Just about every military small arms enthusiast is familiar with the U.S. M3 and M3A1 submachine guns, better known by the nickname bestowed upon them by GIs during World War II, the “grease gun.”

The .45 caliber M3 was conceived as a less expensive alternative to the Thompson submachine gun, which at the time the U.S. entered World War II in 1941, the Thompson design was 20 years old. The M3 was patterned after the British Sten and German MP40 sub-machine guns, both constructed from sheet metal stampings—a far cry from the Thompson forged and machined receiver and parts. In addition to being less expensive, weapons stamped from sheet metal can be produced faster, an essential advantage in wartime.

Mk II

The Mk II was the most prolific model of the British Sten. The receiver was fabricated from pre-formed metal tubing. The German MP40 receiver was made from a flat piece of sheet metal that was rolled into a tube. The receiver of the U.S. M3 submachine gun was far more complicated to produce. The M3 receiver and most of its other parts were stamped from cold rolled sheet metal, requiring a factory equipped with a battery of large hydraulic stamping presses. The receiver was made of two separate stamped pieces that were then welded together. When production began, it was discovered that it was difficult to accurately weld the two receiver halves together. In addition, the heat from the gas welding process was warping the thin metal, and it took some time to perfect the process. During production, the time allotted for welding the two receiver halves together was 12.11 minutes. The M3 design had an advantage over other submachine guns of the day, with its ingenious guide rod-bolt system. The bolt of the M3 rode on two guide rods, never touching the inside of the receiver. The unique system made the M3 impervious from malfunctions caused by mud, sand or other debris, making it one of the few weapons to successfully pass all the Ordnance Department’s requirements.

The Guide Lamp Division of General Motors Corporation

The Guide Lamp production plant was located in Anderson, Indiana, and in 1943 it had over half a million square feet of production floor space in 18 separate buildings. The Guide Lamp Division of the General Motors Corporation was a peacetime manufacturer of automobile lamps, headlight buckets, hub-caps and bumper guards. Guide Lamp had a lot of expertise and experience in sheet metal stampings and was an excellent choice for the manufacturing of the M3. By May 1943, the first M3 submachine guns were finally rolling off the assembly lines at Guide. Production had fallen far behind projected figures by the unforeseen welding problems encountered with the receiver. However, by June 1944, 1,000 M3s were being manufactured every 24 hours.

The Guide Lamp contract price for the M3 was $17.92 per unit less the bolt assembly. The initial price was later amended to $18.36 per unit to cover the cost of minor production changes and the packing and shipping of the completed units. The M3 bolt assembly manufacture was subcontracted to the Buffalo Arms Company at a cost of $2.58 per piece.

The following quote is from the second summary of the tests at Aberdeen Proving Ground upon adoption of the M3 Submachine Gun. “Although it would be dangerous to state that further improvements and developments are unlikely, the ultimate has been reached in this type of weapon for the time being and production may begin without fear of immediate change.”

The above statement was premature, because as the M3 was pressed into service, problems began to arise. The M3 was not yet “GI Proof.”
One of the primary problems was with the cocking handle and its internal parts. A second problem was magazines were dropping out of the weapon, by the accidental pressing of the exposed magazine catch. Deterioration of the bolt face and barrel chamber was found to be caused by soldiers using the overly long wire butt stock as a cleaning rod. These problems and a few others would be addressed in an upgrade of the weapon.

M3E1 Submachine Guns

The M3 was thought to be as simple and reliable as possible; however; the Ordnance Department felt that the weapon could be simplified even further. Six pilot models were built, incorporating several recommended changes that were designated as the M3E1 submachine gun. Two of the completed weapons were sent to the Infantry Board at Fort Benning, Georgia, for informal testing, and two were demonstrated at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Since none of the changes incorporated in the M3E1 design had any adverse effect upon the reliability of the weapons’ functioning, no formal testing was undertaken by the Ordnance Department. Sufficient firing of the new weapons was conducted to satisfy concerned personnel as to the desirability of the changes incorporated. Some of the firing demonstrations were witnessed by representatives of the Army Ground Forces and by the director of the Infantry Board who expressed his approval of the M3E1.

The U.S. M3A1 Submachine Gun

The experimental M3E1 was recommended for adoption on November 2, 1944, by OCM 25593. On December 21, 1944, the M3E1 Sub-machine Gun was approved and officially adopted as: Submachine Gun, Caliber .45 M3A1, thus reclassifying the M3 as Limited Standard.

M3A1 Changes

• Ejection port increased in size
• Cocking handle assembly eliminated, fin-ger hole added to bolt for cocking
• Disassembly groove the length of the bolt
• Stronger cover spring
• Larger oil can located inside the grip
• Stop plate and magazine loader added to the stock
• Guard for the magazine catch

9mm M3 and M3A1 Submachine Guns

Among the original specifications desired in the T-20 (M3) submachine gun was a kit to change the caliber to 9mm. The conversion kits were originally planned for allied use in the European Theater; none were ever issued to U.S. troops. The 9mm cartridge was common in Europe during World War II. It was the standard pistol and submachine gun cartridge of both the British and the Germans. Ammunition would be easier to obtain by resistance groups that the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was planning to supply with the M3. The conversion kits could also make the M3 readily adaptable for use by the British especially when using a Sten magazine. The conversion kits consisted of a Bolt assembly C153425, Barrel Assembly C153435 and magazine Adapter C153430. In December 1943, the Ordnance Committee recommended that 500 of the 9mm conversion kits for the M3 be obtained as a limited procurement item. In February 1944, procurement was authorized. The parts were manufactured by the Rock Island Arsenal and Saginaw Steering Gear. The 32-round Sten magazines would be obtained from the British government.

In addition to M3 and M3A1 conversion kits, there were a small number of grease guns produced that were marked 9mm, in place of .45 caliber, on their magazine housings. Those observed were the same configuration as the .45 caliber model but fitted with Sten magazine adapters, 9mm bolts and barrels.

Curved Barrels

Due to its compact size, the M3 submachine gun was ideal for issue as a defensive weapon for armored vehicle crews. The weapons could be easily stored in the cramped space inside a tank. Tanks in the field were usually accompanied by infantry troops for protection from the enemy. Without infantry protection, the enemy could climb onto the tanks and drop grenades or spray machine gun fire into the inside of the hull, killing the trapped crews. To avert such situations, the Ordnance Department engineers came up with several curved barrel designs for the M3. The idea was the crew could extend the curved barrel out of the tank and spray enemy soldiers on their vehicle with fire, without exposing themselves. The issue of the curved barrels was limited. The Germans had also experimented with curved barrels for a number of their small arms.

The .30 Caliber T29 Submachine Gun

The German Sturmgewehr mid-range assault rifle was an entirely new concept in World War II. The weapon had the full-au-tomatic capability of the submachine gun but fired a more potent cartridge, giving the enemy far more range. After U.S. troops began to encounter the Sturmgewehr in the field, requests were made for a similar weapon. The most expedient method to get such a weapon to the troops was to modify an existing model. The M3A1 was chosen as the best candidate. The concept was given considerable study by the design section of the Guide Lamp Division of the General Motors Corporation, which was manufacturing the M3A1 submachine gun. There were three M3A1 submachine guns made, designated as the T29, chambered for the .30 caliber carbine round. The weapon was basically an M3A1 with a larger magazine well to accept carbine magazines, a modified bolt, a spring-loaded case ejector and a 14-inch long barrel. Initial testing revealed more development would be required. Development efforts of the T29 ceased with the adoption of the select-fire caliber .30 M2 carbine.

The Suppressed M3

The U.S. Ordnance department developed a special interest in suppressed or silenced weapons after learning of the British Special Operations Executive (also known as the SOE) commandos’ successful use of their silenced Sten Mark II S model. The weapon proved to be an invaluable asset for special operations where surprise and concealment were paramount to a successful mission. The SOE was the British counterpart of the United States’ OSS organization.

