The most vulnerable part about the PEQ 16 itself is the LED. Although there is a cover affixed by an elastic cord that protects the lens, this cord often breaks or rips off after prolonged periods of time and thus leaving the lens or bulb open to being smashed. Replacement of said part is easy to take care of at an armory, but if Marines are at a remote Patrol Base, this can take weeks of waiting to get to an armory in the rear at a FOB. Since the PEQ 16 has been in use for some time, various SL3 gear is in place to support it such as laser boresights and target sheets. These sheets are placed 10 meters away from the shooter in a prone position and have markers on them for various weapons

Blue Force Tactical Sling

The Blue Force Vickers Tactical Two Point sling was introduced to the Marine Corps via a back door in the form of the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR). The Marine Corps liked it so much with the M27 that it was decided to adopt it en masse. Before this Two Point, the Marine Corps was using the Three Point combat sling, which in the authors opinion was perfectly fine and was better than the Vickers Tactical. The Vickers Tactical is very thin, holds the rifle too tight to the body and almost impossible to wear while actually on patrol with gear on. In fact some Marines forget the sling altogether and go unslung when on patrol. The benefits it does have are in the quick adjustment tab and the quick release clip on the stock. Something the author did while in Camp Leatherneck was he utilized the sling as a Two Point as per regulations. But when out on patrol, he took the sling off the weapon and married the clip on the rifle to a clip he had on his plate carrier, turning it into a One Point. This worked extremely well while on patrol.

Magpul BAD Lever

In the current market there are a number of bolt catch assistance devices that make operation of an AR much quicker than using the traditional palm slap to the side of the weapon. The specific aftermarket accessory that the author chose before the deployment was the infamous Magpul BAD lever, for no particular reason than its reputation and simplicity. The author locked it on the bolt catch at the start of the eight months and there was no need to retighten it as it didn’t come loose during the duration. While clearing the weapon it was especially useful as when all our gear is on, manipulation of just about anything at all becomes cumbersome and the ability to lock the bolt back or send it home with one hand was very helpful. During firefights was when it really shined. With one particular fight, one of the author’s magazines was faulty and caused a double feed – a very bad situation when rounds are cracking overhead. With the BAD lever the author simply locked the bolt back, dropped the magazine, swept the two rounds out and inserted a fresh source of ammunition, getting the rifle back in the fight.

Badger Ordnance Charging Handle

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the standard charging handle. The author chose a larger one though out of convenience, and personal preference. A technique mostly used in the infantry is to use the palm or fingers of the left hand to rack the charging handle to the rear. This proves a lot faster than indexing the T shaped handle with two fingers and breaking a cheek wield. When only using the palm, a shooter can also stay on target and movement of the weapon is minimized.

There are a number of companies that make oversize charging handles. The author went with Badger Ordnance because they have a good reputation and used some of their accessories before in the scope rings on the M40A5 sniper rifle. The only issue would be that the square design of the handle sometimes gets snagged on bits and pieces of gear but this is rare.

One Point Adapter by Viking Tactical

One of the author’s biggest pet peeves in the service was that of using One Point slings on M4s mostly but also M16s. When used correctly, the One Point sling is an awesome addition to a carbine sized weapon. But when used incorrectly, it can damage the weapon, and make a shooter complacent. The specific problem with One Point slings is the adapter to the weapon. Since the service M16/M4 was not produced to take a One Point, Marines have to use adapters that usually fit around the buffer tube of an M4 near the charging handle. These adapters are great for a standard M4 type carbine but Marines use more than the standard M4 – they attach PEQ16s, RCOs, pen flares, and M203 grenade launchers to it, which adds more weight than the adapter was designed for.

Over time, some adapters slide up the buffer tube from constantly being pulled down by all the weight. The other problem with these adapters is that many Marines don’t care to think of how they are attaching their slings to the weapon. Most One Point slings are attached via a metal clip. Bear in mind the adapter is made out of metal, and the rifle is constantly pivoting on that adapter because that is how the sling is connected to it. All that metal on metal friction does is grind away the adapter and in some extreme cases cuts through the entire swivel ring and makes it useless. The answer to this dilemma is to use cloth or some soft but tough material that won’t create friction. BOTach makes a plastic covered metal soft loop that attaches quite well. The author used plastic clips for the connection between sling and rifle. These served extremely well for the duration of the deployment.

