Despite the similar name and subject matter, this new title is completely separate from the 1994 book Misfire: The Story of How America’s Small Arms Have Failed Our Military, by William Hallahan.

With that noted and out of the way, let’s look at the 2019 title by authors Bob Orkand and Lyman Duryea. Col. Duryea and Lt. Col. Orkand are both retired U.S. Army Infantry members, and both served in Vietnam during the early years.

Initially, I found this book somewhat difficult to read due to it jumping around in time too much. The first chapter begins by describing a January 1961 snowstorm in Washington, D.C. This leads into the inaugural ceremonies for President John F. Kennedy. In fact, I actually started reading it and then put it aside for later. Once I got past the first chapter, it generally went better.

Duryea and Orkand describe the trial by fire of the M16 rifle in the early days of the Vietnam War. It may be difficult to imagine now, nearly 60 years later and in service with over 80 nations, but the early versions of the rifle had serious issues.

As the book explains, there was a chain of events that led to many lives lost. This perfect storm of failures could have been avoided if the proper choices had been made.

To sum up, the ArmaLite firm had developed their AR-15 rifle using a specific load that used IMR-4475 (Improved Military Rifle) extruded smokeless powder made by DuPont™. This particular load gave an average velocity of roughly 3,150 fps, enough to penetrate a steel helmet at 300 yards. The Army insisted on a muzzle velocity of 3,250 fps in order to pierce a helmet at 500 yards. (The authors note that the NVA soldiers wore a soft pith helmet, while the Viet Cong seldom wore any headgear at all.) In order to achieve the higher velocity without exceeding the allowable maximum chamber pressure (52,000 psi), the IMR-4475 powder was replaced with a spherical “ball” type powder, WC846. However, while the chamber pressure was not exceeded, the port pressure was. As the bullet moves down the barrel, the pressure behind it begins to decrease as the powder is consumed. This pressure curve is different for each powder. Ball powder WC846 retains more pressure closer to the muzzle, so as the soldier’s bullet passed the gas port (a small hole in the barrel), the gas system was exposed to noticeably greater pressure.

This increase in port pressure caused a dramatic increase in the rate of fire, which in turn led to more parts breakage. Much more importantly, the jump in port pressure led to a surge in Failure to Extract (FTE) malfunctions. With the pressure in the barrel still high, the brass cartridge case was still expanded tightly against the chamber wall. This greatly increased the resistance of the empty case to slide out of the chamber as the extractor claw pulled on the case rim. In addition to the propellant issue, the chambers and barrels were not chrome-plated on the early rifles. In the very humid climate of Vietnam, corrosion soon set in, causing the chamber to become pitted. Perhaps the troops could have prevented such corrosion if they had been made aware of the issue and kept their guns well cleaned. This is the next great failure. The rifles often did not come with a cleaning kit. And, to make matters worse, the soldiers were often told the new wonder-gun did not need cleaning!

The result was huge number of FTEs during firefights, caused by a combination of excess port pressure and pitted and corroded chamber walls, brought on by a lack of training and cleaning kits. Once the rim had torn off the brass case, the only way to get the case out was to push it out with a cleaning rod. And, as noted, there were too few issued. The book refers to documented cases of troops under fire searching for a cleaning rod.

Unfortunately, the powers that be did not wise up to this problem nearly fast enough. The natural tendency of the upper military is to blame the troops on the ground. Duryea and Orkand state: “The first military reaction to poorly functioning weapons is to blame it on inadequate maintenance by the troops. A little bit of professional communication would have revealed that the problem wasn’t with the men. Many commanders looked no further.” And also: “This is a perfect example of senior officers out of touch with the men doing the fighting. The greater the distance from the action, the greater the tendency to discount reports from the field.” This is noted in chapter 5, called, appropriately enough, “CYA—The Name of the Game.”

As I mentioned above, chapter 1 is somewhat tedious to read. Chapter 2 gets into the technical aspects, including a brief mention of studies done in 1929 by the Ballistics Research Laboratory that recommended a smaller diameter round like .25 or .276. Naturally, the Army stayed with a .30-caliber round.

Chapter 3 looks at the early years at ArmaLite and of Eugene Stoner’s work there. It also looks at the Ordnance Department’s stubbornness to consider any outside designs (NIH, or Not Invented Here), and the .223/5.56x45mm round. This aversion to anything new also included the general concept of an assault rifle. The Ordnance Department loved their heavy, semiauto M14, not the light, selective-fire AR-15. Also discussed are Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and his team of “whiz kids,” young and bright, but with little military experience who tended not to listen to experienced military advisors.

Chapter 4, titled, “The Small Arms Systems Test,” looks at the SAWS test that took place between July and November 1965. Included in the test were the M14, M14E2, XM16E1 and the belt-fed M60 MG. The guns were put through a series of trials, with all potential issues noted. There was a list of 29 possible malfunctions! (Not every gun faced all issues. Number 29 is a partial misfeed from a linked belt and only applies to the M60.) This is where the problems faced by the XM16E2 should have been noted and corrected, if not already dealt with.

Chapter 6, “The Troops Deploy,” starts out a bit dry with a long detailed summary of which units went where in Vietnam. If you were there, you will probably enjoy seeing your unit listed. After several pages, it changes direction to discuss propellant characteristics, specifically IMR-4475 and WC846. Both powders were used in the M193 cartridge. Also mentioned is that the brass used in the cartridge case was not sufficiently hard. This caused the soft brass to flow into the tiny pits in the chambers, further adding to the resistance noted in the explanation above. I was not aware of this prior to reading this book.

Chapter 7 is written by Col. Duryea and describes the death of PFC Joseph Reid. Private Reid was the first soldier to die under Duryea’s command, and his death was directly due to an FTE. This is followed by a series of quotes from various sources, giving opposing opinions on the XM16E1. Several quotes are from the Ichord Subcommittee Report that examined the M16’s problems. In response to growing complaints about the rifle’s reliability, the House Armed Services Committee formed a subcommittee headed by Congressman Richard Ichord (D-MO). This report can be found on the web, if interested.

Chapter 8, “Someone Had Blundered,” continues with the Ichord Report and its findings. Some highlights include noting that the decision to use WC846 powder may have been influenced by the manufacturer Olin Mathieson’s “close relationship” with three Army commands involved with ammunition purchase. The report also states that it was “at least unethical” for Maj. Gen. Nelson Lynde, Jr., the commanding general of the Army Weapons Command, to jump straight to Colt immediately after retiring from the Army.

The book quotes a Small Arms Review article, “The M16 in Vietnam.

Just The Facts!” in Vol. 9, No. 5, February 2006 where Christopher Bartocci states: “The principal and most serious cause of the malfunctions of the AR-15/M16 rifle in Vietnam was the failure to chrome-plate the chamber.” However, Duryea and Orkand note elsewhere that clean new rifles would often have FTE issues with WC846 ammo and not with IMR-4475 ammo. Most likely, it was a perfect storm of pitted, non-chromed chambers firing soft brass ammo loaded with WC846.

Chapter 9 is written by Lt. Col. Orkand. It begins with the touchy subject of the role of media in the war. Orkand says: “It wasn’t the press that ‘lost the war’ in Vietnam for the U.S. The war’s outcome, to the contrary, was a self-inflicted wound resulting from decisions made by our nation’s totally befuddled military and civilian leadership.” The several pages of media issues also include President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost middle America” comment, after watching CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite’s report in February 1968. The chapter then reverts back to further discussion of the Ichord Report. Orkand notes the tone of the report, with the words “unethical,” “unbelievable” and “borders on criminal negligence” quoted.

Chapter 10 takes a look at the TFX/F-111 aircraft project, of all things. The authors compare the TFX program to the M16 mess to point out McNamara’s faults. The Tactical Fighter Experimental eventually grew into the USAF F-111 Aardvark swing-wing jet. But it started out as a joint Navy and USAF fighter-bomber program. Both services were looking for new aircraft in the early ‘60s. McNamara ordered both services to work together on a joint design. He also felt the Marines and even the Army could make use of a jack-of-all-trades aircraft. In spite of the official selection board recommending the proposal by Boeing, McNamara ignored their choice and chose the General Dynamics design. The USAF also favoured the Boeing design. The Navy didn’t like either design but tried to develop a suitable variant. In 1968, after years of trying, the Navy cancelled its version.

Chapter 11 is a history lesson that deals with “Vietnamization,” the training of the South Vietnamese to fight on their own. It also looks at Code of Conduct issues and discusses corrupt Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) leadership and its effect on morale. A relevant point the authors make is: “No amount of training and equipment can offset corruption, lack of motivation and self-interest.”

Chapter 12, “Author’s Commentary,” Duryea comments on Colt continuing to test its guns with IMR-4475 ammo, while being well aware that the ammo used in Vietnam was WC846. Worse, the Army was also aware of this. For this, Duryea writes: “Colt and Army decision-makers were thus directly complicit in an unknown number of Americans killed in close combat, one of whom was my first KIA as a company commander.”

In summary, this book covers a lot of ground, not just the M16 woes. It looks at corruption in the ARVN, the role of media, the poor decisions made by LBJ, McNamara and Gen. Westmoreland. At times, I found it changing direction within chapters and to be rather repetitive on the propellant issue. It does cover an important period in U.S. military history through the eyes of two men who were there.

Early-Version M16s—A Perfect Storm of Failures
MISFIRE: The Tragic Failure of the M16 in Vietnam
Author: Bob Orkand and Lyman Duryea
Publisher: Stackpole Books
ISBN: 978-0-8117-3796-8
Copyright: 2019
Hardcover: 6.24”x0.87”x9.33”, 251 pages, with Color/B&W photos
MSRP: $29.95 (USD)

The Colt 1911A1 used by Mel Gibson as Lt. Col. Hal Moore.

The Colt 1911 used by Sam Elliot’s character, Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley.

The Vietnam War is one of America’s most misunderstood conflicts. Unlike in World War II and Korea, where the enemy was often on the other side of a battlefield, the battle lines were almost invisible in the jungles and highlands of Vietnam. The Viet Cong (VC) blended in with the population and waged a brutal insurgency in the country, launching hit-and-run campaigns, bombings and ambushes against both the South Vietnamese and the American Armies. The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) would also cross the border and launch attacks on military bases. The “American War” lasted over 16 years and saw over 58,000 American fatal casualties and cost millions of Vietnamese lives. In the end, with lack of support for the war, the United States withdrew its forces from Vietnam and the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon, fell in April 1975.

Since the war ended, Hollywood has not been kind to the American Armed Forces. While there were some incidents where a few American soldiers did do some horrible things, nothing in comparison to the VC and NVA atrocities, Hollywood usually paints the American military with a broad negative brush in Vietnam-related movies. Compared to how American soldiers are portrayed in World War II movies or any film about an earlier conflict, soldiers in Vietnam movies are often portrayed as monsters. This anti-military attitude can still be seen in the film industry today, though it is not as common as it used to be.