It was held that the U.S. M3 submachine gun would be ideally suited for adaptation of a suppressor because of its inherently subsonic .45 ACP cartridge.

The M3 suppressor research was conducted at the Infantry Center at Fort Benning, Georgia. There was an interest in supplying Army Rang-ers and other troops with a silenced weapon for special assignments. The earliest silencers were based on the Hiram Maxim baffle system. These proved to be heavy and cumbersome. None of the Fort Benning designs went past the prototype stage, and the project was canceled.

The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was established in June 1942. The OSS organization was engaged in various types of covert and unconventional activities during World War II. The OSS had requested from the Army Ord-nance Department suppressed submachine guns for their special mission and operational needs. By late 1943, the OSS was directly supporting resistance groups in Europe and the South Pacific. The U.S. Ordnance Department contracted Bell Laboratories to develop a new suppressor for the M3 submachine gun. Guide Lamp was subcontracted to manufacture drilled barrels and special barrel nuts for the project. The High Standard Company was engaged to produce the components and assemble the unit. The contract called for 1,000 suppressor units to be built. The barrels made by Guide were identical to the standard production barrels except the face of the barrel nut was machined to form a seat for the expansion chamber. The barrel was also a standard item modified by drilling 48 one-quarter-inch diameter holes, arranged in a straight-line pattern of 12 on each quarter section of the length of the barrel. The muzzle end of the barrel was threaded for a length of one-half of an inch to enable the front end of the suppressor can to screw onto it.

The suppressor itself consisted of two sleeves. The rear sleeve is the expansion chamber. It is 7.5 inches long and 1.5 inches in diameter. The front sleeve is the silencer housing and is 7 inches long and 1.125 inches in diameter. The expansion chamber is connected to the silencer housing by a metal connector. External threads on the front portion of the unit were screwed into the connector. The connector was screwed on the muzzle of the barrel and holds the rear part of the suppressor in place by seating on the modified barrel nut. The rear expansion chamber contained a coil of stainless steel mesh. The front section of the suppressor housings contained approximately 230 steel mesh discs. An end cap secured the discs in place. As the bullet travels down the barrel some of the propellant gases escape through the 48 holes drilled into the sides of the barrel.

The total of submachine guns manufactured from 1943 to 1945 by Guide Lamp was 606,694 M3 models and 82,281 M3A1 models, for a combined total of 688,975 weapons. The entire World War II production of the M3 and the M3A1 would total only a little more than one-third of the Thompsons produced during the war.

During the Korean War, the Ithaca Gun Company was contracted through the Roch-ester, New York Ordnance District to fabricate 70,000 new M3A1 submachine guns. The manufacturing was authorized under contract number DA 19-058-ORD-7894. Preparation for the manufacturing would be assisted by the data package documented by Guide Lamp during its manufacture of the weapon.
Delays in getting production started resulted in the Ithaca M3A1s being manufactured in 1955–1956 after the war in Korea had ended. The contract was canceled after 33,227 guns were manufactured; primarily due to the Korean conflict ending and the anticipated adoption of the M14 rifle.

The Colonel Hamilton M3 Submachine Gun

Sometime in the post-World War II era, an experimental weapon was constructed by a Lt Colonel Hamilton while he was stationed in Panama. An obvious attempt was to modernize a M3 submachine gun. The front part of an M3 was welded to a steel frame with a removable side plate, secured with machine screws to remove the bolt assembly. Other upgrades include: a wooden buttstock, fore-grip and pistol grip, side cocking handle, adjustable flip-up rear sight and a perforated barrel jacket. The overall length is 30 inches, barrel length is 8-inches, and the weight is 11 pounds. The weapon was procured by the Rock Island Arsenal Museum in 1948 and is currently on display there.

Rare M3A1 Magazines

During World War II, M3 magazines were made by Sparks-Withington (SPW) and Kesler Brass (KL). The magazines made by those companies are still common even today. During subsequent conflicts, in Korea and Vietnam, there were small production runs of magazines for the M3 and M3A1 submachine guns.

In addition to M3A1 submachine guns, Ithaca also made a small number of magazines for the M3A1, marked with a new drawing number C565427 and “ITG.”

Magazines were also produced during the Vietnam conflict by Jahn Manufacturing. These were marked with a letter “J” and drawing number C-565427. OKAY Industries purchased Jahn Manufacturing around 1970.

The Adoption of the U.S. M14 Rifle

Substitute Standard after the adoption of the M14 rifle, which (in theory) was replacing the M1 rifle, the carbine and the submachine gun. M3A1 submachine guns continued to be issued to Army Reserve armored units as late as 1999. Modern mid-range assault rifles like the M16 and M4 have rendered the military use of the submachine gun obsolete.

Vickers Guide: WWII Germany Vol I

• ISBN 978-0-9965032-3-5
• vickersguide.com
• 360 pages
• 13”x11” (approx.)
• Mott Lake Publishing
• P O Box 158294 Nashville, TN 37215
• mottlake.com

Vickers Guide: AK Kalashnikov Vol I

• ISBN 978-0-9965032-4-2
• vickersguide.com
• 360 pages
• 13”x11” (approx.)
• Mott Lake Publishing
• P O Box 158294 Nashville, TN 37215
• mottlake.com

As a lover of fine military books, I was immediately impressed by these wonderful books. They are everything that a premium quality, collector-grade coffee table book should be, without the “fluff.” Often, a book with great photos lacks technical expertise, simply relying on the photos to carry it. This most certainly is not the case with the Vickers Guide series. Author Larry Vickers definitely knows his stuff, as the list of his military and civilian awards and certifications attest.

Currently, there are five titles in the Vickers Guide series. In order of release, these are: 1911; AR-15, Vol. I; AR-15, Vol. II; WWII Germany, Vol. I; and AK Kalashnikov, Vol. I. This review will cover the two most recent titles.

Each title is available in three different versions or editions, these being the Standard, Signature and Limited Editions. The Signature Edition is hand-signed by Larry Vickers. The Limited Edition of each title is also hand-signed by Vickers, along with a personal handwritten message of your choosing. This numbered series is limited to 250 books (a mere 100 copies for the 1911 title).

Unfortunately, the vickersguide.com website now shows that all three versions of the AR-15 Vol. I are sold out. However, it also mentions the 1911 Standard Edition has been reprinted, so perhaps the AR book will be also.

These are large format books, measuring 13 inches wide, by 11 inches tall. And many of the photographs span across two pages, so the image is 26inx11in. The books are printed on premium quality paper, so the photos really pop. Each page feels a bit heavier than a typical page from other books. A nice touch is a ribbon page marker that is sewn into the binding. Not a huge deal, but it does add another touch of refinement to an already fine work.

Speaking of photography, the images featured are stunning. Photographer James Ripley has created a series of beautiful photos. The photos are studio quality images, more like high-end product photography than the usual distant, hard-to-make-out action shots in many books. Each photo is taken against a white background and is properly lit to avoid glare to bring out the finest details. Additional photography of mainly uniforms and other militaria was supplied by Jeff Demers for the WWII Germany Vol. I book.

Naturally, quality of this level does not come cheap. Starting at $95 for the Standard Edition (Signature Edition is $125, and the Limited Edition is $200), this is a big purchase for many people. However, books of this quality level do tend to increase in value once they are out of print. A quick browse on Amazon for other books of similar quality confirms this. Perhaps, if someone is having difficulty finding a suitable gift for you, a fine book is in order.

WWII Germany, Vol. I examines handguns, submachine guns, the K98k infantry rifle and sniper rifles. (The soon to be released Vol. II will cover semiauto rifles, select-fire rifles, belt-fed machine guns and “Last Ditch” weapons.)

The book begins with a sombre dedication to those lives lost due to WWII and the evil of the Third Reich. Vickers and Rupley want to be perfectly clear that displaying firearms and other historic militaria containing Swastikas and Nazi eagles does NOT imply any sort of support for such an evil regime.