Hogue AR Pistol Grip

The stock M16/M4 pistol grip is a simple and rugged part of the rifle that has worked flawlessly since Vietnam and continues to do so. As for personal preference, it is not a grip that the author favors in terms of weapon handling. It is much too narrow and rigid for the author’s tastes. Because of this he ordered a Hogue pistol grip with beavertail extension. Between Ergo, Magpul, and Hogue there were a host of choices in regards to a grip but the author went with Hogue because of their superior reputation in quality. The most attractive feature was the palm swells and finger grooves. As mentioned previously, the stock grip is rather narrow and the Hogue’s larger size and palm swells greatly improved handling. Stock grips have only one finger groove whereas the Hogue has three, thus much improving purchase on it while on the move or firing.

Although the Hogue is certainly a worthy grip, most Marines that do modify their pistol grips opt out with a Magpul grip due to its mainstream popularity. For personal preference, the Magpul grip is a fine grip in its own right but it just comes down to what is most useful to the individual shooter.

Grip Pod and Issue Broomhandle

The grip pod was designed with good intentions and is a good concept by combining a grip and a bipod so accuracy can be improved fleet wide instead of limiting bipod mounted weapons to just designated marksmen or machine
gunners. Unfortunately, in reality that does not play out and the author has a very negative opinion of the grip pod. It’s too large/bulky as a grip and too fragile as a bipod. It’s absolutely great if all a shooter is doing is gently setting the weapon on level ground while he’s attending to some trivial matter. But using it as a legitimate shooting support, in the rough and unforgiving space of a live fire range or in a gunfight, it is worthless and the legs will eventually break – and it is not adjustable for height. The author has no idea what the rage is with these things in the AR market in the States. But they seem to have caught on because they’re in such wide use by the military.

While on the topic of bipods, not many infantrymen use bipods with their M16A4 service rifles. But on designated marksmen rifles such as the 5.56x45mm Mk12 or M27 IAR, Harris bipods are issued with the rifles and these are especially useful. The only problem with them is that Harris bipods are designed for a specific role and that is to be used with long range rifles that are often carefully taken care of. When they are with a weapon such as the M27 that sees rough use, they start breaking down, screws come loose,
and springs wear.

The standard issue grip (otherwise known as a “broomhandle”) is prefect for operational use; it locks in tight from the bottom instead of from the side and provides a good basic grip. Some of the other commercially used grips in use by Marines are the Magpul MOE, the Viking Tactical grip, or discontinued M249 SAW forward grips are somewhat popular. Some Marines try the Magpul angled grip although it doesn’t suit the type of missions that infantry Marines in Helmand are tasked with. This grip is aimed at competition shooters or urban combat uses where when the rifle is pulled out it is used specifically for this intended purpose and put back. Infantry Marines take their rifle everywhere they go, and spend most of the time outside the wire patrolling from checkpoint to checkpoint with maybe kinetics occurring some of the time while on patrol.

LMT SOPMOD Butt Stock

The LMT stock was originally produced for use by Navy SEALs in the Naval Special Warfare Center in Crane, Indiana. LMT started producing it commercially and it has taken off from there. For simplicity and ruggedness, this stock beats out every other commercial M4 stock on the market, even the excellent Magpul ones. The best part about it is the extended cheek piece and narrow butt plate so it can fit snugly between a shoulder and body armor. Most M4 stocks, to include the issued ones, lack an extended cheek piece and this makes it hard to acquire a solid cheek weld. This isn’t an issue with the SOPMOD stock. All the British Special Operations troops used these stocks on their LMT or Diemaco M4 carbines. This is where some of the Marines got them from as they would have extra and would trade or give them to Marines occasionally.

RM Equipment M203 Grip

This grip doesn’t increase the effectiveness of the M203 40mm grenade launcher but is more for ease of handling. Carrying an M4/M203A2 is simple enough but it is nice to have a solid grip when on patrol or walking around a base overseas. The RM Equipment one is very well made and extremely durable. The profile of an M203 is already low enough that adding a Picatinny rail to it and then a broomhandle grip is almost absurd in how much lower that sticks out. RM Equipment’s grip latches right on to the launcher’s ribs and is short but not short enough that a shooter’s hand isn’t gripping air.

Survival Pen Flare Launcher

The pen flare launcher isn’t necessarily a true weapon accessory but due to operational requirements, it was adopted by Marines in 1/9. The reason for this was because of the strategic problems faced by ISAF forces at this late stage of the war. Zero tolerance for civilian casualties became an absolute necessity because of the Bi-Lateral Security Agreement between the government of Afghanistan and the United States.

