Most of the collection comes from the CITEFA, nowadays known as the CITEDEF, which is a research and development agency for the Argentine army. Some pieces were also donated by private citizens. Interesting to note that the guns that came from CITEFA were certainly tried and tested by Argentina. Many prototypes are present, of course.

Entering the museum, you’re greeted with a beautiful circular room, covered in marble and with a statue of General San Martín, Argentina’s national hero and founder. To enter the museum, there’s a fee of 2,000 pesos, around $2 USD in 2024. The staff was accommodating, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Now to the interesting bit, the museum itself. After paying, you’re greeted with the first room, consisting of swords, some replica armor, and two very interesting crossbows. The room itself is very well decorated and mostly nicely presented. Next, you go down a ramp and you’re greeted with the first indication this museum is going to be worth it; a room completely filled with gun cabinets full of very interesting and unique firearms including but not limited to:

One of the first interesting prototypes this museum has to offer, the Criollo rifle. Despite its odd name, its inventor was Angél Chiesanova. Made around the late 1800s, it chambers the 7.65x53mm Argentine cartridge and it operates in a very unique manner.

A second prototype I wasn’t even aware existed; an Argentine pattern Rolling-Block rifle modified by the Buenos Aires Arsenal, using the system patented by one Costa de Argibel.

There’s a lot in this room to appreciate, some other things of note was the variety of rare single shot, breech loading rifles they displayed, like the Mylonas rifle from Greece, a Robert II prototype from France, and an extremely unique Herteleup patent underhammer rifle. Also of note were Dreyse rifles and carbines, two Hall breech-loading rifles, a Russian Karlé needle-fire rifle, a Gewehr 98 trench rifle, and a Gewehr 98 in a grenade launcher mount.

The next exhibit is a progression of the Argentine firearms throughout history. Present are many flintlocks, including a replica of the first manufactured firearm on Argentine soil. There are Rolling Block rifles and carbines of all sorts of lengths, patterns, and models along with Argentine Mausers, sniper rifles and prototypes, and, finally, the FAL. There were also a few other miscellaneous rifles like a Spencer carbine, some breech-loading/single-shot rifles used by Argentina, and a Berdan I, Albini-Braedlin, Robinson, B.S. Roberts, Tabatiére and a few others. Also present were some heavy-machine guns.

A wall of Rolling Block rifles, including many carbine variants used by different branches of the army.

Argentine Mauser rifles, complete with a sniper variant and a prototype carbine that uses a bayonet system, similar to the Carcano.

The next room is an exhibit about the Falklands war, or as the Argentines prefer to call it, “Guerra das Malvinas.” As it is still in recent memory in Argentina, I won’t delve much into the conflict or the exhibit. Of note, there’s a silenced Sterling submachine gun and a cabinet of the guns the Argentine marines captured when first landed in Port Stanley from the garrison stationed there. Here, the museum deviates into four rooms, only one of which I will be able to cover here. On your left is a room, again, full (from floor to ceiling) with gun cases, all with interesting pistols. Of note are a prototype 1911 pattern Steyr-Hahn in its case (complete with accessories), a prototype Astra semi-automatic dating to around 1921 in 9mm Largo, two Webley-Fosbery revolvers, a rare Celmi pistol from Uruguay, and many others including different patterns of Lugers, pocket pistols, presentation pieces, Spanish copies, etc.

Apart from pistols, continuing on you’ll have a couple of cabinets with submachine guns of various nationalities and dates ranging from the Villar Perosa all the way to the PAM-2, an Argentine copy of the American M3 Grease-gun. There are all sorts of other firearms, including a Vollmer V.P.K, an MP28, a ZK-383 and an MP-34, all used during the Chaco war. An original 1921 Thompson, complete with a selection of different barrels, and even a Maxim silencer! Possibly the exact gun that was tested by the Argentine military, an Italian FNAB-43, and a Walther MPK which was allegedly owned by Salvador Allende, Chile’s deposed president. And last but not least, there’s a Swiss MP43/44, a licensed copy of the Suomi KP/31.

At the back of this room, there are a couple of hand-operated machine guns including one I didn’t even know existed prior to visiting this museum, the Bavarian “Feld”. Dated to around 1870 and designed by Johann Feldl, it functions very similarly to a Nordenfelt as far as I could ascertain. It was chambered in 11mm Werder and being of such rarity that there hasn’t been a photo of an example on the internet yet published, so it is my pleasure to present this rare beast.