The P08 Luger leads the collection of arms featured. Several fine specimens are displayed, representing different manufacturers, branches of service, grip types, etc., and then the P38, followed by foreign pistols put into German service.

Machine pistols and submachine guns pro-file some of the early attempts to create a practical SMG, culminating with the iconic MP38 and MP40 designs. The Soviet PPSh-41 is also discussed, due to so many being captured and put into German service.

The section on bolt-action rifles opens with a .22 rimfire training rifle, along with an article by guest author Robert Simpson explaining how the German military pulled a fast one on international inspectors. At the end of the First World War, the Treaty of Versailles put limits in place to prevent Germany from re-arming. By making “commercial sporting target” rifles, Germany was able to rebuild her arms industry and offer marksmanship training to huge numbers of men prior to WWII.
The K98k infantry rifle is studied in detail, comparing specimens from pre-war, early-war and late-war. Ian McCollum, of Forgotten Weapons fame, wrote a detailed essay on this subject. He contributed several articles, including a piece about waffenamts and proof marks.

Sniper rifles based upon the K98k are given a separate section. Also included is a look at Soviet sniper rifles. As with the PPSh-41 mentioned above, the rationale is that so many rifles were captured and used, it is valid to include the Mosin-Nagant as German equipment.

AK Kalashnikov Vol. I deals exclusively with the 7.62×39 caliber AK rifles, so we can probably expect a second volume on 5.45×39 in the future. In this first volume, the AK series is covered, from the earliest AK-47, up to the modern AK-203 and AK-15 variants. (It is worth noting that guest author, N.R. Jenzen-Jones, Director at Armament Research Services, points out that the name AK-47 actually only applies to the early “trials” guns, prototypes that took part in the selection process. The production service rifles are correctly named “AK” only, followed by the “AKM.”)

Speaking of the true AK-47 trials guns, the authors were given access to two early trials guns; one fixed stock and one underfolder. Again, Rupley was able to use his masterful photography skills to capture details of these rare items. Also featured is a gun presented to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
Several guest authors contributed articles on specific subjects. Ian McCollum wrote a piece on the progression of the Type 1, 2 and 3 receiver differences. He also contributed an article comparing and contrasting the German Sturmgewehr to the AK design. Maxim Popen-ker, founder of worldguns.ru wrote about the influence German designers may or may not have had on the AK. (He believes the German influence was minimal.) Rob Stott, publisher of the AK-47 Catalog Volume I, covered Type 2 production, as well as Chinese factory codes.

After covering the USSR and Russian models, the many foreign-produced variants are examined. Countries covered include Albania, Bulgaria, China, DDR (East Germany), Egypt, Hungary, Iraq, North Korea, Pakistan (Khyber Pass knock-offs), Poland, Romania, Vietnam and former Yugoslavia. There are many small but significant differences in these various models, detailed both in text and photos.

Several pages are given to cover the many variants of magazines fielded over the years, both Soviet and foreign. Guest author Brandon LeLeux wrote a three-page history of AK mags, describing steel, aluminum and polymer types, followed by five pages of comparison photos.

Based on the two titles I have seen, I predict great success for this series. And I hope the authors continue to add more books. Using the same format for WWII-era U.S., British Commonwealth and Soviet arms would make an amazing collection.

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

Physical Construction

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

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

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

Markings

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

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

Function and Conclusion

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

FOR MORE INFORMATION

SARCO Inc. e-sarcoinc.com

The 300 Blackout cartridge was created in response to a 2009 U.S. Special Operation Command’s request. SOCOM units were steadily involved in CQB operations in Iraq and Afghanistan where compact firearms were at a premium. Short-barreled 5.56mm M4 carbines were not cutting it. Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC) was given certain parameters to satisfy by the military procurement request — primary on this list was a .30 caliber cartridge that would be as quiet as a suppressed 9mm Heckler & Koch MP5-SD submachine gun while offering increased lethality, all out of an AR-style platform with a 9-inch barrel, using AR15 magazines. On top of this, the cartridge was to offer more power than the 7.62×39 from said short barrel. Both supersonic and subsonic factory ammunition that would work dependably with or without a suppressor was another key specification that sets the 300 AAC Blackout (300 Blk) apart from other AR compatible cartridge attempts. AAC was successful after making tweaks to the then existing 300 Whisper round creating the January 2011 SAAMI approved 300 Blk. From the onset, the M4/M16 platform was the primary vehicle to launch 300 Blk rounds. Designers kept this in mind during load development so as to ensure mechanical reliability while requiring minimal changes in the weapon to chamber the 300 Blk   — basically just the barrel needed to be changed.

The 300 Blk’s raison d’être is as a CQB weapon typified by tight quarters and operational use indoors. Sounds like the ideal basis for a personal defense weapon. What distinguishes the 300 Blk is its ability to access standard, hard hitting supersonic rounds superior to 5.56mm while maintaining the trump card of subsonic ammunition if the end user desires. The 300 Blk cartridge has emerged as one of the most successful alternate AR chamberings. The ability to access either supersonic or subsonic factory ammunition offers great flexibility to the 300 Blk user; especially considering the special attention paid to its compatibility with the AR platform.

The 300 Blk chambering has grown beyond AR type weapons. Numerous manufacturers are offering bolt action and single shot rifles in 300 Blk. Anecdotal information compares 300 Blk 115-125 grain ammunition as offering superior ballistics over the 7.62x39mm AK and totally eclipses 5.56mm both in ballistics and terminal punch, as well. Our focus will be on subsonic use.

Tactically it is not hard to visualize what roles a suppressed 300 Blk stocked with subsonic rounds would fill. Anything from sentry removal, canine or two-legged, disabling lights and security cameras. CQB operations indoors also come to mind when communications between team members is a priority, especially during nighttime operations. If an enemy is not aware you are present, even when already being engaged you have a real tactical advantage. Subsonic rounds are downright spooky in their arrival when combined with use of a suppressor.

However, for most of us, we must see past operations equipped with night vision and zombie apocalypse scenarios in our thinking. Being able to maintain discretion is an important aspect to be considered in numerous situations. For example, how best to acquire food discretely and efficiently is too often pushed to the back of the bus in gun literature. A normal sounding rifle shot is sure to attract what could be unwanted attention. Personal defense where you must maintain situational awareness, i.e. hearing or being able to communicate with loved ones, also comes to mind. Here the terminal penetration of 300 Blk subsonic loads (similar to a 45 ACP pistol) compared to supersonic rifle loads through various mediums is not such a huge disadvantage.

Initial 300 Blk subsonic loads took advantage of the plethora of heavy .30 caliber bullets available for use; however, most were match-type bullets. The heavier .30 caliber bullets are comparatively long which created concerns for what twist rate best were best suited to stabilize the round, especially with short barrels that typify 300 Blk-chambered weapons. While 1:7-inch or faster (depending on barrel length) was found acceptable, terminal performance with the match rounds were lackluster resembling FMJ punch-through characteristics. How to get 300 Blk ammunition to expand AND penetrate with terminal effect became the next goal. Multiple manufacturers have responded to this challenge. We are going to focus on two of the larger ammunition producers to see what they came up with. Hornady and SIG SAUER each offer subsonic 300 Blk ammunition offering superior terminal performance while maximizing noise reduction when combined with suppressor.

Hornady’s Sub-X 300 Blk load consists of a 190-grain bullet designed specifically to perform at subsonic velocities. The Sub-X bullet combines a lead core surrounded by a grooved metal jacket and tipped with the company’s Flex Tip insert. A cannelure groove is present for a positive case crimp. Long grooves scored into the Sub-X metal jacket combined with flat base create conditions for reliable expansion. The Hornady-patented Flex Tip insert placed in front of hollow point cavity kicks expansion off when striking a target. The Flex Tip prevents material from clogging an exposed hollow point negatively effecting expansion. Hornady made sure the performance of the new load meets or exceeds the FBI’s terminal ballistic requirements. Additionally, a low flash signature makes the ammo ideal for both suppressed and unsuppressed firearms.

