Text and Photos by Jeff W. Zimba

Imagine a Model 1919 .30 caliber Browning machine gun as the centerpiece in your den or living room. Convincing your spouse that it is “art” and deserves to be on display rather than locked in a steel gun safe would be a tough sell for most, but may be a little easier if it is one of the Tippmann models.

Tippmann Arms miniature firearms are fully functional, firing, 1/2-scale models of the famous Browning machine guns. Chambered in .22 Long Rifle, .22 Magnum and most recently .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire, they are belt-fed just like the originals. They are identical to the original Brownings; and the detail in which they are manufactured and assembled is nothing short of amazing.

Each model is shipped in an oak chest, with a 1/2-scale tripod and a fully functional traverse and elevation mechanism. A miniature owner’s manual, two miniature ammunition cans and two belts are also included with each model. One belt holds 25 rounds and the other holds 50 rounds. Models available in .22 long rifle include the 1919A4, the 1917A1 and the 1919 M37. The M37 is a variation of the 1919A4 that utilizes a rear cocking handle. The M2 Heavy Barrel and the M2 Water Cooled variants are available in either .22 Magnum or .17HMR. All new models available for sale to individuals are manufactured in semiautomatic-only. Post 86 dealer samples are also available to government agencies, Class III Dealers and Title II Manufacturers.

Eric Graetz of Lakeside Guns personally builds each of the current Tippmann miniatures. The parts are CNC machined to exacting tolerances. The vast majority of the earlier Tippmann miniatures were built from investment cast parts. Although the new parts can be used to repair and rebuild the older models, they must be hand fitted.

A total of 123 full-automatic Model 1919’s and either 42 or 44 full-automatic .50 caliber models were manufactured prior to the 1986 machine gun ban. If you look at the serial numbers on the early guns you will notice the prefix of either “FA” or “AL”. The “FA” prefix simply stood for “Full Auto” while the “AL” prefix abbreviated “After the Law” making reference to the 1986 ban on manufacturing new machine guns for sale to individuals.

Ammunition belts were originally manufactured from an elastic fabric, similar to the fabric used in the waste band of underwear. These stretchy belts had staples between each pocket designed to hold a round of ammunition. The second generation of belt material was a plastic banding material with a slit cut to hold each round. The latest generation of belt was made from a woven fabric with intermittent stitching, designed exactly like the original, full size belt. These belts were even made on an antique weaving loom. This last generation of belt was produced in late 1984 and offered for sale in January of 1985.

These belts were purchased on 250-foot rolls. When this material could be cut into new belts (before the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994) the customer could request any length belts they desired. The most common length was a 100-round belt, which was almost a perfect yard in length. Although not common, 150-round belts, 250-round belts and even 500-round belts are known to exist. Eric currently has one belt that is 93 feet in length and holds approximately 3,100 rounds. (Please note that he did not send this belt to the author along with the test specimen. This was probably a good move on his part).

Due to the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, new belts in lengths of over 10 rounds are no longer legal to manufacture for individual ownership. Lakeside Machine currently has less than 3 rolls of cut belts in their possession. None are for sale at this time so they may be enough to be provided with each new firearm currently manufactured and sold. If the ban is allowed to sunset as it was intended in 2004, Lakeside Machine will be making new belt material in any lengths requested. If the ban does not sunset they will be marketing a belt-making machine so the consumer can make their own 10-round plastic belts.

Care and Feeding

The basic function of the Tippmann miniatures is almost exactly like that of the original, full-size Brownings. The mechanism used to feed the belt, extract a round from the belt, chamber the round and extract the empty casing is very much the same as the originals. The difference is that the miniatures do not utilize locked actions. This small mechanism requires all the energy it can get from the rimfire cartridge in order to complete the tasks listed above and a locked action would create the necessity for more energy.

The operator will notice that after firing the last round in a belt, the action will be slightly rearward and there will be an empty cartridge between the face of the bolt and the breech surface. The reason for this is that the new round being pulled from the belt slides down the face of the bolt in the “T-slot”, pushing the empty round out. When no new round is being inserted there is nothing to push the last round out of the “T-slot”. Opening the top cover, retracting the bolt and pushing the casing through the bottom of the action with your finger will clear the casing.

As with any .22 rimfire firearm, the greatest enemy of the action is powder fouling and the waxy buildup from the bullet. The best friend of the Tippmann miniature is simply a toothbrush and a good solvent. Lifting the top cover and pulling the bolt rearward allow the shooter easy access to the bolt face and breech area for simple cleaning. If the guns are kept clean and lightly oiled they will function very well. In asking Eric about the number of rounds one can expect to fire before encountering failures, he reiterated the points above, and claimed to have fired over 2,500 rounds through one of his test guns before having to scrape out the bolt face and breech area.

The .30 caliber miniatures are manufactured to feed and function correctly with subsonic ammunition. This makes the addition of a suppressor that much more desirable.

The test specimen that I had for evaluation worked perfectly. I used Blaser ammunition (lots of it) and it had a hearty appetite for it. There was never a time it was out on the firing line without causing a crowd to gather and start pointing fingers and asking questions.

The tripod and T&E mechanism function well under live-fire conditions. The gun does not jump around and is held on target for the duration of the belt. The adjustments are very smooth and gradual and everything locks up very positively.

What ARE the Tippmanns classified as?

Give this a little thought. These miniature belt-feds don’t seem to fit in any current category of firearms as defined by the ATFE. The .30 caliber Browning models of the Tippmann firearms are not classified as pistols. They were not designed to be, nor can they be, physically fired with one hand. They are not rifles as they cannot be fired from the shoulder and they have barrel lengths shorter than 16 inches. Although they don’t seem to fit in any specific category, the semiautomatic variants are sold and treated like standard Title I firearms. In the early stages of development in 1983, the BATF ruled that even though they didn’t seem to meet any of the standard criteria they could be treated just like a standard Title I firearm. The one stipulation to this ruling was that the pintle would have to be permanently riveted to the receiver; therefore the tripod would always be attached, making it “less concealable”. This ruling only pertains to the miniature .30 caliber variants, as the miniature .50 caliber models have barrels that are 18 inches and the overall length is 26.5 inches so they are treated as regular rifles. Due to these strange characteristics the Tippmann models are just placed under the category of “Title I Firearms” and are still manufactured under the current “assault weapons” ban without consequence.

Miniature Accessories

There are many accessories that have been manufactured for these miniature firearms. Lakeside Machine has manufactured 17 belt-loading machines since their acquisition of Tippmann Arms. Eleven of them are for the .22 long rifle and six are for the .22 magnum and .17HMR belts. These were designed to replicate the 1918 belt-loading machine, including a variant of the original carry crate. There were also a few loading machines manufactured by Dennis Tippmann in the 1980s. These original loading machines were a very simple design and were not manufactured to resemble any original belt-loading machine. It is believed that two loading machines were manufactured by Martin Tippmann to resemble the 1918 loading machine, complete with feed needles and an exact replicated mechanism, but the whereabouts today are not known.

A very early brochure illustrated the model 1919, serial number 22, complete with 1919A6 accessories. That was the only set of 1919A6 accessories to be manufactured for the Tippmann miniatures. BATF disallowed them as the kit changed the classification of the miniature 1919 to a Short Barreled Rifle.

A single shoulder stock for the M2HB was manufactured and sold at the SOF convention in 1985. It remains in a private collection.

Spade grips for the 1919 and 1917 models have been added to the items available as of late. Flash hiders for the M2HB models in both .22 magnum and .17HMR can be purchased from Lakeside Arms as well as miniature “US”-marked display sandbags and wooden ammo boxes for the 1917’s. Spare barrels in .17HMR can be purchased to convert the caliber of original M2HB 22 magnum guns and the 1919 A4 models now have the option of using sound suppressors. The suppressor simply replaces the muzzle nut and heat shield support.

Future Projects
As you read this there are a few new projects on the horizon for Tippmann miniature enthusiasts. Eric is currently experimenting with a right-hand feed M2. This means the possibility of twin mounts or even quad mounts. Other future projects include Tombstone drums, a correct tripod for the 1917A1 series and even a standing M63 mount for the M2 series. There may even be a miniature Maxim or Vickers in the future. We can only hope.

Lakeside Guns
N5391 County Road S
Pound, WI 54161
(920)897-4682
Sales@lakesideguns.com
www.lakesideguns.com

Tippmann Company History

In 1983 Dennis Tippmann, with assistance from his brother Martin Tippmann, started the original Tippmann Arms Company. The design for the original semiautomatic-only Tippmann was approved by BATF on June 27, 1984. Initially offering only the 1919 and the 1917 models, they added the M2HB in January of 1985.

On June 24, 1987 Tippmann Arms Company was purchased by F.J. Vollmer and Company of Plainfield, IL. The following serial numbers were purchased in this transaction: 1919A4 Models – AL116, AL120 through AL153, AL155 through AL158. Not all were completed before the transaction. 1917 Model – AL176. M2HB Models – FA67 and FA69. Many of these guns were not completed and F.J. Vollmer and Company almost immediately started to market the side plates acquired in the buyout.

