As urbanization progresses, fewer informal ranges are available for practice. Of indoor ranges, not all have rifle-rated backstops. Of shooters, not all care to deal with the overwhelming noise and concussion of centerfire rifles indoors. Those two constraints, along with the relatively effective sound suppression of subsonic pistol caliber cartridges, have popularized the 9mm AR-style carbine. About 3 years ago, CMMG improved on the concept originated with Colt submachine guns of the 1980s with their Guard, Banshee and now Resolute lines of 9mm carbines. 

CMMG carbines utilizing a radial-delayed blowback mechanism have been continuously evolving since 2017. Retarding the opening by friction of angled surfaces dates back to the original Thompson and Blish lock, but the CMMG design works much better. This approach permits the bolt carrier to be much lighter than plain blowback breechblocks. The backs of the rotating bolt lugs are angled to match similarly angled cuts in the barrel extension, allowing the bolt to slide out of battery once the pressure has dropped. Compared to the gas operation, this design is simpler and less dependent on the load; although additional bolt weights and stronger buffer spring are required for suppressed operation. For unsuppressed operation, a standard carbine weight buffer rather than the heavier 9mm buffer is sufficient, which makes racking the gun easier. Another plus of delayed blowback is lower residual pressure by the time the breech face clears the ejection port opening, which outputs less smoke by the shooter’s face. 

Three Grades 

The manual of arms resembled the full-size AR-15, which is the main point of the pistol caliber carbine (PCC). Three grades, 100, 200 and 300 series are offered. The high-end 300 series has all the enhancements: ambidextrous charging handle, ambidextrous sling plate and ambidextrous safety lever. A crisp two-stage Geissele trigger helps practical accuracy. For the three-gun shooter, especially the Trooper class who carry all guns with them through all stages, an all-aluminum RipStock™ is included. This CMMG exclusive opens to full length with no unlocking motions necessary, saving a second or so. The textured aluminum buttplate provides a non-slip connection for the shoulder. The underside of the buffer tube specific to RipStock has spaces for a set screw, limiting the length of pull if desired. For use in a cold or hot climate, I would recommend gluing a Neo prene pad to the top of the stock for a more comfortable cheekweld. 

Resolute 300 also comes with an aggressive and fairly effective muzzle brake. The plainer 100 series has a standard AR trigger, an A2 flash hider and a simple M4 buttstock on a standard buffer tube, along with a MIL-standard grip instead of a Magpul. Both feature lightweight 15-inch M-Lok handguards. The simpler rifle is a couple of ounces lighter and about $500 cheaper, but competition shooters would probably prefer the more fully featured variant. The mag drops free in both, and the mag well is nicely beveled for rapid reloads. I would have preferred a slightly heavier, more prominently fenced magazine release. The reduction of recoil impulse by the patented CMMG mechanism even makes the narrow aluminum buttplate comfortable enough for extensive range sessions. 

The rest of CMMG’s standard features, like a beveled mag well and properly radiused and chamfered forms, are present in all models. Thanks to the delayed blowback design, the recoil is traditionally minimal even for a PCC. The guns come standard with one 33-round GLOCK magazine, a welcome improvement on the aftermarket 17-rounders included by most other makers. Given the velocity increase of light bullets from the pistol barrel length to the carbine length is 100fps to 250fps, the 9mm becomes a more potent defensive tool. With subsonic ammunition, the gain is small, less than 50fps, but the reduction of the muzzle blast and the elimination of flash make PCC a much easier weapon to handle under come defense conditions. 

I’ve used CMMG carbines and AR-style pistols in the past, they have invariably ran reliably and delivered excellent accuracy. Both 9mm and .45ACP Guard carbines shot 2MOA, which is very respectable for pistol rounds. My experience with the Resolute 300 made me wonder if the gun was damaged by a prior reviewer. After about 200 rounds, the rifle started failing to eject. The culprit was predictably a kinked ejector spring, easily replaced. However, in looking at very asymmetric soot on ejected casings, this author had to wonder if damage was done to the chamber as well, as obturation seemed very inconsistent. Good accuracy and high reliability have long been my baseline expectations with CMMG. Anything other than that gets handled very quickly by their tech support. 

The best group I got from the Resolute was 4MOA, with Winchester 147-grain subsonic JHP, American Eagle 147-grain subsonic TMJ and Seismic 185-grain HP, while Winchester White Box 124-grain FMJ was all over the place with 6MOA. The results from the 100 series were more in line with the expectations, despite the basic MIL-SPEC trigger. 

185-grain Seismic and 147-grain Winchester Suppressed both came in at 3MOA. That’s unusual, as most PPCs shoot smaller groups with bullets under 115 grain. Resolute, on the contrary, does better with heavier bullets. 124-grain Federal Syntech Match and 100-grain G2 Research Civic Duty HP shot around 4MOA. The White Box ball was all over the place again. Centers of groups for various loads differed considerably, up to 5 inches diagonally. For serious use, it would be best to pick one load and stick to it. This accuracy level is plenty good for PCC matches that seldom go beyond 70 yards. At 25-yard indoor ranges, 3MOA translates into a maximum of ¾ inch from the point of aim. 

Putting considerable amount of ammunition through these carbines made me greatly appreciate the two magazine loaders employed for filling GLOCK mags. The great “coffee mill” MagPump loader took a little time to set up masterfully but made filling 30-rounders quick and easy. It also works for several other brands of magazines. The tiny, single-purpose hand-loader from American Speedloaders, LLC, only works with GLOCK-type mags but requires no set-up time at all. Drop-in a single round, press the mag against the base and done! Resolute proved very accepting of a wide variety of ammunition, from steel-cased ball to lightweight frangibles to the heaviest of subsonics to exotics with jagged machined leading edges all fed reliably. 

Great Speed 

In sum, both variants of Resolute would be a good fit for any sport where speed counts. While my friend Bill Treanor, a highly ranked competitive shooter, was firing the 100 series carbine, another friend walked up asking: “Who brought the submachine gun?” That’s just a quick trigger finger and a CMMG carbine, pal! 

These four titles are from a series of nine (so far) books that cover German WWII weapons. What sets this series apart from other books is the use of official photos taken by German military photographers. These SS-Kriegsberichter, or war reporters, were tasked with capturing inspiring images for the German propaganda machine. Propaganda being what it is, most of the original captions must be treated with a great deal of suspicion. The author, Guus de Vries, mentions this in the preface.

The preface also mentions that there were perhaps 2,500 Kriegsberichter covering all branches of the German war effort. Operating under the direction of the Ministry of Propaganda, these photographers and reporters helped the Third Reich tell its version of the war.

More often than not, they were not actually capturing real combat scenes but recreating great battles a week or so after the event. This becomes evident upon careful scrutiny of the photographs. The author often points out small details such as a missing magazine or rear sight folded down as a soldier is supposedly aiming at an enemy. This seems strange that even with an entire ministry devoted to creating the perfect image of a victorious soldier, such details were missed.

Once it is understood that these photos (and especially the captions that accompany the photos) represent the Nazi point of view, they become an intriguing piece of history.

Each book typically starts with an Introduction, then a look at the development process of the specific weapon (the exception being the title, Captured Arms / Beutewaffen, for obvious reasons). From there, accessories, different variants, markings and so on are covered. This is not a rigid list, however. For example, the FG42 book covers pre-production trials models, the first production model, an intermediate type, and the second (final) production model. This technical study takes up the first 50 or so pages (this differs with each title). The Propaganda photos section makes up the remainder of the 152 pages.