Let’s remember, subsonic 300 Blk loads resembles a pistol round’s ballistic performance. For comparison’s sake, a 230 grain 45 ACP generates 461 ft/lbs of energy. The Hornady 190-grain Sub-X makes 465 ft/lbs. All things being equal a high-SD bullet penetrates better than a low-SD bullet. (BC is a measurement of how well a bullet moves thru the air.) Superior ballistic coefficients (.437 for the 190 grain Sub-X versus .188 for a 45 ACP) and sectional densities (SD .286 versus .162) help the Hornady 190 grain Sub-X maintain energy and penetration characteristics further downrange than a typical pistol bullet. The SIG Sauer 205 grain Tipped Hunting benefits from these same qualities.

SIG’s relationship with our military forces is well known. Elite units often reach out directly to SIG for support. When subsonic bullet performance proved lacking SIG got the call. The SIG 205-grain Tipped Hunting ammunition was the result. Conversations with SIG, as well as an article from Tom Beckstrand provided insight into the SIG load. Remember our 300 Blk subsonic to handgun analogy? SIG turned to their proven V-Crown pistol bullet design as a starting point. A polymer tip was added to properly start expansion at sub-1000fps velocities. Something handguns often have to deal with.

One thing that immediately attracts your attention with the SIG round is the bullet profile. While .30 caliber as it emerges from the case mouth, the SIG 205 grain tipped bullet has shoulder that’s similar to a cartridge case that steps its diameter down. Why not keep the .30 caliber diameter farther out the ogive? The answer lies with 5.56mm AR magazines. A .30 caliber bullet ogive that extends too far out from a case neck causes issues with a typical 5.56mm AR magazine. Heavy grain 300 Blk loads can come into contact with a magazine’s interior supporting ribs that run along the inside of a magazine. Magazine side ribs can push the bullet noses towards the centerline of the magazine instead of keeping them parallel along the sides of the magazine, especially long heavy grain subsonic bullets. This can cause the rounds to sit at an angle once loaded making it problematic for the feed lips to provide reliable feeding. Thus, SIG designed a subsonic load with terminal ballistic qualities that also provides peace of mind when feeding from a 30-round magazine when cycling full-auto.

Range Time

After all this bullet background, it’s time to fire some. A SIG MCX Rattler Canebrake was chosen for range time. The MCX Canebrake is a military grade weapon in the hands of our elite operators along with British and other allies that civilians can easily obtain thanks to its pistol brace eliminating the need for an ATF tax stamp– sans full auto capability. Like the 300 Blk, the MCX series was driven by a tier one DOD unit request that sought to increase accuracy, modularity and durability over the legacy of the AR15/M16 system. Furthermore, the light weight, compact weapon was intended to be operated suppressed from its conception. A SIG SRD762 suppressor was placed under the MCX Rattler Canebrake’s oversized SD handguard.

What sets the SIG Canebrake apart, even from its larger Virtus brethren, is the compact size made possible via the 5.5-inch barrel with 1:5 twist. The 29.25-inch, 6.5-pound Rattler Canebrake is chambered in 300 Blk; an obvious decision considering the intent to suppress. A free-floating oversized M-LOK handguard is paired with a Canebrake-specific MCX compact upper matched with a side-folding, pivoting arm brace. SIG created the MCX Canebrake as the ideal choice for operators needing maximum firepower in a quiet discrete package.

With magazines loaded with Hornady 190-grain Sub-X and SIG 205-grain Tipped Hunting rounds, the suppressed SIG MCX Canebrake was taken to the Echo Valley Training Center’s (EVTC) for sighting in before heading to the facility’s MOUT village and Hesco shoot house. The focus was making sure reliability was maintained. Engagement distances were kept within 100 yards – with most targets placed between 25 and 50 yards. Trajectory was surprisingly flat out to 50 yards. 100-yard bullet strikes were approximately 7-inches low with the 50-yard zero.

300BLK recoil impulse is similar to a 5.56mm when using standard supersonic loads. The SIG SRD762 suppressor not only serves reduces muzzle blast/signature, but also minimizes recoil impulse even further. Subsonic loads are even tamer. The Hornady or SIG Sauer subsonic loads had no issue cycling in the MCX Canebrake—a credit to SIG’s gas adjustable piston design. It never fails to impress when suppressed subsonic rounds sent downrange, especially in an aggressive manner. The rounds slapping steel, cardboard targets, berm or Hesco shoot house background could be heard distinctly over any blast at the firing point. Close range front windshield glass penetration was evaluated. The heavy 300 Blk slugs had no problem punching through. Hornady and SIG bullets were recovered from the berm. Though not a scientific as ballistic gelatin, which has results posted on the internet courtesy of Hornady and SIG, the recovered bullets exhibited the expected expansion while not losing jacket integrity thus ensuring deep penetration. Impressions of the subsonic 300 Blk fired from the suppressed SIG MCX exceeded expectations. Lack of recoil and muzzle blast allowed complete focus on the target during evaluation scenarios. It was like running and gunning with a .22 caliber rimfire weapon. It was almost surreal to handle a weapon like the SIG MCX without requiring hearing protection. What else can be said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Firearms safeties may be best understood if they’re divided into two categories – manual safeties and automatic safeties. Manual safeties (sometimes called “active safeties”) typically require the shooter to manually operate a lever, switch, or button from an “off” position to an “on” position or vice versa. Comparatively, automatic safeties are internal safeties (sometimes called “passive safeties”) that operate without manual manipulation by the shooter.

There is another safety device category that is external to the gun itself – the external safety. This category includes bore locks, trigger locks and gun safes. In the late 1990s the ATF pressured handgun manufacturers to include integral locking mechanisms on handguns that could only be unlocked by inserting a special key into the gun at exactly the right place before the gun could be fired. That didn’t bode well with common sense and the gun owner community because it added yet another step to making a gun ready to fire in an emergency scenario. Fortunately, only a few manufacturers like Smith & Wesson capitulated to political and media pressure by adding integrally designed key locks to their handgun line. This entire safety device category is obviously intended for secure firearms storage and theft deterrence and does not apply to firearms for ready use or carry. For the purposes of this article, these will not be further discussed.

Manual Safety

The most common gun safety is the manual safety. It consists of a switch, button or lever that, when manually set to the “safe” position, prevents the firearm from firing. While seemingly straight forward, the design mechanics involved in manual safeties are as different as the firearms they serve. Of the many designs, most conform to some variation of two basic designs. The first employs a block or latch that prevents the trigger and/or firing mechanism from moving. The second type mechanically disconnects the trigger from the gun’s firing mechanism. There are exceptions to the rule. For example, in a conscious effort to keep the firearm in a higher state of readiness many “double-action” firearms (like revolvers and some pistols) do not have manual safeties. The thinking is the double-action, longer-harder trigger pull to cock and fire provides adequate safety. Whether that’s the case, it’s left to the shooter to determine. That’s why many carry their revolvers on an empty chamber or do not chamber a round in a double-action, semi-automatic pistol for fear of accidental discharge. Of course, carrying a gun for the purpose of self-defense without a chambered round is akin to carrying an empty canteen into the desert in case you find water. It’s illogical.

Grip Safety

There are grip safeties, as well. The classic Colt .45 M1911 design is a prime example of a semi-automatic handgun with a grip safety, while Springfield Armory’s XD pistol and the Uzi submachine gun are other notable examples with a grip safety. A grip safety is a lever or other grip-depressible device positioned on the grip of a firearm (usually the rear strap area) that can only be actuated as a natural consequence of gripping the firearm in the proper firing position. Grip safeties function much like a manual safety, but they are momentary, and only deactivate while the shooter maintains his squeezing hold on the pistol grip. Once the shooter releases his grip, the safety is immediately re-engaged.