Also present are a collection of other European machine guns, dated to around the first world war. Included are an MG08/15, Fiat-Revelli M1914, and a Hotchkiss Mle 1914. Next to the machine guns, mounted in the wall, is a very interesting piece of Argentine military history, a locally manufactured Panzerfaust clone nicknamed “PAPI”, which stands for “proyectil anti-tanque para infantería.”
And finally, there’s a very out of place (in my opinion, but still interesting to check out) Japanese collection of Sengoku period armor and weaponry.

If you’re not sold already, look for a future article where we’ll check out the biggest room of the whole museum and briefly introduce another museum I visited while in Buenos Aires, the “Museo Historico Del Ejercito Argentino”.

It’s said imitation is the greatest form of flattery. The Browning Hi Power 9mm is a case in point with numerous clones produced and active around the world. The European American Armory (EAA) Girsan offerings are prime examples. The EAA-imported Girsan Hi Power models are garnering much attention. Their variety is pushing the original Hi Power design to its maximum potential. The EAA MCP35 PI LW OPS (MCP35 PI LW) chambered in 9mm is the subject of this article and captures EAA’s ability to offer something beyond just a clone.

Let’s break down the naming nomenclature before proceeding. This will clue us in to what the EAA Girsan MCP35 PI LW OPS offers. The PI indicates shorter barrel/slide—3.8-inch barrel versus normal 4.7-inch barrel. In 1911 terms, think commander-size versus full size government model, or in polymer striker fired lingo, Glock 19 versus Glock 17. LW stands for lightweight aluminum frame (as opposed to steel.) OPS indicates a railed dust cover and slide cut for mounting an optic via the Shield RMSc footprint.

BROWNING PEDIGREE

The Hi Power was the original “wonder nine” existing well before the 1980s when the term became popular. The Browning Hi Power can be thought of as the blending of American and European handgun design concepts. It took a company of Browning’s stature to pull this feat off and have it accepted on both sides of the Atlantic. The Browning Hi Power was conceived in response to a 1921 French military requirement for a new service pistol. The French requirements were that the pistol have a capacity of at least 10 rounds, a magazine disconnect device, an external hammer, a positive safety and be simple to disassemble and re-assemble. The 9mm cartridge was seen as natural selection based on WWI experiences.

Samuel Colt was not interested in pursuing the potential French contract, so Browning turned to Fabrique Nationale (FN) with two prototypes. With Colt holding the patents to his 1911, Browning had to create something different so as not to infringe on existing 1911 patents. FN submitted a Browning prototype to the 1922 French pistol trials. Based on feedback, Browning prepared two more prototypes and re-submitted it to the French Army in 1923. Browning died in November 1926. Browning was awarded a patent for the Hi Power design posthumously in 1927.

After Browning’s death, the Hi Power design was taken over by FN designer and Browning’s friend Dieudonné Saive. With no market interest for a new service handgun in the late 1920s, Saive was able to refine Browning’s base design. By 1928, many of Browning’s previous patents for the 1911 were expiring. By 1931, the Browning-Saive Hi Power design incorporated a curved rear grip backstrap, barrel bushing that was integral to the slide (versus removable barrel bushing), and a 13-round magazine.

Unlike Browning’s earlier 1911 pistol, the Hi Power barrel is not moved vertically by a toggling link. Instead, a hardened bar crosses the frame under the barrel and interacts with a slot under the chamber at the rearmost part of the barrel. The barrel and slide recoil together for a short distance but, as the slot engages the bar, the rear of the barrel is drawn downward and stopped. By 1934, the Hi-Power design was complete and ready to be produced. The Hi Power was first adopted by Belgium for military service in 1935 as the Browning P-35. Ironically, France decided not to adopt the Hi Power.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

The Hi Power is one of those rare weapons that served with both sides’ militaries in WWII. In 1954, the British military adopted the Hi Power as its first standard semi-automatic pistol. 50 more armies also adopted it after WWII. Interestingly, the Hi Power was also the choice of such elite units as the British SAS, SBS, and Royal Marines. The FBI HRT and various intelligence agency direct action units utilized the Hi Power until the late 1980s. Impressive, indeed, that after more than 50 years since its introduction, the Hi Power was still the “go to” sidearm for elite law enforcement and military operators.

While the upside of the Hi Power such as capacity, reliability and ergonomics obviously outweigh its negatives, the Hi Power has features that could be improved upon. The trigger pull is especially heavy for a single action, it has minimalist sights, a weak internal extractor, and its slide/hammer is prone to biting a shooter’s hand. Custom gunsmiths created a cottage industry of offering services to improve standard Hi Power models. Browning/FN’s decision to discontinue Hi Power production in 2018 opened the door for a company like EAA/Girsan to offer its own version of the Hi Power. The consumer market clearly indicated it was not yet ready to forgo the classic design. FN subsequently reversed course, and, in 2022, re-introduced a Hi Power variant.