The Captured Arms / Beutewaffen book takes a different approach. As the Germans did not develop but merely captured these arms, the book is divided into country of origin. Photographs of German soldiers armed with weapons from a long list of nations are featured. The cover photo shows a very pleased paratrooper posing with a British Mk I Bren, probably captured in Dunkirk or Crete.

The technical first section of each book often has several photos sharing one page, especially if there are three views of the same gun or a comparison of two variants. The Propaganda section, however, features one large photo per page, along with a comment from the author(s). Generally this is a translation of the original German caption, along with the author’s observations. These large photos are less about the gun and more about the soldiers. Besides the posed battle recreations mentioned above, there are many photos taken during training, casual group photos, various “lifestyle” photos of soldiers relaxing, etc., and even a few real combat photos.

As might be expected from the posed photos, they tend to be better quality than “grab” shots. Most photos are crisp and clear, although some are not (usually specific battle photos). All are black and white; there are no color photos.

While these books are not the final word on each gun covered, they do hold a great deal of information in the technical first section. Adding in the official German Kriegsberichter photos makes this an interesting group of books.

DETAILS: Propaganda Photo Series

Vol. III: The P08 Luger Pistol
By Guus De Vries and Bas J. Martens
Hardcover, 9×9 inches
152 pages, includes dust jacket
Copyright 2001, 2nd ed.
ISBN 978-90-805583-5-9
Publisher: S.I. Publicaties BV sipublicaties.nl

Vol. VI: The MG34 Machine Gun
By Guus De Vries
Hardcover, 9×9 inches
152 pages, includes dust jacket
Copyright 2010
ISBN 978-90-78521-03-7
Publisher: S.I. Publicaties BV sipublicaties.nl

Vol. VIII: The FG42 Fallschirmjägergewehr
By Guus De Vries
Hardcover, 9×9 inches
152 pages, includes dust jacket
Copyright 2011
ISBN 978-90-78521-05-1
Publisher: S.I. Publicaties BV sipublicaties.nl

Vol. IX: Captured Arms / Beutewaffen
By Guus De Vries
Hardcover, 9×9 inches
152 pages, includes dust jacket
Copyright 2011
ISBN 978-90-78521-06-8
Publisher: S.I. Publicaties BV sipublicaties.nl

If the last true firearm innovation was the polymer frame, we’re about 50 years into the current technological drought. Like a bag of Legos, a successful gun maker must put together something that is (or appears to be) a new combination of existing ideas if it wants to be novel. Another option for success might be a new product that does something that’s been overpriced or neglected in the market. In the late 1990s KelTec CNC Industries did all three with its P32. Sturm, Ruger & Co. took note and re-designed its LCP vest pocket gun line in 2016. Here’s how they compare.

KelTec’s P32

The original KelTec P32 combined the twin innovations of lightweight polymer and aluminum materials with the well-established Browning tilting barrel recoil mechanism to make a pistol smaller, lighter and more controllable than any predecessor in the same caliber. Due to all this and the general economy that’s a hallmark of KelTec CNC, the cost was and has remained affordable.

The P32 has an empty weight of less than 8 ounces, dimensions of 0.75×3.5×5 inches and a capacity of 7 + 1. The magazine orientation is nearly vertical which makes for a compact, efficient size while allowing cartridge placement that avoids the problem of “rim-lock” with the semi-rimmed .32 ACP cartridge. Magazines are made by Mec-Gar—another brand name synonymous with reliable quality. Dual recoil springs round out the features that mitigate recoil while keeping the weight down.

The only slide stop is internal, powered by the empty magazine follower once the last shot is fired. KelTec’s P32 has no external safety controls and a sloped back slide and frame for fast, snag-free draw from a pocket or holster. The grip texture is outstanding, and the fire-control system makes use of a hammer that’s pre-charged to a half-cock position with the action of the slide. Like a GLOCK, it’s at half-cock when chambered, and the lightened DA pull weighs in around 6 or 7 pounds.
The original trigger/hammer design had one notable downside: After firing, a full release of the trigger was required for a subsequent shot. A partial release of the trigger produced a felt and audible click that can be mistaken for a traditional trigger reset. If that partially released trigger was pulled, the hammer would fall from the half-cock position. This normally causes a light strike on the cartridge primer and a failure to fire. Likewise, if a trigger pull is attempted with the slide out of battery, the trigger must be fully released once the slide is forward, or the same light hammer strike will result.

The P3AT

The sights on the original P32 were minimalist at best and remained unchanged in 2003 when KelTec released their next version—the .380 ACP! Calling it the model P3AT, the main changes were to the slide con-tour adding mass, elimination of the internal slide stop and a magazine capacity necessary reduced to 6 rounds to accommodate the larger cartridge in the same size grip. The newer, more powerful cartridge produced greater recoil, but the lower ammunition cost and increased stopping power made an attractive package that matched the sales of its predecessor.

In time, KelTec made improvements to the designs of both models. The extractor design was updated and included an external flat spring, giving the slide a distinctive look. Two removable internal parts, the ejector and the spring and guide rod seat (at the front of the slide), were eliminated so that a field strip had two fewer tiny parts to misplace. The slide was beefed up to a more blocky shape that included square post and notch sights that, while tiny, were better than the originals.

Ruger’s LCP Versions

Within 5 years of the release of the P3AT, KelTec was paid the most sincere compliment when Sturm, Ruger & Co. decided to make its own version of this highly successful pocket pistol. Ruger’s new model, the LCP®, had all of the same basic features of the P3AT with the updated cosmetic style of the Ruger P345 and SR9 models. Ruger’s pistol had the same fire control, capacity, sights and size but brought back the slide stop in a new way. This feature was external and manually operated only. The pistol can be locked open by the operator but will not do so automatically on an empty magazine. The grip texture of the LCP is less aggressive than the P32 or P3AT. This can be seen as an improvement or step backwards depending on the user’s preference.

One year into the manufacture of the LCP, Ruger decided to address the issue of the partial trigger release permitting a hammer fall. This product recall was officially intended to correct a potential safety issue, accidental discharge from a fall, but also eliminated the light strike possibility related to either a partial trigger release or out of battery trigger pull. Only the first serial number series was affected (numbers beginning with 370), and those pistols corrected by the recall were marked with a diamond-shaped stamp to the frame on the top ledge of the hammer cutout. Eventually, KelTec pistols were similarly updated.

Ruger has an excellent reputation for quality and durability, so the new LCP pistols were taken seriously and sold like hot cakes. KelTec’s slightly lower retail cost and other features like the sharper grip texture and the lower recoiling .32 ACP option kept its sales brisk as well. All of this success coincided with a widespread drought of .380 ACP ammunition availability in the U.S. around the same time.

Ruger’s next batch of improvements came in the form of the LCP Custom. This model had a polished blue finish to the sides of the slide, an aluminum trigger and substantial upgrade to the sights. The new sights were removable parts that were much taller than the original and featured a white dot in the front. Better sights fulfilled part of the goal of turning the LCP from a stubby pocket rocket into a truly accurate, shootable sidearm. The rest of this task required improvements to the trigger and grip that lead Ruger designers to the latest evolution.

Ruger’s LCP II hit the scene in 2016 and represented a more substantial re-design than those that came before. The external slide stop and magazine design were both upgraded to lock the gun open after the last shot fired. The new sights split the difference between the low-profile originals and the more usable tall versions of the Custom model. Forward slide serrations were added, and an updated grip texture coupled with a wider section to the rear half of the grip frame improved the shooter’s reaction to recoil. All of these improvements were just icing on the cake to the biggest change of all: a single-action trigger!