Integrated Trigger Safeties

Like grip safeties, trigger safeties are de-activated as a natural consequence of properly holding and pulling the trigger but are otherwise engaged, providing a margin of safety. First used in the 1897 Iver Johnson Second Model Safety Hammerless revolver, there are two independent parts that comprise a trigger safety – a trigger and a small blade-like spring-tensioned lever protruding forward from inside the trigger’s lower half. This lever, when fully depressed by a trigger finger on each trigger pull, disengages a trigger locking mechanism that allows the main trigger body to move rearward. The lever does not disengage the trigger lock without intentional depression.

Squeeze-Cocker

During the mid-1970s, Heckler & Koch debuted a unique squeeze-cocker safety in their Model P-7 pistol line. Without a doubt, this was a revolutionary pistol safety concept because the pistol was only cocked and ready to fire when a full, grip-length lever located on the front edge of the pistol grip was fully depressed by the shooter. When the shooter released his grip, the P-7 was immediately decocked. The design prevented the single-action trigger alone from cocking the firearm and so, the P-7 would not fire unless the grip was fully squeezed rearward to its stopping point. There were several other ways the P-7 could be fired. The trigger could be pulled first and then when the grip was subsequently squeezed, cocking the gun, the gun would fire. It could also be fired if the grip was squeezed  and the trigger was pulled simultaneously. The key to all the P-7’s firing alternatives was fully squeezing the grip cocking lever. The P-7 enjoyed limited popularity among U.S. hand gunners because a quickdraw and fire sequence was impossible. P-7 production stopped in the late 1990s because of a dwindling market. Nonetheless, the concept was out of the box thinking that could have been further refined for application on other types of firearms.

Decocker

Traditionally, semi-automatic single action/double-action (SA/DA) pistols are designed to be carried with the hammer down on a chambered round, with or without a manual safety engaged. With the hammer down, the pistol is uncocked, and it is considered safe. In this state, pulling the double-action trigger both cocks and fires the firearm. On the other hand, the double action trigger pull is both longer and heavier (measured in pounds) than the single action trigger pull which simply releases an already cocked hammer.

Therefore, discharging the firearm, or manually cycling the slide to chamber the first round will both load a round into the firing chamber and cock the hammer in the single-action mode.  This makes it necessary to un-cock the hammer to return the pistol to its safe state. On hammer-fired pistols, this is accomplished by holding the hammer spur with the thumb while carefully pulling the trigger, then slowly lowering the hammer down onto the firing pin. This procedure has the inherent risk of accidental discharge, especially if one’s thumb slips off the hammer during the process of uncocking. It takes practice.

Comparatively, striker-fired pistols, do not have a hammer. This means the only way to return the trigger to its longer double action pull is by means of a decocker mechanism that is purposely designed into the gun. The decocker mechanism safely releases the striker’s spring tension without allowing the firing pin to travel.

Some hammer-fired pistols also employ a decocker which consists of a physical firing pin block that physically prevents the hammer from contacting the firing pin as it falls. The actual process of decocking is done by rotating the decocking lever to the decocked position. The decocking lever is usually ambidextrous and located on the rear of the frame or slide for thumb manipulation. A decocker eliminates the need to pull the trigger and control the fall of the hammer.  While using a decocker seems straight forward, they are not foolproof. Always keep your gun muzzle pointed in a safe direction while decocking.

Remarkably, the decocker is not new to firearms. The earliest use of a single action decocker can be traced back to 1932 where it debuted on the Polish-built Radom Vis wz. 35. The Radom pistol was based on John Browning’s M1911 design, and its design purpose was to provide horse-mounted cavalry soldiers a pistol that could be safely decocked and holstered using one hand. The Radom decocker led to a more advanced, yet simpler, two-way decock-safety combination consisting of a manual safety switch and decocking. This single lever both engaged the safety and decocked the pistol. In 1938, SIG Sauer followed with its cocking/decocking lever in the Sauer 38H and has continued to feature decocking levers in its line of pistols to this day. Walther incorporated the decocking feature into its famous “PP” models and Beretta later used it on the Beretta 92 (M9) models.  

Not to be outdone, Heckler & Koch equipped their line of pistols with a unique “three-way” decocking safety system which decocked the pistol by pushing down on the safety lever from the “Fire” setting or engaged the safety (even on a cocked firearm) by pushing the lever upwards. In 2007 Ruger debuted the “decock-only” variants of its P-series pistols and has offered the decocking safety on these pistols ever since. As should be apparent, the decocking-safety, in its many forms, has become commonplace because it works reliably.

Drop Safety / Firing Pin Block

The oldest form of drop safety is the safety notch (many times referred to as “half-cock.”) It was used on most black powder 19^th Century-era rifles and pistols and transitioned to rifles and single-action revolvers manufactured before the invention of the hammer block. Numerous reproduction models of bygone era rifles and pistols are still equipped with a safety notch. The safety notch is nothing more than a relief cut made in the tumbler at the base of the hammer that allows the trigger sear to catch and hold the hammer a short distance away from the cap / cartridge primer. The safety notch is engaged by partially cocking the hammer a short distance from the firing pin or primer. Once the safety notch is engaged, the hammer is locked to any forward motion without first manually cocking the hammer before pulling the trigger. The safety notch, when engaged, acts as a primary safety by effectively preventing the hammer from any forward travel towards the firing pin should the weapon be dropped. More importantly, in scenarios where dropping a weapon jarred the trigger sear loose (the trigger releases the hammer from the drop shock of inertia), it provides a margin of safety by “catching” a falling hammer when the trigger has not been pulled.

There is a downside to the safety notch. Safety notch-style safeties are subject to wear and breakage which often results in unintentional discharges. Secondly, while not a complicated process, placing the hammer into the half-cock position is an active feature that the shooter must consciously engage. That process requires a certain amount of operator familiarity and manual dexterity to prevent accidental discharges. 

To make it appear they were in control of the situation, Congress stepped in following a rash of political assassinations in the 1960’s timeframe. Drop test requirements for imported guns were introduced along with the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968. The new law’s stated purpose was to provide a basis for import denial of cheaply built firearms that could inadvertently fire if they were dropped or roughly handled. Most firearm designs prior to 1968 had the uncocked firing pin being held idle by the firing pin spring above a chambered round. This meant the inertia from a vertical drop that was in line with the firing pin would drive the firing pin forward onto the primer of a chambered cartridge, causing the gun to fire. It also meant that the anti-gun community now had a raison d’etre they could use to regulate gun imports, while it further provided a liability premise for lawsuits. Unfriendly gun states like California immediately jumped on this bandwagon by requiring all new guns imported into California to have some form of positive drop safety built into them.

The gun manufacturers responded by engineering passive drop safeties into their new firearms. The best way to picture these passive safety designs is to visualize the firing pin being cut in its middle and physically separated by a wedge-like block called a “firing pin block” that is held in place by a small spring that is attached to the trigger mechanism. As the trigger is pulled, the wedge is withdrawn from the firing pin halves and the firing pin is made whole again so the gun can fire. As the trigger pull is relaxed, the wedge again lifts to physically block the firing pin mechanism. Therefore, drop safeties provide a physical obstacle to the operation of the firing mechanism. This block is only removed when the trigger is pulled so that the firearm cannot discharge if dropped.

While government-required drop safeties seem reasonable, there is a downside and that’s firing reliability. There are some drop safety designs that will only allow the gun to fire if it’s being held straight and level. That means your gun may not reliably fire if you’re engaging a target that requires the firearm be held in a vertical orientation (think aiming down from a rooftop, up a  stairwell, etc.) or while shooting upside down, laying on your back (think extreme situations, not Hollywood). So, for those who bet their lives on gun reliability, drop safeties are not necessarily desirable. 

Hammer Block

Like a firing pin block, a hammer block consists of a block built into the action that physically prevents the hammer from contacting the firing pin when down (at rest) in the uncocked position. Much like the firing pin block, the hammer block is withdrawn as the trigger is pulled.

