During WWII, the Gewehr 43 (G43) was the German answer to American M1 Garands and Soviet SVT-40s. Along with parts and accessories, the rifle is highly collectible today. SARCO Inc. (Steen Armament Research Company) offers functional reproduction magazines for replacement or to save wear and tear on originals. The company, located in Easton, Pennsylvania, is one of the largest dealers in surplus war materiel in the U.S. The business collaborates with military arms collectors, shooters and military history re-enactors. This article compares a reproduction to an original “gcb” magazine. SARCO’s magazine’s dimensions closely match, and it functions without problems on an AC44 rifle. The markings are close but different enough for collectors to distinguish. However, the magazine catch area has thin metal in one area.

Physical Construction

The magazine body is dimensionally similar to the original. Despite sharper corners, one can still easily insert and eject the magazine. While feed lips are shifted slightly forward, they fed ammunition without pause.

Externally at the front, the two rivets are solid on the original, while hollow on the reproduction. At the bottom and sides, floorplate lips and over-insertion stops are similar to the original. At the rear, magazine catch differs notably. Two sides of the sheet metal body are folded together to form the spline. This is also where the catch is formed. The reproduction has a notch cut into the inside piece of sheet metal, and the outside piece is seemingly stamped to form the “V” shape. Consequently, there is precious little metal at the apex while magazine internals are exposed to the outside. The original does not feature this opening, and the author could not verify metal thickness at its apex. The SARCO representative reassured that the company has never had issues regarding this construction and has no history of returns.

Internally, the follower is of the same stamped metal construction as the original. While the stamped bits used to hold the magazine spring is shallower and smaller on the reproduction, there was no functional issue. At the follower tail, the original is fully welded and smooth whereas one can see the splits on the reproduction. Recoil spring is of similar gauge and length, with the same number of wind-ings. The reproduction floor plate is the two-ribbed type, with cuts in the same place, and is interchangeable with the original.

Markings

The reproduction’s markings are mostly correct but are different enough to allay fears of contaminating genuine pieces. The markings are shallower and lack tell-tale signs of stamping usually observed in originals.

The manufacturer code “gcb” denotes Ad. “Grohmann & Sohn in Würbenthal Sudetenland” is mirrored across both magazines in the same place. However, the original is marked only “K43” while reproduction is marked “G43/K43” in the same place. The original magazine also featured both “WaA892” Waffenamt on the bottom in line with the other markings, while the reproduction magazine placed one just under the front over-insertion stop. Lastly, the original Waffenamt has the alpha-numeric arranged in a slight curve under the Nazi eagle while the reproduction has them straight.

Function and Conclusion

SARCO’s reproduction magazine functions without hic-cups in the test rifle, a Walther 1944 manufacture (AC44). It locks into place with no undue wobble and removes cleanly with the magazine release depressed. Using Yugo-slav surplus 198-grain ammunition, it feeds reliably from the first to the last round. These reproductions represent viable, functional replacements while marked closely enough for passing inspection—the clear differences prevent pollution.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

SARCO Inc. e-sarcoinc.com

A second “brother” printed colored postcard of an artist-drawn war scene taking place in the South African Boer War painted and signed by E. Storm in 1903. This scene seems to be at sunset with the notation of “Drink Maxim Ale” as part of the setting sun.

World War I-era sweetheart or veteran’s lapel pin in the shape of a guidon with the Army machine gun colors of red and blue enamel. Trimmed in brass, the top half of the guidon has the number “1,” and the bottom half of the guidon in blue has “M.G.B.” (1st Machine Gun Battalion). Pin back.

No. 2 Battery Sudan Motor Machine Gun Corps (circa 1935-1945) sun helmet badge. (Arabic name: Kingi Batteria Ottomobilat Madaf a El Makina). Blackened bronze badge of winged wheel with crossed Vickers to the center. Two lugs to the rear. Attached to a diamond-shaped, dark blue, Melton felt baking that was worn on the side of the sun helmet.

First Day coin cover for the Centenary of the First World War from Gibraltar, denoting weaponry—specifically machine guns. The 8-block, 22-pence stamps, canceled on the first day of issue of February 18, 2015, depict a Vickers machine gun in an anti-aircraft pose. The main image on the card is of a Lewis gunner in an anti-aircraft pose. The 50-pence commemorative coin (attached in plastic) shows on the obverse a Lewis gunner firing over sandbags and a Hotchkiss gunner with a belt of machine gun cartridges running edge-to-edge in the center. Prominent to the face of the coin is a line from the poem, “Arms and the Boy” by Wilfred Owen, written in 1917, stating, “Blue with all Malice like a Madman’s Flash.” The coin is a 24-carat gold-plated steel Crown from Jersey. The reverse has an image of Elizabeth II. The coin measures 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

Interwar Latvian brass tank or armored car machine gunner’s proficiency badge circa 1919–1926. Crossed Vick-ers on tank that is on a spoked tire. Two-piece screw construction. Screw back. Spinner marked: “Arm. Ekonom. Veikals, Rīgā.”

Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps Machine Gun Section cap, collar and shoulder title. The cap and collar badges are blackened bronze, showing tea leaves with “M” and “G” to each side with a three-part Latin motto below the letters: “Salus Unitas Nostra” (“Our Safety Unit”); and a single banner below that reads, “Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps.” Both the cap and collars have two lugs to the rear. The brass shoulder title simply reads, “M.G.” over “CPRC” (Machine Gun Section Ceylon Planter Rifle Corps). The unit was raised in 1901 as a volunteer (reserve) regiment of the Ceylon Defence Force based in Kandy, and it existed until 1949. The regiment was made up of Europeans that were tea and rubber planters in the hills of Sri Lanka. The regiment deployed personnel to fight in the Second Boer War, World War I and World War II.

In 2018, the author mailed in his paperwork (a separate packet than the one used for rifles) and was given a randomly generated number in the low 3,000s. CMP called those numbers sequentially, and the buyer was given a choice of Service or Field Grade based on availability at the time. The author was contacted around middle of March 2019 and purchased a Service Grade pistol. It was delivered inside a large protective case marked with “CMP” on the outside and included a certificate of authenticity. The pistol is in excellent shape with little finish wear on the frame rails and no gas cutting of the breech face. 