The LCP II employs a concealed hammer that functions with a crisp break and an even better reset for follow-up shots. With the improvements to the grip, sights and the automatic slide lock, the LCP II pistol shoots like a “real gun!” This author and others have used the LCP II in IDPA competitions with respectable results. The model enjoys back-wards compatibility with original LCP mag-azines, but those will not activate the slide stop. The wider grip has minimal impact on concealability, and the single-action trigger is supported with a trigger safety and internal safety features that prevent discharge without a pull of the trigger.

Solid Designs

Despite years of evolution, an original or current production KelTec P32 remains a viable self-defense pocket pistol that is lighter and easier to shoot than any previously comparable designs. The latest version of the Ruger LCP II offers shootability that exceeds that of anything currently available in the same size or weight. Along the path from A to B is an unbroken chain of solid designs with incremental improvements that never deviated from the innovative concept of remaking the vest pocket gun, using modern materials and the time-tested and efficient Browning recoil operating system.

In recent years, the popularity of AK magazine collecting increased dramatically. Every week you can see rare Soviet prototype magazines selling for anything from $300 to $4,000 a piece.

Surprisingly, very little information is available about history, development and identification of those magazines. There are no reputable sources, let alone collectors’ guides, that can serve as a foundation for research and be used for the correct appraisal of the magazines.
Naturally, there is a lot of confusion and misinformation, which allows some sellers to take advantage of the collectors who do not really understand what exactly they are buying.

While this author does not claim to be an expert in the history of Kalashnikov magazines, he was lucky to see with his own eyes the development and testing process of nearly all modern Russian magazines: AK-12 mags, 5.45 round drum, 7.62×39 quad-stacks as well as the weapons that use those magazines.

This article is dedicated to the history of the AK-12 magazine, since now it seems to be the most common modern collectable AK mag sold at social media groups and auctions.

The year was 2012. The world famous Izh-mash factory, which produced AKs since 1949, is the largest Russian manufacturer of small arms and was going through a tough bankruptcy. Just a year before that, the Russian Ministry of Defense declared that they are not going to buy any more AKs, since they “already had enough of them.”

While the Russian Ministry of Defense did not really buy a significant number of small arms from Izhmash since the early 1990s, the psychological consequences of this statement were devastating. It was clear that the Ministry of Defense was, for once, disappointed in Izhmash and not willing to bail it out with new orders.
The new generation weapon and gear program called “Ratnik” that was made public in 2011 also did not look very promising. It included a submission from Izhmash, but an early AK-12 had a lot of teething problems, and balanced recoil A-545 and A-762 assault rifles had an early lead in a competition for the next service rifle of the Russian Armed Forces.

The future looked grim, and it seemed like Izhmash was going down, despite having over 200 years of history and the fact that it was producing the most popular rifle in the world. In a situation like that, the best way to get out of crisis is to negotiate a large order from the Armed Forces.

In 2012, during an annual defense exhibition, the Russian Minister of Defense had a quick visit to an Izhmash booth. After a short presentation, he said: “Okay, listen, we need a transparent magazine, so the soldier can see how much ammo is left.” Everyone agreed, but as the development process started, the factory was a bit reluctant to demonstrate the prototypes before preliminary testing was complete.

A year after, in 2013, when the Minister of Defense showed up at the Izhmash booth again and did not find any transparent magazines, things turned from bad to worse. “You can’t even make a transparent magazine, what are you good for, I wonder?” That is not something you ever want to hear from the biggest poten-tial customer.

At this point, something had to be done, and by Summer 2014, several 3D-printed proto-types of transparent magazines were ready for demonstration. At that time, the author just started working on some projects at the factory, and it was well understood that fulfilling the request for transparent magazines might change the future of the company.

The big day came on August 4, 2014, when the Minister of Defense was visiting Kalashnikov Concern booth during an annual “The Day of Innovation 2014” exhibition. This exhibition was generally closed to the public and gave industry professionals an opportunity to check out some of the newest small arms developed for the Russian military and law enforcement.

As everyone prepared for the visit, mag-azines were placed right at the entrance of the booth, so the Minister of Defense would not miss them. However, at the very last moment, the minister and his entourage suddenly came in from the other side. He briefly looked at the guns, shook his head and qui-etly said, preparing to leave: “And once again, no transparent magazines.”

The author rushed to the other side of the booth, grabbed the magazines and rammed through the entourage, screaming: “There you go, Sir, here are two prototypes, ready for testing.” The ice was broken, the minister and generals looked at the magazines, discussed technical features and were clearly happy that their request was finally fulfilled. Eventually, transparent magazines were included into the standard AK-12 kit.

The first prototypes of transparent magazines were rather primitive, but as we know, “it’s the thought that counts.” The next day the author did a weapons demonstration, and the prototype magazine worked flawlessly on an AK-107 rifle.

By the end of August, prototypes of AK-12 magazines were in the final stages of development, and on August 26, 2014, Vladimir Zlobin, who at the time was the chief design engineer of Kalashnikov Concern, filed a request for a patent for his AK-12 magazine.

Early Features

This early magazine had so many features that later, some of them were deemed unnecessary. For example, the first prototypes had a special bracket system that would allow connecting magazines side-by-side, much like G36 mags.

That system was eliminated on the first production run, but other features remained for some time, such as M4-style mag catch holes. The idea was that the new generation of AKs would have a magwell, but that never happened.

M4-style mag catch holes were present on the first mass-produced batch of magazines but disappeared in later generations. The same happened with the drawing of the round on the feed lips, which reads: “5.45×39.” So if you ever see one of the early ones for sale, make sure you will not let it get away; collecting value of AK-12 mags with M4-style mag catch holes will only increase in the future.

Some other features remained unchanged in later generations. The main features of the AK-12 mag are the transparent windows that allow you to see the amount of ammunition left in the magazine. Another distinct feature is the new floorplate and the shape of the bottom of the magazine that allows using it as a monopod.
There is also a special full mag indicator: when the magazine is fully loaded, the indicator protrudes out of a floorplate, which gives the shooter the opportunity to check magazines in low-light conditions without actually looking at them.

One of the problems I encountered with early mags was that the carbon building up in a magazine turned the transparent windows to trans-lucent and eventually just made the windows completely useless. I talked about this issue with Vladimir Zlobin, and he addressed the problem; now the transparent insert in a magazine is removable, and you can easily clean it.

Some of the first generation mags did not have the cutouts for stripper clips; later gen magazines have them. The magazines without stripper clip cutouts are quite rare.

In 2018, similar magazines were introduced for the AK-15, which is chambered for 7.62×39. Those magazines had a more conventional shape, without a “monopod” feature, but other than that were identical to 5.45 mags.

Additionally, several 5.56×45 magazines of the same type were showcased at the Russian “Army-2018” exhibition with AK-201 and AK-202 assault rifles.
The same 5.45×39 AK-12 magazine is sold with “TR3,” a sporting variant of the AK-12 assault rifle. Every TR3 comes with one magazine that contains a piece of steel wire, which limits the capacity of the magazine to 10 rounds. The wire is easily removable.

Same magazines are sold with an AK-12 MMG (deactivated non-firing gun). Unfortunately, following an ancient tradition, the fac-tory deactivates those magazines, cutting off the feed lips—a barbaric tradition. When you are buying a magazine, make sure you will not get one of those deactivated ones.