On September 13, 2001 Eric Graetz of Lakeside Machine in Pound Wisconsin purchased Tippmann Arms from F.J. Vollmer and Company. Eric has been a fan of the Tippmann miniatures since one appeared on the cover of Guns & Ammo in their January 1985 issue. He purchased his first miniature in 1993 and immediately began making accessories such as ammo can holders and miniature sand bags for it. Deciding to start selling these items to other Tippmann enthusiasts, he placed an ad in the now defunct Machine Gun News magazine and soon started being contacted by several other Tippmann collectors.

After compiling a complete set of the three semiautomatic-only variants and the three fully automatic variants his interests turned toward collecting brochures and paperwork relating to the miniatures and soon found himself in contact with Dennis Tippmann. Eric’s interest and knowledge kept growing in the Tippmann Arms field and led to his eventual purchase of the company from F.J. Vollmer and Company.

By Dan Shea

In that ever spiraling event that is called an “Arms Race”, every leap forward is an answer to the opponent’s move. As one man added armor, the other added a crossbow. When explosives became more stable and reliable, firearms and their projectiles were developed. Through the wars of the Nineteenth Century, the progression sped onward. By the First World War, that “War to End All Wars”, the firearm in its near perfect form-the Machine Gun-had brought the battlefield to a standstill. Sir Hiram Maxim’s gun, the so called “Devil’s Paintbrush”, was on both sides of the conflict in Europe, and all Hell had broken loose in the muddy, bloody trenches. Companies died over yards of ground, and the trench lines were fought over by grim men who had little hope of victory on the horizon.

Enter the tank.

The first small tanks were sent out onto the battlefields with two men and a machine gun. They had enough armor to stop rifle caliber rounds, and if the terrain favored them, they could break through the enemy’s lines and breach them enough for the infantry to follow. The stalemate had been broken. The British were the first to introduce the new tactic in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, followed quickly by the French and the Germans. The machine gun carrying tanks were somewhat effective in their role, effective enough that the men facing them had to come up with a way to combat them. Grenades existed at that time, but that required getting very close. Artillery generally couldn’t keep up with the new, mobile target, and wasn’t readily available in many areas. Upscaling a rifle seemed to be in order, and the Germans did it first with the M1918 Mauser, a 13mm round with a penetrating projectile. Essentially, this was a massive bolt action rifle. Simply shoot the tank where you think it would stop it mechanically, or kill the operator.

The war ended in 1918, but not before stimulating the minds of the military communities in most countries. Over the next few years, many larger caliber “anti-tank” rounds were tried, and numerous rifles were invented. When country “A” would make a .55 round, country “B” would thicken their armor to defeat it, and make a more powerful engine to drag that armor around. Country “C”, looking on, would go to 14.5mm, and country “D” would armor a tank to defend against that threat. Eventually, in the years preceding the Second World War, the rifles had achieved assorted 20mm cartridges, massive projectiles, tremendous recoil, a lot of weight, and they were quickly made obsolete by advances in armor and engines that made them useless on the battlefield. The Lahtis, Solothurns, Boys, PTRSs, etc were relegated to the armory back room very quickly.

Enter the shaped charge.

The major obstacle facing the anti-tank rifle designers was simply having a projectile with enough speed and mass to defeat the newer armor. The rifles were getting too large and cumbersome to be effectively carried; they were verging on being small artillery pieces needing wheels and carriage. Some, in fact did have wheels and carriage. The idea had been to arm infantry soldiers with a man portable device with which they could aggressively maneuver and engage a tank. Now, those soldiers were being bogged down by the size of the weapon.

SAR has gone over shaped charges in the past. Essentially, the explosive in a projectile is formed with a hollow center, shaped around a metal or other suitable material hollow cone. The explosion is triggered from a forward fuze, separated from the body of explosive by a distance determined by the speed and size of the projectile. When the nose of the projectile strikes the target’s armor, the contact fuze fires the primer, located at the rear of the explosive mass. If properly timed, when the detonation wave moves through the explosive, it will do so in such a manner that the force is mostly directed in towards the cone. This vaporizes the central material, and that material becomes a high speed, high temperature “Jet”. This punches metal, and can be sized for different penetration jobs. To the men inside of an armored vehicle, what comes through the armor is a concussion wave, and spall. Spall is molten metal and other remnants of the armor, and the effect is quite lethal. These projectiles can be used to destroy material, or used as antipersonnel for the occupants of bunkers or armored vehicles.

The advent of the shaped charge in a projectile made it feasible to penetrate thicker armor plate. As armor grew thicker, it became necessary to have a projectile of larger mass to defeat it. The standard method of launching a high speed projectile from a rifle styled cartridge quickly reached the limits of recoil using a man’s shoulder as a firing platform. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and launching a large projectile at high speed can be damaging to a person. Every couple of years we see an example of this when a suppressor is placed on a fifty caliber rifle, and for whatever reason, is launched free of the rifle when fired. That mass of three or four pounds being sent downrange is unforgiving to the operator on the other end of the stock.

Options that were explored at the time were tube fired rockets that could be shoulder mounted (Bazookas), shoulder based spigot mortars (PIAT), and the recoilless rifle. The Germans experimented with the recoilless rifle principle, and the United States had an earlier example to draw from with the Davis gun of World War One. Davis used a mass of shot moving to the rear that equaled the mass of the projectile, with the forward velocity factored in (This is not a one for one ratio). Recoilless rifles work with propellant gasses escaping in the opposite direction of the projectile launch, as opposed to a solid shot.

Swedish engineers at the state factory first designed the Model 42 recoilless rifle, which fired a 20mm projectile. The long case designed for the Model 42 was necessary because the rear of the cartridge case needed room for expansion of the burning propellant gasses, before blowing out a specially sized vent in the cartridge base. Each cartridge case had its own vent system, but the main exhaust tube of the Model 42 had a restrictor vent system of its own, that tends to burn out very quickly. This required replacement after about thirty rounds fired, and if it wasn’t replaced, the system became unbalanced and very dangerous to the operator. The work on the short lived Model 42 was done in the early to middle years of World War Two.

In 1944 through 1946, the state factory started work on a new prototype system using what appeared to be artillery shells. The outer appearance is deceiving; these are quite different from ordinary cartridges. Caliber is 84mm, and the system is no longer dependent on a cap restrictor system, there is a Venturi cone at the rear for the release of the counter recoiling gases. Each cartridge case has a blow out plastic section in the base, corresponding to the Venturi.

The M1 was the first prototype system, and the Carl Gustaf M2 84mm Recoilless Rifle went into production in 1948. This was originally designed as an anti tank weapon, but with innovation and experimentation, the uses were expanded. Manufacture changed over to FFV Ordnance, and then to the current ownership. The current lightweight version is the M3. We have a section describing the modern ammunition which all share the characteristic cases described elsewhere in this article. Suffice it to say, there are air bursting anti personnel rounds, anti armor, anti bunker, illuminator, and flechette rounds. The Carl Gustaf 84mm M3 system as presented today is versatile, and allows small infantry units a multitude of lightweight, effective options on the battlefield.

Recoilless?

Recoilless systems are touted as exactly that- a system of firing a projectile that does not produce recoil on the platform used in firing. This is accomplished utilizing a system that counterbalances the forward motion of the projectile, from the point of view of the platform. The operator is frequently the platform in recoilless systems.

Americans generally think of a recoilless rifle as one that has a chamber with larger dimensions than the cartridge, and the cartridge is suspended inside that chamber with equal space around it. The projectile is firmly placed into a rifled barrel, the cartridge case is perforated and not touching the chamber walls, and the cartridge base is firmly supported against the breech block. The breech block has vents of carefully determined size, opening to a conical main vent at the rear. When the rifle is fired, the ignition train burns, and the main propelling charge ignites. This charge is contained in a tube central to the cartridge. As the burning propellant gases expand, they not only fill the cartridge case, but due to the perforations, they fill the oversized chamber. Pressure builds at a predetermined rate, and the projectile is driven forward in the rifling, then down range. A mass of propellant gases is vented in such a manner as to counterbalance the recoil that would normally be quite severe. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Hurling a five or six pound projectile downrange at speeds of 900 plus feet per second could cause some serious damage to the shooter. That is why it is critical that the system be properly balanced.

In the Carl Gustaf M3 84mm Recoilless system, there is a combination of events that change the basics we are familiar with. First, and most importantly, the venting system is built into the cartridge. This means the chamber walls support the cartridge case. The projectile is fit into the rifling, the cartridge is supported and the base of the case is supported by the outer ring of the Venturi, what could be referred to as a “Breach”. The cartridge base has a plastic blowout that moves the properly metered gases out to the rear, through the Venturi cone. There is no venting or metering system in the Carl Gustaf M2 or M3 tube, it is all contained in the cartridge case. Thus, no perforations in the case walls, and the difference in outward appearance from a “Standard” recoilless cartridge.

Many U.S. groups are starting to use the Carl Gustaf M3, including the U.S. Army Rangers, and the U.S. Air Force is using the system as opposed to mortars for base area defense. The M3 provides a man portable platform that has many options, as evidenced by the ammunition available. This system is tried and true to many armies around the globe, and has a long, successful history. The quality controls at the manufacturing facility in Eskilstuna, Sweden, were superb. The care that goes into manufacturing translates into reliability on the battlefield. Saab Bofors Dynamics AB, the current owners of the facility and contracts, has opted to keep the same high quality in their process, and it shows in the end product.