As a stand-alone launcher, the MK31 is an excellent tool; it fires pen flare cartridges out to around 100-200 meters. Its primary intent was as a survival signaling device but 1/9 began using it as an Escalation of Force tool. But when mounted on a combat rifle they become banged up rather quickly as they are everywhere the rifle goes. In its survival role it is stored away in an escape and evade kit and only taken out
when necessary.

Magazines

Before 2013, the Marine Corps had no issue with Marines using polymer magazines in their rifles. An entire battalion from Hawaii even purchased a full supply to outfit the entire unit. But as of 2013, Marines are no longer allowed to use them as per regulations. The reasoning behind this is because the most popular polymer magazine, the 30 round Magpul Pmag, cannot be interchanged with the M27 IAR because of how that rifle’s magazine well is shaped. At the same time these regulations came out, Magpul also came out with their Gen 3 Pmag that could be used in the M27 IAR – very ironic indeed how that timing worked out. So for the most part, Marines with 1/9 used issued aluminum magazines throughout the deployment.

As mentioned previously the AR market in the United States is huge, it is quickly becoming the most popular rifle for hunting, target shooting, and law enforcement application all over. The author hopes that this essay will shed some light on how some of these aftermarket parts fare downrange for those readers that are heavily invested in ARs back home.

WW2 reenactor with FG42 at the ready.

By Oleg Volk

The FG42 rifle from SMG Guns is a unique design. A semiautomatic rifle modeled on a World War 2 selective fire rifle, it follows the original as faithfully as the American federal laws permit, actually improving on the original in certain respects. The rarity of the FG42, of which only 9,000 were manufactured, and the restrictive regulations governing ownership of automatic weapons, added up to keep the market price of the few transferrable examples very high, recently approaching $100,000. Since the weapon is also eminently functional, it remained an unreachable object of desire for many collectors and recreational shooters until SMG Guns stepped up and began producing accurate reproductions. Their FG42 variant was several years in the making and had to live up to high expectations and turned out very well.

Greatness sometimes rises from overcoming adversity. In May 1940, the Fallschirmjägers – German paratroopers – had plenty to overcome as they were dropped onto the British-held island of Crete. In part due to the limitations of their parachute design and in part due to the preference for low-altitude drops, most of them jumped with only pistols for firearms and had to scrounge for the separately dropped containers with machine guns and rifles. About a quarter did have MP38 submachine guns, but their effective range proved insufficient for countering rifle fire from the defenders. The disjointed but spirited defense of Crete eventually failed, but not before inflicting such heavy casualties on the German paratroopers that no large scale airborne invasions were ever attempted by them again.

From this Pyrrhic victory, the Luftwaffe made the obvious conclusion: the troops should be armed immediately upon landing, preferably with a weapon that matched the range of the enemy rifles and bested the arms of the foe in firepower. The Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 – paratrooper rifle 42 – was specified in 1941 to that end. The proposed weapon was to combine traits of a rifle and light machine gun, being lightweight and able to shoot fully and semiautomatically with the standard 7.92x57mm Mauser service round. The genius of the FG42 was that it came very close to fulfilling several apparently incompatible roles.

The FG42 is a 20-shot select-fire weapon, operating from a closed bolt in semiautomatic mode and from an open bolt in full auto. This expedient permitted better cooling in rapid fire while retaining good accuracy for slow, longer range engagements. To achieving this unusual arrangement, the gun dispensed with a firing pin spring entirely, using the return spring of the bolt carrier also to fire. As a result, the entire long stroke gas system makes a perceptible jump of about one quarter inch on firing. Considering the sheer mass involved, there’s no such thing as a light primer strike with an FG42. While it evolved gradually, firearm historians recognize two main models (as opposed to about 8 sub models). The first is easily visually distinguished by a sharply backward-raked pistol grip angle, a bipod mounted under the front of the gas tube and a stamped metal buttstock. The second reverts to a more conventional grip angle, a more forward-mounted bipod and a hollow wooden stock that substantially improves the shooter’s comfort in cold weather. The relocation of the bipod reflected the growing realization that the ten-pound weapon was too light to produce acceptably low dispersion or high enough density of fire to be a successful light machine gun. The short 38-inch weapon fits a 20-inch barrel by locating the magazine on the left, in line with the pistol grip. Short compared even to the 98k carbine with its 24-inch barrel, it was fitted with a muzzle brake that did little to reduce muzzle flash. The innovations of the FG42 were several: a straight stock to reduce muzzle climb, the concomitant tall folding sights so common now, a mechanical buffer in the stock that permitted the entire action to enter the stock on recoil, and the rotating thumb safety that also lives on in many later weapons. Standard load-out of an FG42 gunner was eight 20-round magazines in chest pouches.