Frame 

The frame was manufactured by Remington Rand (RR) in 1945, and most of the frame parts seem consistent. In front of the serial number, “NO.” instead of “Nº”is consistent with a late war RR. Proof mark “P” is behind the magazine release. “FJA” represents the inspection initials for Frank J. Atwood and is found on RR and Ithaca guns. The main spring housing has seven ribs which mark it as a late-war Ithaca part, while an RR part has eight ribs. Smooth contouring of the thumb safety matches another identifying point for RR. The trigger is a rounded, stamped and parkerized affair. The type 3 magazine release features a slot screw head. As expected, the slide stop and safety are serrated and not checkered. 

Grips with reinforcement rings were manufactured by Keyes as denoted by the star with a “K;” however, only the right stock has a part number denoting Korean War-era replacement. It is possible that the left is an original part with the right replaced when damaged. On the right of the frame, in front of the slide stop, one can find “A 8 80” under “M1911 A1 U.S. ARMY.” That marking is not parallel to the original serial number and seems deeper. This author can only guess this was the date for the rebuild; although “A” does not denote any familiar arsenal. 

Slide and Barrel 

Both slide and barrel are post-WWII GI replacement items. The left side of slide has drawing number “7790314” in large font, and the right side has “53397” which is the Cage Code for NUMAX ELECTRONICS INC in New York City. Since this is a post-war product, it is fully heat treated. Author has yet to learn the significance of “M” marked atop the slide, between ejection port and rear sight. When viewed from the top, the machining in front of the leaf is radiused and is the type used by Colt and US&S which was eventually adopted by all contractors; the original RR pattern had straight cuts. The front sight measures 0.08-inch wide, but the top was slightly peened, perhaps from rough handling. 

The barrel has a caliber and drawing number visible through the ejection port. At the bottom near the barrel link, one can find “73677” for DUROYD MFG CO INC on the right, and “M” “P” marked on the left. Rifling, crown and lugs are in excellent condition with minimal wear. The recoil spring guide is the late type with rounded legs, while the plug paradoxically was not punched to retain the spring. That makes the plug either an early production run example or a commercial one sourced outside government supply. The barrel bushing is unmarked. When in battery, the pistol rattles little with the barrel-to-bushing fit not excessively tight or loose. 

Shooting and Final Thoughts 

No malfunctions were experienced during a short range trip. The safety engaged and disengaged with authority and assurance. The trigger measured about 5.5 pounds. and featured a notable amount of creep. The trigger face fell at the middle phalanges, whereas the wider-gripped Beretta M9 fell at the joint between middle and distal phalanges. This author is very happy to add a genuine piece of Americana to his collection and looks forward to retelling its rich history to future generations. 

The Schiffer Military History series contains many fine books on military aviation, naval and ground forces, the American Civil War as well as militaria and even modeling & collectable figures. However, until recently, they did not have much in the way of firearms books. 

French author Luc Guillou has brought three interesting books to the Schiffer library. These represent the beginning of the Classic Guns of the World series. (Besides the three books already released and reviewed here, the Spring/Summer 2019 catalog mentions that a two-volume set profiling the German P.08 Luger will soon be released. These are also by Luc Guillou.) 

American Submachine Guns, 1919–1950 deals mostly with the Thompson SMG, with a brief look at the M3 “Grease gun,” the Reising and the UD M42, made by United Defense Supply Corporation. Eight pages are given to the M3 “grease gun,” five to the M50 Reising, and four pages to the UD M42. This book was originally published in 2014 in French as Les P.M. Américains, 1919–1950. It has been translated into English by Julia and Frédéric Finel. 

Beginning with a look back at the early development of the Thompson, this leads to the Model 1921, followed by the Model of 1928. Close-up photos of the internals depict some of the differences between the models. Later, during WWII, the design was simplified to create the M1 and M1A1 models. These are covered in detail, along with many accessories. 

The Sten: The Legendary World War II British Submachine Gun naturally covers the various marks and models of the Sten gun as well as the Lanchester, based on the German MP28 11 and the Patchett prototype, which later developed into the L2A3 Sterling SMG. Numerous black and white photos from WWII show vast numbers being produced; also, a sequence of photos shows the disassembly of a Sten. Several foreign versions of the Sten are also covered, including the German MP3008 copy. A brief look at the Belgian ABL (armée belge/Belgisch Leger) is provided by guest author Patrick Denamur. This book was originally published in 2015 as La Sten: L’Arme de la Résistance. 

German Submachine Guns, 1918–1945 was first published in 2013 as Les P.M. Allemands, 

1918–1945. As with the other two titles, it was translated by Julia and Frédéric Finel. The German SMG book covers many designs, starting with the Bergmann MP18/1 and continuing with the MP28/11, MP35/1, MP34 and more. These designs all used wood stocks, giving them a “traditional” appearance similar to the Thompson. The infamous Nazi MP38 and MP40 guns, with their distinctive underfolding skeleton stocks, are covered in great detail. Many clear, crisp color photos illustrate manufacturing details, variants, and so on. 

A chapter on foreign guns covers captured guns, mainly Soviet and British Commonwealth. Interestingly, at the War’s end, Germany was producing a copy of the Sten known as the MP3008. 

The final chapter, chapter 12, delves into assault rifles. This may seem like a strange thing for an author of a book about pistol cartridge submachine guns to do. The author makes the point that the early prototypes used the Maschinenpistole term, such as the MP43/1 and MP44. This was prior to the final term Sturmgewehr, as with the StG44. Eleven pages are given to these weapons. 

These books follow the same general layout—hardcover, 80 pages each and measuring just over 9in x 12in. The Sten book features 288 color and B&W photographs, the German SMG has 370 photos, and the American SMG has 450 photos. Many of the color photos are full-page, studio-type shots that portray not only the firearm but accessories and other related militaria. This provides an interesting visual treat. These photos are by Marc de Fromont, and the guns and equipment are from the Collection of the Royal Army Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels, and the Musée de l’Armée. Some of the manuals, etc., are in French. Presumably, this is because these books were first published in France, for a French audience. 

On the topic of translation, there are a few awkward translations from French. Knurling or checkering of metal is called “grid pattern.” Or, while discussing the selector switch, it states, “… only conserved one automatic firing capacity.” I suspect this means “… was changed to full-auto fire only.” Aside from this minor issue, these are very nice books. 