SAR would like to thank Mart Pella from Nammo for his help in facilitating this article. We also thank the following people from Saab Bofors Dynamics AB for all of their help in tracing history and technology of this project: Åke Eckström, Director, Head of Small Arms Production Jan Arvidsson, Team Leader of Small Arms Assembly Department

Contacts Saab Bofors Dynamics
SE-691 80 Karlskoga
Sweden
bofors@dynamics.saab.se
Phone:+46 (0)586 810 00
Fax:+46 (0)586 857 00
www.saab.se/dynamics

by Dan Shea

“Scary” military-type weapons had been banned from the SHOT Show for most of its existence. After many years of lobbying the promoters of the SHOT Show, a special Law Enforcement section was created. In the past five or six years, this has turned into one of the hottest parts of the show. This should show the tremendous interest that military small arms have for the firearms community. SHOT is simply the largest show of its kind in the world, and the estimate is that sixty percent of the firearms-related business is placed or planned during this show. There is nothing else like it. SAR has been displaying since the beginning of the LE section, and we have found this to be a great place to meet with our readers, our contributors, our advertisers, and the small arms community in general. If you added about five other shows in the US, you would have a pretty good spectrum of the small arms builders, designers, and end users.

Those who know me are aware I am a cheerleader for attending these types of shows. If you want to be part of the firearms world, you have to go where those with a like mind are. This issue of SAR is being handed out at the SHOT Show here in Las Vegas, as usual. We tried for an eclectic mix of articles to give a representative example of exactly “what” the Small Arms Review is about. We wanted you to know what we cover. We wanted you first-time readers to get a feel for the depth and breadth of the articles we bring each month. If you need to know more, go to our website at www.smallarmsreview.com and you can see the table of contents for each issue, or search our articles listing for the last seventy-seven issues.

Shows I consider a must in the United States are the SHOT Show, NDIA Small Arms Symposium, AUSA, Modern Day Marine, Knob Creek, and of course, the Small Arms Review show in Phoenix in December. There are many more that cover diverse interests, and you can refine your attendance accordingly. This list does not include the machine gun shoots out there, just the shows. Overseas, there is IWA in Germany, and the War and Peace Show at the Beltring in the UK. Again, many more come to mind for more focused interests. There are various requirements for getting into these shows, and if you are resourceful you will find the qualifications lists. Both Knob Creek and SAR are simply a matter of getting there and paying the gate fee for entrance. I look forward to seeing many friends at these gatherings, and doing lots of business as well.

In other news this month, I wanted to make you aware that Moose Lake Publishing LLC, publishers of Small Arms Review, will be moving to Henderson, Nevada as of the first of May, 2004. Debbie and I moved our other companies there in 2002, and a decision was made due to some personnel leaving in Maine, that it would be more expeditious to operate out of Nevada. There will be no interruption in receiving your issues, and in the next issue of SAR we will give all the new contact information. We hope this move is better for all, and you can bet it will be easier to publish SAR in Southern Nevada weather than Maine in January.

– Dan

by Robert M. Hausman

There is a perception on the part of some retailers of stepped up Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) regulatory inspections of their business premises and in ATF enforcement policies in general. However, an ATF spokesman denies the claim.

“We are most concerned by a recently adopted position of ATF that they will allow only two errors by a retailer on a Form 4473,” asserts Bill Carter, president of the Texas Gun Dealers Association (TGDA) and operator of the five-outlet Carter’s Country stores in the Houston, Texas area. Carter says he holds the distinction of having the largest volume single dealer Federal Firearms License in the country, which approaches an annual turnover of 50,000 firearms.

“I was notified of this new policy by ATF field personnel during a recent compliance inspection. Upon finding the first error on a Form 4473, the ATF inspector said a warning conference would be held. Upon finding a second subsequent error on a Form 4473, ATF will move to revoke the dealer’s license without consideration of how much volume the retailer is doing. The inspector said this new “get tough” rule by ATF is due to concerns with homeland security and that the decision to adopt this policy came down from “on high” in the agency.”

In an attempt to verify this new rule, Larry White, industry liaison and analyst for the Firearms Programs Division at ATF was contacted and he denied Carter’s assertion that the agency will automatically move to revoke the FFL of any retailer with errors on two Form 4473’s.

ATF Response

“We at ATF are not so concerned with the number of violations disclosed during an inspection as we are with the nature of and circumstances surrounding the violations disclosed,” White said. “However, if the violations disclosed are deemed to be willful, ATF is compelled to take action against the license, which could be in the form of a warning letter, warning conference, action to revoke or deny the license, or criminal prosecution. But this policy is nothing new,” White concluded.

Maryland Retailer’s Perspective

However, Carter’s statement regarding ATF’s position on errors found on completed Form 4473’s was echoed by Sanford Abrams, vice president of the Maryland Licensed Firearms Dealers Association and operator of Valley Gun, in the Baltimore, Maryland area. “My inspector told me that when the first error is found on a Form 4473, the retailer would receive a warning letter from ATF. The second and third errors found on Form 4473’s will each result in a warning conference. Any Form 4473 errors found thereafter will result in license suspension proceedings,” Abrams insisted.

Abrams also complained about excessive zealousness on the part of ATF field personnel in looking for instances of violations under every nook and cranny in a dealer’s operations.

“ATF is trying to earn themselves a niche by doing audits and setting out to deliberately look for something wrong,” Abrams said. “They are uncovering things from 10-year-old retailer records that past inspectors have ignored and writing these things up and calling the retailer a repeat violator. I have heard that ATF inspectors are now spending three to four weeks at a time at some retailers to conduct audits.”

Inconsistent Statements

“I get audited every year,” Abrams admits. “As such, I have been having a continual problem with ATF field personnel regarding my black powder storage magazine. One year the ATF inspector will tell me I must have a lock on it, so I put on a lock. The next inspector that comes in tells me I am not permitted to keep the black powder magazine locked, so I take the lock off. The inspector after that will come in and ask, “Why is there no lock on the black powder magazine?” At each of these instances, the inspector will write me up as being in violation.

“Why we are getting stricter regulatory control at a time when both the Congress and the President are supposedly pro-gun, than we did during the Clinton Administration years, I cannot understand. I just think ATF is going out there in the field to see how many retailers they can shut down,” Abrams declared.

Virginia Confirmation

The sentiments of Abrams were confirmed by Robert Marcus, president of the Virginia Firearms Dealers Association (VFDA).

“I have heard from my membership, which is composed of retailers from around the state, that ATF field personnel have been spending an inordinate amount of time in their dealerships looking for uncrossed Ts and un-dotted Is. The reason for this, we believe, stems from the Washington D.C. Beltway area sniper shootings. That involved a dealer in the state of Washington who was not in compliance with ATF record-keeping requirements, and ATF was aware of this, and yet did nothing about that dealer. Legitimate retailers who are strictly following all the rules are now being punished for ATF’s own mistake. I have heard that those retailers who do a large volume of sales are constantly being audited. This is a topic we will bring up with our congressmen and senators,” Marcus said.

Legal Beagles Dig Up Can of Worms

Virginia’s retailers are also losing sales due to the sudden enforcement of an old state law that restricts dealers to making sales only to Virginia residents and residents of contiguous states.

“Wal-Mart’s attorneys found this old law on the books and advised all their stores that they must be in compliance. Then the state police heard what Wal-Mart was doing and began to enforce this law for the first time. The VFDA will make repeal of this law a priority in our lobbying efforts during the next state general assembly,” Marcus says.

Suit Against ATF

At press time, Marcus was looking forward to the start of oral argument in his appeal of the dismissal of his suit against ATF in U.S. District Court involving the agency’s demand for Marcus’ records of used gun sales made at his store, Bob’s Guns & Tackle Shop in Norfolk, VA. Marcus says the agency is trying to use the records to compile a database of gun owners in violation of federal law.

The case centers around a letter Marcus received from the ATF National Tracing Center in February 2000 demanding he turn over the records of the make, model, caliber and serial number of each used firearm bought and sold at the store the year before. Marcus’ shop was one of reported 430 firearms dealers across the country to receive the letter. His shop and the other retailers were singled out because they had sold ten or more guns that had been used in a crime within three years of purchase, according to ATF. The average “time-to-crime” from when a firearm leaves a retailer is about six years, according to ATF.

“Research has demonstrated that a high volume of gun traces with a short “time-to-crime” may be an indicator of illegal firearms trafficking,” the ATF letter said. While not accusing him of wrongdoing, the letter also indicated Marcus’ shop had “an unusually high number of traces.” ATF personnel have also indicated, during regulatory seminars, at which this author was present, that a high number of traces do not, in and of themselves, indicate retailer wrongdoing. The retailer’s location and other factors have to be considered as well, ATF has said.

Marcus said it’s not unusual for some gun sold at high-volume dealers to turn up at crime scenes. Ten guns, of the 1,986 he sold in 1999, traced to crimes is a small percentage – about one-half of one percent, he said. In the letter, ATF did not say exactly how many guns were traced back to Marcus or say what crimes they had been used in. Records obtained by The Virginian-Pilot newspaper show that ATF traced about 1,900 guns in the five South Hampton Roads cities (the area where Marcus’ shop is situated) in 1995, the last year records were available. Between 1990 and 1995, ATF traced 114 firearms to Marcus’ shop. That’s an average of 19 a year. The records also show that 19 of the 114 guns were tied to violent crimes, including seven homicides. However, the records do not show whether the guns belonged to a victim or a suspect, or whether the trace led to criminal charges.