Transfer Bar

Transfer bars are used in some exposed hammer-fired revolver and rifle designs. In most designs the transfer bar rotates out-of-line with the hammer’s travel, making it physically impossible for the hammer to contact the firing pin. When the trigger is pulled, the transfer bar rotates into alignment with the firing pin. The hammer falls, striking the transfer bar at its firing point, which transfers the hammer strike to a firing pin-like spur that strikes the cartridge primer and fires the gun. Like the firing pin block, the transfer bar provides a similar level of drop safety.

Bolt Interlocks and Trigger Disconnects

Some form of bolt interlocks and/or trigger disconnects are used on most all modern repeating action firearms to include bolt, pump and lever-action shotguns and rifles. A bolt interlock works by disengaging (or blocking) the trigger when the bolt is not in full battery (fully closed and fully locked). The trigger disconnect prevents the gun from firing until the bolt is fully locked and thus prevents out-of-battery “slam fire” malfunctions. These mostly result from worn out trigger catch mechanisms that allow the hammer to follow the bolt or bolt carrier group forward as it closes. That’s why modern self-loading firearms require a separate trigger reset and pull to fire each successive cartridge. Even though interlocks and trigger disconnects help prevent misfires when the firearm is not in full battery, they are not considered safeties because they can easily fail from excessive wear, rust, or accumulated dirt. Keep your weapon clean, lubricated and inspect for wear every time you clean it.

Magazine Disconnects

The Browning Hi-Power pistol was one of the first production handguns equipped with a magazine disconnect. In 2006, California passed legislation requiring magazine disconnects on all new handgun designs sold in the state beginning January 1, 2007 which resulted in their widespread proliferation. A magazine disconnect prevents the gun from firing if the magazine is withdrawn or not fully locked into place even if there is a round in the chamber. It works by means of a mechanism that engages an internal safety like a firing-pin block or trigger disconnect when the magazine is not locked in place.

Like any automatic safety, there are magazine disconnect pros and cons. Yes, the gun cannot fire without a properly installed magazine, and an accidental discharge can be prevented with the magazine removed. However, the disconnect mechanism, itself, adds tension to the trigger mechanism components and that often makes the trigger pull unpredictable or heavy. A real safety concern, especially on older guns, is that spring fatigue and/or rust can lead to magazine disconnect failure. When it does, it will most likely happen when the gun is in the “fire” mode without giving the shooter any indication of its failure; a circumstance that can be lethal.

An additional safety argument against a magazine disconnect is that the user may eject his magazine when unloading his pistol, then reinsert an empty magazine into the magazine well to dry fire the gun for storage. Even though the magazine is empty, once it’s inserted, the disconnect firing system becomes reactivated. That means if a live round was inadvertently left in the chamber, the gun will fire. The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) stated that an “obvious concern with magazine disconnect features is that determining whether the gun is safe becomes linked to the presence of the magazine as opposed to actually checking the gun, opening the action, and making sure it is unloaded.” For the reasons stated above, many shooters deactivate their gun’s magazine disconnect feature and rely instead on sound firearm handling safety protocols. 

While not a safety, per se’, the loaded chamber indicator is found on many modern semi-automatic handguns. Its purpose is to provide the shooter a visual cue that a round is chambered. Depending on the manufacturer and model of the pistol, it may come in the form of a small protruding button or bar that pops up somewhere behind the slide’s ejector port to indicate the presence of a chambered round. Other designs consist of a small cut away section along the top or side edge of the bolt face that allows the shooter to see the brass cartridge rim of a chambered cartridge. Regardless, one should never bet their life on a loaded chamber indicator. There is no better way to positively confirm that a round is chambered (or not) and that is to do a simple “press check”. This is accomplished by partially pulling the slide back and visually sighting the rear of the chamber for the presence of a cartridge, and then easing the slide forward into battery.

Why Can’t the Firearms Industry Agree on the Use of a Common Safety Mecanism?

The answer is simple. Safeties are as varied as the gun models themselves. Different operating systems and trigger mechanisms require different safeties. What works for one design may not work for another. Most of all, we must not confuse what is theoretically possible with what is practically feasible. Trust and belief are different. Trust is based upon past performance. Belief is divine. Trusting a firearm safety’s reliability and believing safeties work both require physical verification. The bottom line: Never trust or believe any safety is 100% safe. Treat all firearms as though they’re loaded and ready to fire.

The Wilkinson Arms’ Linda pistol and Terry carbine were an excellent example of early 1980s engineering genius. I first read about the Linda pistol at a public library in 1990, when I was 16. Looking at a recent Gun Digest and comparing various weapons, I was fascinated by Linda. Having no firearms of my own at the time and a minimal familiarity with them in general, I was drawn to it by the clean forms and high-magazine capacity. Holding 31 rounds, the Linda pistol was one of the clear winners in my mind. That, along with its distinctive appearance and memorable model designation, implanted the name of that gun in my memory. Discovering that Linda was back in production as a carbine was like having a chance to meet a once-famous musician.

Some History

Designed during the 1960s by Ray Wilkinson of J&R Engineering, the guns were originally designated M68 and M80. They were produced with law enforcement use in mind. Later, once J&R was closed and re-incorporated as Wilkinson Arms, the family of 9mm and rimfire pistols and carbines also became a family in model designations, named after Ray’s wife and daughters. The design then passed to Northwest Arms, and production ran through 2005. For a while, the Linda pistol and Terry carbine were relegated to “A-Team” re-runs on late night TV. Fortunately, in 2015, Wilkinson Arms was bought and revived by a shooting enthusiast named Patrick McFarland, who acquired the remainder of the unused Linda parts and went about setting up renewed production.

Linda as a Carbine

As soon as possible, I got my hands on the carbine version of the Linda pistol. Fitted with a simple tubular buttsock and a 1/2×28 threaded 16-inch barrel, it was an improvement over the one of my teenage dreams. Several details also improved upon the original configuration, including the addition of a Weaver rail on top of the receiver. The new Linda’s overall length with fixed stock is 31.5 inches (underfolding AKMS or collapsible M4 stocks also available) with an unloaded weight of 6.1 pounds. The tubular receiver houses the enveloping bolt concept originated with the Czech Sa. 23 and the Israeli Uzi. Even more efficient than those already compact designs, Linda uses a bolt almost entirely encircling the barrel, with just enough behind the chamber to load the next cartridge. Unlike the submachine guns which use small diameter recoil springs on guides behind the bolt, Linda uses a larger single spring wrapped around the bolt in front of the chamber. At rest when in battery, this spring stretches on firing and returns the bolt into its original position by compression, making the mechanism even shorter. Like the Sa. 23 and the Uzi, Linda uses a barrel nut; unlike them, Linda has a second nut behind the first to retain the bolt. Although, like those two submachine guns, Linda feeds through the grip—Wilkinson improved the grip angle considerably. Using a double-stack, single-feed magazine, it provides a very natural forward-leaning grip instead of the straight (Uzi) or backward-raked (Sa. 23). 

Because of U.S. government regulations, Linda shoots semiautomatically from the closed bolt, requiring a slightly heavier bolt than its automatic competitors. The closed-bolt mechanism reduces ventilation between bursts of rapid fire but yields superior accuracy and improved dust sealing of the chamber. Firing is by hammer and firing pin, with the trigger feeling lighter than its 6.5 pounds of pull thanks to the smooth wide face. Cross-bolt safety stands out by feel, so its state can be ascertained without looking. The overhanging receiver sides fence it from accidental interference in both ON (right) and OFF (left) positions. Since the extra-wide ejection port exposes the back of the receiver behind the bolt to outside dust, Linda uses an M16-like hinged cover.

Take-down is simple but requires tools. Use a 5/32-inch Allen key to remove two screws holding the grip to the receiver and also the set screw locking the shroud to the barrel. A 3/16-inch Allen key is needed to unscrew the charging handle. Unscrewing the barrel nut releases it along with the attached ventilated shroud. Using any flat object for a wrench helps unscrew the second nut retaining the bolt, which comes forward with the attached spring. That’s the full extent of field-stripping the carbine for cleaning. Reassembly is pretty straightforward, but care must be taken to align the locating pin at the base of the barrel with the corresponding open

The signature 31-shot magazine looks like most pistol mags, with the addition of over-insertion tabs. Loading is surprisingly easy for the capacity, with no mechanical loader required. The magazine doesn’t drop free, full or empty. This helps retention but harms reloading speed. The magazine is compatible with 59 and 5900 series Smith & Wesson pistols, so 15-, 17- and 20-round options are also available. Linda lacks any kind of bolt hold-open device, manual or automatic, so an empty magazine or a misfire feels alike.