In 2002, a movie broke away from this attitude. “We Were Soldiers” is based on the book We Were Soldiers Once … And Young. It tells the story of the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang Valley, where American soldiers, led by then Lieutenant Colonel Harold G. Moore, first clashed with soldiers from the NVA. The battle lasted 5 days and resulted in almost 500 American casualties (237 KIA) and thousands of North Vietnamese Army casualties (559 KIA). The initial fight was 450 Americans versus almost 4,000 North Vietnamese Army soldiers. The book was written by Harold G. Moore and journalist Joseph L. Galloway, who was on the ground in the fight at Ia Drang.

In the movie Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore was played by Mel Gibson. His second in command is Sergeant Major Basil L. Plumley, played by Sam Elliott. Hal Moore graduated from West Point and served until 1977, serving in both the Korean and the Vietnam Wars, eventually becoming a Lieutenant General. Sadly, he passed away in 2017. Basil Plumley first joined the Army in 1942 during World War II and saw combat in Operation Overlord (D-Day) and Operation Market Garden. He next saw combat during Vietnam, where he joined the First Battalion, Seventh Cavalry under Hal Moore. He served until 1974, but continued to work for the Army as a civilian. He passed away in 2012.

In the movie, Lieutenant Colonel Moore uses a Colt M1911A1, and Sergeant Major Plumley uses a Colt M1911 pistol. The M1911 was one of the greatest pistols in the history of the United States military, seeing service in World War I, World War II, Korea and of course Vietnam. It also saw service in the militaries of New Zealand, China and many others. It is still in service in a number of countries and some local police agencies in the U.S. It is popular with collectors and gun owners in the U.S. in general. The M1911A1 was “typed” in 1926 and was an upgraded version, with small changes having been made to make it more reliable and easier to shoot—a result of lessons learned from World War I.

 The M1911 shoots .45 ACP ammunition, generally with 230-grain ball projectiles. The ammunition is loaded in a seven-round magazine in the grip of the gun, though soldiers usually had an eighth round in the barrel or “one in the pipe,” as they called it. The gun uses two safety systems, a grip safety and a manual safety. The grip safety requires squeezing the lever on the back of the grip to shoot. The manual safety is next to the hammer on the left side of the pistol. The pistol weighs less than 3 pounds, including ammo.

Other guns used in “We Were Soldiers” include AK-47s used by the NVA, though they are seen using other guns like the SKS and even an MG34 machine gun. The Americans used the M16 rifle (XM16E1 configuration), M60 machine guns and M79 grenade launchers. At one point, helicopters in the film use GE M134 Miniguns. Early in the film, there is a sequence showing French soldiers fighting Viet Minh in 1954 in the same general area as the 1965 battle, called “French Mobile Force 100.” In this sequence, the French carry the MAS-36 rifle, Browning Hi-Power pistols, MAT-49 submachine guns and use Browning M1919A4 machine guns mounted on jeeps. The Viet Minh are seen using SKSs, ZB26s and PPSh-41s as well as PPS-43s.

“We Were Soldiers” is a great movie. It was well-received by critics and audiences alike and is considered one of the better Vietnam War films. The actors do a great job, especially Mel Gibson and Sam Elliott. Madeleine Stowe does an outstanding job as Hal Moore’s wife, Julia Moore. Barry Peppers is good as Joe Galloway, as is Greg Kinnear as Lt. Col. Bruce P. Crandall and Ryan Hurst as Sgt. Ernie Savage. The battle scenes in the movie are compellingly done and can be a bit brutal at times, so perhaps it is not a film to show children. In any case “We Were Soldiers” is a must-see for everyone who loves war movies.

Dan Shea’s Time On Set

I knew that my father (and father of Small Arms Review), Dan Shea, had something to do with this movie and asked him about it.

“I was invited out as Small Arms Review to cover the movie set at Fort Hunter Liggett in California,” he said, “which had terrain and basic vegetation very similar to the II Corps highland area of Vietnam in the Ia (river) Drang valley on the Cambodian border side near Pleiku. My good friend Mike Papac was lead armorer, and I had supplied him with some intel pamphlets from my library—1956 British Viet Minh reports with uniforms, tactics and equipment. Very helpful in the French Mobile Force 100 scene. We also spent a bit of time going over making all the M16s appear to be XM16E1s, which Mike was an absolute stickler for. Anyway, I was out messing around with Mike Dillon and Miniguns—he heard I was headed to the set—and he had four M134 Miniguns to ship to Mike Papac and decided to fly his vintage U.S. Army-painted Huey from Phoenix to Hunter Liggett, via LA. He and his son Chris flew with me as baggage, we stopped in LA and picked up Syd Stembridge and flew the coast of California at 50 feet over the surf, up over the redwoods; it took about 11 hours from Phoenix. Before we got to the Valley of Wind I was sidesaddle at the door and monkey-strapped on the side, and Mike said, “Close the door, no one rides like that.” I said, “Huh, imagine that” and came in. I guess slick jockeys don’t look back at “cargo grunts.” Coming in on the set just after the napalm scenes, with Mike scooting the Huey done up as U.S. ‘Nam-era paint, was something spooky! Anyway, we delivered, spent a couple of days, and here’s the most important thing: wherever I went, I found guys in the right age group, and they were all ‘Nam vets … undercover. They didn’t want anyone to know they were ‘Nam vets and all said, “I’m here to make sure they do this right for a change.” They damn sure did, great movie. Mike Papac’s attention to detail was exemplary, and everyone else doing costume and equipment was on the same page. I was blown away; been on more than a few “‘Nam movie” sets with all the baloney. What amazing detail all of them did on this one!”

Special Note: The movie does not cover the battle at L.Z. Albany that happened after the film’s ending. Here the American soldiers were almost wiped out in an ambush by the NVA. Over 130 soldiers died and 124 were wounded. Because of this, both Americans and Vietnamese claimed to have won the battle.

Knob Creeker Note: For those who knew the late “Big Dan” Robinson, Dan was in Delta company at LZ X-ray.

Special thanks to Mike Papac of Cinema Weaponry!

Smith & Wesson

The Smith & Wesson Corporation is one of the oldest firms in the United States and is still actively in business. Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson joined forces in 1852 to develop a repeating firearm. By 1857, the company employed 25 people. During that year, a total of four revolvers were manufactured. The U.S. Smith & Wesson Corporation has long been recognized for producing some of the finest revolvers in the world. Many served the United States and the Allies with distinction during World War I and World War II.

Smith & Wesson (S&W) began the development of their Model N Hand Ejector revolver in 1905. The large frame revolver was originally designed for the .44 Special cartridge. The first model was also known as the “Triple Lock;” the name referring to a third locking lug on the cylinder crane. The third locking mechanism was thought to be necessary due to the increased power of the .44 cartridge.

During World War I, the British Ministry of Munitions contracted with Colt and S&W in 1914 to manufacture revolvers chambered in .455 Webley in order to supplement a shortage of their Webley Mk VI revolvers. Smith & Wesson manufactured approximately 75,000 of its high-quality Second Model, Hand Ejector, double-action revolvers in .455 caliber for Great Britain and Canada. The S&W revolvers were adopted as “substitute standard,” designated as the “Pistol Smith & Wesson .455 with ​6.5-inch barrel Mark I.” The British considered the extra locking lug redundant and requested it be eliminated from the design. Subsequent orders, lacking the third locking lug and ejector shroud, were known as the Mark II. As the U.S. prepared to enter the First World War, there were no additional British contracts, as production shifted to the U.S. to arm a rapidly growing U.S. Army.

In anticipation of America’s eventual involvement in the conflict, the factory increased its efforts to develop a revolver chambered for the standard U.S. service .45 ACP cartridge. The U.S. Army tested a S&W Hand Ejector revolver configured to fire the standard .45-caliber round during 1916–1917. After testing, the revolver was deemed satisfactory for military use; with this endorsement, S&W began tooling up for large-scale manufacture of the U.S. Model 1917 .45-caliber, double-action, six-shot revolver.

Early Production M1917s

Early production of the S&W M1917 revolver featured hammers with fine circular grooves. The Army felt as though the milled grooves would collect dirt and possibly cause malfunctions. As per the Army’s request, subsequent production hammers were smooth. Other features of early production were wooden grips that were dished at the top; these were also eliminated, replaced by full-rounded wood grips. Early revolvers had a round top strap and a rear sight with a small U-shaped notch. Later manufacture, post-WWI civilian production, had a flat top frame with a square-shaped notch for the rear sight. The revolvers were finished in a low-gloss blue, with a color case-hardened trigger and hammer. A 5.5-inch-long, 6-groove barrel had a right-hand twist of one turn in 14.659 inches. A lanyard ring was placed at the bottom of the weapon’s butt. The overall length was 10.79 inches. The S&W revolver was slightly lighter at 2 pounds, 4 ounces than Colt’s 1917 model that weighed 2 pounds, 7 ounces.

The original government contract price for each revolver with two clips was $14.75. The price was later increased to $15.60. Spare barrels were priced at $5.58 each. S&W production ran from October 1917 until January 1919, with approximately 163,635 Model 1917 revolvers manufactured. Serial numbers were placed on the butt, cylinder, underside of the barrel, rear of the yoke and in pencil on the inside of the right wood grip. Along with the serial number, the butt was marked: “U.S. ARMY MODEL 1917.” The top of the barrel was roll-marked “SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS U.S.A. PATENTED DEC. 17, 1901, FEB 6, 1906, SEP 14, 1909.” The left side of the barrel was marked “S&W D.A.45.” The bottom of the barrel was stamped “UNITED STATES PROPERTY.” A provisional inspection mark on early component production was a letter “S,” reported to be the mark of Gilbert H. Stewart. Later production used the eagle’s head with a letter and number code: “S2,” “S3,” etc. The S&W trademark logo, normally stamped on its commercial firearms, was not used on the military contract 1917 revolvers.

Note: The number stamped on the butt of the S&W military M1917 is the weapon’s factory serial number. The factory serial number on the Colt-manufactured U.S. Army Model 1917 is stamped on the frame. A different, non-matching number is stamped on the butt; it is not the serial number but is a government control number.

Each assembled weapon and spare barrel were proof-fired in the presence of an Ordnance inspector, using a special high-pressure cartridge. After successfully passing the test, a proof mark was applied to each weapon by the person performing the test. Each revolver was function-fired with six rounds; three in double-action and three in single-action. Weapons were test-fired for accuracy at a range of 15 yards. A 2,000-round endurance test, using standard-issue ball ammunition, was performed on one revolver from each lot. The Army Inspector of Ordnance (AIO) acceptance stamp was “GHS” of Officer Gilbert H. Stewart on early production; later the “flaming bomb” ordnance or the “eagle head” insignia was used to designate government acceptance.

Holsters & Clips

There were three different leather holsters issued to carry the M1917 revolver. The earliest was the M1909 model designed at the Rock Island Arsenal. During World War II, the M2 holster was introduced which was similar to the M1909 holster, except the butt of the weapon was pointed rearward. The WWII M4 holster was similar but had a closed bottom to keep debris out of the muzzle.