At only 80 pages, these books are not high-end research and reference manuals, but they are certainly worthy of consideration. The full-page photos noted above, disassembly sequences, side-by-side variant comparisons and accessory photos should appeal to small arms enthusiasts. 

The first of the two Luger volumes mentioned above is out now. I do not know when Vol. II will release. Also, two other titles from the same Classic Guns of the World are due soon. The Colt M1911 and the M1 Garand, both by Jean Huon, are in the works. 

American Submachine Guns, 1919–1950 // ISBN-13: 978-0-7643-5484-7 

The Sten: The Legendary WWII British Submachine Gun // ISBN-13: 978-0-7643-5485-4 

German Submachine Guns, 1918–1945  // ISBN-13: 978-0-7643-5486-1 

• Author Luc Guillou 
• Copyright 2018 
• Binding: Hard cover 
• Size: 9in x 12in 
• Pages: 80 
• schifferbooks.com 

The passionate collector interest in the Colt-manufactured Thompsons and the prices they bring would simply astound the Thompson creators John T. Thompson, Theodore Eickhoff and Oscar Payne if they were alive today. There has been more research done by more people on the subject since the last Thompson came off of Colt’s assembly line nearly 100 years ago. Still, even today new discoveries are being made. Some items of interest are the 15,000 serial numbers, whom the guns were originally sold to and their provenance these many years later. Many of the old Thompsons remain lost to time, and their location is unknown.

The Thompson submachine gun was first produced in 1921. The Auto-Ordnance Corporation had no large manufacturing facilities, so a contract was awarded to the Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company to make 15,000 Model 1921 Thompson submachine guns. All of the Thompson submachine guns originally made by Colt were produced as the Model 1921. The first production Colt Thompson, serial number 41, came off the assembly line in March 1921. By this time, World War I had ended, and the world was awash in surplus weapons. Sales of the Thompson were extremely slow. It would take almost 20 years to sell off all the initial production of guns. The $200.00 list price of a 1921AC Thompson was quite a sum of money in the 1920s. To generate interest in the weapon “new” models were created from the stock of unsold Model 1921 guns.

E.E. Richardson

One of the most successful salesmen of the Thompson submachine gun was Edward E. “Cap” Richardson. Mr. Richardson was serving as a Deputy Marshal in Maumee, Ohio; while attending a City Council meeting, an Auto-Ordnance salesman was attempting to sell the city a Thompson submachine gun. Apparently, the salesman’s tactics left an unfavorable impression on the members of the City Council. The city did eventually buy a Thompson from a local hardware store, which made a substantial profit on the sale. Thinking the Thompson would be a valuable tool for law enforcement, as well as a possible career opportunity, prompted Mr. Rich-ardson to contact the Auto-Ordnance Corporation in the fall of 1928 and offer his services as a sales representative.

chine guns, replied to Mr. Richardson offering him a commission of 15 percent on each Thompson and accessory sold and 20 percent on ammunition. Richardson had concerns on protecting his sales territory, given the salesman’s earlier attempt at selling the City of Maumee a Thompson, only to have them order one from a local hardware store. Richardson was worried that he might expend his best efforts on selling a Thompson, only to have the potential customer get a better offer from another area salesman.

Edward Richardson believed that live demonstrations of the Thompson’s effectiveness would go farther in selling the weapon than correspondence and sales literature. He would eventually receive two Model 1921ACs, Thompson serial numbers 9962 and 9964, a 50-round drum, two 20-round box magazines and one shot-shell magazine for demonstration purposes. Ammunition expended during law enforcement demonstrations would be provided by Auto-Ordnance.

Sales Approach

Using demonstrations and sales pitches developed by Mr. Richardson, as well as his confidence in the weapon, soon made him the top-selling Thompson salesman for Auto-Ordnance. Because of his success, he soon established his own dealer network employing several salesmen. Richardson developed a “recommended” package for law enforcement agencies consisting of a Colt Thompson, three 20-round magazines, a shot magazine, a 50-round drum, a carrying case and a supply of .45 caliber ammunition. In addition to his law enforcement customers, Mr. Richardson sold Thompson submachine guns to several country clubs and a yacht club. Perhaps the wealthy wanted to “experience” the notorious weapon that was making headlines in the hands of outlaws.

The Submachine Gun School at Camp Perry

In addition to his job as an Auto-Ordnance salesman, Edward Richardson also accepted the position of instructor at a submachine gun school held at Camp Perry, Ohio, as part of the annual service rifle shooting matches held there. The classes held for police and military personnel consisted of familiarization with the Thompson submachine gun, its assembly and disassembly and semiautomatic and full-auto-matic fire at different ranges. At the end of the class, a competition was held for the attendees, with the first prize being a Thompson submachine gun. Richardson organized and ran the school from 1929 to 1933.

Civilian Sales Suspended

Due to the negative press the Thompson gun was receiving from its use by gangsters, Auto-Ordnance decided to suspend all but military sales in 1930; however, commercial sales resumed in 1932. During this period, Federal Laboratories of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a police equipment supply company, assumed all sales of the Thompson submachine gun leaving Mr. Richardson without a job. Federal Laboratories also sold Reising submachine guns (Later), tear gas guns and Smith & Wesson revolvers.

Upon leaving Auto-Ordnance, Mr. Richard-son wrote a letter to the company president Walter B. Ryan, Jr., asking if he could keep, or purchase, the Thompson he used for his sales demonstrations, because “I have become so attached to the Thompson Sub-Machine Gun, that I feel almost as if it was a part of me.” In a letter from the Auto-Ordnance president dated October 30, 1930, Mr. Richardson was told that he could keep Thompson serial number 9962 and the hard case and magazines free of charge if he would provide a letter stating that he would not sell or dispose of the Thompson without the written approval of Auto-Ord-nance. The other demonstration Thompson, serial number 9964, and associated equipment in Richardson’s possession was returned to Auto-Ordnance.