The downfall of the FG42 in real-world use was the manufacturing cost. The extensive precision machining and the high quality materials required were quite beyond the German capability by the time all the design bugs had been worked out. The far cheaper STG44 was preferred for mass production. Like the Wheelock rifles of the 16th century, FG42 was too expensive and too much of a specialist’s weapon for a mass war of peasant levies. Like the rare rifled Wheelock’s that often sported range-adjustable sights and set triggers, the FG42 was studied closely after the war and influenced the M60 machine gun and the M14 doctrine of use. Aside from that, it remained largely unavailable to the civilian shooters of America until SMG Guns brought out the semiautomatic clone; first in 8x57mm and later in the more available 7.62×51.

The differences between the original and the reproduction are very subtle. Besides the obvious absence of the automatic mode, the modern gun has better fit and finish. The woodwork is crisp and the bluing is even. The first 8mm reproductions used Czech ZB26 light machine gun magazines, cheaper and more available by far than the original FG42 20-rounders. The 7.62mm version uses M1A magazines with G3 followers, though the sample I had came with re-shaped M1A followers instead. The change was necessary as the FG42 has no automatic bolt hold-open.

The rifle came in a sturdy plastic case, with a clear instruction manual, a well-made sling for carry or supported firing, and two magazines. The aperture sight was set to 300m, pressing on top of the aperture and rotating the dial spun it through the range of 100m to 1000m. The safety was quite stiff, in keeping with the original. Several users tried to open the bolt by pulling on the shell deflector. The actual charging handle is similar in shape but further forward and takes a considerable effort to operate. The handle reciprocates on firing, so the support hand should stay on the forend behind the protective ridge. While the FG42 second model comes with an adjustable gas regulator, it was found to be reliable with no adjustments between ammunition types. 120 rounds of steel-cased Tula ball, 80 rounds of Australian military surplus ball, 20 of Federal Gold Match hollow point and 20 Federal Fusion soft points were used in the test. The weapon cycled all with the same brisk efficiency, ejecting all empties a couple of feet out. Felt recoil is on par with an AR-15 carbine firing 5.56mm, so it was quite safe to let slightly-built 14-15 year olds fire it from prone position. Part of the low recoil comes from the overall mass and the long stroke gas operation, part from the muzzle brake but most from the ingenious recoil-absorbing stock. The stock is an intricately carved piece that provides an excellent cheek weld. It doesn’t have a buttpad, so should not be used for hitting doors or helmets lest it cracks.

The weapon did not heat up unduly in semiautomatic use. Vents in the forend are offset to the sides, so the hot air is channeled away from the sight picture. Others have called the pepperpot muzzle brake concussive, but it was found to be far milder than most other designs. The muzzle flash is about average for a military rifle, but thinned out and mostly below the line of sight for the shooter. The trigger is crisper than in a Mil-Spec AR-15 but heavier at about 8 pounds. It was found that the obvious forward lurch of the piston, bolt and carrier, all locked in with the firing pin when the trigger is released, does not disturb the aim.

Compared to semiautomatic reproductions of light machine guns like the Bren or DP27, FG42 is a marvel of mobility and convenience. Compared to the M14 and FAL, it gives up just a little as a CQB weapon while improving some ways in the support fire role. The rifle is fairly accurate: with iron sights and, with this author’s imperfect technique, it produced 2-inch groups with match ammunition, 2.5-inch groups with soft points and surplus ball, and 3-inch groups with the rather dimensionally inconsistent Tula plinking fodder. Based on my experience with scopes vs. un-scoped rifles in general, I suspect that the mechanical group size would be rather better. A scope mount is available but the original or reproduction optic is a bit of a hassle to put into it, according to Rick Smith of SMG Guns. The mount itself slides easily onto the receiver in a manner similar to the modern HK rifles.