Ammunition was issued on the 3-round half-moon clips. During WWI, a three-pocket canvas pouch was supplied to carry two clips in each pocket for a total of 18 rounds. During the post-War period, a handy six-round “full-moon” clip was designed by a S&W engineer. Although the clips are reusable, they can be difficult to load and unload. To eliminate the need for the clips, the Peters Cartridge Company introduced the .45 Auto Rim, also known as the 11.5x23R, in 1920. The rimmed version of the .45 ACP cartridge allowed the Model 1917 revolver to fire and eject all the spent cases without the clips.

During production of the M1917 revolvers, there were a few labor issues at the S&W factory that resulted in the government organization, the National Operating Company (NOC), taking over management of the S&W plant. After the end of WWI and subsequent production of the revolvers for the military concluded, S&W reassumed management of their factory in 1919. After the military contracts ended, there were a substantial number of unfinished revolvers and parts remaining. After the rebuild contracts were terminated, S&W purchased the parts from the government. During the 1920s, civilian production of the N frame revolvers resumed. The commercial 1917 first appeared as a regular cataloged model in “Catalog D-2,” issued in January 1921.

In 1937, Smith & Wesson sold 25,000 .45-caliber Model 1917 revolvers to Brazil, assembled with new manufactured parts and frames. There was a second Brazilian contract for 12,000 additional revolvers in 1946. Many of the components used to assemble the revolvers for the second contract were left over from World War I production; most of the frames and parts have military inspection markings on them.

John Dillinger

A stolen S&W 1917 revolver was used by infamous outlaw John Dillinger, with the serial number and all military markings carefully ground off. Like many of the weapons used by Dillinger, the revolver is in the custody of the FBI.

In the Movies and Television

The S&W Model 1917 revolvers have been featured in films and video games in the hands of both good guys and villains.

There were two different revolvers used by the hero Indiana Jones in the 1981 Steven Spielberg movie “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” The .45-caliber S&W 1917 used in the movie was not a U.S. military contract revolver, as evidenced by the S&W trademark logo on the left side of the frame, absent on military revolvers. The barrel was shortened down to a length of 4 inches. Interestingly, the serial number of that revolver, 172449, falls in the reported range of Brazil’s second 1946 contract for the Model of 1937, a copy of the M1917 revolver.

The other revolver used in the movie was a British-issued .455-caliber S&W 2nd Model Hand Ejector with a lanyard ring and a barrel shortened to a length of 4 inches. This was reportedly the revolver Indiana Jones used in the famous scene where he is confronted in the Cairo marketplace by a black-robed man with an over-sized scimitar. As the man began displaying his skill with his weapon, Indy, desperately preoccupied with finding his kidnapped love interest Marion, simply draws his revolver and shoots the swordsman.

Left: A World War I soldier with a holstered M1917 revolver and a three-pocket canvas pouch that held two 3-round clips in each pocket for a total of 18 rounds. Right: A U.S. Army Corporal from the 173rd Airborne Brigade armed with a .45-caliber, M1917 revolver on tunnel-rat duty during the Vietnam War.

Brad Pitt’s character, Sergeant Don “Wardaddy” Collier, in the 2014 Hollywood World War II movie “Fury” carried a S&W M1917 revolver as his personal sidearm. His revolver sported a set of plastic “sweetheart” grips with the image of an unidentified female. Other films of note that featured the S&W Model 1917: “The Highwaymen” by actor Kevin Costner’s character Frank Hamer; “Hacksaw Ridge”by characters Tom and Desmond Doss; “All the Kings Men”by actor Mark Ruffalo’s characterDr. Adam Stanton.

There is still quite a collector interest in the old .45-caliber 1917 military revolvers. Enough interest that S&W reintroduced a commercial slightly updated version of the 1917 for their Classic Series, designated as the Model 22. There is also a modern version .45-caliber revolver from S&W in stainless steel, the Model 625.

“Live dangerously; as carefully as possible.” –Colonel “Mad Mike” Hoare

Colonel Michael “Mad Mike” Hoare died peacefully in his sleep while I worked on this article. His eldest son, Chris, emailed me the news from Durban, South Africa.

Outside, a wind levelled the snow, evoking a winter long ago when escape called from the cork board near my grade six desk. Under “Current Events” a newspaper photo featured mercenaries and machine guns in the “Congo Crisis.” Led by a charismatic Colonel Hoare, they battled insane odds to rescue thousands of innocents from the evil “Simbas.” For myself, and countless others, the coverage was, as Colonel Hoare might understate, formative.

The 1960s Congo Crisis was largely a struggle between the “Capitalist West” and the Communist East. At stake were strategic uranium and cobalt mines. The vast majority of victims in the fight were Black Congolese, but the desperate situation of foreigners stranded in bloody mayhem captured the attention of the western press. That’s the political and human side.

On the cultural side, something unexpected happened. If it wasn’t born in the Congo, the popular paramilitary culture was legitimized there, and Colonel Hoare was its polished, middle-aged poster child. Hoare projected morality and manners, made military adventure heroic and stoked an appetite for all things military. Richard Burton portrayed Colonel Hoare in the British blockbuster feature, “The Wild Geese.”

In 1960s Congo, Hoare’s men labelled their unit newsletter “The Volunteer.” In a fitting incarnation, Soldier of Fortune (SOF) magazine was introduced in the U.S. in 1975. SOF has triumphed over lawsuits and hate campaigns for 45 years. Machine Gun News, another pioneer magazine born in the time, grew into the distinguished Small Arms Review.

In May 2019, Colonel Hoare turned 100. Chris Hoare, an accomplished writer and author many readers are familiar with, commemorated this with a superlative biography of his father, “Mad Mike” Hoare: The Legend.

I was fortunate to meet Colonel Hoare in the 1970s. Regardless of the nickname, there was nothing “Mad” about “Mad Mike.” A compact, good-humored and engaging gentleman, Colonel Hoare was a man at ease with himself and easy to be with. I flatter myself that we hit it off… I would never presume to call him Mike.

He smiled when I handed him my scoped FN FAL rifle. It settled into his hands like a part of him. He knew it well. Touted as “the free world’s right arm,” the FAL (Fusil Automatique Léger/Light Automatic Rifle) was carried by much of NATO and by Hoare’s men in all his Congo adventures. It is a symbol of the Cold War and the Congo. There was a lot of competition in the Congo. Between the guns of the combatants and the peacekeepers just about every well-known 20^th century military small arm saw use there.

No specific gun determined or changed the course of the conflict, but some weapons rose to engineered art. Conceived and made in the red brick Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre factory in the Liège suburb of Herstal, Belgium, the FAL was a machined expression of national and personal pride … a design and master work in steel and wood. At the factory, FAL is often pronounced as a single word to rhyme with pal. The heavy barrel variant is called a “FAL-O.”

Long before Fabrique Nationale came into being, dozens of Liège gun factories made muzzle-loading trade guns. Powerful tribes in the Congo River Basin had slaves and gold to trade. In the 1890s, Katanga Chief Msiri commanded 10,000 warriors, most carrying cartridge rifles.

Belgian King Leopold II staked out much of central Africa as his personal property in 1885 with trading posts, mines and plantations. The Congo Free State, as he named his private African country, was about one quarter the size of the United States. Leopold borrowed money from the Belgian government to finance it all and created the “Force Publique” to enforce his control.

White, mostly Belgian, officers commanded ranks of Black Africans. Many of Leopold’s enforcers carried single-shot, 11mm Albini-Braendlin and Comblain No. 2 rifles. The Albini-Braendlin breech was similar to the trapdoor Springfield, while the Comblain No. 2 had a vertically sliding breech block much like the American Sharps. Both used black powder to fire slow, heavy bullets.

In the forefront of the smokeless powder era, Belgium adopted the Model 1889 rifle, a modern Mauser bolt-action. Belgium wanted the German–Belgian hybrid made in Belgium. To fill the huge national contract, several gun makers in Liège joined with the German firm Ludwig Loewe to become the renowned firm Fabrique Nationale.

The Model 1889 had a built-in, five-shot, single-stack magazine. Its new small-caliber, high-speed bullet launched from a rimless, bottle-neck cartridge. The bolt-action design was similar to the 71/84 Mauser black-powder rifle, but the Model 1889 could be loaded by a single round or with a five-round stripper-clip. The Mannlicher competition also used “clips,” but those were inserted as loaded units into the gun; the en-bloc system was later used in the M1 Garand. The rifle was also adopted as the Argentine 1891 and the Turkish 1890. The blued-steel barrel jacket is often mistaken for the barrel itself. Carbine and short rifle versions were produced.

The Model 1889 rifle was made for Belgium and the Free State of the Congo. During WWI, when the FN plant was occupied by German invaders, Belgium had the Model 1889 made at Hopkins & Allen in the U.S. and W.W. Greener in Britain. Between the World Wars, many Belgian Model 1889s were rebuilt into shorter, lighter 1889/36 rifles. Shed of the Model 1889s barrel jackets, they served alongside belt-fed Maxims and magazine-fed Madsen Light Machine Guns (LMGs).

Belgium was slow to issue the more effective modern guns to the often surly Force Publique. Leopold’s was a ruthless reign. Rubber was the crop, and if a harvest worker was slow, the penalty of losing a hand inspired those remaining. It was all quite profitable, and Congo towns grew into Belgian-like cities. The veneer of Christian missions and tidy schools crumbled quickly after the British press first exposed a catalog of atrocities. World opinion shamed Leopold into giving the Congo Free State to Belgium. It became the Belgian Congo in 1908.

In the wave of 1950s anti-colonialism, the Black Congolese demanded independence from Belgium. An early leader was Patrice Lumumba, born in 1925. His unpromising, and much longer, full name meant, “Heir of the Cursed.” Smart, educated and highly political, Lumumba was a postal worker until 1956 when he was jailed for embezzling while training in Belgium. He returned to the Congo expounding a vision of racial harmony, justice and equality. He was branded an anti-Catholic and anti-white Marxist and jailed for sedition.

During 1960, at least 17 colonies in Africa, mostly French, were freed in colonialism’s long-running train wreck. In 1959, bloody riots forced Belgium to announce free elections. Lumumba was released from jail and elected prime minister. His ally, Joseph Kasa-Vubu, was elected president. The Congo had two Black doctors, less than a dozen Black college graduates and two new Black Army Lieutenants.

The Independence Ceremonies

On June 30, 1960, the Independence ceremonies of the Republic of the Congo unfolded in Leopoldville. The joyful parade route was packed. Belgian King Baudouin took the salute of the Force Publique.

Select troops and police presented arms with the FN SAFN (FN-49). The SAFN is a 10-shot, long-wood semiautomatic rifle with a short-stroke tappet piston. It was internationally popular in several calibers, but the greatest part of SAFN production was in 30-06 caliber for Belgium and the Force Publique. Some Belgian-issued guns, called the ABL, had selective fire.

The pre-WWII SAFN design was a late bloomer and already obsolete as the guns were made. The basic operating design was soon reworked with a two-piece, straight line stock, pistol grip and high-capacity magazine to become the FAL.