The Fate of Richardson’s Thompson

Edward Richardson passed away in 1946 at the age of 73. The fate of his demo Thompson, serial number 9962, was a mystery until recently when the gun resurfaced. Unfortunately, Mr. Richardson’s Thompson was never registered, and, therefore, it could not be transferred to an individual or a dealer. Thompson SN 9962 could only be transferred to a government agency, a qualified museum on an ATF form 10 or turned in and destroyed. Fortunately, the Thompson was donated to the Virginia War Memorial, in Richmond, Virginia, a division of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. The provenance of the submachine gun since leaving Mr. Richardson’s possession remains unknown. The Thompson was presented to the museum with the accessories Mr. Richardson used in his demonstrations; the hardcase, two 20-round magazines, an 18-round shot magazine and a 50-round drum.

As expected Richardson’s Thompson, being fired in an untold number of demonstrations, appears well-used. One unique feature on Thompson SN 9962 is a modified front sight mount that is dovetailed for removable inserts. Since the compensator pin must be removed to change out a standard, compensator-mounted front sight, this modification made the change of front sights much easier and quicker. Most likely Richardson had several front sight inserts calibrated for longer and shorter ranges used in his sales demonstrations.

The Model 1921

The original run of Thompson guns were manufactured to very high-quality standards, common of the era. The 1921 model had a fine Colt blue finish and walnut furniture. Originally, the 1921 models were equipped with a vertical foregrip. There were no Cutts compensators fitted. All Colt-made Thompsons were manufactured in this configuration. The Colt Thompson without a compensator became known as the 1921A Model in Auto-Ordnance sales literature.

The Model 1921AC

Introduced in 1926, the 1921AC model was simply a standard Model 1921 with the optional Cutts compensator fitted to the muzzle. A factory-installed compensator was a $25.00 option. The receiver markings were not changed.

The Military Models 1922-1923

During 1922, a “new” military model was introduced as the Model 1922. The 1922 military model was a 1921 model refitted with a longer 14.5-inch barrel, a bipod and a horizontal foregrip. The 1923 Model featured a heavier barrel, and to increase the effective range, a new special cartridge was offered. The new .45 caliber cartridge was called the Remington–Thompson. It featured a 250-grain projectile in a longer .998-inch case. Muzzle velocity was 1,450 feet per second. The concept of the Thompson military models proved unsuccessful, and few of the 1922-1923 Models were built. The idea was abandoned shortly after it was conceived.

The Model 1927

The Model 1927 was a semiautomatic-only carbine and is one of the rarest variations of the early Colt Thompson Guns. The Model 1927 was, again, created from existing 1921 models. The unique feature about the 1927 model was that it was made into a semiautomatic-only weapon. The conversion was accomplished by redesigning a few internal parts. The full-auto markings were neatly milled out of the receiver and remarked. The Model 1927 was available with or without a Cutts compensator.

The 1928 Navy Model

The most prolific Colt-manufactured Thompson model was the 1928 Navy Model. Like the others, the Navy Mod-els were made from existing 1921 model Thompsons. It was conceived as a result of the Navy Department’s request to have the rate of automatic fire reduced from 800 rounds per minute to approximately 600 rounds per minute. This was accomplished by redesigning the actuator by adding a steel block. This made the assembly 4 ounces heavier and, along with a redesigned recoil spring and buffer pilot, slowed the rate of fire to an acceptable level. All 1928 Navy Models had the numeral 1 (in the 1921 designation) over-stamped with the numeral 8 to alter it to read 1928. Vertical or horizontal fore-grips were fitted. The words U.S. Navy were also stamped into the receiver on many of the converted guns. The U.S. Navy endorsement proved to be a very good marketing tool as the “1928 Navy” was the best-selling model.
•••
Special thanks to Jesse Smith, Curator of the Virginia War Memorial’s Historic Col-lection, and Dr. Lawrence Heiskell.
References
The Ultimate Thompson Book, Tracie
L. Hill, Collector Grade Publications, 2009.
American Thunder III, Frank Iannam-ico, Chipotle Publishing, LLC, 2005.

In many phases of military training, the recruits have no need for fully functional service rifles. The standard service rifles are too valuable to be used for marching, parade drill, obstacle course or even the first “dry run” lessons in handling rifles on the shooting range. Dummy rifles are absolutely sufficient for this kind of use. In German, these rifles are called “Exerziergewehr” (“drill rifles”). Optimally, they have the same appearance, size and weight as the bolt-action service rifle model. And in most cases, the trigger is the only moveable part because it is needed for simulating the trigger pull characteristics to give the trainees a better feeling for their weapon. 

At the beginning of World War I, the German Army had used obsolete and captured weapons for training purposes. To improve the training, in spring 1915, the arms depot in Ingolstadt was advised to temporarily provide 10,000 model 98 rifles that were in need of repair. 

These rifles were intended for use as training rifles and had to be marked with a white color ring painted between the front and lower barrel band. Finally, in January 1916, a completely newly designed drill rifle was introduced as the “Exerziergewehr 98 (Nachbildung)” (“Drill Rifle 98” (“Mockup”)). After its introduction, it was named “Exerziergewehr 16” (relating to the year of introduction). 

In a related note to its use, it was written: “The drill rifle is to be used on every drill ground and during marching exercises, when carrying a weapon is necessary, but no live or blank firing is done. This way the service rifles in the hands of the troops are saved and will keep their good shooting performance.” 

The drill rifle has the shape of the standard Gewehr 98 and approximately the same weight and trigger pull characteristics. The sling is fixed in the same way so that the rifle can be carried and handled like the Gewehr 98. Because of the moveable trigger with trigger pull, the drill rifle can be used for aiming drill. 

The standard service bayonets could be put on the bayonet lug, but it was strictly forbidden to use the rifle for bayonet fighting. The design was not sturdy enough and could get damaged. The barrel is just an iron tube without rifling. 

The receiver and the rear sight are made of one casting with only a rough and low detailed outline. The barrel is inserted into the receiver and fixed with a screw that reaches through the front part of the sight and the rear of the barrel. The fixed rear sight is not adjustable, but it shows a V-notch for simple aiming purpose. 

Because the Exerziergewehr receiver was made of one solid cast iron, the weight and the center of gravity are approximately the same as the Gewehr 98. The cocking handle is screwed in a fixed position into the right side of the receiver. Normally, all metal parts are lacquered with field grey color, but sometimes a black color was used for the barrel. 