For storage or navigating a hostile environment, the magazine well can be covered with protective shutters. The mechanism ran very clean and had little carbon build-up. Disassembly is pretty straightforward, but putting it back together requires attention to detail. If the charging handle isn’t inserted before the bolt carries is sent home, then the gas regular has to be removed and the piston pushed out from the front. It’s an error you make once, usually if trying to re-assemble the rifle without consulting the manual.

As a gun enthusiast, this author shoots many different weapons every year and the FG42 was one of the most pleasant ever fired or operated. It works, it doesn’t punish the shooter’s shoulder or cheek on recoil, it’s accurate enough to engage point targets and just feels like a well-manufactured sample of well-designed machinery. Everyone who tried it, from kids to World War 2 reenactors, enjoyed the experience. Since the rifle used for the test was SMG’s demo sample, several people were disappointed who had their wallets out to buy it. This rifle isn’t cheap at $4,995 but it’s a fraction of the price of the original, and it appears to be more effective in semiautomatic mode. As a historically accurate reproduction it is impeccable, and as a shooter is a delight. See SMG Guns web site (smgguns.com) for the back story on the development and also for the modernized tactical variant they recently developed.

The NightEdge was designed by Allan Elishewitz. The double serrated edges make the NightEdge a prime candidate to serve as a multipurpose knife.

By Todd Burgreen

There is a primitive appeal to an edged weapon that is hard to deny. In many ways proficiency with a knife in your hands can be considered more viable versus solely relying on firearms. Knives can be specialty models tailored made for CQB hand to hand applications to more utilitarian versions that can handle a variety of roles including survival situations. Someone proficient in terms of knife survival skills can vary responses to different situations and does not have to resort to a carried firearm for all situations; which frankly offers limited value in terms of shelter, food preparation, and other necessities. Not every survival situation warrants a firearm; more importantly a firearm may not be readily available either due to logistical or situational constraints you may find yourself in.

BLACKHAWK! (BH!) thought process for creating ancillary gear is wide ranging and evident in their holsters, breaching tools, boots, web gear, knives, etc. BLACKHAWK!’s knife product line is multi-faceted using ideas/concepts from leading designers in producing various models. One noteworthy aspect of BH! knives are their relative value compared to full blown custom knives on the market. This is achieved by producing knives outside the U.S. without sacrificing steel quality. Three BH! knives will be featured in an effort to cover the most ground in terms of what is offered: Tatang, NightEdge, and Gideon.

The BH! Tatang is based on the Filipino Barong. The Tatang was designed by Michael Janich while he was working at BLACKHAWK!. Janich has been studying and teaching self-defense and the martial arts for more than 30 years and has earned instructor’s credentials in American Self-Protection (ASP – an eclectic art that includes elements of judo, aikido, boxing, fencing and French Savate), the Filipino art of Serrada Eskrima, and Joseph Simonet’s Silat Concepts and is a member of the elite International Close-Combat Instructors’ Association. He has also trained extensively in wing chun gung fu, tae kwon do, wu ying tao, Thai boxing, arnis de mano and military combatives. Mike’s own Martial Blade Concepts (MBC) program, which the author has attended, is edged-weapon training specifically designed to meet the needs of today’s concerned citizen and armed professional. MBC is based on extensive analysis of the Filipino martial arts and many other systems and emphasizes the development of “all-purpose” defensive skills.

The Moro Tribes were some of the first to use the Barong and the design was said to have been based on the shape of a leaf from that region of the world. Traditional Barongs have blades ranging anywhere from 8-22 inches in length and weigh a pound or more creating a formidable fighting knife. The BH! Tatang is a modern version of the ancient Moro Barong knife, with a number of Janich tweaks incorporated by BH!. The first is the finger notch in the blade’s choil area (an unsharpened section of a knife blade) that allows you to place your index finger there for greater control. This is further assisted by the knife being balanced in this area as well. A rough textured area on the back of the Tatang blade in front of the grip is for thumb placement for more control if desired in the large blade. Gripping the rear of the rubber textured handle grants greater leverage for devastating thrusting or slicing cuts. The back edge of the Tatang is sharpened as well for back cuts. The large sharpened section of the back edge lends a dagger like aspect to the Tatang enhancing its penetration prowess when used as a dagger. The blade thickens up behind the back edge on the way back to the handle. The Tatang’s blade length is 8.6 inches with an overall length of 13.5 inches. 1085C high-carbon tool steel is used from tip to tang with the Tatang. The Tatang weighs just over 15 ounces. The Tatang’s dual edges are extremely sharp out of the box. The concept behind the Tatang can be grasped as a user wanting a heavy bladed “short sword.” The heavy Tatang blade has enough weight to give sufficient force in a slashing attack, while permitting the use of cut-and-thrust fighting tactics. This is the main reason for the Barong/Tatang’s popularity as a fighting knife – it can slash as well as thrust with equal efficiency. One often hears that skill will trump blade size. There is a certain amount of truth to this and there is no substitute for size when it comes to a fighting knife. The Tatang definitely recognizes this aspect of the effectiveness equation for a knife. There is purity in Tatang’s simplicity and was designed for proactive/aggressive knife fighting and is the quintessential combat knife.