During the parade, as the king’s open limo glided down Leopoldville Avenue, a dancing celebrant jogged alongside and grabbed the king’s sword. Luckily for his unamused majesty, the man, soon to be a local celebrity, only waved it harmlessly while continuing to dance in the parade.

From the podium, the ruffled king reminded the grumbling rabble of the blessings King Leopold II had showered upon them. Lumumba, who hadn’t been scheduled to speak, rose in outrage to decry Leopold’s cruelties and hail the bloody victory of rebellion. Reluctantly, the fuming king stayed for dinner before heading for the airport.

The celebrations were still going on when the former Force Publique, now the Armee Nationale Congolese (ANC,) mutinied, beating up and killing many of their white officers and civilians. Transition plans, naive and shaky to begin with, collapsed in lawlessness. Carloads of anxious whites formed a convoy south toward Rhodesia while thousands more overloaded the airports and ferries out.

Belgian troops flew back to the chaos to manage the evacuation. News photos showed Belgian paratroops with folding stock FALs, MAG 58 belt-fed machine guns (M240 in American) and select-fire 9mm Vigneron M2 submachine guns (SMGs). Colonel Georges Vigneron’s well-liked gun combined proven features of the M3 Grease Gun, the Sten, the MP 40 and even the Tommy gun.

Lumumba and Kasa-Vubu denounced the evacuation effort as an “imperialist invasion,” and demanded UN intervention.

As the rest of the Congo sank into violence and crime, the mining areas in the Katanga and nearby Kasaï province continued business as usual. Katanga was often derided as a glorified mining camp, but business was good, and no one of any color wanted to rock their happy boat. Katanga’s honestly elected Black leader, Moïse Kapenda Tshombe, was genuinely popular, and like his voters, a company man. The company was Union Minière du Haut Katangar (UMHK), a marriage between Belgian and British companies. Katanga ran on Union Minière wages and, with nearby Kasaï province, produced 60% of the world’s uranium, much of its cobalt and a buffet of rare minerals and gems.

Eleven days after independence, Katanga and Kasaï declared independence from the Republic of the Congo. Tshombe invited Belgian administrators, civilian workers, ex-officers and NCOs to stay in Katanga. Another 200 Belgian soldiers “transferred” to the Katanga Gendarmerie (police and armed forces). Tshombe closed the border.

Lumumba’s End, the Conflict’s Beginning

Lumumba visited America to get military support in retaking Katanga. The Congo needed the mines to survive; he pleaded to deaf ears. The U.S. already believed Lumumba was anti-American and a Communist. When he arrived in New York, his much-publicized demand for a blonde, white escort didn’t help.

Lumumba returned home and announced if Belgian forces were still there in two days, he would invite the Soviet Union to throw them out. The alarmed U.N. immediately landed Irish and Swedish peacekeeping troops. Period photos often show the Swedes with their M45 Carl Gustav submachine guns. The 9mm gun owes much of its excellent reputation to its toed-in, double-stack, double-feed magazine. In support, Sweden had license-built versions of the Browning 1919. The Irish carried FALs, Bren and Sten guns and Vickers water-cooled guns.

Lumumba welcomed the arrivals with anticipation. He expected the peacekeepers to restore Katanga to the Congo. But, Belgium, the United States and Britain, despite UN policy, supported the breakaway state. Suppression of Katanga was not a priority.

A few weeks after independence, the increasingly pro-Soviet Lumumba and Kasa-Vuba fell out. The Army Chief of Staff, Joseph-Désiré Mobutu stepped into the fray, and he and Kasa-Vuba handed Lumumba over to Tshombe. Tshombe was surprised to have Lumumba in his hands and wanted mostly to unload him back on Mobutu. Instead Lumumba was killed. Various versions of his execution accuse Belgians, CIA operatives and Lumumba’s drunken guards. He became a Communist martyr and the Soviet Union named the Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow for him. The name was changed to Peoples’ Friendship University in 1992.

With the agreement of the U.S. and the U.K., Tshombe soon had two British ex-officers, Alistair Wick and Richard Brown, hiring white “volunteer” soldiers in South Africa and Rhodesia. Military experience was not essential. Today, the pay would be about $1,000 USD a week.

France, too, dispatched “volunteers” to Tshombe’s aid. Many were French Foreign Legionnaires. The officers were all French Army. The legion ranks included WWII Axis veterans, many also now veterans of the Algerian War and First Indochina War (French Indochina). They arrived with bolt-action MAS-36/52 and semiauto MAS-49 rifles, AAT-52 recoil-driven LMGs, MAT-49 SMGs and their Model 1935 pistols.

Katanga was largely surrounded by enemies. Tshombe’s historic tribal rivals, the Baluba, threatened from the north, and the ANC and the United Nations from the west. Kasaï province, isolated to the west of Katanga, was cut off and overrun by the ANC. Over 4 weeks, thousands died badly for being born into the same tribe as Tshombe. The United Nations troops did nothing to stop the slaughter.

“Volunteer” Hoare found himself at a Shinkolobwe Army base with the rank of captain and a command within “4 Commando.”

More on “Mad Mike”

Hoare was born on St. Patrick’s Day while his Irish parents lived in India. This made him British-born, and his English schooling instilled the ideals of duty, loyalty, honour and chivalry. He loved soldiering and wanted to attend Sandhurst, the British counterpart of West Point. It was more than he could afford, so Hoare joined the “Territorial Force,” as the British once called their part-time reserves, and settled reluctantly into accounting. When WWII started, his Territorial membership enabled Hoare to join the regular Army instantly. He aced the small arms school, was fast-tracked to officer training and was commissioned a second lieutenant. In the Far East, he fought under the aristocratic Brigadier Bernard Fergusson, who became his military role model. At the War’s end, Hoare was a major. He returned to Britain, having married Elizabeth Stott in India in 1945, and retired from national service. Chris Hoare was the first of their two boys, and they had a girl. In 1948, they moved to Durban, South Africa. Hoare was a professional accountant who preferred dealing in used cars and scrap. He motorcycled the length of Africa, sailed and guided several safaris and expeditions. On one adventure he became friends with a CIA agent. In 1961, Hoare, now divorced, married Phyllis Sims. They had two boys.

In Katanga, Hoare maintained his standards of appearance and demanded his men do so as well. For former Rhodesian and South African soldiers, a daily shave and British Army traditions were already the norm.

With much foot-dragging, U.N. forces and the equally unmotivated ANC made some probes against Katanga. Those operations failed, but provocatively, an Irish U.N. force established itself in control of Jadotville.

In September 1961, Tshombe surrounded Jadotville with his Katangese Gendarmes and Belgian and French mercenaries. Over several days of fighting, about 300 Black Katangese Gendarmes, and a very few white mercenaries, fell in failed attacks. The Irish surrendered when their supplies and ammunition ran out. They had not lost a man. Tshombe had kicked the U.N. out and avoided a “white bloodbath” that would have soured his Western allies. The movie “Jadotville” tells their story.

Dag Hammarskjöld, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, died during a “shuttle diplomacy” attempt to bring peace. He was shot down by the Katangese Air Force, or his pilots ran into an uncharted hill in Rhodesia. The crash is still a fury of conflicting, concealed, lost and manufactured evidence.

After Mobutu threw out the infuriated Communists, America and Western Europe were comfortable with reintegrating Katanga with the Congo. At the end of 1962, Katanga rejoined the Congo and Tshombe left Katanga to exile in Madrid. He took the checkbook with him, and stranded foreign mercenaries were happy to have the UN fly them home.

Lumumba’s ghost and his thousands of former supporters did not rest in peace. Pierre Mulele took over the surging rebel movement, and his chanted name became the rebel battle cry. The rebels called themselves “Simbas,” Swahili for “Lions.” Many had never held a firearm. Bows, spears, muzzle loaders and hand-made guns surrounded prized Mausers and SAFNs.

Soviet and Chinese aid upgraded the Simba arsenal with bolt-action M1891/30 and 1944 Moisin–Nagants, semiauto SVT rifles, PPSh 41 and PPS 43 SMGs, SKS carbines, AK-47s and DP-27 LMGs and RPD LMGs.

The Congo includes most of the jungle in Africa. The chrome bores of the handy SKSs and AK-47s were a God-send in the jungle humidity and unskilled hands. The Soviet 7.62X39mm intermediate cartridge was often preferred to the loud and heavy full-power rounds.

This was important to the “Jeunesse” as the youngest Simbas were called. These child soldiers set out to exterminate all literate Congolese. With help from magic, the “Mulele” battle chant was promised to turn enemy bullets to water. Part of the magic was “dagga,” a drink of alcohol, marijuana and pureed enemy genitalia.

The rebellion spread, and by mid-1964, the Simbas held much of the Congo. Mobutu was in sole charge of the government. There was no peace to keep and the U.N., having lost 200 men in mostly grisly fashion, pulled out. The Simba tide engulfed Stanleyville, and thousands of foreigners and Congolese were taken hostage by the rebels.

Hoare Returns

The day the U.N. departed, Mobutu invited Tshombe home to command the fight against the Simbas. Tshombe immediately rehired Mike Hoare and his volunteers from Katanga days.

Hoare landed to find the once magnificent Belgian base at Kamina derelict and stripped for scrap. There were no uniforms, no weapons, no money, and no beer. His new recruits included an unhealthy percentage of alcoholics, drug addicts, deviants, and criminals.

Scenes throughout the Congo repeated the panic after Independence. Again, American-Belgian rescue efforts were labelled an imperialist invasion, and the Union Nations assured the world the Simba atrocity stories were nonsense. Tshombe was reviled as an imperialist lackey throughout Black Africa.

Belgium supplied small arms for 1,000 mercenaries and 200 more advisors. The United States airlifted in trucks, jeeps, radios and supplies. Critical to the upcoming campaign was the compact and powerful air-force piloted by expert Cuban exiles.

The volunteer ranks thinned as the unsuited were weeded out. Major Hoare practiced military leadership: Lead from the front; be seen to share the hardships, yet keep a dignified distance; always have a back-up plan; and always appear calm. Morale rose with uniforms, pep talks and military decorum. Always a romantic, Hoare deemed his force “The Wild Geese” in tribute to the Irish mercenaries of earlier centuries. Hoare’s adventurist teenage son Chris flew in to join them, train with the FAL and serve as his father’s driver.

Hoare’s men replaced an initial issue of Spanish CETME rifles with new selective-fire FALs. Most of the men were comfortable with the FAL they had trained with in their home armies. While the recoil-operated CETME was reliable, it was less familiar, and the adjustable gas system of the FAL gives a degree of operator influence. The force of the gas striking the piston is controlled by regulating the size of a gas venting hole in the cylinder. If the gun should get sluggish; the rifleman can turn up the gas.

It wasn’t a matter of choice anyway. The Congo was a Belgian show. With the FALs, came M2 Browning .50s, MAG 58s and FN copies of the .30 BMG and Israeli Uzi.