STUDENT BECOMES THE MASTER

In collaboration with EAA, Turkish manufacturer Girsan has advanced Hi Power-style handguns to the point where John Browning would be impressed with the multiple models offered. The EAA MCP35 PI LW OPS is an example of this with straight trigger, 15-round magazine, aluminum frame, railed dust cover, extended beavertail grip, ambidextrous safeties, G10-style grip panels, beveled magazine well with a “toe” to hang the bottom finger on, undercut trigger guard, fiber optic iron sights, absence of a magazine disconnect safety, slide cut for mounting a red dot, extended slide release lever AND compact slide/barrel compared to Browning’s original length. This one sentence should serve notice the EAA MCP35 is a fresh take on the Hi Power and not just a clone.

The MCP35 LW has a 3.88-inch barrel contributing to an overall length of 7-inches. Almost an inch of this is the extended beavertail. The MCP35 LW weighs 25 ounces. This is approximately a 1/2 pound lighter than similar sized steel frame Hi Powers. I bring attention to these measurements as the MCP35 LW PI sits in your holster as comfortably as in your hand.

In this age of polymer high-capacity handguns, the Hi Power has turned into an aficionado’s weapon that attracts users with its natural handling and ergonomics. Put a metal framed MCP35 LW PI in your hand and you will realize there is nothing like it in the polymer striker fired world we live in.

RANGE TIME

The first range session turned into 300 rounds after I just couldn’t put the MC35 down. It was refreshing to see a metal framed handgun function out of the box without needing a break in period. The MCP35 in 9mm is neither too tight, which affects reliability, or so loose it rattles. This provides the proper blending of reliability and accuracy.

An assortment of bullet types were fired from various ammunition manufacturers – Black Hills Ammunition, SIG Sauer, Hornady, Federal/American Eagle – to verify reliability. 9mm loads fired ranged from 115-grain to 147-grain with both hollow points and FMJ bullet types tested. The MCP35 LW PI has a full-size grip with aesthetically pleasing, yet functional, black G10 style grips. No texturing or stippling is present on the frame. However, the MCP35 ergonomics and the textured grip panels do a good job securing the MCP35 to your hand.

One immediate concern any time a double-stack magazine is used is how it’s width affects grip and trigger manipulation. Browning and Saive made sure the Hi Power frame did not sacrifice ergonomics in the quest for capacity. Even average size hands have no issue working the trigger or other controls on the Hi Power. The Hi Power feels smaller in the hand compared to other double stack designs. This is attributed to how the top of grip reduces inward near the slide, thus moving the hand closer to the trigger and shortening the trigger reach. The Hi Power design has a grip that seems to fit everyone’s hand. This combined with single action trigger creates a handgun that is easy to shoot well. EAA/Girsan’s incorporation of an extended beavertail grip and straight trigger shoe only supports this.

PERFORMANCE

Testing started with verifying zero and then firing several magazines rapidly at various steel man-sized targets. The EAA Girsan fiber optic front and nicely done rear sight is superior to other Hi Power sights we’ve encountered. The sights were zeroed out of the box for 25 yards using the classic 6 o’clock hold. Further testing consisted of strings of fire against steel plate racks and popper targets at 7, 15, and 25 yards.

Considering the Hi Power’s primary role as a fighting/defensive handgun we decided to further evaluate the EAA MCP35 LW PI using drills experienced at various firearms schools. Condition one “cocked and locked” carry typified by the Hi Power allows a shooter to merely swipe off the beefed-up manual safety and engage a target. The extra two-round capacity of the MCP35 LW PI 15-round magazines should not be discounted, either, as an important benefit. The beavertail frame settled MCP35 LW PI naturally into hand and provided a point of reference when drawing the pistol from a holster. One of the benefits of choosing a Hi Power-style pistol is the plethora of aftermarket accessories available in the form of holsters. Holsters from Versacarry and Galco were used during this review.

OBSERVATIONS

It’s understood that the Hi Power’s trigger design with its arrangement of springs and levers limit what can be done to improve it. The MCP35 LW PI’s single-action trigger broke at 6 to 6.5 pounds. The straight trigger did help compensate for this. Deservedly or not, more was expected from the trigger. This was based on how many other positives EAA/Girsan had created with the MCP35 LW PI – including dispensing with the onerous magazine disconnect safety.