By collecting data from Marcus and other retailers, ATF said it hopes to speed up trace investigations. The ATF letter to Marcus said the gun shop would face administrative or criminal sanctions, including FFL revocation, if he did not comply. “While no one has accused me of committing a crime, they’re going on a fishing expedition, and I’m not going fishing with them,” Marcus declared. His lawsuit says the ATF demand letter “has no basis in law and demands the reporting of information which has no rational relationship to any bona fide criminal investigation or other legitimate law enforcement objective.”

Marcus notes, “We have nothing to gain by impeding the police and their work. But this goes entirely beyond that. Fortunately, we live in a country where we can question the actions of the government.”

Two Legal Victories

Two important legal victories were achieved by the industry in late October with the dismissal of both the St. Louis City and the New York state lawsuits.

In the first instance, the St. Louis City lawsuit was dismissed on October 15th for failure to state a cause of action. The case, City of St. Louis Missouri v. Cernicek et, al., Circuit Court of the County of St. Louis, Case No. 02CC-1299, was argued February 28, 2003 and decided Oct. 15, 2003.

St. Louis had raised various theories of liability, including claims of negligence, nuisance, unjust enrichment, and product liability. However, the court held, “The attempt here is not only to blur, but obliterate, the line that separates public nuisance claims from those based on product liability law…In addition to the quite reasonable fears of this and other courts which have examined the issue of opening a floodgate to additional litigation, the end of which cannot even be imagined, there are issues of both logic and fairness that weigh heavily in favor of granting the present motion to dismiss.”

The court went on to state that “weighing the various arguments put forth in those cases and the instant case” (meaning the current case), “the court simply finds the arguments in favor of granting the motion under consideration far outweigh the countervailing ones…The harm allegedly suffered by the plaintiff and the action of defendants here that are alleged to have caused that harm are simply too remote to support a claim…based on a theory of either public nuisance or negligence. Because the ‘product’ here in dispute is a ‘non-defective’ one, any possible recovery by plaintiff from defendant under a product liability claim is undercut. Additionally, plaintiff’s claim of unjust enrichment fails because plaintiff cannot and does not allege the elements required for such a claim.”

New York Case

In the second case, the New York State Court of Appeals denied plaintiff New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s petition for leave to appeal the Intermediate Appellate Court’s June 24, 2003 dismissal of his lawsuit against firearms manufacturers (Eliot Spitzer, Attorney General of the State of New York v. Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. et al). No further appeal is possible.

These two cases are the latest in a series of final dismissals of lawsuits by certain municipalities against the industry based upon subsequent criminal misuse of lawfully purchased, non-defective firearms. New York’s was the only such state lawsuit. Other final dismissals include those brought by the cities of New Orleans, Bridgeport, Miami-Dade County, Camden County, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, Wilmington, Cincinnati, Detroit-Wayne County and Camden City. Cases, which have been dismissed and are currently on appeal, include Chicago, Gary, Washington, D.C., and the consolidated California cities cases.

“The trend of both trial and appellate courts to reject such misguided lawsuits seems unmistakable,” said Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. president, Stephen L. Sanetti. “We have been singled out for elimination by certain advocacy groups using taxpayers’ money to fund politically driven lawsuits, and we have been fighting back.

“The law and the facts are on our side,” Sanetti continued, “but the only certain remedy for this misuse of the legal system is the prompt passage of Senate bill S. 659, which would pre-empt these cases. Our successful defense of these cases, combined with important federal legislation prohibiting further attempts at such legal extortion, should send a clear message that American industry will resist attempts at unfair and anti-democratic ‘regulation by litigation.’ The very survival of American enterprise requires nothing less.”

Robert M. Hausman is the publisher of the firearms industry’s two most widely read professional trade publications, the bi-weekly The New Firearms Business which covers the domestic U.S. market and the monthly, The International Firearms Trade which covers the world market. For subscription information to either publication, send an email to FirearmsB@aol.com.

by Chris Choat

NEW M3 TACTICAL LIGHT FROM STREAMLIGHT

Streamlight, Inc., has now introduced their new M3 tactical navigation light. The M3 LED is a gun-mounted flashlight equipped with two lighting sources that allows users to aim and illuminate simultaneously. The new M3 LED provides even greater tactical advantages than the original M3 which was equipped with a single halogen bulb. The M3 LED features both a halogen bulb and an LED, which is available in green, red or infrared. In addition to being able to switch between the two light sources, the M3 provides many advantages. While in LED mode, the new tactical navigation light offers extended run time, and because LEDs operate for up to 100,000 hours, users can be confident that the LED won’t burn out. By activating the M3’s LED users can help preserve night vision and since infrared LED is only detectable with night vision devices, police officers are better able to conceal their position. Built to military specifications, the M3 LED features an ambidextrous momentary/steady power switch that toggles between four modes: halogen bulb only, LED only, halogen bulb and LED and off. When mounted to the gun, the light’s compact design helps maintain proper balance, allowing for a steady, accurate shot. The new light is powered by two 3-volt lithium batteries and while in LED mode shines at a range of 10 meters for a minimum of 24 continuous hours. Them halogen lamp has a range of 25 meters and a continuous runtime of one hour. The M3 LED, like all of the other Streamlight gun-mounted lights, attaches and detaches easily to a wide variety of gun types with rails, including Glock handguns, as well as other rifles and shotguns with the use of an adapter. The new light weighs just 3.7 ounces, is 3.4 inches long and is constructed of a chemical-resistant polymer case. Suggested retail price of the new M3 LED is $274.95. For more information please contact Streamlight, Inc., Dept. SAR, 30 Eagleville Road, Eagleville, PA 19403-3996; phone: 1-610-631-0600; fax: 1-610-631-0712; website: www.streamlight.com.

FNH USA, INC., ANNOUNCES NEW PATROL BOLT RIFLE

FNH USA, Inc., a subsidiary of FN Herstal, S.A., Belgium, recently announced the latest addition to its Long Range Precision Rifle line with the Patrol Bolt Rifle (PBR). The new rifle combines the best in traditional design with the latest materials, workmanship and manufacturing. The new rifle was designed for law enforcement and military as well as commercial use. Available in three models with 18-, 20- and 22-inch barrels the PBR is chambered for the 7.62 X 51mm (.308) cartridge. All three models have cold rotary-forged medium heavy barrels with a recessed crown and feature a four-groove right hand twist of one turn in 12 inches. The PBR utilizes a magazine with four-round capacity. The rifle features a controlled round push feed and is drilled and tapped for supplied scope bases, which are MIL-STD-1913. For more information on this rifle contact FNH USA, Inc., Dept. SAR, P.O. Box 697, McLean, VA 22101; phone: 1-703-288-1292; fax: 1-703-288-1730; website: www.fnhusa.com.

WINCHESTER ADDS TWO NEW SILVERTIP LOADS

In response to consumer demands, Winchester’s Supreme Ballistic Silvertip® line is now available with popular weight 55-grain bullets in two of the most popular calibers, the .223 Remington and the .22-250 Remington. The heavier weight Ballistic Silvertip bullets improve long-range ballistics and reduce wind drift on the challenging long-range shots. The heavier weight bullets also add knockdown power for the bigger predators like coyotes and bobcats. Each of these new heavier weight Supreme varmint loads incorporate the proven Supreme Ballistic Silvertip design with a solid base boattail for excellent long range accuracy, Lubalox® coating to reduce engraving forces and barrel fouling and the polycarbonate tip to resist deformation in the magazine. The Ballistic Silvertip polycarbonate tip, along with the soft lead alloy core, combines to ensure rapid fragmentation in varmint calibers. The new .223 Remington 55-grain BST loading has a muzzle velocity of 3,240 fps and a muzzle energy of 1,282 ft-lbs. The .22-250 Remington load delivers 3,680 fps with 1,654 ft-lbs of energy. For more information contact Winchester Ammunition/Olin Corp., Dept. SAR, 427 North Shamrock Street, East Alton, IL 62024-1174: phone:1-618-258-2000; fax: 1-618-258-3609; website: www.winchester.com.

NEW M4 HANDGUARDS FROM DPMS PANTHER ARMS

For more than 100 years, fins have been used to cool metal objects. Now DPMS Panther Arms brings that concept to your AR-15/M16 rifle. DPMS Panther Arms introduces the new M4 “GlacierGuards™” an M4 style handguard that utilizes 15 internal fins, rather than the standard aluminum double-shield, for heat dispersion. These unique fins, while dispersing the heat generated by rifle fire, also provide unsurpassed strength and rigidity for the handguard. Externally, the M4 “GlacierGuards™” feature 15 ribs that mirror the internal fins, and provide the shooter an enhanced grip. The M4 “GlacierGuards™” accommodate barrels with diameters less than one inch, namely the military M4 contoured barrel and the industry standard heavy barrel. Made of a high tech, temperature resistant polymer that withstands temperatures greater than 500º, which allows the handguards to resist over-heating after continuous fully-automatic fire for over 200 rounds. The fiber-reinforced polymer provides additional strength and rigidity and keeps the handguards’ weight at one half pound per pair, compared to the standard .4 pounds per pair. DPMS is an industry leader in providing quality AR-style rifles, components and accessories. No other company offers more styles or configurations of AR rifles. DPMS also provides choices for shooters ranging from high-power to small-bore by offering several rifles chambered in .22LR, .223, 7.62×39, .308 Winchester and the .300 Remington Short Action Ultra Mag. For more information on these as well as other innovative products contact DPMS, Inc., Dept. SAR, 13983 Industry Ave., Becker, MN 55308; phone: 1-763-261-5600; fax: 1-763-261-5599; website: www.dpmsinc.com.

BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION INTRODUCES .223 60-GRAIN NOSLER PARTITION

Black Hills Ammunition’s line of .223 ammunition now includes the 60-grain Nosler Partition bullet. This special bullet combines reliable expansion with excellent weight retention and penetration. Black hills reports this bullet also provided superb accuracy in its developmental testing, shooting groups comparable to their match ammunition. Black Hills offer this bullet in both their new and remanufactured lines. This bullet is also versatile, working well in all firearms tested from fast rifling twist semi-autos to traditional bolt action rifles. Velocity is 3,150 fps from a 24-inch barrel. For more information contact Black Hills Ammunition, Dept. SAR, P.O. Box 3090, Rapid City, SD 57709; phone: 1-605-348-5150; fax: 1-605-348-9827; website: www.black-hills.com.

U.S. NIGHT VISION INTRODUCES NEW MONOCULAR

America’s foremost manufacturer of high quality night vision products is proud to introduce the USNV-SNS-1 night vision monocular. The latest addition to their line of high-performance US Generation 3 night vision viewers, the USNV-SNS-1 incorporates a high performance Generation 3, 64 lp/mm image tube and camera quality C-mount lens system. Precision manufactured, the new USNV-SNS-1 features a lightweight, low profile design that is both shock and moisture resistant. Their exclusive built-in ABC (Automatic Brightness Control) and BSP (Bright Source Protection) systems also eliminate problems related to sudden changes in light conditions. In effect, the USNV-SNS-1 offers superior performance, strength and durability in a single night vision monocular. Easy to operate and maintain, the user friendly monocular features a built-in infrared illuminator for use in extreme low light environments. The unit also includes a 37mm and 49mm camera/camcorder adaptor for nighttime video and still photography. Standard accessories include a padded carry case, neck/wrist lanyard, owner’s manual and AA battery. For more information contact U.S. Night Vision Corp., Dept. SAR, 3303 Harbor Blvd., Suite E-5, Costa Mesa, CA 92626; phone: 1-714-546-4555; fax: 1-714-546-4999; website: www.usnightvision.com.

by Bob Pilgrim

TALL TEXANS

Back in the very late seventies, I had the privilege of meeting two “tall Texans.” They weren’t tall in physical stature, but were mighty big in countless other ways and were particularly large in the area of firearms innovation. While conducting SWAT training for the Houston, Texas Police Department, I was introduced to a nasty, chain-smoking entrepreneur who got in everyone’s face, but was generous to a fault and had a heart of gold. I saw him give my buddy’s kid a “Texas Check Book” filled with dollar bills that you could tear out like checks. I don’t know how many bills were in that pad, but it was a princely sum for that little boy, who grew up to be a US NAVY cryptologist and aspiring FBI agent. Since then, Herman Mueschke, former lieutenant and SWAT team leader for Jacinto City, Texas police department, Special Deputy US Marshal and president of Mueschke Manufacturing Company has stopped smoking, but still looks as tough as a Texas tumbleweed. Herman also fought with the Fighting 59th in Europe during World War II and was on his way to Tokyo when the Atom bomb was dropped. He started a glass and mirror company from scratch (no pun intended), but his first love and persistent passion is repairing and improving firearms, metal plating and creating components for various manufacturers’ lines of firearms. Smith & Wesson for example, was once a big customer of his. Eventually, he treated a number of my pistols, but the one that literally remains closest to me is my diminutive, but handy Beretta .25 ACP pistol. He was literally a ball of energy, while engaging in dozens of unique firearms related projects.

HILL 15 SUBMACHINE GUN

Herman, who shared my interest and love of firearms, took me over to Mr. John L. Hill’s residence to meet him and see his creation, the Hill (H15) 15 submachine gun. John, who at age 96 passed away in 1991, was an American petroleum engineer and former World War I fighter pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force. In his spare time he was an inventor and designer of many energy connected technologies including a method for compressing gas, so it could be shipped from the well in containers without a pipeline. His patented process is still being used in shipping gas overseas today. Although his parents were surprised and chagrined when they learned that he had not matriculated into college as planned and became a fighter pilot instead; this self-educated engineer supervised many technical projects in country’s as diverse as Canada and Argentina. However, he always had a fascination with firearms, not so much in shooting them, but the mechanism. In 1948 he began thinking of the Hill Machine Gun. Hill conceived the H15 during a paralyzing Denver snowstorm in the 1960s, while he was searching for oil properties. His apartment contained a small machine shop with a milling machine that was ensconced in a closet and it was here that he transformed an idea into reality, “while Mrs. Hill sat rocking and knitting in a corner.” His personal industry and ability impressed upon me that in spite of draconian gun laws and prohibition, underground small arms could be produced by anyone with the knowledge and desire to do so. Hill was a consummate patriot and his motivation was simply to build a “better mousetrap” for America’s defense.

He unveiled a couple of full-automatic-only examples of the H15 in 9x19mm and .380 ACP and discussed their characteristics. After a very pleasant visit with the gentleman we departed with the guns for test firing at Herman’s factory. Years later, Herman and another business partner purchased the patents for the H15, which have expired.

F N’s GOOD FORTUNE

The H15 resembles a large pistol and in fact, has the pointability of the famous German Luger. Depending on interchangeable barrel lengths, the gun is an extremely compact submachine gun (SMG). Its profile is characterized by an extended slide that projects rearward, so it lies over the forearm, in the manner of the IMP .224 Bushmaster aviator’s survival weapon that debuted in the 1970s. Construction is entirely in stainless steel and they are handsomely finished. In addition to no externally moving parts and round ejection through its grip, one of its most striking features is its transparent plastic, “desmodromic – oscillation feed” magazine that sits in top of the receiver. Rounds are transported in a lateral position and steered into the chamber by a “revolving disc.” Chambering is straight into the barrel without any deflection. The barrel’s throat reflects this and is not ramped or chamfered.

Herman recently revealed that in 1963, Mr. Val Browning, Chairman of the Board, Browning Arms Company arranged for Hill and his wife to visit Fabrique Nationale d’ Armes de Guerre, in Belgium. Monsieur Ernest Vervier hosted them in Liege. Hill left the H15 prototype with FN for a couple of years, but before he departed they requested that he produce a 9x19mm version for them. Although very interested in manufacturing the gun, Uzi Gal was also at the factory supervising FN’s production of the UZI SMG. He was very impressed when he examined the H15. FN could not generate customer interest in it and dropped the project in 1965. When FN eventually returned the prototype US Customs intercepted the shipment and had the gun destroyed.

Obviously, the H15 and its unique magazine / loading system pre-dated production of the FN P90 SMG / Personal Defense Weapon by over three decades. Like the H15, the P90 also ejects its spent cases downward, so they do not interfere with the operation of the gun.

Herman also advised me that 90 – 100 guns were made and only ten completed guns exist today. They were on display at a private Texas museum, but were removed when some special interest groups pressured the owner to do so. Mrs. Hill, now in her nineties, further advised that the Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia, PA also acquired an H15, but is unaware of its status today. The arsenal closed in 1975.

ATF required that newly minted models be restricted to single fire and fire from a closed bolt. No manual safeties were involved in the original guns, but Herman developed an ambidextrous system that locked the trigger. However, these H15s never went into production.

UNIQUE FIRING SESSION

All our familiarization was conducted at short range, because the factory floor was fairly crowded. A residential area also bordered Herman’s place, but the neighbors didn’t seem to mind as we blasted away. Truthfully, I think everyone was afraid of the local wild man and knew better than to complain. The H15 is cocked via a relatively small, but ergonomic non-reciprocating charging lever located on its left side. Older models had a neat folding lever located under the barrel that would snap out of the way when released. In close quarter battle applications the SMG was accurate and highly controllable. It’s 400 to 500 rpm cyclic rate chugged away like an M3 Grease Gun and single taps could be easily achieved with trigger control. I fired it with one hand and six-round bursts from 7 yards were centered on the target. Reliability was flawless, but the piece de resistance was when Herman unceremoniously rolled the H15 up in a blanket and emptied the magazine. The blanket smoldered and smoked, but fortunately did not catch fire. With a small canvas bag attached to the pistol grip, no incriminating shell casings were left behind for the gang from CSI. Apparently this feature was not lost on the godfather’s gang and Mr. Hill was approached by a “deal you couldn’t refuse.” His terse reply was simply, “Herman, we don’t want any dirty money.” With no externally moving parts or controls, it is a perfect ambidextrous firearm. We consumed about 200 rounds of hollow points that day and its “straight line feed / chambering” is capable of digesting any bullet configuration, including “caseless ammunition.” At the time, Colt Industries advised Mr. Hill that they could manufacture the H15 for $30 – $40.

UNIQUE MAGAZINE

Since the optional factory pre-loaded, or field reloaded magazine enjoys a prominent place in contemporary small arms offerings today, the H15’s deserves a closer look. It forms an integral part of the receiver, with capacity (length) limited by the length of the weapon. Since the materials are relatively inexpensive, the magazine could be pre-loaded and was disposable. Furthermore, in the interest in a “cleaner battlefield,” the body could be made of bio- degradable materials. When sealed at the factory and in place on the weapon, land and sea combatants would find the SMG or carbine “completely dirt free and watertight.” The magazine is not exposed to the usual stress forces when in battery and is therefore, more durable. When inserted from rear to front into the receiver, the aluminum cap that seals the magazine is stripped off and the first round feeds into the chamber. However, if a loaded magazine is removed from the SMG, the rounds will be ejected.