BLACKHAWK!’s knife product line is multi-faceted using ideas/concepts from leading designers in producing various models.

The second BH! knife examined is the NightEdge. The NightEdge can be considered a multipurpose blade able to serve equally as well as a fighting knife or a general field knife in a survival situation. The double serrated NightEdge was designed by Allen Elishewitz. Serrated edges are present along the back of the knife for heavy draw cuts as well as a short section of the blade edge near the hilt. The NightEdge’s serrated back edge makes short work in terms of cutting any rope or sawing thru wood with efficiency. There is a built in guard on the blade in front of the grip to help protect your hand from sliding onto the blade. The top guard has friction grooves for your thumb when using a fencing type grip. The NightEdge features a 5.9 inch 1085C high carbon steel blade that is covered with a black epoxy finish. Overall length of the NightEdge is 10.9 inches. The handle is rubber with textured panels for a sure grip. The BH! NightEdge is not meant for fencing or parrying; it is meant for stabbing and ripping. There is no doubt that the NightEdge would be at home on web gear, belt or chest rig of any soldier, law enforcement, or security conscience civilian with a chance of coming into direct action contact with a foe or possibly requiring its assistance in more mundane survival type chores.

The serrated edges on the NightEdge will lead many to assume it as being more of field implement than a pure fighting knife. This is not the case. Elishewitz specified the NightEdge with a single grind edge grind; this produces a reinforced point for extreme tip strength and penetration that is important for field use. Also, testing has shown that the force required to penetrate tissue is directly related to the sharpness/fineness of the tip. The sharp tip combined with the extreme ramp-like shoulder results in the NightEdge penetrating deeply very quickly. By allowing the NightEdge to maintain a thicker point by not grinding down the blade on both sides all the way to the end, it allows the blade to retain its rigidity and strength all the way from the handle to the tip.

A field knife should be thought of as a utilitarian tool. A field knife serves a myriad of functions such as cutting, digging, splitting wood, food prep, first aid, shelter building, fire making, hunting, prying, signaling, hammering, and lastly self-defense. Two holes at the base of the blade as well as near the pommel are for tethering the blade to a pole for use as a weapon or spearing fish for example. Not wanting to cause a stir, but any knife can be deployed for combat while the reverse cannot be said for a knife being able to perform as a utility/survival knife. Many fighting knives are not up to the task of chopping or heavy work; think about likelihood of a dagger or stiletto suffering structural failure while attempting to procure fire wood.

The last knife from BLACKHAWK! is the Gideon. The Gideon features G 10 handles and constructed from stainless AUS8A steel. This grip design will not only provide secure purchase no matter conditions, but it is easily disassembled and cleaned of any blood borne pathogens in the field. (All of the BH! knives featured in this article feature this capability as well as full tang design.) This stainless steel is one of the easiest to sharpen while still holding an edge even after serious use while offering superior corrosion resistance especially when compared to carbon steel blades. The 5 inch blade is coated with black Ti-Nitride further supporting resistance to rust. The Gideon has great aesthetics from blade tip to skull crushing pommel. The Gideon is a more traditional drop point blade design. A drop point is one of the most popular blade shapes in use today. The back edge of the knife, which is unsharpened, runs straight from the handle to the tip of the knife in a slow curved manner creating a lowered point – thus the drop point nomenclature. Thanks to its design, the drop point features a strengthened tip compared to other blade configurations; thus drop points such as the BH! Gideon are popular tactical and survival knives. The Gideon adds a finger groove in front of the quillion (cross guard) for increased control and dexterity during skinning or other more delicate chores.