The beechwood stock is similar to the one of the Gewehr 98. The cleaning rod is a dummy (short metal stick with thread) and screwed directly into the wood at the front end of the stock. It can be used to put the rifles together to form a pyramid. 

Altogether, 100,000 of these Exerziergewehr 98s were ordered by the Prussian War Ministry. This included the numbers of drill rifles that were distributed to the non-Prussian parties. For example, Saxonia got 8,000 and Bavaria got 12,000 drill rifles. 

Most of these drill rifles were manufactured by the Union Waffen und Munitionswerke (the former arms company Waffenwerk Kirchner) in Zella St. Blasii (Thuringia, Germany). The smaller part of the order was placed at the company Jakob Kaufmann in Bayreuth (Bavaria), from where 28,230 rifles were delivered to Bavaria and Saxonia. 

Unfortunately, the rifles came too late— at this stage of the war there was no longer enough time for a thorough training of the recruits. Now the main focus of the drill was on live shooting. Marching drills were no longer so important. A report from the I. Bavarian Army Corps tells that the drill rifles only saw limited use: The Corps complains about the roughly made sights and a trigger pull characteristic that is very different to the Gewehr 98. The metal parts were carelessly treated. Their sharp edges often caused injuries to the fingers and damage to the clothing. 

In summer 1916 the ongoing production of drill rifles was cancelled. And in November 1916 the distribution of new drill rifles to training units was halted by the Prussian War Ministry. A year later, all drill rifles in the hands of the training units had to be returned to the artillery depots. The intention was to use them for a pre-military training of the German youth, but it is doubtful if this plan was finally implemented. 

It is not known how many drill rifles “Exerziergewehr 16” have left the factories. Today, it is a rare and interesting piece for collectors— even if one can’t use it for shooting. 

From the inception of the (Section) Small Arms of the 1980s project in 1970, the intent behind British adoption of a bullpup rifle had been to replace as many section (squad) firearms as possible. This included the 7.62x51mm L1A1 self-loading rifle (SLR) and L4A4 (Bren) light machine gun (LMG), as well as the L2A3 Patchett-Sterling submachine gun (SMG) in 9x19mm. By 1970, all of these weapons were considered “legacy” designs, outdated in concept and each designed and manufactured 20 or more years previously. Although the SMG was not excessively powerful, heavy and expensive to build and maintain like the SLR and LMG, the advent of compact and lightweight small calibre, high velocity (SCHV) designs was casting doubt on its relevance. Even a conventionally laid-out 5.56x45mm automatic rifle could allow an armed force to retire its SMGs, with their limited range and terminal effect. A design in bullpup configuration was even more appealing to some, and the SA80 rifle was developed from the beginning as an “SMG killer.” Nonetheless, Enfield did investigate an ultra-compact carbine or submachine gun variant at least as early as 1984. 

1984 Prototype 

In 1984, the L85A1 rifle and L86A1 machine gun gained official approval, and our earliest evidence for an SA80 carbine emerges. This takes the form of an archival photograph dated November 1984 of an early attempt shown alongside a full-size IW and the Sterling SMG (see Steve Raw’s The Last Enfield, p. 216). This is a converted XL64E5 EWS “IW” (Individual Weapon—NATO nomenclature for a rifle or similar arm) in an ultra-short format. The weapon itself is still extant in the former MoD Pattern Room collection, allowing this author to examine it closely. The barrel is 242mm (9.5 inches) in length; the shortest barrel ever fitted to an SA80 variant. The barrel and gas block are adapted from surplus XL70E3 components, and so the weapon is chambered for 5.56x45mm. The portion of the barrel forward of the gas block had been turned down to a smaller diameter and left “in the white.” The gas block was reshaped to accept the new plug, and the upper surfaced bevelled for a low profile. 

The 1984 prototype lacks a muzzle device or any threading; although there is a groove cut at the six o’clock position near the crown that hints at a possible pinned-on muzzle device of some kind. The Body (upper receiver) is crudely cut away on top to expose the gas system, and to offer rudimentary reinforcement, short “flaps” of sheet steel have been folded down against the outside of the Body. In this configuration, the only way to fire the weapon with both hands would be to wrap the support hand around the firing hand as in a modern two-handed pistol shooting hold. The bolt carrier group is the original XL64E5 assembly with its tungsten recoil pellet and dorsal cut-out for use with the XL65E4 light support weapon’s (LSW) open-bolt automatic mode of fire (at this stage of development, the carrier groups were interchangeable). The bolt itself is also the original pattern, with deeply relieved “neck” to accommodate the huge extractor. Overall, this early effort was not well designed, and the operating rod appears to have bent during testing. 

It is curious that Enfield should base this weapon upon the XL60 series, as by 1984, the current variant was the substantially redesigned (X)L80 version. Yet the evidence speaks for itself; not only is there no earlier evidence of work on a carbine, the gas block on this first prototype is that of an (X)L80 series weapon. The recycling of an older prototype suggests that this was not an attempt to “sell” the concept of a carbine to the UK military (in which case a more “current” variant would have been used). It was likely just an in-house project, perhaps anticipating a military requirement that had yet to be articulated. Whenever it was first explored, the deliberate shortening of an SA80 down to exactly the length of a Sterling with folded stock is telling. It suggests that the justification for such a weapon was that an SMG in the personal defence weapon role might be used with its stock folded. Not only might there not be time to deploy the stock (especially the ingenious but over-engineered Sterling stock) in an emergency, but users might actually still be in the confines of a vehicle or aircraft when they needed their weapon. The Sterling with its stock closed was substantially shorter than the L85A1, and the latter was much bulkier and heavier to boot. No feedback on this attempt survives today, and it would be another few years before the idea was tried again. 