UNIQUE SAFETIES

Herman experimented with various ambidextrous safety designs and the two he incorporated in the H15 are truly unique. A cross bolt, ambidextrous safety is safe if it is maintained in a center or middle position. If pushed to the left by a right hand shooter it will fire and likewise if a left-handed shooter moves it to the right. Oddly, a sliding port and starboard safety is on safe when it is in the forward position and off the trigger lock when pulled to the rear. Herman was quick to admit that this was an off-the-wall concept and strictly experimental.

WHEN UZI WAS KING

During the 1970s, the Israeli UZI enjoyed the same reputation as the Heckler & Koch MP5 does today. The UZI was the SMG of choice in knowledgeable circles and naturally, everything in that weapon’s genre was compared to it. The UZI has a 10.2-inch barrel, one of the longest in its class. With its “snub,” 8-inch barrel in place the H15 is 3.3 inches shorter than Uzi Gal’s creation. One of the most reliable SMGs, the battle proven UZI weighs a hefty 7.7 pounds, while the Hill comes in at 4 to 5 pounds unloaded. Cyclic rates are similar.

Like the UZI, barrel changes can be accomplished without tools. H15 combat kits can have various barrel lengths and dedicated suppressed versions. Most SMG’s feature an exposed charging lever/handle and some reciprocate. The H15 charging handle operates independently from the bolt; therefore, there are no externally moving parts.

THE FUTURE AND CONCLUSIONS

Did the Hill 15 have any faults or shortcomings? Well, it would not reliably function turned upside down. Furthermore, gravity would probably not assist ejection if also fired from a horizontal position. Although some test protocols call for this maneuver, I am not aware of too many situations where that would be required. The one exception is the dog and pony show inverted window shot, from the face forward “Australian rappel.”

Unless some large arms manufacturer or the government steps forward and revives the weapon it is doubtful that it will ever see service. There are some companies without an SMG or assault rifle and an updated version of this firearm would fill that production vacuum nicely. Otherwise, the H15 may have no service future. However because of its very limited production, Class III weapons collectors will probably salivate over the possibility of acquiring a completed and functioning Hill 15. I would and am.

by Timothy Kast

When Waynesville, North Carolina native Jim Ray started Masters of Defense (MOD) Knives in 1997, Chief Jim “Patches” Watson was the first person he signed to his fledgling company. Jim Watson’s credentials are impressive to be sure: SEAL Team Two “plank holder,” Dick Marcinko’s point man in the Mekong Delta, awarded 16 combat decorations including 4 Bronze Stars with the combat ‘V’ for valor, and author of Point Man and Walking Point.

The design began with a sturdy modified spear-point accompanied by an almost full-length serrated cutting edge. This provides the end-user with an aggressive surface for slicing wet rope or tangled parachute cord. MOD precision hollow grinds each knife from a cryogenically hardened 154 cm high-carbon stainless-steel alloy blank that is tempered to a 60 Rockwell hardness.

Chief Watson wanted the handle to feel like it was part of your hand. To that end MOD computer machines the handles from solid bars of T6 aircraft aluminum, and puts a milspec hard-coat black anodized finish on them, finally finished with a checkered Kraton rubber insert for increased grip and feel when wet. These knives are built on the same type of computerized machinery used to construct missile guidance systems, and then hand-fitted by master craftsmen in the final assembly. These are knives that give you the precision of a custom knife coupled with the accuracy and durability afforded by the latest in CNC technology.

I chose the Watson Trident Utility Folder because of my need for a lightweight tactical folder that would hold up for everyday carry, but be tough enough for a variety of hard usage chores throughout the week; work that constitutes just about everything from cutting cleaning patches from discarded cloth to slicing through wet rope mountaineering in the rugged terrain of Western North Carolina. Other than wiping the blade clean or putting a drop of oil on the pivot bearing, I didn’t pamper the knife, but subjected it to the full range of tasks throughout the testing period. I was first concerned about the black coating the blade comes with, but my concern was unfounded as the matte black boron carbide coating held up exceptionally well with minimal care. The serrated edge gave little cause for worry after a few careful touches with a ceramic stone. The machined finger grooves on the spine of the blade provided a supplemental margin of delicate cut when used with the pressure of an index finger as your guide. This made cutting an odd size of gun cleaning patches a breeze. Much has been said about the ability of a knife to cut wet nautical line, but the truth is that soaked rope is indeed a tough cutting chore for any knife. The MOD Watson knife routinely cut all of the line that it encountered, but like any good knife required a periodic touch-up of the serrated edge with the ceramic stone. Spyderco manufactures the excellent Sharpmaker, and that has become the industry standard since its debut.

I was quite impressed by the 148 thousandths thick blade. It has a sturdiness that enables the knife to tackle jobs that oftentimes only a fixed blade knife or rescue tool could accomplish. Chief Watson told me that had been his goal all along; to give the operator the power of a fixed blade knife in a folder.

Tasked with building a campfire with wet kindling, I began cutting old kudzu vines for tinder. Because they are hanging vines, they generally have an opportunity to dry quickly after a rainstorm, so are a decent candidate for dry wood when there’s nothing else around. The Watson Knife when applied on an angle and with firm pressure would slide right through the kudzu vines and so I was able to gather a fair amount of kindling for a warm fire in a fairly short amount of time.

The Watson knife can be carried in a variety of ways. My favorite is just positioned in my front Levi’s pocket, but the MOD knife comes with a nylon Cordura pouch that can be worn on the belt horizontally or vertically. The flap is secured with Velcro for easy access. My old friend Frank Sigman makes a Kydex sheath for the Watson folder that is truly remarkable. Easily clipped on the belt, the knife slides in with a satisfying click that tells you that it is handily secured.

Masters of Defense produces this knife in a manual opener and an auto knife, which is restricted to military and law enforcement only. While I tested both versions, the manual opener is probably the model that would be best suited for everyday civilian carry.

Masters of Defense Knives has proved they have the mettle to survive in today’s highly competitive knife market. For twelve months I’ve lived with this knife and done just about everything with it. I’ve cut parachute cord, fished with it, used it around cars, trucks and motorcycles, then taken it to the range and abused the hell out of it. In all sorts of circumstances the knife took it all in stride. Chief Watson showed me one he had even used to cut tile with!

The one thing that every end user of Chief Watson’s folder had in common was that they all truly used the knife, not just stored it in their dresser drawer. The knife was designed to be carried on a daily basis. Any firearms enthusiast needing a good folder would do well to examine this fine offering from MOD.

Contact information:

Masters of Defense, LLC
256 A Industrial Park Drive
Waynesville, North Carolina 28786
Phone: (828) 452-4158
Fax: (828) 452-7327
Email: www.mastersofdefense.com

The feed tray assembly is a simple device that serves to hold the linked belt in position while in the feed mechanism, guide the linked ammunition to the cartridge stripping position, and then guide the discarded links out of the gun. The tray itself is a unitized part manufactured from stamped, formed, and welded sheet metal. Into this fabrication are fitted a cartridge holding pawl, and on the M60D variant (and not used with ground gun variants) two belt feed guide spools, or rollers (roller, linear-rotary, PN7269333/NSN3120-00-608-5300) which help to align the incoming linked belt from the fixed ammunition guide chute. In place of these guide rollers on ground guns this location is provided to attach a fixed feed guide plate known as the “bandoleer hanger” (PN 8448414/NSN 1005-00-403-9507).

For ground guns, the bandoleer is the common ammunition-carrying container. These bandoleers are disposable and made (in USGI issue) from lightweight cotton fabric with a cardboard insert to provide a measure of form and stability to the linked belt within. They are designed to slip over the “bandoleer hanger” and support the full linked belt for ease of feeding into the gun; they also provide a measure of protection for the belted ammunition to keep it free from contamination. Introduced later was the all plastic (molded polyethylene), snap-on, “100-rd Assault Box.” This black plastic box is intended to be a sturdier form of disposable, containerized, ammunition issue packaging. It is issued as a single-use disposable package that snaps onto the same location as the cotton bandoleer, but is designed to withstand significantly more abusive service, including amphibious operations, without failure or the deterioration that was common with standard cotton bandoleers. It has the added advantage of a sliding-lock type of plastic cover that is generally proof against environmental contamination, and which can be positioned to keep “belt flapping” to a bare minimum as the belt is drawn into the feed cover during operation. (Due to the angle the feed mechanism is forced to pull a loose hanging belt into the feed tray at, the section of the belt hanging directly below the feed tray entrance will tend to snap upward and forward in jerking movements as it is fed into the gun. (Minus a proper feed chute as used in vehicle installations, this is an unavoidable nuisance.) Belt flapping of a loose belt can not only lead to possible jamming of the feed mechanism, but also will noticeably mar and scuff the exterior surfaces of the top cover assembly. Use of a suitable belt holding container not only prevents these problems, but also leads to the least strain being imposed upon the actual feed mechanism parts as the belt is drawn more horizontally into the top cover. It is when the gun is fired with an unsupported, loose hanging belt, that the belt feeding pawl(s) are exposed to the most strain, and wear. It is recommended that for maximum service life the gun be fired only with an attached belt holding container at the hanger location, or from an ammunition can when used in a cradle mount. While the plastic 100-rd Assault box is the best of the issue containers, there are several purely commercial equivalents available. Most are fabricated from heavy-duty synthetic fabrics, such as Cordura™, and are in effect a premium quality constructed version of the issue bandoleer. These soft-side containers are probably more durable over time than the plastic boxes, and they are not premium priced accessories as they currently retail for only slightly more than the surplus assault boxes.