The initial impression of holding the BH! Gideon was how balanced it was, especially considering its blade length. You want a balanced knife, especially one the size of the Gideon, to enable the user to employ it in a fashion that best suits individual skill. The user wants something light enough to carry but still heavy enough to slash efficiently if needed, while maintaining size for fight stopping thrusting ability. The Gideon’s blade profile enhances penetration of the blade when stabbing. As the Gideon blade enters its creates a “wedge” forcing the cutting edge down as it moves forward, shearing along its length and penetrating extremely well. For personal defense, this allows the knife to penetrate very effectively, even through heavy clothing. It’s kind of like being a “large caliber” knife – a bigger cut means a more significant wound channel. The large “back” or “wedge” also allows better placement of the thumb, which enhances one’s ability to apply downward pressure. It also allows the knife to be removed easily instead of binding-up in the target thus facilitating rapid multiple strikes.

It would be problematic to represent that any of the BLACKHAWK! blades – Tatang, NightEdge, Gideon – as being a type of blade convenient for daily carry in a civilian personal defense role. The non-descript folder is hard to beat for this. The BH! blades are fighting/survival knives meant for attachment either to existing tactical gear set up or belt where open field carry suitable. BLACKHAWK! provides injection molded nylon sheaths with all three blades with mounting plates for PALS/MOLLE or drop-leg platform attachment. The sheath will accept any of the various BLACKHAWK! attaching mechanisms allowing for flexible mounting to gear. BLACKHAWK! Mod-U Lok belt attachments are available as well for even more options along with BLACKHAWK! belt and paddle attachments that serve with the handgun holsters. The numerous reinforced eyelets around the sheath body are another means of rigging the BH! knives to gear. One aspect that was scrutinized with the BH! sheaths was the finger tab release mechanisms that serve as retention devices. This was found on all the knife sheaths. The finger tab was problematic to reach with the off hand. It was discovered that the sheath could be pushed away enough with your fingers to facilitate extracting the blade from the sheath by-passing the finger tab release. This could not be verified if by design or not.

A standard knife evaluation involves a “porkman” used to evaluate both slashing and thrusting effectiveness. This was discovered during a Mike Janich course attended years ago. During the course, Mike did a demonstration involving a bone-in pork roast butterflied around a broom handle, wrapped in plastic, and covered in multiple layers of clothing. With minimal effort Mike proceeded to slice and dice the pork roast showing how effective even a small folding knife can be. The “porkman” test offers an evaluator a means to test a blade’s effectiveness in a medium simulating an adversary’s clothed limb. After starting out slowly to get a feel for manipulating the different BLACKHAWK! blades, the knives slashed through the wrapped “porkman” with no hesitation down to the broom handle simulating bone. The “backcut” technique utilizing the sharpened back edge on the Tatang had no problem slashing through the denim/plastic covered “porkman” making a severe gash. The flick of the wrist with the Tatang produced what would be labeled a serious wound. The BH! knives had no issue thrusting to their hilts into the test medium. No real resistance was encountered penetrating the “porkman” layers of denim/plastic or meat.

All of the BLACKHAWK! blades excel at thrusting while maintaining ability to slash/cut as well. This is a derivative of Western culture preferences when it comes to knives. Even though the Tatang is based on the Filipino Barong knife, Janich’s tweaks make it more proficient in thrusting applications compared to the Barong. Something that has always resonated with the author is reading blade guru James Keating expressing how East and West could be defined by knife method; East with the edge/slash and West with the point/thrust. The point/thrust as perfected by Western culture traces its roots to Greek/Roman traditions. These early cultures realized that the most expedient means to stop someone who is trying to kill you is to access one or two vital organs and damage them. Trying to stop someone bent on causing bodily harm by slashing will not produce a stop in a timely manner.

A basic knowledge of anatomy is useful for knowing how best to employ a knife effectively. The BLACKHAWK! Tatang, NightEdge and Gideon knives’ design and size allows for direct use on limbs, head or spinal column. One’s imagination and common sense will suffice as to the lethality of a BH! knife by a man full of adrenaline in a “me or him” situation. Hand to hand combat is an obvious close range affair with an enemy often appearing suddenly. The balance, power and reach of the BLACKHAWK! blades evaluated herein is invaluable. It is consoling and a real morale booster to know that your blade of choice outclasses any opponents’ knife in terms of utility, durability, power, reach, and lethality.

Sites of interest
www.BLACKHAWK.com