Colonel Hoare has been pictured in the Congo wearing an FN Browning P-35 Hi-Power. Hoare also carried a 1911 .45. We know this from his words, and after a mercenary raped and publicly executed a captured female Simba, Hoare court martialed him and shot off the man’s big toes with his .45.

The Congo Crisis was becoming world news, and most of it was bad. Simbas held Albertville and hundreds of hostages, white and Black, faced torture and death. An unpredictable 12-year-old Simba “Sergeant Major” was a key figure in the bloodthirsty command.

Despite Albertville’s poor defense, the ANC’s advance was slow and failing. Speed was life for the hostages, but the road to Albertville would be dangerous and give away any chance of surprise. Albertville, like Kamina, is on the shore of Lake Tanganyika. Sixteen small outboards were available. Hoare was an experienced sailor, but a vocal dissident predicted they would all drown in the heavy waves. Hoare contradicted this with a sharp clout of his pistol and took two dozen volunteers north up the lake to attack Albertville in coordination with the ANC ground forces and CIA air cover.

After rough water, engine break-downs and a lethal and aborted landing under the enemies’ sights, they reached shore. They marched north by road. The morning sun lit fields and tribal villages. Women in colorful robes tended cooking fires. From the distant bush, a backdrop of haunting calls and throbbing drums announced the mercenaries’ approach. A Simba mob, wild-eyed on dagga and chanting, suddenly appeared and charged from ahead. All were teenagers. A few had bolt-action Mausers while most carried machetes, spears, bows and arrows and worn trade guns. Hoare’s men opened fire with 22 FALs and killed 28 Simbas.

The rebel defense of Albertville dissolved before the mercenaries, the reinvigorated ANC and the thundering aircraft overhead. Sadly, the rescuers were too late for many. Dozens of missionaries had been killed with unprintable cruelty. On seeing their tortured bodies, Hoare said that all their efforts had made “not an inch of progress.” Prayers were no doubt said at the next mandatory Church Parade.

Attack at Stanleyville

Leaving the horrors of Albertville, “5 Commando’s” Ferret armored cars spearheaded the march on Stanleyville where the stakes were even higher. Under the overall command of Belgian Colonel Frederic Vandewalle, 5 Commando, Cuban exiles, Belgians and the ANC planned to attack Stanleyville at the same moment as American planes dropped Belgian paratroopers.

The plight of the hostages and the hair-raising charge to Stanleyville overshadowed all other news. Everyone understood the terrorized white captives in Stanleyville had only been spared as human shields. Black Congolese had no such value, and public trials and executions went on for days in the town square. The Black elected mayor died watching the crowd eat his liver. The international media descended, and journalists in bush jackets struggled to write in the backs of trucks and jostled for radio time. The coverage was relentless.

Ambushes slowed the column. The standard counter-ambush drill was a barrage of rifle-launched grenades and automatic firepower. Belt-fed guns struggled in jungle foliage, but the column’s vehicle-mounted guns, mostly Brownings, smoothly produced overwhelming suppressive firepower. The first two ambushes were answered without loss of momentum. In the third ambush, a Cuban was hit in the stomach. After a pause the column rolled on.

The Simbas, often brave and fearless, were usually bad shots and tactically unaware. In the next village, however, wiser Simbas let the armored cars pass and raked the trucks following. Hoare’s men leapt out into the roadside grass, and several ended up fighting Simba warriors literally hand-to-hand.

Breathless reporting elevated  Hoare and the mercenaries to celebrity status. The press shared the heroic aura when CBS reporter George Clay, was shot through the head. Five Commando burned down the village in retaliation. Hoare described the night push toward Stanleyville as the most frightening night of his life. Darkness and sanity stopped the advance. Hoare and his men slept uncomfortably in the rain.

At dawn, 5 Commando moved on. The air support arrived, and the radial engines of the T-28s and B-26s shook the ground as the planes punished the Simbas with rockets and .50-caliber machine guns.

At 6 a.m. on November 24, 1964, 5 Commando was still driving toward Stanleyville when the Belgian paratroopers landed with armored jeeps and Land Rovers. They advanced on the town square.

The white hostages now had no value, and Simbas herded 300 into the street with spears and rifles. The gunfire of the charging paratroopers was barely a block away when a witch doctor frantically ordered the wavering Simba guards to kill the prisoners. They started shooting and spearing the women and children first. The paratroopers arrived 4 minutes later. Dozens of hostages were already wounded and more than two dozen killed.

The Belgian paras, Belgian mercenaries, the ANC and 5 Commando cleared the city, rescuing dozens and ultimately thousands of people. More priests and missionaries were found tortured and killed. Black teachers and intellectuals typically had their tongues cut out before torture and death. The ANC took merciless revenge on captured Simbas.

Dozens of rescue missions scoured the bush for stranded, mostly missionary and mostly white families. Clothes and footprints in the mud of a river bank revealed British adults and children had been forced to strip, before being killed and thrown into the river. The outraged patrol tracked and killed the surprised Simbas and rescued 14 women. Another rescue patrol found the frantic parents of a 4-year-old girl who had run in terror into the jungle. Grimly, the patrol went out to search. In one of the Congo’s few happy endings, they found her alive.

Such heroic stories uplifted the world. Overnight, mercenaries were adulated by much of the media. The delighted Greatest Generation applauded one of its own for showing the world how-to again. It was never better. The western world sighed in relief, and the paparazzi moved on, but the Congo Crisis wasn’t over with the retaking of Stanleyville. Every day, Algeria, Ghana and Burundi pushed 30 tons of Russian and Chinese guns and munitions to the Simbas through southern Sudan and Uganda, and the killings went on.

Major Hoare was tired, but Mobutu promoted him to Lt. Colonel and convinced him to stay on. Hoare convoyed 5 Commando and the ANC to the northeast borders by road. When the ANC’s loudspeakers blared, “Scotland the Brave,” masses of people rose cheering. They were well received, and the dispirited Simbas deserted their positions leaving piles of arms and ammunition. Five Commando wrecked all the vital bridges and closed the northern border.

Hoare and his men returned to Albertville to stop more Communist supplies being smuggled across Lake Tanganyika. The enemy was drawn from a fierce tribe of warriors. Cuban advisors, led by Ernesto “Che” Guevara, trained them in weapons and tactics, and 5 Commando faced an improved enemy.

The threat didn’t last. A captured Cuban war journalist fumed in frustration with the rebels. When Guevara left after a few months, the witch doctors and the suicidal charges returned. Five Commando completed their last 1963 mission by retaking the towns of Baraka and Fizi. The unit was disbanded in 1967.

Hoare and his men returned to their homes. Through it all, Hoare met, knew and served many of the Congo’s leaders and generals. He spoke highly of several. He was not a racist. At one point, he had faith enough in the Congo to move his family there. Hoare even hoped his Commandos could remain and become a force for peace and justice in all of Africa. He admitted his impossible dream faded, but the world’s fascination never did; movies, TV shows, books and articles often portray the noble anti-hero as a mercenary on the right side. A whiff of Camelot still hangs in the air. While some cynics ask if the glorification is justified; few deny it.

Chris Hoare summed up Tshombe’s reward: “Tshombe, his job done, fell from grace; soon, he was kidnapped, and he died in prison in Algeria in 1969.” Among the many lives saved by 5 Commando and Hoare personally were several Canadians living today. Canada denied Hoare’s later bid to immigrate.

Mobutu renamed the Congo “Zaire” and ruled from 1965 until he was deposed in 1997. He left with an estimated $4 billion (with a “B”) U.S. dollars in offshore banks and died shortly afterwards. Zaire became the Democratic Republic of the Congo again. Peace, freedom and justice remain elusive.

Colonel Hoare was famous. In the British 1978 hit movie, “The Wild Geese,” Hoare was portrayed by Richard Burton supported by Roger Moore, Hardy Kruger and Richard Harris. Hoare was an advisor and appeared to have retired gracefully … but he hadn’t. On November 25, 1981, Hoare led several ex-5 Commando members and more than 40 men, recently of the South African and Rhodesian forces, onto a commercial aircraft. The flight took them to the Seychelles islands in the Indian Ocean east of Africa. They were there to overthrow the leftist regime of France-Albert René and reinstate President James Mancham. Their suitcases were packed with children’s toys and concealed assault rifles. When a Kalashnikov was discovered at airport customs, a Seychelles security officer and one of Hoare’s men were killed in the following fire-fight. The invaders negotiated a ceasefire and hijacked a 707 to take them back to South Africa. All of them served time. Hoare served almost 3 years of a 20-year prison sentence before being pardoned.

Hoare emerged and lived with his wife Phyllis in France for 20 years. He devoted himself to writing several more books and deeply explored the Cathars’ and their region. His books are available from madmikehoare.com and from audible.com with Colonel Hoare, himself, reading.

Hoare returned to South Africa in 2009. He enjoyed a Ballantine’s whiskey and water, or two, in the evening, curry (“the fiercer, the better”) and the Brit-com, “Dad’s Army.” Born in India, British to the marrow, he died in South Africa in 2020 after 100 extraordinary years.

The author gratefully thanks the late Colonel Mad Mike Hoare and his son Chris Hoare, James Samalea, Jay Bauser, G.N. Dentay, James and Melody Curtis Carol Mintoff, Gary Flanagan, Al J. Venter (all bookstores), David Logan, Lt. Colonel R.K. Brown, John W. Burns, Movie Armaments Group, Rachel Hoefing, Lisa Weder, Adam Bucci, the late Connie Mungall and the late R. Blake Stevens.

Chris Hoare’s “Mad Mike” Hoare: The Legend book is available in soft cover and in a numbered leather-bound edition signed by Mike Hoare, from www.madmikehoare.com.

Terry Edwards has published numerous articles with Soldier of Fortune, Small Arms Review and Small Arms Defense Journal. His books are available on Kindle, and his video “The Rifleman Who Went to War” is free on YouTube.

The newly created Bundeswehr (German Federal Army) received its initial equipment of weapons, vehicles and equipment mainly from U.S. stocks. Among them were M1 Garand rifles, M1 and M2 carbines, Thompson M1A1 submachine guns, BAR and M1919 machine guns, bazookas and much more. With the transfer of 9,572 Federal Border Guard members to the Bundeswehr in July 1956, numerous weapons and equipment of the former Wehrmacht complemented the Bundeswehr inventory.

Since the beginning of the 1950s, the once so-progressive German armament industry has been allowed to get back to developing new weapons. In the meantime, most manufacturers had kept their heads above water with civilian products or entered into cooperation agreements with foreign companies. The first thing to do was to orientate themselves on the market. Many of the early German post-War submachine guns showed little technical progress and were still very similar to their predecessors from the War period.

One of the first companies to get back into military weaponry was the former Thuringian company Erfurter Maschinenfabrik (Erma) at its new West Germany location in Dachau near Munich in Bavaria. In cooperation with the French designer Louis Bonnet de Camillis, a compact weapon in 9x19mm caliber was developed. Its pistol grip also served as a magazine well. Its official designation was MP-56, but unfortunately the exact processes in the background stay in the dark. Anyway, a foreign client financed the development costs and the production of 10 prototypes. Erma did not get more out of it, because the client also owned the rights to the design and sold it to the Mauser company in Oberndorf at the beginning of 1957.