Even with the wide availability of belt holding containers, some operators still choose to run loose belts; if this is the preferred method of operation than, if at all possible, try to arrange for Assistant Gunner to support and help guide the belt horizontally into the gun as it is firing. If an A-Gunner is unavailable, when firing from the prone (bipod supported) or seated (tripod supported) position, the gunner should reach forward and support the free belt section with his left forearm as support and guidance. This situation is perhaps the primary justification for using the hinged buttplate.

The belt feed pawl fingers are case-hardened (“nitrided”, or nitride vapor-bath-hardened) and can be chipped, or cracked, if struck with force. They are extremely durable on the surface of the “fingers” to resist wear from link abrasions, yet brittle along certain lines of stress. In order to avoid this, one should never grab and yank the belt hard in normal use, the only exception to this being if needed to stop a run-away gun. Also, though tempting, additional lubricants should not be used on the feed pawl, as this may lead to failure to feed. The pawl should be clean and dry. Never polish the pawl fingers beyond normal wear of use, for the same reason. With these caveats, failure to feed can usually be traced to improper spring tension in either the feed pawl helical tension spring, or one or both of the cartridge depressor (cartridge guides, front and rear) compression springs. These springs must be at full rating in order to tightly grasp the belt. In rare cases, the pawl itself may have suffered a broken pawl finger. If the belt advances, but then slips backward or falls out, then either the belt holding pawl spring is worn or broken, or the pawl itself is too worn to hold the belt stationary. Feed jams, when all else seems normal, may be the result of a bent or distorted link exit chute, which will cause ejecting links to clog the chute. And one simple, and damaging, operator behavior can cause all of these problems.

The Top-Cover Blues

One of the most problematical areas of the basic M60 design was always the manner in which the bolt feed cam actuator drove the feed cam in the feed cover mechanism. The problem, is that neither the cam actuator roller assembly, nor the feed cam itself in the top cover, are provided with any vertical displacement when they are out of engagement relative to each other. And they are always out of alignment except when the bolt is fully retracted and held cocked against the sear. And unless they are aligned and engaged, attempting to move the top-cover can easily damage the components. The only time the top cover on an original M60 can be safely opened or closed is with the bolt locked back. Unfortunately, most operators close the top cover all too often with the bolt forward, which will invariably dent, bend or damage the feed cam (feed arm), or the roller on the feed cam actuator assembly on the bolt. This design deficiency was resolved with the E3/E4 update that employed a spring-loaded feed cam that allowed sufficient vertical displacement for the cover to close safely and latch with bolt forward. With this new cam, when the cover is closed with the bolt forward, it will spring the feed cam track into alignment with the cam actuator roller on the bolt body when the gun is cocked normally. While it is possible to close the cover with the E3 feed cam update installed, it is still a good idea to always open and close the top cover only with the bolt fully locked back as it programs good habits. It is recommended that all variants of the M60 be modified with new E3/E4 feed cover mechanism to help eliminate otherwise costly potential damages.

The last area to consider in the feed system, is the feed tray and its relationship to the operating system components. The feed tray is designed to lay flat on the top of the receiver, with a small clearance for the stripping lug of the bolt head to pas through the slot on its bottom face. The bolt must be allowed sufficient forward movement to allow for full chambering of the cartridge head; the feed cam actuator at this full forward dwell will be located directly at the rear support cross member of the feed tray. It is a very close tolerance fit, and if the tolerances milled into the bolt guide rails are a bit off, the cam actuator roller will impact the rear support of the feed tray, denting or bending it. Due to the combination of military and commercial parts used in commercial receivers, this situation is common. This will only happen when the bolt closes on an empty chamber, like when a belt is run dry during firing, or is allowed to close under driving spring tension upon trigger release any other time. If your feed tray shows evidence of this damage, the sheet metal can probably be forced back into shape one time, but changes in operating philosophy should be immediately instituted to prevent repeat or further damages. The only way to prevent this when firing, is to stop firing before the belt runs dry. Learn to watch the belt entering the top cover entrance, and when the last cartridge is seen at the entrance mouth, release the trigger. This will keep 1-3 unfired rounds still in the feed tray, and the bolt will be safely locked back. This single, simple, procedure will also avoid the most serious of the bolt head and barrel locking cam damages as they occur when these components are allowed to close without the cushioning effect of a cartridge case in between for “headspace.” (Remember always, safe handling practices, as the gun is still loaded. Engage the safety, unlatch and raise the top cover and clear the remaining short belt section.)

The final mechanism to consider is the top cover latch assembly. The latch and corresponding receiver bridge that it latches into, will last considerably longer if the top cover is not slammed down to latch. The best method to employ is to hold the latching lever fully open, lower the top cover tight against the stop, and release the lever to hold it. Reverse the procedure to open the top cover. The receiver bridge is only a sheet metal stamping, and if the latch recess becomes damaged or distorted, a new bridge will need to riveted into the receiver assembly.

This concludes the basic series for civilian owner-operators for the M60 GPMG system of weapons. Hopefully now, through this series of discussion, you will be better able to use and maintain the valuable and rare investment that these privately owned M60 machineguns represent.

Recommended Manuals and Spares

The following military manuals should be utilized in correctly operating and maintaining the M60 series of weapons:

• 9-1005-224-10 Operator’s Manual M60 Machinegun (older booklet style Field Operational manual for the M60 ground gun)
• FM 23-67 Machinegun, 7.62 MM, M60 (an excellent Field Operational manual for the M60 ground guns; includes gunnery instructions)
• TM 9-1005-224-24(or -23&P) Technical Manual, Unit and Direct Support Maintenance Manual (covers all variants except the new M60E3, and includes M2/M122 tripod)
• TM 9-1005-224-24P Technical Manual, Organizational, Direct Support and General Support Maintenance Manual Repair Parts and Special Tools Listing

The following basic spare component parts are highly recommended for maintaining the M60 series of weapons. This constitutes only a most basic list of the most commonly required parts. Obviously, with M60 parts getting scarcer and more expensive, a prudent owner will acquire all the spare parts he can locate.

• pin, bolt plug retaining PN 7792920
• extractor, cartridge PN 7790907
• plunger, extractor, PN 269083
• pin, firing PN 11010376
• sear, PN 7269209
• spring, sear, helical compression PN 7269211
• washer, key, gas cylinder PN 7269035
• pawl assembly, feed cam PN 7269120

In addition, you will likely be well served by obtaining at least one spare bolt body, and one spare operating rod assembly. Several spare driving springs are also recommended.

The last and final installment of this series will depart from the current format slightly as it will describe detailed repair methods for commonly seen problem areas using techniques and information that are more appropriate to the civilian realm than the official methods and recommendations shown in the original USGI repair and service manuals. This departure is a consequence of the fact that certain methodologies and techniques used by the US Military infrastructure are almost now impossible to obtain or perform due to the dwindling lack of support for this weapon system.

by J.m Ramos

The Philippine islands are well-known for their hundreds of illegal underground weapon workshops which were credited to almost half a million home-made guns that were confiscated or turned over during the military weapon sweeps in 1972. Squires Bingham Manufacturing Company (Squibman) was the only legal commercial arms producer in the country. It was founded in 1905 by two enterprising US Army servicemen named Roy W. Squires and William Bingham. It was originally a print shop called Squires Bingham which was to market motorcycles and other imported goods. Between 1925 and 1941, the company began importing firearms and ammunitions. In 1941, just before the war, a wealthy Filipino named Don Selso Tuazon bought out the American interest in Squibman. However, during the Japanese occupation, the company came to a complete stop, no longer selling or importing firearms and ammunitions.

After the war, when increasing demand for weapons far exceeded the imported supply, the demand for local manufacture of these products became extremely favourable. Thus, in 1952, the decision was made to engage in arms manufacturing. From a small rented space and a purchased few machineries, begun the long history of Squires Bingham which has grown to be one of Southeast Asia’s largest weapons and ammunition producers. Soon faced with major expansion program, the company moved to its present location in Parang, (a suburb of Manila) in 1958. The factory now occupies more than 80,000 square feet of floor space. On February 1, 1980, in line with the expansion and modernization restructuring, the owners of Squibman invited new investors whose names are well known in the business circles and formed the new Arms Corporation of the Philippines (ARMSCOR). Presently, the company produces a wide variety of arms to include Colt-style revolvers; and standard and high-capacity 1911-type pistols (the latter appropriately nicknamed “Parang Ordnance”). In addition, the company continues to produce its popular pump-action shotguns and sporting rifles for both hunting and law enforcement applications.