There were other variants of the AK-12 magazine, including a completely transparent one. Unfortunately, so far, no magazine completely made of transparent plastic survived Russian military technical trials. They all eventually break during the testing, and so far, small transparent windows seem like an ideal compromise between visibility of the rounds and durability of the magazine.

However, completely transparent magazines are produced by Kalashnikov Concern but strictly for the civilian market. Some of those transparent 7.62×39 magazines are being sold in the U.S. right now. Their collecting value is minimal—plenty of those magazines will be available in the near future.

The prices of AK-12 mags will likely go down in the next few years. Recently, the Russian military ordered over 130,000 AK-12s, and in a few years the market will have a steady supply of magazines. However, if you can grab a rare, earlier version with M4-style cutouts, its price will only go up every year.

Final Thoughts

When you are collecting something, you are not just collecting items; you are collecting stories, preserving history and information. The transparent AK-12 magazine is a simple item, but as you can see, there is a lot of history that goes with it.

In the next articles, we will look at the history of modern Russian high capacity magazines, particularly drums and 5.45 quad stacks, which seem to be the rarest and most expensive AK magazines in existence.

The author would like to thank friend and fellow researcher Pavel Pticin for the photos and information provided for the article.

The day was hot, Africa hot. The CIA asset sweated like a harlot in church as he took in the motley crowd at the outdoor café through his Oakleys. Luanda, Angola, was the largest Portuguese-speaking city in the world and a surprisingly expensive place to live. Regardless, this part of Baixa de Luanda remained a rathole. When one hunted rats, one frequented ratholes.

The rat this day was an al-Shabaab bomb maker named Abdirahim Amiri. Amiri was a psychopath’s psychopath. He once traded his favorite daughter to a transient Laotian arms merchant for a Czechoslovakian rocket launcher and a flagon of Cockspur rum. That very same psychopath now took a seat two tables over alongside a pair of unsavory mal-contents.

The asset’s garish shorts and Mr. Bubble® t-shirt would not hide a proper pocket pistol, so he looked harmless. “Reuters” was splashed across the front of his ball cap. You can find anything on eBay.

His camera case was about the size of a large lunchbox. He had stenciled “Press Corps—Camera” across the side in case anybody cared. The asset excused himself and retreated to the restroom.

Once alone, he popped open the case. The gun resembled a compact M4 Carbine split into two halves. With practiced hands the asset snapped the barrel assembly in place and then quietly chambered a round. He turned his ball cap around backwards and pushed back into the sunlight.

Their eyes met in an instant, and Amiri had his pistol out and clear. The asset thumbed his selector, centered his sights by rote and squeezed the trigger twice, sending the psychopath off to meet his 70 dark-eyed virgins. A pair of perfectly placed double taps queued up his two companions right in line behind him. That’s when the screaming started. There was always screaming.

The asset used the resulting chaos to melt into the crowd. Half an hour later, he was sipping an ice cold Coke in an air-conditioned hotel room being debriefed by a pair of flabby guys in suits. The excitement passed, the ringing in his ears abated, and his pulse returned to the low 60s. It was a weird way to make a living, but somebody had to do it.

Origins

The concept of takedown guns dates back more than a century. John Moses Browning, the most gifted gun designer in human history, contrived his Model 1897 shotgun to break down readily into two pieces. This feature allowed the gun to be more easily shipped, stored or hidden.

The barrel assembly on the 1897 mates to the receiver via a set of fine interrupted threads. To take the gun down you slide out a retractable peg at the front of the magazine tube, give it a partial turn and pull the tube forward and clear of the receiver. This frees up the barrel to twist and slide free.

The Japanese Airborne

Though they were used only infrequently during World War II, the Japanese maintained a robust airborne capability. As a result the Japanese military fielded several fascinating takedown guns. The TERA Type 2 was a break-apart version of their bolt-action Arisaka Type 99 infantry rifle. The gun was held together via an interrupted thread and wedge system.

The Japanese Type 99 machine gun was a magazine-fed support weapon not conceptually dissimilar to the British Bren gun. Though a nightmare to mass produce and a boat anchor to hump, this gun soldiered on reliably until the very end of the War in the Pacific. The Japanese also produced a take-down version of this weapon for airborne use, albeit in very small quantities.

The Arisaka Type 99 Paratrooper machine gun features a removable finned barrel held in place via a calibrated wedge. The buttstock is retained by a pin affixed to the end of a short length of steel chain. The steel pistol grip folds forward to encompass the trigger guard. When fully broken down, the Paratrooper Type 99 collapses into a remarkably small package.

Armalite Survival

In 1956 Gene Stoner and the design team that ultimately produced the AR-15 were occupying themselves trying to conjure a new survival weapon for USAF aircrews. The result was the AR-5, a bolt-action takedown rifle chambered for the .22 Hornet cartridge. The AR-5 was a solid design, but the Air Force already had M4 and M6 survival weapons in inventory, so the new gun sort of fizzled. However, many of the AR-5’s radical attributes found their way into the AR-7, a .22LR autoloading design intended for the civilian market.

The AR-7 fed from a detachable box magazine and came apart via a large screw that fed through the wrist of the stock. Loosening a threaded collar removed the barrel, and the whole shebang stored inside the bulbous butt-stock. The gun would even float. The Israelis used a slightly modified version of the AR-7 operationally as an aircrew survival weapon in the 1980s. Sean Connery’s James Bond used one to shoot down a helicopter in “From Russia with Love.”

These days Henry offers the same AR-7 design as the U.S. Survival rifle. Modern mass production techniques and Information Age materials science keep the gun inexpensive. Henry makes it cool. I once tied a cord to mine and left it floating overnight in a lake. It sank eventually but took hours to do so.

Modern Offerings

KelTec makes weirdly awesome guns. Their SUB2000™ pistol-caliber folding rifle is a radical bullpup design that pivots just ahead of the trigger guard. Tugging the trigger guard downward releases the gun to fold. A spring-loaded catch secures the gun in its folded state. Deployment takes less time to perform than to describe.
The SUB2000 has plenty of rail space for accessories, and the muzzle is threaded for a suppressor if desired. The gun can be configured for either GLOCK, SIG SAUER, Beretta, CZ, Canik or Smith & Wesson magazines, so you can maintain magazine compatibility with your standard handgun. The trigger pull is a bit on the heavy side at 9.5 pounds, but the SUB2000 is indeed exceptionally clever.

Tactical Solutions makes their X-RING VR™ precision .22 rifle in a takedown version that splits easily into two pieces. The barrel is retained via an interrupted thread and secures to the bottom of the buttstock when collapsed for storage or transport. The gun holds its zero and shoots like an extension of your own anatomy.

Cry Havoc Tactical

Cry Havoc Tactical produces a Quick Release Barrel setup that allows you to transform any M4-based weapon into a covert takedown spy gun. A proprietary collar on the upper receiver mates with a similar component on the barrel extension and secures via a pair of throw levers. The USAF recently bought more than 2,000 of these weapons for use in every combat aircraft in the inventory. When mounted atop a standard M4 lower, the resulting gun is actually small enough to fit into a fighter plane’s ejection seat.