At Mauser, the designer Ludwig Vorgrimler, who recently returned from Spain, reworked the weapon in some detail, but the basic construction remained largely the same. The official designation at Mauser was now MP-57. The weapon resembles a pistol in appearance, is very compact with only 16.8 inches in length and weighs less than 9 pounds with a full magazine. For the sake of simplicity, Erma used the 32-round magazine of the German wartime submachine gun MP 40, although these certainly had their weaknesses in the cartridge feed. Mauser stuck with this decision.

The MP is blowback-operated and fires from a closed bolt. Its simple receiver is cut from tube material, and the grip piece is riveted together from sheet metal parts. The breechblock encloses the barrel with its front half, so that a large part of its mass is located in the center of gravity. This saves on length of the receiver, and the weapon is more pleasant to shoot in fully automatic mode.

The “S” position of the fire selector lever and an additional grip safety, which only releases the bolt when the grip is firmly grasped by the shooter’s hand, serve as safety devices. Erma’s prototypes did not yet have a shoulder stock. A wire stock that could be folded upwards onto the receiver was added. Further, the foldable foregrip got a different shape and was now better adapted to the receiver. The sight is of a very rudimentary design: a fixed rear sight for 100m and an unprotected front sight. According to the test report the rate of fire was 700 rounds per minute (rpm).

In the years 1955 to 1959, extensive testing and comparisons of old and new submachine guns took place at the Bundeswehr test site for weapons and ammunition in Meppen in the Emsland region. The field of participants was international. Beside German manufacturers like Walther and Mauser, there were also competitors like the British Sterling, Swedish Carl Gustaf m/45 or the Italian Franchi LF-57. In the reports the Mauser MP-57 is only described technically, but nothing is known about its performance compared to its competitors. What is certain is that Mauser’s weapon did not make it onto the shortlist. After a total of four prototypes and 25 pilot series, Mauser stopped the production.

After this failure, Vorgrimler and  a technician named Kimmick   went to work again, and by 1960 the new MP60 was available for further trials. It looked clunkier and less pleasing than the MP-57. The foregrip was eliminated, the magazine was inserted into a separate magazine well in front of the grip piece, and the barrel was covered by a perforated jacket. But the new weapon was supposed to arouse the interest of the military with another special feature: It could launch rifle grenades. The distinctive muzzle flash hider served as a guide for the attached grenade. The weapon fires from a closed bolt, and by turning the fire selection lever to position “G” (Grenade), the bolt is locked in its forward position; this way the entire gas pressure of the propellant cartridge acts on the rifle grenade. In position “F” (Feuer) the weapon fired continuous fire. Semiautomatic fire was no longer intended. Mauser had also developed a new 36-round stick magazine especially for this weapon.

In the end, Mauser—just like many other German arms manufacturers—was denied success because the German Armed Forces had long since decided in favour of the Israeli UZI for political reasons. For Mauser, this was the end of their history of  designing and manufacturing submachine guns. The two weapons featured here are part of the collection of the arms museum located in the old Mauser factory called Schwedenbau (Swedish building) in Oberndorf.

Technical Data:                                 MP-57                             MP60
Caliber:                                              9x19mm                         9x19mm
Length (stock extended):              23.2in                              30.2in
Length (stock retracted):              16.8in                              19.9in
Length of barrel:                              10.4in                              9.8in
Weight (empty):                               7.23lb                              6.83lb
Magazine capacity:                         32 rounds                       36 rounds
Rate of fire:                                       700 rounds/min            750 rounds/min

The author would like to thank Mr. Kussmann-Hochhalter from the city archive and museum Oberndorf for his support.

With the proliferation of precision rifles and precision rifle competition, the race to meet market demand has become very competitive. Metal working machinery and processes have increased the depth of quality gunsmiths. Unfortunately, the demand has caused prices to skyrocket, alienating the less fiscally capable rifleman. So where do we go from here? What segment of the market is left for up and coming shooters? What about the beginning competitor who needs more than a factory rifle can offer but not ready to cash out their kids’ college fund? Windsor Armory has an answer for that. They call them Semi-Custom Precision Rifles. They are not alone on this concept, or even the originator, but that hasn’t stopped them from carving out a sizeable portion of the metropolitan Denver precision shooting market.

Small Arms Review’s Christopher Roberts sat down with Eric Croft, Owner of Windsor Armory, to discuss his concept for precision rifles.

Small Arms Review: Who are you?

Eric Croft: Eric Croft, graduated from Fort Collins High School in Fort Collins, CO. Longtime outdoorsman, hunter, hunting guide and avid snowboarder. Served in the Army from 2005–2013 as a sniper and machine gun squad leader with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Worked diplomatic security for Triple Canopy from 2014–2017 and then opened my store Windsor Armory with an emphasis on custom bolt action rifles.

SAR: What’s the size of the company?

EC: Truly small business with only 4 employees, a handful of on-call instructors and a gunsmith that works through us.

SAR: How about the history of Windsor Armory?

EC: Windsor Armory started as a training company called “Croft Tactical” and grew into a store when the demand for our long-range training and equipment began to grow. 

SAR: How did the company start?

EC: The company started as an idea I had on one of the diplomatic security deployments. I wanted to build custom and semi-custom bolt actions rifles for the working man. A lot of full-custom bolt actions start at $5,000 and go way up from there; my goal was to have an available full custom that started around $3,000.

SAR: What is Windsor Armory’s mission?

EC: To bring dependable long-range accuracy, knowledge and strong customer service to all shooters. It doesn’t matter whether they are new to the long-range community or longtime shooting enthusiasts. 

SAR: What do you make? 

EC: We make and design custom bolt action rifles, improve off-the-shelf bolt action rifles, and design and build custom AR-15s and AR-10s. We also specialize in older firearms cleaning and restoring [them] to original condition. 

SAR: Tell me about your custom and semi-custom rifles?

EC: Our custom rifles are built off of Defiance or Big Horn actions and Shaw® Precision barrels. We have a variety of chassis that we use from MDT and KRG. We use TriggerTech and Timney Triggers and a wide variety of accessories and Cerakote options. We use U.S. Optics, Leupold and Vortex as our primary glass. When we do semi-custom rifles our gunsmith Zion from “Gunaholics” takes the rifle, trues the actions and does a variety of inspections to insure accuracy. Then we upgrade the rifles with new triggers, compensators, chassis and other upgrades. Bergara® rifles are our go-to for off-the-wall, semi-custom builds. 

SAR: Why did you decide to make certain things and not others?

EC: In the gun industry you have to be unique to survive anymore. A lot of generic gun stores will not build custom rifles but just sell you one off of the wall. We wanted to do it all and offer a wide variety of services from gunsmithing to training and security consulting. 

SAR: Where have your products been used / won competitions?

EC: Being that we are still young in the industry, our rifles have been mainly used all across the state of Colorado and some bordering states in Wyoming and Utah. We cannot to speak to if any of them have won any competitions at this point. Our rifles were on display at the annual Army/Marine sniper gathering this year. We have received nothing but positive feedback from our customers on our bolt actions. Several of our customers have brought us their 100-yard zero targets to show us how pleased they are with the accuracy and some pulling groups as small as .355 of an inch with factory ammo. 

SAR: What makes your product different / better?

EC: Our product is different in that each rifle tends to be very unique to the customer, and it comes at a price that is affordable to the common man. Each rifle we make is different in one way from another. It can be a unique Cerakote color or barrel contour combo that no one else has. Our rifles get it done even with factory ammo. For example, our custom 6.5 Creedmoor rifles are shooting groups of anywhere from .355 to .465 of an inch off bi-pods, in the prone with factory ammo. Groups are shooter-dependent of course, but we test our rifles in real-world conditions. We don’t just lock it into a sled and touch the trigger; we get down in the prone and shoot it like someone actually would at a competition.

The Grand Power P40L is a rotary breech, polymer-framed 10mm pistol produced in Slovakia. Designed by Jaroslav Kuracina, the inventor of the new rotary action with the K100 Army pistol, this gun lives up to the company brand name with 14+1 rounds of hot 10mm Auto ammunition on board. Why would a 10mm handgun be called a “P40L?” The “L” part is obvious for the “long slide” containing the 5-inch barrel, but why “40?” Turns out P40L is a multicaliber system capable of running .40 S&W with the switchover of the barrel, the recoil spring and the shorter magazine, and the same mag and recoil spring can be used with a .357 SIG barrel.

The 10x25mm Automatic is a cartridge designed around 1983 to fix all the perceived deficiencies of the 9mm Luger. It retains a lively following among hunters and outdoorsmen wanting to anchor venison or to stop a bear charge, but the recoil was judged as excessive for self-defense. Adopted by the FBI in 1989, the 10x25mm Automatic is in current use by their SWAT teams only. The reduced-power 10mm loads were later turned into the shortened .40 S&W loads. The original full-power 10mm is still loaded by numerous ammunition makers large and small, and quite a few autoloaders, revolvers and carbines are chambered for it. The main issue with it remains the heft required to tame the recoil: A Nighthawk® Custom 1911 with a 6-inch barrel shoots comfortably, but the length and the weight of that gun make it a carry choice for the tall and the strong only. Smaller weapons, like the compact GLOCK 29 with a 3.8-inch barrel require some effort to control on recoil—for a weapon that may have to be fired one-handed in a defensive scenario, that’s a downside. Enter Grand Power (GP) with its unique rotary lockup.

The chamber end of the thick barrel has a machined raceway to fit a solid cross-pin in the frame. Upon firing, the barrel recoils back with the slide for 10mm and then turns against that pin to unlock from the slide. Compared to the conventional tilt-barrel, locked breech that unlocks from the slide almost instantly, Jaroslav’s design requires 40% less recoil spring weight. It also generates about 40% less felt recoil through a much longer unlocking cycle. Compared to the old tab and groove rotary breech design started by Steyr Arms over a century ago and used since by many other gun makers, this mechanism requires significantly less lubrication, allows a lower bore axis and resists wear better to avoid the progressive accuracy-destroying end-shake that plagued older rotary breech guns. A very low friction solution, the GP rotary breech survived 112,000 consecutive test rounds in its 9mm K100 interaction without any perceptible component wear. The 10mm version is suitably beefed up, so it should serve just as long.

My first experience with the GP 10mm was firing the 4-inch P40 version side by side with a GLOCK 6-inch G40. Both were pleasant to shoot, but I noticed that the shorter and lighter P40 was behaving similarly on recoil and shot every bit as accurately as the GLOCK target model. The long-slide version with a 5-inch barrel, slightly heavier at 38 ounces than the GLOCK, ought to be even easier to shoot well, I thought. Turns out, that was true.