1989 Prototype 

In 1989 a short run of unnamed carbines was built from L85A1 parts (as evidenced by the lack of the four attachment holes for the outrigger; at this time only LSW Bodies were so modified). These weapons were, superficially at least, remarkably similar to the current in-service design. They featured a barrel of similar length to the 1984 iteration; this time measuring 310mm (12.2 inches) including a flash suppressor. The new design was mechanically different, however. As might be expected, the gas system was shortened quite dramatically. This would have affected the functioning of the weapon. Gas pressure would have been increased, but the operating duration would be reduced, most likely resulting in “short-stroking.” Presumably to address this, the bolt carrier was lightened with a deep v-shaped groove on top. This appears to have induced further problems (perhaps excessive carrier velocity and therefore undesirable wear to the weapon). To address this, in turn, the return spring was augmented with a second internal (“nested”) spring. The Heckler & Koch (HK) solution to the problem of a “shorty” SA80 was far more elegant (see below). It should be noted that Raw (p. 221) incorrectly describes these mechanical changes as having been applied to the 1994 prototype (see below). Raw also speculates that these changes were made to increase the rate of fire, but this seems an unlikely and undesirable purpose in light of the pressure change/carrier velocity explanation. 

The installation of a standard L85A1 flash suppressor, and a sheet-metal “outrigger” below it to protect the firing hand, permitted a proper two-handed hold on the 1989 gun. To facilitate this, an LSW rear grip was permanently fitted as a vertical foregrip. These guns were serial numbered in the range “CA 00X,” and the Body was marked with the commercial “ENFIELD” trademark. No service designation is applied; these were never introduced into British (or any other) military service. However, they are not quite prototypes either, as they were advertised for sale by Royal Ordnance. A handful still exist, divided between the Royal Armouries and Shrivenham (Defence Academy of the UK) weapons’ collections. Raw (p. 219) suggests that a small quantity were sold to an unspecified Middle Eastern country but were destroyed in a warehouse fire and were therefore never issued. Clearly this product failed commercially, and it does not appear to have been seriously trialled by the British MoD. 

1994 Prototype 

After Enfield had closed and SA80 production had moved to Nottingham, Royal Ordnance plc experimented with yet another carbine-length SA80. This was again based on the L85A1 but featured a longer barrel and a complete LSW handguard, with just the birdcage portion of the long L85 flash suppressor protruding from the flat front of the handguard. To accommodate this arrangement, the gas block (with its integral front sight base) had to be machined off. With a perceived requirement for iron sights, a second gas block was installed further down the barrel with its gas plug hole left unfilled, and, as before, a carrying handle with its integral rear sight was installed. As per the 1989 prototype, no major changes were made to the mechanical components of the gun, other than a shortened operating rod, about 1 inch shorter than the full-length L85 equivalent. The intent here seems to have been to move the gas port only as far as necessary for proper function. The weapon’s longer 390mm (15.4 inches) barrel may also have been an attempt to maintain reliability while sacrificing a greater reduction in overall length. This variant also failed to enter military service or garner any export sales. 

L22A2 

In 2003, with the SA80 now the weapon system that it should have been in 1985, attention turned once again to the development of a carbine model. This time, the requirement seems to have originated from the military. As with the A2 rifle and LSW, the new L22A2 carbine received the benefit of HK’s long experience in firearms design and manufacture. The prototype seen here is a converted L85A2 and is marked as such. The bolt carrier group has not been changed, and, in fact, minimal engineering changes were made to the weapon. HK focused on the gas plug, both reducing its internal diameter to compensate for the increased gas pressure of the shorter gas system and lengthening it to increase duration (approximately 2.5mm extra travel). This at last successfully balanced the weapon’s time/pressure curve. The plug was also altered externally, with twin lugs to permit more convenient removal from the front of the gas block. The “excessive” and “off” positions were deleted, and the operating rod was of course shortened. 

The new front end is finished with a specifically designed, vented, aluminium heat-shield/ rail accessory system, with Picatinny rails at the 6 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions. The latter is often used to mount the Laser/Light Module (LLM) or a stand-alone mounted flashlight. In either case, an activation switch is sleeved onto the foregrip. No rail is provided on the left side, allowing space for an angled sling loop (the standard buttplate/rear loop remains in place, and the single-point sling appears to be favoured in service). A flat cover is hinged and clipped in place over the gas cylinder/operating rod. An HK vertical foregrip (a “downgrip” in British military parlance) is furnished as standard. This can be removed or relocated on its length of rail by unscrewing the adjustment cap at its base. 

Alternatively, for an even more compact package, the folding foregrip issued for use on the L129A1 Sharpshooter rifle may be fitted (and is apparently standard equipment on those L22A2 rifles issued to British Army Apache helicopter crews; see the image). This grip is adjustable into one of five angled positions. In either case, a substantial forward extension to the weapon’s rail system prevents installation too far forwards and significantly reduces the chance of injury to the support hand; although this will always remain a training issue for such a short barrelled weapon. Due to the very short sight radius, previous attempts to provide a backup iron sight system on the weapon itself were abandoned. Instead, the SUSAT or LDS optics both possess Emergency Backup Sights. A 20-round magazine is available to maintain the weapon’s compact silhouette as befits an AFV crew PDW, but of course the standard 30-round magazine of the rifle/LSW is interchangeable. Although the L22A2 is frequently supposed to be a conversion of the L86A1/A2 LSW, in fact, there is no evidence of this, and detailed inspection suggests that they are assembled from surplus L85A1 parts plus newly manufactured HK components. 

The L22 is issued as a standard personal weapon for AFV crews of the Royal Armoured Corps and is also to be found stowed in the cockpit of Army Air Corps WAH-64 (Apache AH Mk.1) attack helicopters as not just an aircrew survival weapon but a compact personal weapon, befitting of a corps of soldier aviators. For this application, a special holster is attached to the right side of each crewmember’s seat. It is also provided for use by Royal Navy and Royal Marines’ boarding parties. As to the effectiveness of the design, it is the nature of an emergency use weapon that it is less likely to see use in combat, since, if it does, something has gone badly wrong. As a result, we have no real feedback on the effectiveness of the weapon, but there appear to have been no complaints either. There is of course a loss in muzzle velocity, from the 930 m/s of the rifle down to 780. The state effective range for accurate rapid fire is 200m—100m less than the 300m of the rifle—but is of course dependent upon training, skill and circumstances. In doctrinal terms, it is regarded and treated as a rifle. 