Takedown guns represent the pinnacle of the gun designer’s art. Capable, rugged, radical and neat, these novel tools seem right at home tucked behind the seat in James Bond’s Aston Martin. There are also quite a few options available for us normal folk as well.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

armalite.com

henryusa.com

keltecweapons.com

tacticalsol.com

cryhavoctac.com

While the fictional “NCIS” character Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ “Rule Number Nine” is stated as “Never go anywhere without a knife,” and this is wise counsel, it’s actually paraphrased from the real “Rule Number One” as taught to young men raised in the pre-1970s era. As a child of the ‘50s and ‘60s, I can attest to the fact that almost every adult male would at some point or other say, “Nothing will ever cut you faster than a dull knife.” This was usually stated after asking to see one’s pocket knife to see if he was keeping a proper edge on it. God help the young man with a dull knife, or worse yet, no knife at all.

Our knives are as American as our guns are. Our lore and legends revolve around them: the Bowie, the Ka-Bar, the Randall, Trench knives, all fighting knives. Then there were our carry/work knives: the Buck 110 Folding Hunter, Camillus Military Utility and of course the Uncle Henry and Old Timer knives. I’m getting all nostalgic just thinking about them; I still have my U.S. Army Ka-Bar and Camillus kept in a drawer (wouldn’t carry today, too sentimental), but unfortunately I lost my Buck 110.
The fact is, in today’s world it’s getting harder to carry a good “Gentleman’s knife.” TSA will take it, and many places you go people will confiscate (steal) it if you put it out where it can be seen. Traveling overseas, well, there is the horror of having a knife in England, a land that was carved out by guys with swords, knives and other sharp cutlery. “Dear Lord, how can you have a knife?” This author’s response is, “How will I open boxes? How will I cut that horrible over-cooked beef you boil?” So, taking a good knife overseas is pretty much out because of the possibility of losing it to theft by blaggards or other government people. I take cheap knives with me, because I know they’ll get stolen.

In the U.S., however, we’re mostly in the free world regarding our knives. This allows for choices of good, reliable knives to keep with us and be there when we need them. These are such important tools, and quality might cost extra, but it seldom disappoints.

Spyderco

Spyderco is one of the leading knife manufacturers in the modern world, having started business in 1976. They have some of the world’s top talent in their leadership, including Michael Janich. This author has gotten to know Michael over the years while at military trade shows and had many conversations regarding knives. He is truly an encyclopedia of knife metallurgy, lore and knife tactics, as well as being a top designer himself.

Today, Spyderco has many utilitarian knives and tools, as well as many of what would be termed combat, or tactical, knives. Their designs are highly respected and carried by active users worldwide. That’s not what this article is about. Approximately 8 months ago, I sat with Michael for quite a while, discussing the history and use of the basic folding knife that a working person needs. We talked about the current designs that would be of interest to the tactical world, and I kept coming back to the fact that I was not satisfied with any of the knives I’d been carrying—there was always something a bit “off” or uncomfortable. While I can make anything work, I’m very picky about my carry guns, ammo and my work knife.

Michael reached into the Spyderco display case and pulled out a knife, handed it to me and said, “Look this one over. It’s the Brouwer design and is probably exactly what you are looking for.” He proceeded to tell me about Jerry Brouwer, a Dutch knife collector and designer. Brouwer designed a knife called the “Flanker” model, and when he met Eric Glesser from Spyderco at a knife meet in the Netherlands, they decided to collaborate on the design; the “Brouwer” was born. Michael told me that Brouwer wanted his knife to be a “seri-ous, every day cutting tool, small enough to carry conveniently and substantial enough for challenging cutting chores.” He was absolutely speaking my language.

I got the knife and decided to test it for a while as my work/carry knife and see if it was everything this author was looking for. I’ve used it for over 8 months now on everything as simple as shaving a broken fingernail to cutting heavy rope. Opening hundreds of boxes of magazines and cutting cardboard didn’t affect the sharpness at all. Pulling splinters, cutting plastic, shaving wood edges, occasional peel-ing of a 12-gauge wire, just everything in the course of a day proved no problem. The blade shape is perfect, and it cuts smooth as silk; there’s a very nice draw path through whatever I’m cutting.

It was easy to open one-handed with Spyderco’s Trademark Round Hole™ (I like to carry tip-up style anyway), and which side the clip is mounted, right or left, can be reversed if that’s your preference. The only problem I had is the same with any clipped pocket mounted knife: the pants wear at the pocket edge—but I’m talking about work pants, not fancy-go-to-meeting pants (I‘ve been carrying the Brouwer then too). If you work, you know what I mean—work pants get worn out. I want my knife where I can get it fast, and that’s just how it is.

Thumbs-Up

The specs are in the article; all the info is available on this knife at spyderco.com. As promised to Michael, I’m giving my opinion, and it’s a thumbs-up. I really used the Brouwer every single day when I was stateside for the last 8 months, and I am impressed. I didn’t even consider sharpening it during that whole time; it kept the edge beautifully. I’ve found my carry work knife, and my comfort level is back up, even better than my first Buck 110.
Jerry Brouwer, wherever you are today, kudos to you and Spyderco!

Keeping It Sharp

Spyderco offers an extensive group of sharpening tools. I have to confess that I use a Wicked Edge Pro-Pack II because I have it for my kitchen knives, and it’s been an outstanding sharpening system. I spoke with Michael about the correct angle for sharpening the Brouwer; it’s a “smooth blade” (plain edge) with right and left angles of 17 degrees (so an included angle of 34 degrees), and if you use the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker® at a 40-degree included angle, you’ll contact the apex of the edge. Also remember that the Brouwer is a Full Flat Grind (FFG) blade, and that requires some special attention with the Wicked Edge system. Watch the videos at wickededgeusa.com.

Michael Janich teaches his special Martial Blade Concepts, and you can also get his books online such as Knife Fighting: A Practical Course or watch his videos on YouTube. I strongly suggest going to his website and learning about his practical, well-thought-out program on MBC (martialbladeconcepts.com/about-mbc).
Please pay a visit to spyderco.com where they have a huge list of resources, from what metals are used and why, the treatment of the metal, types of grips, all of their seemingly thousands of products plus a very active forum section where questions and answers are provided.

Spyderco’s Description

The heart of the Brouwer is its Full Flat Grind blade, which is crafted from CPM® S30V® particle metallurgy stainless steel. Its drop-point profile offers outstanding utility, while a paired index-finger choil and textured thumb ramp ensure precise control when used with a “choked-up” grip. Spyderco’s Trademark Round Hole™ is positioned closer to the blade’s centerline to allow a straight spine, while still offering easy one-handed opening.

The Brouwer’s handle features a solid titanium scale and Reeve Integral Lock (R.I.L.) on one side and a textured green G-10 scale and nested, skeletonized stainless steel liner on the other. To ensure a solid lock-up and long service life, the R.I.L. includes a stainless steel interface that also serves as an over-travel stop. A reversible stainless steel hourglass clip mounted to the butt end of the handle keeps the knife ready for instant access and offers a choice of left- or right-side tip-up carry. It is complemented by a lined lanyard hole for easy attachment of fobs and safety lanyards.