The trigger is a double action/semiautomatic (DA/SA) with a cocked and locked option. For those who find the low-profile ambidextrous safety too slick, extended paddles are available, similar to what’s used on the competition GP X-CALIBUR. The SA breaks at 5.5 pounds, with very light pre-travel and a crisp let-off. Reset is short at about 3mm and quite pronounced, making rapid fire easy. The DA breaks at about 8 pounds, but the trigger bow is too far forward for my index finger to get enough leverage. People with large hands can pull a DA comfortably, the rest of us would be using the cocked and locked option.

The sights are low-profile notched and post with painted white dots. They are adjustable for windage only. The sight picture is sharp, but I have habitual misgivings about the polished surface of the snagless, rear sight frame that might catch reflections from the sky above. Fortunately, replacement sights of several types are available, including a fiber-optic front, a plain and illuminated rear and even the HIVIZ® H3 Tritium and fiber-optic combination designed for CZ but compatible with GP slides. Half-way between the G20 and G40 in terms of sight radius, the P40L proved more accurate than either in my hands. Felt recoil was also less pronounced, to the point where I could run 150 rounds in a session without discomfort. This 10mm resembled a conventional 9mm service pistol in terms of recoil.

Disassembly / Reassembly

Disassembly is quite simple: Pull down two takedown tabs on the sides of the dust cover, rack the slide back and then lift it up to disengage from the frame tabs in the rear. The back of the slide lifts in the manner that is familiar with the Walther PPK and the Marakov pistol. The articulated recoil rod is attached to the frame. The assembly is where the Browning scheme comes out ahead. The barrel has to be placed in the slide and oriented in a particular way in order to engage the locking roller bearing in the steel frame that’s hidden inside the polymer grip frame. The physical effort required for reassembly is less however. The guns stays very clean for several reasons: The chamber pressure drops more by the time extraction begins, the locking surfaces are further from the chamber, and the pistol runs with less oil than other rotary designs. It’s also an inherently safe design, with the thick barrel featuring a fully supported chamber.

Ammunition Round-Up

Five inches is enough for 10mm Auto to realize most of its potency. On the low-power end, we have 180-grain practice ball ammunition barely more energetic than .40 S&W, and on the high end a vast variety of options from hyper-velocity hollow points to heavy cast hog penetrators. Lucky Gunner® did extensive testing of its ammunition offerings and found that Federal 10mm JHP in 155 grain and 180 grain performed more consistently than the slower .40 S&W with the same weight projectiles, producing 0.64- to 0.68-inch mushrooms and just enough penetration for stopping humans. All-copper Steinel 140-grain comes out at 1,530 fps and expands to 0.70 inch with sufficient penetration. Steinel’s super-dense, 220-grain hard cast lead only trucks at 1,170 fps but will punch through all manner of gristle plate and skull bone … or auto glass and bodies. Compared to the standard 9mm Luger, the 10mm expands more and penetrates deeper. All that comes at the cost of slowed follow-up shots … but the unique Grand Power action reduces that disadvantage. A 10mm GP is still slower than a 9mm GP, but on par with the tilt-barrel designs of other brands.

Drop-free metal magazines hold 14 rounds. The magazine release button is stiffly positive and can be activated from either side. This author lacks the thumb strength to drop the magazine without shifting my hand for leverage, and the button is fenced by a grip ridge which means no accidental mag drops ever. The empty magazine gets launched from the grip with a healthy initial velocity. The slide stop lever is ambidextrous and accessible without being in the way. The grip isn’t adjustable in any way; fortunately, I found it a perfect fit—the sights line up just right upon presentation. The grip is textured just enough to promote retention without abrading the skin on recoil.

P40L’s Accuracy

Practical accuracy is limited mainly by the steadiness of the shooter’s hand and by the precision of the sight alignment. Fifty yards on a full-size silhouette is an easy shot with the P40L. One hundred yards can be achieved, it just takes some experience with the specific ammunition in the gun—points of impact at that distance can vary by nearly a foot from the weakest to the strongest loads. I would recommend zeroing for the carry ammo and accepting minor deviations from the point of aim with practice ball.

While relatively few companies make holsters, Falco offers numerous nylon, leather and Kydex options, with or without room for lights. With the proven record of reliability and durability, Grand Power P-series handguns are good sidearms. The 10mm, the most energetic of the lot, is plenty controllable and can be used for daily carry, as well as for extensive range practice. At the time when 9mm Luger is hard to find, the 10mm Auto is still available. And you get to carry the caliber designated by science fiction writers David Weber and L. Neil Smith as the choice of the future spacefarers!

Recent events illustrate what a dangerous world we inhabit with terrorist attacks growing in frequency. If there were only one piece of advice conveyed to readers, it is to receive professional firearms training. This especially applies to all civilian practitioners of concealed carry no matter perceived skill level. If a hostile situation is encountered, the civilian will most likely be defending herself or himself with a handgun. A handgun is definitely not the optimum choice, especially when compared to a rifle. A handgun is a compromise between portability and performance. A compact concealed carry handgun is even a further compromise along this continuum; i.e., not your preferred full-size, high-capacity blaster. What if there were ways to maximize potency of your personal defense handgun?

GLOCK handguns have evolved into the benchmark for personal defense, law enforcement and military handguns. GLOCK handguns are ultra-reliable, accurate, tough and simple to operate. A stalwart in the GLOCK product lineup is the GLOCK 19 (G19). It was one of the earliest offshoots of the G17. The G19 is effectively a reduced-size G17. It was first produced in 1988, primarily for military and law enforcement. The G19’s barrel and pistol grip are shorter by about .5 inch than the G17, and it uses a magazine with a standard capacity of 15 rounds, yet still can accommodate the G17’s 17-round magazine. When aficionados are asked to give their opinion on the best all-around personal defense weapon, the GLOCK 19 is inevitably mentioned. Why? The G19 can handle most conceivable defensive scenarios. It is a prime example of the modern combat pistol. It can serve as a duty weapon while still compact enough for concealed carry and inside the waistband (IWB).

The GLOCK Slimline 9mm has been around approximately 4 years in the form of the G43 with over 1 million sold. Not resting on its laurels, GLOCK listened to consumers’ requests for other Slimline models with increased round capacity. The G43X was the result approximately a year ago. The increase in capacity from 6 to 10 rounds resulted from lengthening the grip approximately ¾ of an inch—well worth it. This makes a surprising difference in terms of balance and recoil management. The G43X maintains a minimal profile of approximately 1 inch. This is important for concealed carry consideration, especially with IWB. The slide for the G43X is the same sub-compact length as the G43’s at 6.06 inches.

The G19 and now G43X were surely responses to the U.S. concealed carry market that continues to expand and generate firearm sales at a prodigious pace. All civilian practitioners of concealed carry want to carry the most potent handgun they can handle proficiently. Unfortunately, constraints caused by weather, clothing or social environment can preclude this, at times forcing a compromise in terms of size and caliber.

Suarez International

Suarez International has emerged as a leader in customizing handguns to better deal with concealed carry personal defense and tactical situations. While complete handgun packages are available, Suarez recognized the need to allow users to upgrade their existing GLOCKs via specific accessories consisting of triggers, magazine wells, control levers, match barrels and ultimately complete upper slide assemblies that can be installed on existing GLOCK frames. This is the path followed in this review which features a new G43X and a well-used Gen 3 G19.

Suarez International began work on the red dot handgun concept years ago when seeking answers to questions posed by many of their students as to how best enhance their primary method of defense—the handgun. Suarez International will never be confused with advocating gear as a substitute for skill ingrained by training and practice. However, CEO Gabe Suarez felt gear enhancement could assist in this particular quest. Suarez quickly established himself as a leader, driving the handgun-mounted, red dot sight concept both in theory and application.

Proficiency with a handgun is one of the most perishable weapon skills. This is further impacted as we get older due to changes in our vision causing difficulty in transitioning focus between front/rear sights and target. Suarez’s solution to this was the same as what most had already opted for with their rifles. While a little more challenging technically due to size restrictions with a handgun, adding a red dot sight to an AK or M4 generally improves one’s shooting skill in terms of accuracy, speed and proficiency when engaging moving targets. This is what Suarez decided on as the best course of action with handguns.

Suarez Super Match Slides

Mounting Suarez Super Match slides featuring Trijicon RMR® red dots immediately enhances stock G19 and G43X performances. The dovetail for the Trijicon RMR is cut to exacting detail during the manufacturing process with two locating bosses  used to keep the RMR centered and securely zeroed. “Blood groove” slide serrations and the Suarez logo indicate something out of the norm is present. Suarez Super Match slides are not merely flashy; tighter tolerances and custom touches increase accuracy, reliability and performance. The slides are manufactured from heat-treated, 17-4 aerospace stainless steel. The aesthetically pleasing slide serrations are ergonomically angled and shaped for ease of use under duress. Suarez’s U.S.-made match quality barrels with polished bores and fully supported SAAMI match spec chambers combined with tighter to the frame lockup are capable of 1.25-inch accuracy at 25 yards. The ejection ports on Suarez Super Match slides are lowered by .100 inch and contoured for reliable and predictable ejection of spent cases.

The Suarez Super Match slide for the G43X kicks everything up a notch with its ingenuity. The ability to mount a Trijicon RMR on a G43X slide sets Suarez apart from most other custom slide shops. The Suarez Super Match-fitted G43X has the slide cut for the Suarez Narrow Slide Adaptor 2.0 (NSA2) mount. The NSA2 mount is designed to mount a Trijicon RMR to slides that would normally be too narrow to accept that red dot unit; e.g., Slimline GLOCKs. The NSA2 mount allows for Trijicon RMR use with the GLOCK 43X and other Slimline models just like the full-size GLOCK-compatible slides. The Trijicon RMR is recognized as the gold standard for pistol red dots. The ability to adapt it for use on the G43X is important. Notable with the Suarez NSA2 is that you retain slide-mounted, independent front and rear sights. This is a crucial attribute if you truly want to co-witness iron sights with the red dot—a must for a red-dot-equipped personal defense handgun. There are many reasons for this. Anything electronic can fail, no matter how rugged; it’s important to have backup sights ready. Secondly, Suarez International’s training efforts have discovered the fastest way to get on target is quick location of the front sight with the red dot soon to follow. Another advantage of the Suarez decision to retain elevated irons around the red dot is that it provides instant verification of red dot zero.

The Suarez-equipped G43X and G19 are a perfect blending of concealed carry compactness with red-dot producing capabilities that exceed weapons of such compact size. The Suarez Super Match-enhanced G43X and G19 are superior covert carry handguns that excel in gunfighting; not just reactive defense most associate with smaller framed handguns. Users of the Suarez Super Match slide fitted with Trijicon RMR find that they no longer have to switch their focus from target to sights, which invariably eliminates the “front sight focus” so difficult for older shooters. They can now do as nature intends for them to do, focus on the threat. Moreover, because the indexing of a red dot is far easier than three pieces of steel, they find they can take shots beyond what was considered feasible with iron sights. Hitting steel at 100 yards on the first shot is very possible with the Suarez-enhanced GLOCKs, as well as running close-quarters battle (CQB) drills at times that were considered impossible to achieve before—all simply because the concept uses the eyes in a more normal manner.