The iron sights are a throwback to the 1980s. Both front post and rear aperture are fixed for elevation and windage, so matching the point of impact is a matter of luck. They can be bent into regulation, but that’s a pretty crude method. Fortunately, the updated Linda comes with a Weaver rail. Some Picatinny mount optics fit, like the Primary Arms red dot the author mounted; others, like Magpul sling eyelet, do not. The crude iron sights are removable, but finding Weaver-compatible iron sights can be a challenge, and the sight radius is quite limited for a carbine anyway. The problem is less the separation of the sights and more the placement of the front sight way too close for most people to focus. The left-side charging handle reciprocates safely away from the hands, but its knob position has to be considered when mounting optics to avoid hitting knuckles against the sight. With many optic mounts, the optional extended charging handle available from Wilkinson Arms is essential.

Ergonomics are good for action shooting, awkward for prone. The carbine is well-balanced, especially with a full magazine and an optic attached. The balance is very slightly to the front of the pistol grip but is placed behind the support hand on the re-designed wooden forend. The forend is made of nicely finished wood, but the stylishly pointed edges not present in the old Linda pistol reduce handling comfort. It is similarly nice looking, but hard-polished wood is used for the stock buttpad. A layer of soft rubber would have been a welcome addition. The metal tube which is the buttstock could use neoprene insulation for comfort. The angle of drop is considerable, yet the carbine comes to the shoulder naturally, and the eye lines up well with the sights in standing, kneeling and squatting positions. For people who crowd the rear sight and so end up with a higher head position, a slightly raised red dot works better. Prone shooting is nearly impossible because the angle of the stock drop puts the sights well above eye level for a natural shooter pose, especially if optics are used.

Test Firing

Typical for blowback designs in tubular receivers, Linda has some blowback from the ejection post. Use of a linear compensator or muzzle brake increases it slightly; the use of a sound suppressor increases it a lot. The reduction in muzzle blast is partially offset by the ejection port pop, but the overall noise level is still milder.

The most important feature of any weapon is reliability, and Linda carbine shines there; only one malfunction out of about 750 rounds of ammunition ranging from 50-grain Liberty hypervelocity alloy bullets to Seismic 185-grain subsonics. Accuracy was also respectable, amply adequate to keep all hits on the A zone of a silhouette target at 100 yards. With 9mm Luger being, at most, a 150-yard cartridge, this seems sufficient. The author did the first round of testing with a Hi-Lux 4MOA Tac-Dot, a very excellent little optic with a front-facing auto exposure cell that adjusts the reticle brightness to match target illumination. Rather than mount a magnified scope to wring the smallest groups out of the carbine, I wanted to see what realistic results can be expected in a typical fighting configuration. Due to strong wind on the day of the range trip, all of my groups were wider than they were tall, with the vertical component being more an accurate representation of the actual bullet dispersion.

For varmint use, the frangible lightweights would be superior, but for everyday plinking and target shooting the least expensive, most common 115-grain load proved the most accurate. Felt recoil is fairly low, to the point where drop stock didn’t affect follow-up shots. Lighter weight bullets produced noticeably less push, which is a further argument in their favor for rapid fire. 

With both red dots, I have an impression that I was wasting some of the accuracy potential. So the red dot came off, and the illuminated 1-4x Trijicon AccuPoint went up on the Weaver rail. Low rings kept the height over the bore to a minimum, while 4x top magnification enabled more precise aiming. Unmagnified, the scope worked like an improved red dot, with vertical and horizontal references to guard against accidental cant and with MRAD hash marks to enable accurate rangefinding.The best ammunition this time was Remington 124-grain Golden Sabre, at ¾-inch at 60 yards, or 1.25MOA. Groups fired with Fiocchi 115 grain did not change, which suggests the red dot was not the limiting factor. What did improve with the magnified optic was the ability to center the group on the desired point of impact. The speed of target acquisitions at 1x magnification did not change from the red dot.

Despite its distinctly dated look, Linda carbine turned out to be comfortable and ergonomic for everything but the prone position. Compared to straight stock modern PCCs, it rises a little more on recoil, but not enough to make a strong difference. A muzzle brake would reduce that difference. The less hunched-over position afforded by the drop stock design permits better awareness of the environment. 

50-YARD TEST FIRING

Speer Lawman: 147gr FMJ 1.4in -1060fps

Inceptor RNP: 65gr polymer 1.3in – 1715fps

Liberty alloy: 50gr HP 2.15in – 2550fps

Fiocchi: 115gr FMJ 1.15in – 1320fps

Seismic: 185gr 5.5in – 1010fps

Very early and very rare World War I era shoulder patch for the 31st “Dixie” Division consisting of a triangle bisected with red and blue denoting a machine gun battalion with two “D”s back-to-back. This patch was very quickly changed to a white disk on which is a red circle within which are two red “D”s back-to-back. The 31st infantry Division was a unit of the Army National Guard originally established in early 1917 as the 10th Division with Alabama, Florida and Georgia national guardsmen. Later that same year, the 10th became the 31st. Trained at Camp Gordon, Georgia, the Division arrived in France in September 1918 and was designated as a replacement Division. The Division returned to the U.S. in July 1919 where the men were mustered out of service. The 31st Division was mobilized in 1940 with National Guard Divisions from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Russian Medallion

A Russian, large, bronze-clad metal table medallion commemorating Vasily Alekseyevich Degtyarev (1880-1949). The obverse has a raised relief image of Degtyarev with the inscription, in Russian, “In Honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vasily Alekseyevich Degtyarev 1880-1980.” The reverse inscription reads, “Russian Gunsmiths USSR,” with a central image of a DP-28 light machine gun that Degtyarev created and which was the main light machine gun of the Russian army in World War II. The medallion measures 75 mm in diameter and also has the original red plastic box/stand.

WWI Brodie Helmet

U.S. World War I Brodie helmet for a machine gun company of the 27th Infantry Regiment of the American Expeditionary Force Siberia (A.E.F. Siberia). Painted in white winter camouflage with the A.E.F. Siberia insignia painted on the front of an “S” (for Siberia) superimposed upon a standing bear within an artillery shell. On the right side of the helmet is painted “27th” over “MG.” The machine gun companies were issued Browning Model of 1917 water-cooled machine guns and Browning Automatic Rifles (BAR) Model of 1918. Nearly 8,000 men, mostly from the 27th and then the 31st Infantry Regiments, were sent to Russia during World War I after the October Revolution from 1918 to 1920 and suffered severely from the brutal Siberian winter.

They were sent to Russia to help rescue the 40,000 men of the Czechoslovak Legions being held up by Bolshevik forces as they attempted to make their way along the Trans-Siberian Railroad to Vladivostok and, hopefully, to the Western Front. Additionally, they were sent to protect the large quantities of military supplies and railroad rolling stock that the U.S. had sent to Russia in support of the war effort against Germany before the Bolshevik Revolution. They failed in their mission.

Cap and Collar Badge

South Waziristan Scouts officer’s cap and collar badge circa 1920s. The cap badge has the British king’s crown over crossed Vickers with “South Waziristan Scouts” banner below with four lugs to the rear. The collar badge has the king’s crown over a mountain goat head and two lugs to the rear. South Waziristan is the southern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan. The region was an independent tribal territory from 1893, remaining outside of the British-ruled Empire and Afghanistan. Tribal raiding into British-ruled territory was a constant problem for the British, requiring frequent punitive expeditions between 1860 and 1945. The region became part of Pakistan in 1947.