BROUWER FOLDER TI/G-10

Overall length 6.82in (173mm)
Blade length 2.82in (72mm)
Steel CPM S30V
Closed length 4in (102mm)
Edge length 2.36in (60mm)
Weight 2.8oz (79g)
Blade thickness 0.118in (3mm)
Handle Titanium/G-10
Clip position Ambidextrous
Tip carry position Tip-up
Lock type R.I.L. (Reeve Integral Lock)
Grind Full Flat
Sheath N/A
Origin Taiwan
MSRP $270 (as I said, quality costs but doesn’t disappoint)

The Six-Day War between Israel and Egypt, Jordan and Syria was fought from June 5 to June 10, 1967. During that conflict, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) captured thousands of AK-47 assault rifles and huge amounts of 7.62x39mm ammunition. At the time, the IDF was armed with the FN FAL battle rifle in 7.62x51mm caliber. This rifle was not suitable for operation in dusty, sandy environments without frequent service; it would jam if not maintained. The AK-47 was seen to be more controllable and reliable and required less maintenance than the FAL. It also was easier to maintain, and the conscript troops needed less training on it.

The IDF realized it needed an assault rifle that would be low maintenance with the accuracy of the FAL, so they looked for a replacement. The M16A1, Stoner 63 and HK33 were tested, but an Israel team consisting of Uziel Gal, inventor of the Uzi, Yakov Lior and Yisrael Galil began testing prototypes towards the end of the 1960s that were based on the Valmet RK 62 receivers. These tests paved the way for the Galil assault rifle chambered for the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge. The Galil became the official service rifle of the IDF from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s. It was eventually phased out when the M16A1 began arriving in Israel through the U.S. Military Aid Program in 1975.

VARIANTS

Numerous variants of the Galil were produced over its lifespan. Here’s a brief summary:

• AR: This is the standard rifle, chambered in 5.56 NATO and 7.62 NATO.
• SAR: This is a short-barreled carbine with either a 13.1-inch barrel in 5.56 NATO or a 15.7-inch barrel in 7.62 NATO.
• ARM: This is a light machine gun in both calibers that is famous for having a bottle opener at the rear of the handguard.
• MAR: This is commonly known as the Micro Galil. It is a smaller version of the SAR. It was downsized by using a shorter 8.27-inch barrel, receiver, gas tube, piston and handguard. Empty weight is 6.57 pounds. The later version of the MAR, the 699, has the charging handle positioned to the left side of the bolt carrier and protrudes through a slot on the left side of the receiver cover. A metal dust shield covers the opening when the bolt is in the forward position. Its barrel is slightly larger at 10.5 inches. This upgrade also extends to the Galil ACE, chambered in 5.56 NATO, 7.62 Soviet and 7.62 NATO.

IKON’s One-Off G223

A number of Micro Galil parts kits became available recently. These are original Israel Military Industries (IMI—now known as IMI Systems) parts, except the receivers are not included. IKON Weapons, LLC, headquartered in Florence, SC, has built a one-off G223 pistol using these parts kits. These firearms are truly bespoke weapons; each will be built to the customers’ specifications. IKON won’t be building another one just like the one in this article. The number “43” on the magazine is the gun’s serial number. This version is sold, so another differently configured pistol will replace it.

Features

The new receiver has the cocking lever on the left side, similar to the MAR 699. The fire selector is operated by pushing it forward. A two-piece rail is installed on the gas cylinder and receiver cover, making it possible to mount many different styles of optics. The barrel section at the gas port tower is chrome-plated. This prevents gas corrosion of the barrel. The front sight is adjustable for windage and height as per factory specs. Rear sight is windage-only adjustable.

The new receivers are CNC, cut from a 9-pound block of 4140 ordnance steel (containing chromium, molybdenum and manganese). The steel is widely used in firearms construction due to its toughness, high fatigue strength and abrasion and impact resistance. It’s then heat-treated to 45 Rockwell—a hardness scale based on indentation hardness of a material. During the heat treating process, a custom designed insert is used to prevent warping. This insert also allows proper oil quench soak over the entire surface.

Barrels are fabricated using Green Mountain 1-inch diameter blanks. These are 41V50 chrome moly vanadium steel. Each pistol barrel is indexed to the receiver, and then drilled for the gas port. Headspace is set using a pull-through reamer. As on the OEM weapon, the gas tower is pressed into the barrel. Each firearm has two 10-round mag-azines. The gun is finished with a Cerakote H-series oven-cured, thin-film coating. This provides corrosion, chemical and durability protection. It’s done using a ceramic-polymer technology that imparts both flexibility and physical performance. Cerakote has been used to coat pistons used by Top Fuel Dragster engine builders. It can tolerate operating temperatures up to 1,800 degrees. It is suggested that an operator does not try to fire the Micro Galil at this temperature.

The firearm will be shipped with its original stock. To mount the stock, the gun would have to be registered as a Short Barreled Rifle (SBR) with the ATF. IKON mounts an SB Tactical F1319 brace that gives the gun a 13.5-inch Length of Pull (LOP) so as to conform to current ATF regulations regarding braces and LOP.

Chrome Moly Barrel Life

A chrome moly barrel should be good for 10,000 rounds. After 7,000 some wear may be present. The barrel can go to 20,000 rounds, but there will be measurable wear to the lands. IKON did a 6,000-round endurance test on one of their Micro Galils. They had 50 magazines and blew through 6,075 rounds in 3.5 hours. The gun was rigidly mounted and then fired by pulling a string tied to the trigger. I would imagine that trigger fingers got rather tired. Suliban Deaza, IKON Weapons’ CEO, measured the front of the barrel temperature at 935 degrees after the last mag was dumped. Back near the receiver, the barrel temps ranged between 287 and 368 degrees.

Considering that most IKON Weapons owners will put less than 1,000 rounds downrange in a year, and at less than 50 yards range, there’s little, or no, chance of losing any discernible accuracy. Two or three trips to the range per month won’t ever cause an accuracy problem.

IKON G223

Caliber 5.56 NATO
Operating system Semiautomatic
Magazine NATO STANAG
Mag capacity 30
Barrel Hammer-forged, chrome-lined
Barrel length 8.3in
Weight (empty) 6.4lb
Rate of twist 1:7 Right hand
Sights Tritium adjustable
Info: iconweapons.com

Johnson’s Rifles and Machine Guns: The Story of Melvin Maynard Johnson, Jr. and His Guns 

Although overshadowed by the far better known M1 Garand service rifle, the story of the Johnson M1941 rifle is an interesting part of U.S. military history. 

Melvin Johnson was the driving force behind the M1941 semiautomatic rifle and the M1941 Light Machine Gun (LMG). This book, by noted U.S. weapons expert and author Bruce N. Canfield, covers the development and use of these arms, as well as other lesser known products. 

Canfield, best known for several books on the M1 Garand rifle and M1 Carbine, profiles Johnson the man and the Johnson Automatics company, as well as his rifle and LMG. As the name suggests, this book covers the man as least as much as the guns he developed. Canfield was given access to an unpublished 600-page manuscript that Johnson had assembled over 4 years, documenting his life. (Johnson actually submitted Unpardonable Guns to a book publisher, but it was rejected.) Canfield also worked with Melvin Johnson’s second son Edward R. Johnson. This access allows Canfield to go deep into the history and struggles of the rifle selection process, the busy times during World War II and the lean times following the War. The book follows this timeline, being broken into three parts. 

Part I—History and Development 

Starting with the usual family history introduction, the book follows the early development of the semiauto rifle, the forming of Johnson Automatics, Inc., and the testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. The development of the full-auto LMG (eventually named the M1941 LMG) is covered also. A little known experimental gun called the Auto-Carbine is also profiled. It was essentially a much shortened Johnson semiauto rifle. It kept the .30-06 cartridge, so had nothing to do with the Winchester-designed M1 Carbine. 