L22A2 Carbine 

• Calibre 5.56x45mm 
• Overall length 571mm 
• Barrel length 327mm (11.2in) (285mm ex. flash suppressor) 
• Weight (unloaded with SUSAT)  3.52kg (7.76lb)
• Feed device 20- or 30-round detach-able magazine 

A Note on Nomenclature 

It is important to note that there remains a good deal of confusion over the official designation of the L22 Carbine. Some official documentation has given the name as “Carbine, 5.56mm, L22A2,” yet as of 2014 some contemporary official literature uses “L22A1.” Yet all of the actual weapons are marked “L22 A2 5.56×45.” Regardless of this discrepancy, the Enfield- and Nottingham-built prototypes were never designated, as they are sometimes assumed to have been, “L22A1.” The L22 is also occasionally (but nonetheless officially) referred to as “SA80K” and was at one time nicknamed “Stubby K.” 

• • • 

Special thanks to the National Firearms Centre at the Royal Armouries, who graciously allowed us access to their world-class collection. Thanks are also due to Mike Sterry for his assistance with some of the finer technical details. 

This is Part 6 in a series of articles examining the developmental history of the United Kingdom’s SA80 family of firearms. Part 5 appeared in Small Arms Review, Vol. 23, No. 7. See armamentresearch.com for further original content. 

(This article is adapted from a chapter in Mr. Ferguson’s forthcoming book on British bullpup rifles, which will be published by Headstamp Publishing in 2019. HeadstampPublishing.com) 

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Tour

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

Day 1

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

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

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

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

Day 2

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

The Best Part of the Tour

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

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

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

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

Day 3

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

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

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

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

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

Day 4—The Big Event

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

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

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

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

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

Day 5

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

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

Final Stop

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

Au Revoir

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

In the late 1970s, the Soviet Union had begun construction of sports facilities for the upcoming 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics. However, the Munich Summer Olympics massacre in 1972 paired with growing instability in the Middle East raised major security concerns for the Kremlin. The Soviet Union was to be on the world stage, and the KGB (the Committee for State Security) was tasked with personally guarding (and spying on) high ranking officials and foreign dignitaries. To address this need, the intelligence agency put out a request to its engineering department to produce a low-profile, discreet-carry, micro-caliber select-fire weapon, to be deployed rapidly when necessary and to be disguised as a common accessory so frequently seen that it disappears in plain sight. 

History had proven that KGB agents needed to be armed with something more substantial than a pistol, as terrorist groups often used full-sized small arms abroad. However, the Soviets had strict size parameters to fit that something in an “Operational Briefcase.” The recently adopted AKS-74U was the natural answer, which, when folded, manages to just fit into what looks like an inconspicuous attaché case. 

Several years prior, in 1973, the Ministry of Defense put out a solicitation for this compact assault rifle. Kalashnikov design’s bureau entry at the Izhevsk Arms Factory had won, and the rifle was officially adopted as the AKS-74U (folding AK-74 shortened) in 1979. The handy little rifle weighed in at less than 6 pounds with a rate of fire of 650 rounds per minute. The barrel extends slightly over 8 inches with an overall length of 19.29 inches, with the stock folded and 28.93 inches with the stock extended. 

Recent Revival 

Production started in Izhevsk and was moved in 1981-1982 to the Tula Arms Plant before production ended in 1993. The AKS-74U was first fielded in Afghanistan by Soviet Spetsnaz operators, who did not favor the compact weapon in the extended ranges and open mountainous area of operation, instead preferring the AKS-74. The AKS-74U saw greater success with pilots and vehicle crews. Pashtun Mujahideen gave the name “Krinkov” to 

the compact assault rifle, and the West got their first look outside of Langley in the July 1984 issue of Soldier Of Fortune Magazine. Although the AKS-74U was not appreciated upon first issue to Special Forces, it has seen a recent revival, being pulled from security and police arsenals and given to modern special operations to use. The AKS-74U has decent ballistic performance and maintains a convenient length when suppressed. In personal interviews, several Russian soldiers with combat experience in Syria commented that they would have preferred using an AKS-74U instead of their AK-74Ms and AK-105s, despite a full suite of rails and upgrades. 

Unlike the rugged and scaled-down AKS- 74U, its crafty case had to be of a more clever construction, offering concealed carry and a unique and rapid deployment method. 

Concealed Carry Case 

The case utilizes a cradle within the inner frame, which secures the weapon in place. The AKS-74U is connected to the case handle, which is detachable from the briefcase. The briefcase itself acts as a clamshell around the weapon. There is a safety and trigger on the handle to deploy the weapon from the case. When the safety is switched down and the trigger is depressed, the briefcase siding jettisons from the weapon, leaving the AKS-74U in the operator’s hand attached to the cradle. The operator can then employ the weapon effectively while unfolding the triangle stock to the deployed position and may engage the threat. The carrying handle does not obstruct the line of sight and can be removed if necessary when time allows by simply pulling back in the handle. A lever sets the tension to engage under the rear sight assembly. 

The escort briefcase cannot shoot from inside the case. Instead, the weapon must be removed and deployed from the case to effectively employ the weapon to its full potential. The briefcase also allows two 30-round magazines to be taped together in the case and inserted into the weapon. 

Two KGB Models 

Currently there are two known KGB briefcase models. The earlier production version has the weapon sit horizontally with the booster removed. The AKS-74U can operate flawlessly with the booster removed. The second known case allows room for the booster and has a redesigned cradle and case to put the weapon at a 45-degree angle. The carrying handle’s attachment point is also redesigned. This late production model provides an improved view down the sites and may also be removed rapidly. 

The general public first saw this type of operational briefcase in the famous Russian miniseries Brigada in 2002. The miniseries used the late production model with the AKS-74U at an angle in the briefcase. After a nearly 20-year service life, the briefcase had outlived the Soviet Union and swapped hands across multiple government law enforcement agencies, the KGB and the successor, the FSB. 

At the end of its service life, the KGB escort briefcase has been replaced by means of carrying a compact personal defensive weapon and other classified means. Acquired by Western intelligence, the KGB briefcase lost its cover years ago. Other nations have dabbled with briefcase-deployed weapons, but both the early and later versions of the Soviet model comparatively provided greater control and real-world utility by advantageously allowing the shooter to use the weapon’s sights, apply target discrimination and reload. In conclusion, the KGB operational briefcase was ingenious for its time, giving rapid reactive firepower in a turbulent era. While obsolete, it is a keen reminder that things are not always what they seem, inviting one to wonder what the Russians have possibly thought up since. 