Does It Meet Expectations?

Range testing of the Suarez-slide-equipped G43X and G19 took place at Echo Valley Training Center. This author’s T&E priorities were to ensure that GLOCK reliability was not compromised, and the Trijicon red dots proved to be worthy additions, increasing capability beyond what was expected from a compact, normal, iron-sighted GLOCK. Another concern was being able to find the Trijicon dots just as quickly as what is expected with the traditional iron sight front post, especially in quick/fast close-range affairs. Suarez’s orientation of the suppressor-style iron sights around the red dot acts as both backup sights and quickly orientates the shooter’s eye to the red dot stationed above the front post.

It was determined that the Trijicon RMRs assisted in engaging targets at close distances, with the red dot easy to pick up rapidly, and the RMRs facilitated shooting with both eyes open. The Trijicon RMR offers the capability to engage multiple targets in rapid sequence with faster transition between targets compared to open sights; at the same time providing adequate accuracy out to at least 100 yards due to the red dot. This is achieved because the RMR superimposes an aiming point on the target while still not totally obscuring the target, due to the dot not being that large. As expected, the RMR sight withstood the recoil and heat generated by repeatedly long strings of fire.

Holsters with generous open cut tops were the easiest to use with the Suarez RMR-equipped slides. Even then, gentle persuasion via a Dremel tool was required with the G43X due to a slight increase of width caused by the RMR install. Drills consisted of drawing from concealment to see if the RMR red dot was easy to obtain when operating in haste. Various scenarios engaging targets from behind cover or on the move were also utilized. Magazine change drills were done for the dual purpose of getting a feel of manipulating the G43X and G19 with the Suarez slide installed and seamlessly picking up the RMR dot once reload was complete and back on target. It was quickly determined that the Suarez-enhanced GLOCKs have great potential in terms of accuracy, speed and extending effective engagement distances.

Point shooting with the Suarez Super Match slide GLOCKs is still very possible by using the RMR’s window as a ghost ring—albeit a large ghost ring—if forced to react spontaneously to a threat. The Trijicon RMRs came into their own for precise fire at any range desired by placing the dot on the target and applying correct trigger control. Speed drills involving plate racks and dueling trees were run with times superior to iron-sighted GLOCKs. The advantage offered in using red dot sights in the competition environment is well-known. The ability to place the red dot on the plate and not having to align front and rear irons proved much more adept at moving rapidly from plate to plate.

It is never good to have favorites within a family. The Suarez G43X proved irresistible. The G43X’s slim profile and Suarez’s engineering called out like a Greek siren. This was only compounded when using a Shield Arms flush-fitting, 15-round magazine which proved trustworthy in the G43X. The enhanced G19 is certainly a solid choice; however, the extra capacity offered by the Shield Arms magazine produces an equal-capacity 43X with less weight, length and width of a G19. Here is an ideal everyday carry handgun equipped with a red dot that pushes the envelope of performance. The Suarez Super Match slides increase the effectiveness of the compact G43X and G19 concealed carry handguns beyond what many thought was possible.

A semiautomatic rifle was registered in a 1946 program, but research completed before the War was advanced enough to avoid any new development.

MAS 40

The French Army looked for a semiautomatic rifle at the end of 19th century. Many prototypes were developed, and one of them, the Meunier A6, was ready to be adopted in 1913, but the times were very uncertain, and it would have been risky to change the French Army’s rifle.

Later, an M1917 rifle was used during WWI but appeared not serviceable due to the design of its cartridge case: the 8x51mm Rimmed Lebel.

In 1921, an ambitious program was launched to replace all the existing French military small arms. Several models developed both by state arsenal and private factories were tested—the choice was a semiautomatic rifle developed by Saint-Etienne in 1938. Adopted on March 28, 1940, its production was planned for 1941; unfortunately, history decided otherwise.

MAS 44

The Saint-Etienne area was liberated end of August 1944. The MAS (Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Etienne) factory improved the MAS 40 model which received a box magazine. The rifle was adopted on January 11, 1945, but it was not completely finished.

The magazine’s elastic release catches were replaced by a solid lock installed on the right side of the box. Production was 6,200 rifles, mainly used by the Navy commandos in French Indochina.

MAS 49

The MAS 49 is an improved version of the MAS 40, with a new rear sight; no bayonet; a scope mount; and a grenade launcher, the same as the MAS 36 LG48’s.

Description of the First MAS 49 Model

The MAS 49 has a wooden stock, very similar to the one of the MAS 36’s, a long forearm with a handguard, swivel band and forward band. The frame has flat sides, a cover and receives a tilting two-part bolt, locked on a hard steel wedge. It is loaded from a vertical box magazine. After the last round, the bolt is retained in the rear position by a bolt stop.

The bore has four left turning grooves, with one spin in 270mm (10.62 inches). The gas cylinder has no piston.

The sights are a tangent rear sight scaled from 200m to 1,200m (1,300 yards) and a front sight protected by ears.Only 20,600 rifles were made and put into service in the Army and the Navy. The first use of the MAS 49 was by snipers with the excellent APX L806 scope.

Features                            MAS 49

Ammunition                        7.5x54mm

Overall length                     1.075m (42.32in)

Barrel length                       0.580m (22.83in)

Weight                                3.900kg (8.60lb)

Magazine capacity              10 rounds

Description of a Second Version

After discarding the 50mm M1948 rifle grenade (an adaptation of the M1937 mortar shell), the MAS 49 rifles were modified—the grenade sights and grenade ring were removed. It was fitted with a new forearm and handguard. Some MAS 49 models remained in service until 1995.

.30-06 Variation

At the beginning of the 1950s, the Western Europeans and the North American armies were willing to have a standardized armament. The American .30-06 cartridge was selected as a common rifle cartridge. Several prototypes were developed for it, particularly:

• The MAS 49 rifle with standard stock. It had a lengthened frame to accommodate the American cartridge;
• A folding stock variation, similar to the MAS 36 CR39, without a grenade launcher.

Export Variation

Syria adopted the MAS 49, and 6,000 rifles were made, similar to the French model, with a grenade launcher. They also received the bayonet of the MAS 36. Some of them were sold by Century Arms in the 1990s.

The Hunting MAS 49

The MAS tried to create a sporterized model of the MAS 349 for hunting. It used the “long frame” of the .30-06 model: 260mm in length (10.23 inches) instead of 230mm (9.05 inches). The reason for this choice was to allow the use of various hunting cartridges. Only one prototype was made; it received a blued finished frame and a walnut stock. It was chambered for the 7×57 cartridge.

The MAS 49-56

At the beginning of the 1950s, the European Defense Community was rejected by France, and NATO favored the adoption of the 7.62mm NATO cartridge for which several prototypes of assault rifles were made in France. Improvements of the MAS 49 were attempted.

The several prototypes (MAS 49-53, 49-54) received a 22mm grenade launcher similar to the one installed on the MAS 35 M51 repeating rifle. The next one was the MAS 49-55 designed by Paul Tellié (FAMAS’s father). It has a shortened forearm and a gas cylinder and a hand-operated valve to allow grenade launching. A muzzle brake was fitted on the barrel mouth to reduce the recoil and the blast of the shot. After some more improvements, it became the MAS 49-56 model and was adopted on May 24, 1956.

Manufacturing tests were completed, and the rifle No. 1 was completed on January 1958. It entered into service gradually, and by the mid-1960s the French Army was completely outfitted with this 7.5mm rifle. The rifle can be fitted with a scope and an M1956 knife bayonet with a 220mm (8.7-inch) blade. The cross and back guards have 22mm rings. The cocking lever has a black plastic pad. The bayonet scabbard is made of phosphate sheet metal with brown or khaki belt loop.

Production ceased in 1978—275,240 MAS 49-56 models were made.

Features                            MAS 49-56

Ammunition                        7.5x54mm

Overall length                     1.020m (40.15in)

Barrel length                       0.525m (22.67in)

Weight                                3.900kg (8.60lb)

Magazine capacity              10 rounds

MAS 49-56 with Folding Stock

Developed for the airborne troops, the MAS 49-56 with folding stock was developed as the MAS 49-56 CR 59 and later as the MAS 4-56 CR 60. The rear part of the frame is fitted with a light alloy block. The rifle has a pistol grip and a folding stock which is retained by a transversal screw and a wing nut. The stock is made of a tube with a rubber coating and a thick rubber pad.

This rifle can exceptionally launch grenades but has no grenade sights, ring or gas cylinder hand-operated valve. It can receive the M1956 bayonet.

Officially adopted on July 20, 1960, it was never manufactured! It could have been made in 7.5x54mm or 7.62mm NATO calibers. The scarce specimens we can observe were all made in 7.62mm NATO.

Features                            MAS 49-56 CR 60

Ammunition                        7.5x54mm or 7.62x51mm

Overall length                     1.040m (40.95in)

Length with stock folded     0.750m (29.52in)

Barrel length                       0.525m (22.67in)

Weight                                3.300kg (8.60lb)

Magazine capacity              10 rounds

The MAS 49-56 M.S.E.

During these early years, NATO members organized a shooting competition annually in Germany, and in 1967, a French shooter using the FR F1 sniper rifle won the competition. The American team claimed that the FR F1 was not a military rifle but a sporting one! To avoid such a claim, the French Headquarters asked the MAS to develop a variation of the MAS 49-56, which was called the “MAS 49-56 M.S.E.” (Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Etienne). It was developed in 1968 from new or rebuilt rifles. The intended production amounted to 3,000 rifles, but only 900 were made: 100 for the Army, 260 for the Air Force, 220 for the Gendarmerie and 300 for export.

Improved kits were made by the MAS and assembled by the MAS, MAT (Manufacture d’Armes de Tulle) or Poitiers ordnance workshops. They included: an ergonomic stock with plastic cheek pad; a pistol grip; improved sights; an adjustable trigger mechanism; and a large-capacity magazine obtained from an M1924 M29 LMG.

Blank, grenade-launching or short-range cartridges cannot be used. If necessary, each rifle could be retrofitted to the service version.

The 7.62mm NATO MAS 49-56

After the May 1968 riots in Paris, the Home Office decided to replace the old Berthier M1916 carbines with new rifles. The Defense Ministry could not furnish the MAS 36 model, which was reserved for the second-line troops in case of war with the Soviet Union. The Armament Office Center of the Police was then tasked to select a new rifle.

In 1977, 18 rifles and carbines were tested, including several hunting carbines, a 7.62mm NATO MAS 49-56 with a light alloy firing pin to avoid inertia shooting and a laminated wood stock. The grenade launcher was improved for tear-gas grenade launching.

Few rifles were made, the highest serial number observed was No. 205. Numbering seems to have begun at 100, and no more than 150 rifles could have been made. But finally, the French police selected a variation of the Ruger Mini-14 in 5.56mm to be designed and assembled in France.

AME Semiautomatic Rifle The Mulhouse arsenal developed a semiautomatic rifle in the 1950s. It looks like the German G43 and uses a bolt locked by lateral rolls with delayed blowback action. The designer was the German engineer Loffler