THE MODEL 20

The first .22 semiautomatic rifle produced by the company was the Model 20. It was a conventional sporter utilizing a striker-fired mechanism and had a 15-shot box-type magazine. A Cutts-Compensator-style muzzle brake was attached to the muzzle. This rifle was extremely accurate once it is sighted in properly. The machined ordnance steel used on Armscor guns is imported from Australia. Quality-wise, it is on par with most US-made commercial arms. The Model 20 continued to enjoy commercial success both locally and internationally. In addition to the standard M-20 model, a beautifully crafted “pistolized” version with a 12.5-inch barrel was also produced, although only in limited numbers and aimed primarily for the local security market. This gun features a telescoping metal stock mounted in the left side of the gun. The pistolized version is called the M-20P and is also equipped with a 15-shot magazine and a muzzle brake. The M-20P was often converted to selective-fire by local armourers and found good acceptance among rural law enforcement agencies that operate on limited budgets, many of which are still issued with antique Iver Johnson break-open revolvers.

INTRODUCING THE BABY ARMALIKE – M-1622

When the Armalite-designed M16 assault rifle began replacing the old M14 in the hands of US servicemen posted at American bases, the new rifle became the talk of the town. The M16 rifle became the most coveted “must have” for the many political warlords vying for power in that turbulent era, when political assassinations by both military hit men and NPA rebel death squads became a daily headline in the media. This fascination among the locales for the M16 rifle did not go unnoticed among the marketing brass at the Armscor offices. It was this interest, spurring an unprecedented demand for this type of rifle that led to the eventual creation of Armscor’s “Baby Armalike.” The Baby Armalike became an instant sensation among weapons aficionados, more so among landowners in the rural areas infested by cattle and water buffalo rustlers. The exterior configuration of the Baby Armalike gives the impression that the operator is carrying an M16.

In order to meet the tremendous demand for the new M16 rimfire clone, for both the local and international market, the designers at Squires Bingham made good used of the original M-20 action. This decision minimized both time and retooling costs. The first model of the M-1622 featured a straight wooden stock patterned after the American assault rifle it emulated. The wood had a black lacquer finish. To give this ..22 rimfire rifle an authentic M16 styling, a new exterior housing was cast and mounted below the wooden stock. The usual plastic pistol grip was attached below the rear of the exterior housing. The M16-style carrying handle was connected to the top of the receiver, via the scope mounting grooves. A matching front sight base was attached to the barrel. A prong-type flash hider was also added for authenticity. This early production model had no upper handguard. The bottom end of the original 15-round box magazine, which protruded below the receiver, was enclosed by a wide, cast aluminum housing to give the appearance of a wide body magazine. At the rear of the magazine casing was a built-in magazine catch/release. The actual magazine catch in the form of a flat spring was attached to the trigger housing. The one-piece flat spring magazine catch was eventually replaced by a spring-loaded cast alloy component. The protruding bottom end of the catch releases the magazine when the magazine activator is depressed. The shell deflector system found at the rear of the ejection port of the original M-20 was also incorporated into the M-1622 series including the new M-50S but not with the AK-4722 models. The first production model of the Baby Armalike was introduced in 1970. Following the standard model was the compact M-16R. This version comes equipped with a spring-loaded telescoping metal stock. A push-button-type release mechanism for the stock was mounted at the rear of the stock just behind the pistol grip. The M-16R had an upper handguard added that was fabricated from a sheet metal stamping. The addition of the metal handguard, and telescoping stock added more weight and also made the gun more bulky.

The peak of exotic gun weaponry finally levelled off in the mid to late 1980s. The North American market is now virtually flooded with rimfire military clones as produced in the USA, Europe and the Philippines. In order to be able to compete with these new hi-tech entries, Armscor upgraded its M-1622 line up and added few more models in their rimfire clones, which included the Russian AK47 look-alikes, the AK-4722, AK-22F and the M-50S, and a PPSh41 SMG clone.

FULL-AUTOMATIC VERSIONS

Full-auto conversions of semiautomatic guns are not new to the Philippines. This art was actually taught by US military armourers fighting alongside Filipino guerrillas during World War II and carrying .30 M1 Carbines. The selective-fire M2 versions were highly favoured by the guerrillas who soon converted their issue M1s to full-automatics. After the war, these peasant armourers continued to practice their skills privately and in most cases illegally, making home-made guns as a means of livelihood. These underground-produced weapons are popularly known as the infamous “Paltiks” or black market specials. In central Luzon, the towns of Ilocos (Marcos province) are well known for their homegrown Paltiks most notably pistolized box-fed, bolt-action shotguns, revolver shotguns and break-open shotgun pistols. Commercial gun modifications were also a specialty in these mountain workshops converting almost anything that fires semiautomatic-only to selective-fire. Most of these handmade guns are crude by American standards; few specimens can be considered work of art and no two guns are alike. Over the years, I have examined numerous full-auto modifications by underground workshops of the Squibman rifles. Most common are open-bolt-types with fixed firing pins. The first one that I saw in the late 1960s was a converted Model-20. This particular specimen had a fixed firing pin.. The original striker was modified at the tip. The front blade of the striker had been trimmed off level with the breech face except a small fraction at the bottom edge, the actual portion of the part that hits the rim of the shell. This remaining small piece was rounded to form a fixed firing pin pattern with only a slight protrusion above the breech face. The rear of the striker had been cut off and a vertical pin was pressed in to lock it in place. Both the striker plunger and recoil spring assembly were assembled in the usual manner. The underside of the bolt had been filed off to create a step for the sear to engage in the open-bolt position. A new sear was fabricated; longer and higher at the rear in order to hold the bolt in the open, “ready to fire” position. The original sear was too short and low for this conversion. The original trip (disconnector) had been cut off at the top, leaving only the hooked portion to clear the new sear’s rear end extension. This gun fired full-auto-only. When I tested this rifle, it proved unreliable. The gun would usually jam an average of 3-4 times per magazine. The problems were mostly failure to feed and misfires. Failure to feed appeared to have been caused by the fixed firing pin restricting the proper seating of the rim on the breechface while the cartridge was travelling from the top of the magazine, resulting in a crushed bullet or bent cartridge case. Misfired cartridges appeared to have been caused by light hits. Overall, this was not a satisfactory modification.

In my last visit to the Philippines in 1993, I was introduced by a friend to a Barrio captain (village official) while attending a wedding. The captain was a member of the military-trained militia originally formed during the Marcos era to help the army fight the NPA rebel groups who targeted remote areas to recruit new members. After the wedding, the captain invited me to his house and showed me his selective-fire Baby Armalike.. The captain’s gun was converted by a workshop in Ilocos province. This Armalike fired in the original closed-bolt manner, utilizing all the basic mechanism with only the addition of a long arm above the receiver and visible through the slotted portion of the carrying handle. The original sliding-type safety now had three positions instead of the usual two (SAFE and FIRE). After picking up 500 rounds of ammo from my dad’s ammo supply, I picked up the captain and drove to a nearby riverbank and to test fire his full-auto Baby Armalike. There was absolutely no recoil and the cycling was extremely smooth. Accuracy was also very good. There were only three malfunctions experienced out of the 500 rounds fired. When I noticed that the gun only malfunctioned when the magazine was fully loaded to capacity, I reduced the number of rounds to 14 and the gun worked flawlessly.

The captain allowed me to completely strip the gun at his house while we cleaned it. To my amazement, the conversion technique was incredibly simple. Everything remained the same except for a new index hole that was added between the usual safe and fire positions. To match the new middle index setting of the selector, a middle step was cut beside the usual safety clearance in the top rear of the trigger for full-auto functioning. The added step on the trigger allowed a controlled trigger pull just enough for the trip hook to pull the sear down to release the striker. The top end of the disconnector remained in line with the camming shoulder of the bolt, which, in turn, forced the trip to disconnect as soon as the bolt recoiled. When the selector was pushed all the way forward, the deep notch of the trigger lined up with the back of the selector bar and this allowed a longer pull on the trigger. In this sequence, the sear was cammed farther downward by the trip hook. In turn, the top end of the trip, with a horizontal pin (disconnector), could no longer be activated by the camming shoulder of the recoiling bolt after a shot was fired. Since the sear was now out of engagement with the striker, the long arm mounted at the top of the receiver served as a secondary sear (middle lug) and doubled as a tripper (front end toe). After a shot was fired and the bolt was travelling in counter-recoil, the middle lug of the long bar (secondary sear) would engage the striker step on top and hold the striker in a cocked position until the front end toe was forced upward by the bolt face at the last stage of its closing action.

If the selector was set to semiautomatic, the normal sear would catch the striker as soon as the secondary sear releases it during bolt closure, holding it back on cocked position until the trigger was re-pulled to fire the next round. In the full-auto setting, the same action takes place.. However, since the normal sear is out of engagement with the striker, the gun will fire automatically each time the bolt closes and the secondary sear releases its connection with the striker. The design modification was quite simple but amazingly reliable. The captain used his full-auto Armalike as a personal defence arm and as a hunting gun for small game and birds.

While these Armscor clones take a back seat in terms of exterior authenticity to their European counterparts, they still represent solid value for the money. They are economically priced, outright accurate and reliable with a proven action that remained a flagship of the company’s rimfire autoloader line for the past 40 years.

Note: Part two of this article will cover the AK-4722 Series plus another interesting full-auto conversion (with a two-piece bolt) of these .22 rimfire assault rifle look-alikes as converted by the weapon workshops in the town of Danao on Visayas Islands (the well-known site of Smith & Wesson and Colt revolver copies and full-auto shotguns).