Part II—World War II–Betsy and Emma Go to War 

The subtitle refers to Johnson’s habit of giving his designs female names. The M1941 rifle was “Betsy,” and the LMG was “Emma.” (The Auto-Carbine mentioned above was named “Daisy Mae.”) While the U.S. Army did not adopt any of Johnson’s designs, the USMC First Parachute Battalion did acquire a small number of Betsys and Emmas that saw action in the Pacific. The purchase of rifles for the Netherlands East Indies (now known as Indonesia) is covered, as is the transfer of rifles to the USMC after the East Indies were overrun by the Japanese forces. 

Lesser known projects during WWII are examined, such as a 20mm aircraft cannon (nicknamed “Bertha”), a takedown paratroop model of the rifle, and even a prototype of a recoilless mortar. An updated version of the M1941 LMG is also covered; this became the M1944, and with further improvements, it became the M1945. 

Near the end of the War, Johnson Automatics, Inc., was given a contract to study the feasibility of motorizing an 1880s-era Gatling gun. After buying an original Model 1886, 10-barrel Gatling chambered in .45-70 Govt., an electric motor was attached, and some amazing rates of fire were reached. A peak of 5,800 RPM is noted. 

Part III—Post-War 

With the end of the War, came lean times for Johnson Automatics, Inc., as most militaries were downsizing. In order to keep busy, they began sporterizing military surplus bolt-action rifles for the commercial market. They also introduced a low-powered BB gun, the Johnson Indoor Target Gun. (On a personal note, I placed an ad in the old Shotgun News classified ad magazine years ago, looking for various airgun pellet tins, as I collect them. I got a phone call from one of Melvin Johnson’s sons offering me a package of JITG BBs. I still have the sealed package.) The JITG used a rubber tube as the power source. It had enough velocity to tear paper targets but not enough to pierce the cardboard box it came in. The box was used as a backstop and BB catcher. During a promo event, an attractive young model dressed in party balloons acted as a live target! However, the gun lacked the power to burst the balloons, much to the shooter’s frustration. This was planned, to show how low-powered it was. (Don’t try this at home, kids!) 

In late 1948, Johnson Automatics declared bankruptcy, and an auction was held in March 1949. Johnson himself went to work for Winchester Repeating Arms following this. He worked there until 1954. Eventually, he joined Armalite, a division of Fairchild Aircraft. During this time, Armalite was working on the AR-10 rifle. Several features of the AR-10 were reminiscent of the Johnson semiauto rifle, including the straight-line stock, the multiple locking lugs on the bolt and the use of a barrel extension that the bolt locked up to. 

The book relates a comical anecdote during this time. Johnson was verbally explaining something to an Armalite engineer. The engineer wanted Mel to draw it out on paper, but Johnson preferred to draw it out in cigar smoke! 

Also during the mid-1950s, Johnson was involved with the Dardick Corp. and their unique triangular-shaped “trounds.” This was for a short-lived pistol that was sort of a magazine-fed revolver. When this ended, Johnson then began converting .30-caliber M1 Carbines to 5.7mm (.224 cal). This wildcat cartridge used a .30 carbine case necked down to .224 diameter. It became known as the MMJ 5.7mm Johnson Spitfire. It had modest success but never really took off. 

The book ends with several pages of collector notes. As the Johnson rifles are becoming very valuable now, it is vital that collectors know what to look for, to avoid getting burned by fakers. 

This is a very well-researched book that gives a detailed look into the life and times of an inventor, as well as his various guns. If you are in the market for an M1941 rifle, you would be well-served by this book. Numerous detail photos of the innards, several photos of the factory machine shops and period advertising make this a worthwhile book. 

• By Bruce N. Canfield, with Robert L. Lamoreaux and Edward R. Johnson 
• Mowbray Publishing 
• ISBN 1-931464-02-2 
• Copyright 2002, 2006 
• Hardcover, 8.5” x 11”, 272 pages, 285+ color and B&W photos 
• MSRP: $49.95 
• gunandswordcollector.com 
• Available direct from Mowbray

Nestled between military barracks, headquarters buildings, officers’ clubs and canal systems in the Dusit District of Bangkok is the home of the Royal Thai Army Ordnance Corps compound. Unlike some of the more congested, loud and smelly parts of city, the area between the Bang Sue MRT station on the Blue Line and Victory Monument is a much more relaxed scene, allowing a visitor to take a calming stroll to the Royal Thai Army Ordnance Department. Finding the museum is as simple as looking it up on Google Maps; however, gaining entry to the museum is another quest entirely. Small Arms Review was graciously offered the opportunity to tour the museum by a long-time friend of the magazine. The museum is in an old building that overlooks Thahan Road on which the entry to the Army Ordnance Department is situated. For a visitor out of the blue, the ability to enter the museum or not is more contingent on the guards and officers on duty at the main gate to the Army Ordnance Corps compound. Some visitors have found access this way; others have not. Currently, the senior officers within the Army Ordnance Corps want to permanently offer the museum to the public on a visitor basis, but this will most likely be a year in the making. We would recommend partnering with a Thai friend, calling beforehand and walking in with him or her in order to translate.

The Royal Thai Army Ordnance Corps is the primary branch of the Royal Thai Army (RTA) that is responsible for manufacturing, issuing and servicing the ordnance needs of the RTA and has been active for many years in this capacity. Thailand receives the lion’s share of its equipment from overseas purchases and especially from U.S. military aid programs since the Vietnam War. But there are a number of indigenous manufacturing programs that the Ordnance Corps takes part in. One of the biggest is the 5.56x45mm NATO HK33 rifle that was produced at the same Bangkok com-pound. In Thai military and law enforcement service, the HK33 was adopted as the Type 11 in the 1990s, differing for both branches in terms of engravings and markings. Currently, the Ordnance Corps only services and refurbishes active-service Type 11s while the Corps ramps up for the licensed manufacture of TAVOR TAR-21 rifles at the facility. The TAR-21 is already used by the RTA as purchased from IWI in Israel, but this will allow the Ordnance Corps to continue manufacturing the majority of their own service rifles.

Although the RTA traces its origin to its founding in 1874, the museum collection spans well beyond that year, reaching into periods where Thai soldiers fought without firearms or cannons. This includes various swords, spears and shields that were used in historic battles. Where the museum is strongest is in its early to mid-20th century collection. Here we saw a wide variety of contract small arms and prototypes that came into Thailand from all over Europe and the United States. Many of these were sent to Thailand for trial and were thereafter retained by the Ordnance Corps in the reference collection where they lie today. With the outbreak of hostilities that would engulf Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, Pol Pot’s era in Cambodia and especially the Communist insurgency in northern Thailand, the collection moved toward the captured mate-riel that came with fighting Communists in the north and the resulting U.S. aid that flowed in at the same time. Items such as early Armalite AR-15s with green furniture, XM177 carbines and covertly produced Chinese AK-47s marked as “M22” are very representative for this period. After the end of large combat operations, we noticed a marked decline of small arms in the collection with the exception of indigenously produced Thai Ordnance Corps materiel which includes some very niche designs and prototypes for the military.

The museum’s first floor is the presentation hall where visitors are greeted by a sign in Thai over the entry door. Luckily for photographers, barely any of the small arms in the hall are encased in glass, so good photographs of minute details and markings are relatively easy to achieve. If the Ordnance officers present that day are especially kind, one will be able to get behind the stands and take in-depth photo graphs up close.