In the late 1800s, the manually operated “automatic gun” was the state of the art. The Gatlings, Nordenfelts and Gardners were adopted in very limited numbers by the major armies, with the U.S. choosing the homegrown Gatling.

All of these guns were large, very heavy and mounted on either pedestals for naval use or large wheeled carriages like the artillery of the Civil War. Since they looked like artillery, they were grouped with the artillery and used like artillery, fired well back from the front line of the infantry.

Then, at the start of the Spanish–American War in 1898, a chance meeting and a bowl of ice cream changed the employment, the look and the design of all fast-firing guns—manually-operated and true automatics.

The principal player was John Parker, a recent West Point graduate, a lowly 2nd Lieutenant. There was at the time no retirement system, so officers stayed until they died, stifling promotion for the lower ranks. Parker was introduced to the manually-operated, multibarreled Gatling gun and quickly became an enthusiast, even though he was an infantryman.

Our War with Spain

When the Spanish–American War started, we were, as usual, woefully unprepared. Our Army was way too small, and no one had commanded a Naval invasion since the war with Mexico, 50 years prior. Our Navy had little in the way of troop transportation and no real landing craft; just ships, boats (mostly powered by oars) and rafts. Troops were enlisted for the duration, most famously the 1st Volunteer Cavalry known as the “Rough Riders,” lead by Lt. Col. Teddy Roosevelt. They play a part in this story as well. For all the troops, there was stiff competition to get space on the few transports going to Cuba.

Lt. Parker got permission to take four Gatling guns—IF he could get onto the transports. Lieutenants did not usually speak to Generals, and General Shafter was really busy with trying to organize our first large invasion. Parker wanted to get into the fight—and so did everyone else. Tampa was jammed with far more troops than there was room on the transports. He contacted various senior officers, without progress.

He ran into a young 2nd Lieutenant who happened to be the Ordnance Officer for the invasion and thus could speak directly to the General. They retired to a local ice cream parlor, where Parker made his case. The Ordnance Officer decided to help and talked to General Shafter. Parker was temporarily assigned as the “Deputy Ordnance Officer,” and his guns and men were put on the transports.

General Shafter gave some very general orders to Parker, who “took wide latitude” in interpreting them. Rather than placing his Gatlings in line with the artillery, to be used for indirect fire (where the gunners could not see their targets), he took them up close behind the troops about 20 yards behind the firing line of infantry and dismounted cavalry, which included the Rough Riders. He did not expose them until the Spanish refused to surrender, and the charge was ordered. By this time, he had been joined by Sergeant Tiffany of the Rough Riders, who had two Browning M1898 machine guns and 14,000 rounds of ammunition. They supported the charge by pinning down the Spanish troops. They also shot many as they left their trenches to avoid the steady hail of bullets. The attack by the Rough Riders and the 10th Cavalry (all dismounted, as there was no room on the ships for horses) was successful. After taking the heights, he had his troops remove the wheels from the Gatlings to lower their silhouette so they could be emplaced in the trenches.

Thus the Beginning

We see here the start of the trend that still continues. Early pictures of Gatling guns on their wheeled mounts show the crew members standing to serve the gun. The pictures of Hiram Maxim, with his automatic (not manual) gun number 1, show him seated and sitting upright on the tripod. All the belt-fed guns used in WWI similar to our Browning M1917 had tall tripods about 24 inches high to the bottom of the receiver. In WWII, our basic belt-fed Browning M1919A4 had much lower tripods, lowering the height to 10 inches to the bottom of the gun, so the gunner could be prone while firing. Crews became smaller: from 10 for the Gatling to five for a 1917 water-cooled and then the WWII 1919A4 (air-cooled), which still required a team of three (the gunner, who carried the tripod; the assistant gunner, who carried the gun; and ammo bearer(s), with 250-round cans). Today, one or two soldiers serve the gun.

The Germans in WWII had adopted a machine gun that looked more like a rifle, so the gunner could get even lower and fire off of a bipod—or off of a very sophisticated tripod that still sat up high.

The weight also dropped, from 170 pounds of a Gatling (gun without mount), to 41 pounds of the Browning M1917, to the 31 pounds of the WWII 1919A4. Today, our troops carry belt-fed machine guns that weigh less than 30 pounds (23 pounds for the obsolete M60) and can be handled by one soldier.

Machine guns were assigned to machine gun Battalions in WWI and were parceled out to lower units. By WWII, machine guns were placed in platoons, and by Viet Nam they were used in squads. Today, they can be found in even smaller units, another trend started in Cuba by Parker.

And the Gatling still serves in the guise of the Vulcan 30mm cannon, the gun chosen for the Air Force’s A-10 Warthog close air support aircraft, the “mini-guns” (in 7.62 NATO) on AC-130s and various helicopters and ground mobility vehicles.

Parker (known ever after as either “Machine Gun Parker” or “Gatling Parker”) was still serving in 1917, when Colonel Parker was made the head of all Machine Gun Schools for the American Expeditionary Force in France. He must have been a “hard charger” to rise from 2nd Lt. to Colonel—5 grades (1st Lt., Captain, Major, Lt. Colonel, Colonel) in 19 years, when some officers were Captains for decades.

Parker was well aware of the potential impact of what he had done. In his book, History of the Gatling Gun Detachment at Santiago, he notes that machine guns could, and should, be used in the offense. In fact, he states that the infantry and artillery had been “pounding away” at the Spanish for 2 hours, yet 8 1/2 minutes after the Gatlings opened fire, the enemy trenches were captured. He even submitted a proposal for the Gatlings to be considered a “new arm” of the service, separate from the artillery.

And to think this all started over a bowl of ice cream—the flavor and toppings of which are lost to history.

Oh, yes, that young Ordnance Officer whom Parker convinced over ice cream? You may know his name, as he rose to the rank of General and then after WWI promoted a handheld machine gun, which he coined a “submachine gun.” That was John Taliaferro Thompson, the promoter of the Thompson submachine gun.

SOURCE: The Gatlings at Santiago: History of the Gatling Gun Detachment at Santiago, U. S. Fifth Army Corps, During the Spanish-American War, Cuba, 1898. John H. Parker.