Sweetheart Pin

A sweetheart pin for the 3rd Machine Gun Company, 1st Canadian Division has red, white and blue enamel on a brass badge, with the king’s crown to the top and a Vickers machine gun on tripod to the center. The top banner reads, “3rd M.G. Co.” and below is “1st Canadian Division.” Pin back.

Swedish Machine Gunner Badge

A Swedish 1950s-era army machine gunner’s silver metal shooting breast badge that has three Swedish crowns to the top with two crossed M45 submachine guns to the center. Pin back.

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

Frame 

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

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

Slide and Barrel 

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

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

Shooting and Final Thoughts 

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

Once the creator of one of the first mass-produced light machine guns, Denmark had slept through the dawn of the submachine gun era.

While Denmark’s neighbours busily experimented with the new type of weapon in the 1930s, at first nothing happened in the country of the machine gun. The Dansk Rekyl Riffel Syndikat (DRS), which was founded in Copenhagen before World War I, continued with machine gun production. The Model 1903 and its successors sold well, and the brand name “Madsen” had already established itself into far countries. The officer, inventor and Minister of War Vilhelm Her-man Oluf Madsen had been the driving force behind the development, and in his honor the weapons bore his name.

When the Wehrmacht invaded Denmark in April 1940, there were only a few foreign submachine guns in use by the Danish Army. Negotiations with the Finnish arms factory, Oy Tikkakoski Ab, on a licensed production of the Konepistooli M31 (Suomi) were in progress but could not be finished before the German occupation. At the end of 1940, the company, now renamed Dansk Industri Syndikat A/S (DISA), began production of the Finnish submachine gun with a slightly modified stock and protected front sight as the M/41 under German control. The approximately 1,400 weapons produced were first used in Danish units and taken over by the Germans after the disarmament in October 1943. At DISA, each weapon model and each variant received its own P (project) number, even if only some mark-ings were different. For example, the P.5 was the version for Portugal, to which the weapon was offered in 1943.

Otherwise, not much happened in the course of the war. The development of their own submachine gun was going on slow. By the time P.13 was finally finished as the “Model 1945,” the war was over, and the design was already obsolete. An interesting feature: the bolt was attached to a slide which extended over the barrel and also covered the recoil spring. For cocking, the slide was pulled back until the bolt was locked by the sear—just like a conventional blowback pistol. This slide moves back and forth with each shot. This circumstance, and the elaborate milled parts, a solid wooden stock and a complicated interior were no longer up-to-date. The installation of a folding stock did not help either. Only Mexico and El Salvador bought a few pieces.

At the same time, however, a further development had been worked on, and it was to become a major commercial success for DISA: an uncomplicated, modern submachine gun with a sheet metal receiver, folding stock and a simple but effective safety.

The work on project P.16 would be completed by the end of 1946. The production-ready weapon was called “Model 1946” (M-46) and was sold under the brand name “Madsen.” The first weapons were sold to the Danish police. Thanks to a cost-effective production, inquiries soon came from South America and Asia. El Salvador, Paraguay and Thailand were among the first foreign customers.

The weapon is an unusual design, consisting of two receiver halves, each of them pressed from one piece of sheet metal including the grip piece and magazine well. They are held together at the back by the hinges of the side-folding wire stock and at the front by the barrel nut. The cocking handle is a bracket-shaped slider that rides along on top of the receiver. Disassembly of the M-46 is very easy: one must unscrew the barrel nut, pull out the barrel, remove the cocking slider and then open the left side of the receiver, almost like a book. All internal parts such as bolt, recoil spring and buffer will remain in the right receiver half and can be easily removed. No tools are needed, and there are no connecting pins that can get lost. Weapon cleaning has never been easier, as there are no inaccessible places.

On the other hand, the operating principle is not very innovative. The Model 1946 is a conventional blowback design firing from the open bolt. The cocking slider can be operated from both sides due to its position on top of the receiver. It moves forth and back with every round fired. The weapon is fed by a stick magazine with 32 rounds (9x19mm). The small magazine loader is practically stored inside the hollow grip together with a spare extractor and a second firing pin.

The safety mechanism is extraordinary: the bolt can be locked in the open or closed position by means of a manual safety switch located on the left side of the receiver right above the trigger. And then there is an additional automatic safety in form of a lever just behind the magazine well. To fire the weapon, one must grasp the magazine and this lever securely with the non-firing hand to release the bolt. Otherwise, the lever protrudes into the receiver and blocks the way of the bolt. This kind of safety is highly unusual in submachine guns. Only a few weapons, such as the Italian TZ-45 from World War II, have almost identical safeties. Most commonly the designers rely on a grip-safety located in the grip piece. The lever behind the magazine well has one big disadvantage: the weapon cannot be fired with one hand. In case of injury or if only one hand is free, the shooter has an unsolvable problem.

In the following years, DISA did a slight revision of its submachine gun, resulting in the P.56. The main improvement was the new cocking handle. It got the shape of a button, was firmly attached to the bolt, and there was no need to remove it before disassembling the weapon.

On November 7, 1950, the submachine gun was presented as “Model 1950” on the shooting range at the old Mosede Fort near Copenhagen. Military representatives from Great Britain, India, the United States and several other countries were allowed to attend the successful demonstration of firing 20,000 rounds with a weapon from the current serial production. After 2 hours and 17 minutes the test was over—and the gun still alright. Not a single malfunction occurred during firing. In the days before the demonstration a barrel was already stressed with 42,970 rounds and then measured. The muzzle velocity decreased by less than 10 percent and the bore widened by 0.04mm (0.0015 inch). The military, in any case, seemed to have been convinced by the Mad-sen M-50, because it soon became an export hit. Orders followed (again) from El Salvador, Guatemala, Venezuela, Colombia, Indonesia and many other countries.

To be even more successful in the international market, there were a few minor improvements to the weapon, as well as a few variants to choose from. From the Model 1953 (P.74), the thread for the barrel nut was relocated from the receiver to the barrel. A curved magazine was supposed to improve the cartridge feed (although the straight stick magazines were working properly). In addition, an alternative barrel nut could be used in connection with a perforated bar-rel jacket with integrated bayonet lug. The last DISA submachine gun was the Madsen Model 1953 Mark II (P.127). It too was optionally available with barrel jacket and bayonet. On request, wooden grip plates could be attached so that the grip piece did not heat up in the sun as much as the standard grip piece made of pure metal.

In Brazil, the Indústria Nacional de Armas S/A manufactured the submachine gun under license in São Paulo. Contact with the Danes was made in 1949, and DISA assem-bled some prototypes in the desired .45 ACP caliber. Already in the middle of 1950, serial production began in the factory in Brazil. The weapon was given the model designation INA M950. The most noticeable difference to the Danish model was the cocking handle relocated to the right side of the receiver. Three years later, a slightly improved version followed—the INA M953. Among other things, the magazine well was extended. The submachine guns were used in large numbers by army, navy, civilian police and other armed units. When the military forces switched to 9mm ammunition in the early 1970s, the INAs were gradually sent back to the depots for storage. The number of weapons is not known, but it was enough to let the military think about a conversion to 9mm caliber. Originally, the state-owned armaments company Indústria de Material Bélico do Brasil (IMBEL) was to produce a conversion kit consisting of barrel, bolt and magazine so that the replacement work could be carried out directly in the respective depots. But the conditions of the weapons varied a lot, and many had to be repaired first. Ultimately, therefore, the weapons were sent to the IMBEL factory in Itajubá for rework and conversion. In addition, the submachine guns received a fire selector switch because most of them went to the police, and they wanted a semiautomatic function.

As great as the success of the Madsen sub-machine guns was in the world, it remained modest in its homeland of Denmark. Only the Danish police bought weapons from DISA. The army, however, preferred the M/49 “Hovea,” which was adopted in 1949. It was nothing more than a copy of the Swedish Carl Gustaf m/45. The state-owned weapons factory (Haerens Vabenarsenalet) in Copenhagen was chosen for its production.