This hall is organized in a wraparound fashion where visitors snake through the displays that are organized chronologically. The first displays presented to the visitors as they enter are to the left and are early cannons used by previous Thai dynasties, especially during the reign in the ancient city of Ayutthaya when it was the seat of the kingdom before being destroyed by the Burmese in 1767. Rounding the corner is a wooden royal chariot built by the Ordnance Corps that was used in the king’s coronation ceremony. After the chariot, is a long row of First and Second World War heavy machine guns and cannons. The heavy machine guns range from Thai contracted Vickers, Maxims, Japanese variants and even some French examples, among others. This section concludes with a wall marking where the Communist insurgency begins, featuring small arms captured by the Communists and those used against them. Rounding up from this exhibit is an entire wall dedicated to Thai prototypes of the Type 11, various examples of working with the M1 Garand rifle to create better stocks and, most fascinating, a display of Thailand’s experimentation with using Type 11 rifle grenades to shoot planting seed canisters from helicopters over rural areas in order to stimulate agricultural programs in the kingdom. The Thai government has always taken a very serious interest in the country’s agricultural programs, so developing something like this isn’t entirely surprising in the Thai context. Outside of it, however, the canisters are quite the unique invention. It is not known how effective the program was as it is not in use today by any Thai government agency.

Above the presentation hall on the second floor is the reserve collection of the museum. This is where all the small arms that are not on display are kept. They are secured by chains to rifle racks or kept in glass cases, with a separate section for handguns. Entering the hall, it is customary for Thai people to pay their respects to an altar that is situated in one of the corners of the room. This is where most of the prototype and trials rifles from the 19th and 20th centuries are kept, as opposed to mostly machine guns and cannons downstairs. Possibly one of the more interesting artifacts in this room is a set of complete machine shop drawings for Danish Madsens, all written in Thai. A number of Madsens exist in Thailand with extensive Thai markings on them, begging the research question: to what extent did the Thais engage in Madsen production in the interwar years?

Visiting

The Royal Thai Army Ordnance Corps Museum is a tough one to get into for the casual visitor, so putting it on a checklist for Bangkok will take more than jotting it down as a line item. But for the serious small arms researcher and especially for anyone doing historic small arms research in Southeast Asia, the collection is an absolute requirement.

The museum is open on a case-by-case basis. Our best recommendation would be to call ahead and work with a Thai partner to help a visitor through the process, especially with translation.

The 1960s was a tumultuous decade. The Vietnam War protests, the Woodstock Festival, the decade of “Drugs, Sex and Rock & Roll,” three assassinations, the civil rights movement and urban race rioting all led to the Gun Control Act of 1968 and the formation of the ATF Form 4473—Firearms Transaction Record used in all firearms purchases today.

The three assassinations were President John F. Kennedy, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy. At the time of the third assassination, Lyndon B. Johnson was president and pleaded with Congress “in the name of sanity … in the name of safety and in the name of an aroused nation, give America the gun control laws it needs.” The polls showed that approximately 80% of Americans favored gun registration laws. President Johnson proposed and Congress passed on October 22, 1968, the Gun Control Act of 1968, 18 U.S.C. 921, et seq. National gun registration although proposed, was not included in the Act and was dropped to as-sure the Act’s passage in Congress.

Because the firearms used by the three assassins had variously been purchased through mail order, over-the-counter by a convicted felon and acquired by an illegal alien, the legislation had three major features:

1. It prohibited interstate traffic in firearms and ammunition.
2. It denied guns to specific classes of individuals such as felons, minors, fugitives, illegal aliens, drug addicts and the mentally ill (ATF Form 4473).
3. It prohibited the importation of surplus military weapons into the U.S. as well of guns and ammunition not federally certified as sporting weapons or souvenirs.

The ATF Form 4473 has been utilized for 50 years. Very few changes have been made to the form until October 2016 when states voted to decriminalize marijuana. Once abhorrent behavior, marijuana use became acceptable.

Medical and Recreation Marijuana

I grew up during the 1960s, the decade of rebellion, with the incumbent breakdown of morals, values and ethics in our society. Many of the young people who participated in the rebellion of the 60s are in positions in society today to change the country. Many of them went into the fields of education, journalism and politics. The use of marijuana back then was considered the steppingstone to other drugs. It led to LSD, cocaine, heroin, PCP, etc. Possession and use were criminalized. Marijuana users in the 60s are in positions of persuasion today and have successfully convinced society at the state level that legalizing “pot” for medical and recreational use is moral and necessary.

However, there’s an underlying problem. It is still against federal law to use or possess marijuana. Question 11.e. on the ATF Form 4473 (re-vised 10/2016) asks: “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug or any other controlled substance? Warning: The use or possession of marijuana remains unlawful under Federal law regardless of whether it has been legalized or decriminalized for medical or recreational purposes in the state where you reside.” Anyone who answers YES to this question can’t purchase a firearm. They’ve lost their Second Amendment right.

Adjudication and the Mentally Ill

During the 1960s, psychiatric hospitals became a haven for those who were schizo-phrenic, anti-social, psychotic, drug-addicted, alcoholic, deviant, mentally delayed and for anyone else who normal society couldn’t handle. Over-packed and underfunded, eventually state governments found that medicating and mainstreaming these people were the answer.

According to an article in The New York Times dated 1984, there was a Joint Commission on Mental Illness and Health, set up by Congress in 1955. The finding showed “… the political community wanted to save money … . [T]ran-quilizers became the panacea for the mentally ill … . The state programs were buying them by the carload, sending the drugged patients back to the community, and the psychiatrists never tried to stop this.”

Dr. Jack R. Ewalt, director of the Joint Commission on Mental Illness and Health in 1955, believed that “drugs can help people get back to the community, but they have to have medical care, a place to live and someone to relate to. They can’t just float around aimlessly.”

Dr. Bertram S. Brown, a psychiatrist (and later deputy director of the National Institute of Mental Health), was instrumental in shaping the community center legislation of 1963 (Community Mental Health Act). The discharge of mentally ill patients was accelerated in the late 1960s and early 1970s in some states as a result of court decisions that limited commitment powers of state and local officials. The community center was created to counsel and medicate.

Today, there are few psychiatric hospitals and just as few community centers. Most mentally ill persons, no matter their diagnosis, are mainstreamed and medicated. They’re taken to facilities for initial observation, and psychiatrists determine what medication and what counseling are necessary. Many of these people do not have the ability to care for themselves, let alone make their counseling appointments and take their daily dosage of medication. And, here’s the problem. Very few mentally ill people go through the court system any longer. Most are not adjudicated, so they can legally purchase a firearm. If they had been adjudicated, this information would be sent to the National Information Center and be accessible to licensed firearms dealers.

Question 11.f. on the ATF Form 4473 (re-vised 10/2016) asks: “Have you ever been adjudicated as a mental defective OR have you ever been committed to a mental institution?” The definition for adjudicated as a mental defective is “a determination by a court, board, commission or other lawful authority that a person, as a result of marked subnormal intelligence, or mental illness, incompetency, condition or disease: (1) is a danger to himself or to others; or (2) lacks the mental capacity to contract or manage his own affairs …” (27 CFR §478.11). The definition for committed to a mental institution is “a formal commitment of a person to a mental institution by a court, board, commission or other lawful authority” (27 CFR §478.11).

The ATF Form 4473 has always considered marijuana use and mental illness as abhorrent behavior. What has changed is society’s handling of both. Here are two different behaviors with two different results. One behavior can’t have the Second Amendment right, and the other shouldn’t have the right. A conundrum it appears that nobody wants to tackle.