The shortened slide and frame on the MCP35 LW PI will not accommodate certain lights or lasers. This is not really intended as a criticism; just a heads up before investing in a tactical light or laser. For example, a Surefire 300 will not fit. However, a Crimson Trace CMR-301 Rail Master Pro light and laser combo will. Along these same lines, the mounting of a red dot will do away with your rear sight, preventing an iron sight co-witness. How serious of an issue this is up to the end user.

NEW AGE HI POWER

The majority of testing was done with iron sights, though trying a red dot could not be resisted. A Zero Tech Thrive HD Red Dot Micro Reflex was mounted on the EAA MCP35 LW PI. Weighing only 6 ounces, the Zero Tech Thrive HD Micro Reflex’s features advanced shake-awake technology. The Thrive HD projects a 3 MOA dot with ten adjustable levels while offering up to 150,000 hours of runtime with a CR20232 battery. Zero Tech has designed the Thrive HD to be recoil-, fog-, and water-proof.

The Zero Tech Thrive HD/EAA MCP35 LW PI combo performed better than expected. Here was a weapon designed in the 1920’s combined with a modern, compact red dot. The natural point ability of the EAA MCP35 LW PI comes into its own in this realm with the Zero Tech Thrive HD doing its part, as well. The Thrive HD’s rectangular lens offers a superior field of view compared to other red dot options. The minimal frame of the Thrive HD  almost disappears when focusing on the target with the red dot. The dot is crisp with no halos or disfiguration. The red dot was “there” and seamlessly located at first draw. This is a compliment to the EAA choosing a direct mount method versus plates allowing the Zero Tech to sit as low as possible on the slide. The Hi Power’s already low bore axis is further enhanced with the MCP35 LW PI’s beavertail and undercut trigger guard allowing for a very stable sight picture no matter how many or how rapid rounds are fired.

STILL WORTHY

The basic Hi Power is too well known to attempt any new expose, however the EAA MCP35 PI LW OPS tested here serves as reminder why the base design still holds a prominent place in the world. The EAA MCP35 PI LW OPS represents a good balance of features for daily use. The lighter weight and more compact dimensions are certainly beneficial, along with ability to mount a compact red dot. The EAA MCP35 PI LW OPS is a sound combination, functionally speaking, while still allowing a user to indulge oneself by having something not so typical.

SPECIFICATIONS

Red, white, and polished blue steel. The 4th of July is a celebration of freedom, and America’s freedom was forged through courage and gunpowder. We’re looking back at the top 25 American guns of all time, and the competition is fierce. Most of the featured firearms are offered in Rock Island Auction Company’s upcoming August Premier Auction, along with a few examples from past events.

Iconic American arms from every era will be featured in Rock Island Auction Company’s August Premier.

The Kentucky Rifle

One of the first truly iconic arms of America was pioneered by German and Swiss gunsmiths who immigrated to the Colonies in the 18th century. Popularly known as the Kentucky Rifle or Pennsylvania Rifle, the American Long Rifle allowed accurate shooting up to 200 yards or more, a decisive advantage to backwoodsmen while hunting in the western wilderness or sniping Red Coats during the Revolutionary War and War of 1812.

A John Armstrong Maryland Golden Age flintlock American Long Rifle, an extraordinary example of one of America’s best guns of all time. Available this August.

Colt Model 1851 Navy

A personal favorite of Samuel Colt, the Model 1851 Navy was one of the most prevalent sidearms on both sides of the American Civil War, even serving as the basis for numerous Confederate produced brass-frame revolver styles like the Griswold & Gunnison Revolver and the Leech & Rigdon revolvers. The sturdy sixgun’s impressive production numbers, widespread use on the American frontier, and status as the favored revolver for Western legends like Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody, and countless early gunslingers elevate the 1851 Navy to one of best American guns of all time.

An exemplary cased, early factory engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver with extremely scarce gold plated grip straps. The Navy set the standard for countless black powder revolvers, earning a clear spot on any list of iconic arms of America. Available this August.

The Sharps Rifle and Carbine

The various models of Sharps rifles and carbines earned a reputation as iconic arms of America in the Civil War, the Old West, and in popular culture thanks to films like ‘Quigley Down Under’ and ‘True Grit.’  Produced from the Antebellum Era through the late-19th century and noted for their exceptional accuracy and reliability, the Sharps filled a key role during the Civil War when the Union purchased approximately 80,000 Sharps carbines and almost 10,000 rifles. Specially ordered Sharps rifles were famously fielded by the 1st and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooter Regiments (the Berdan’s Sharpshooters) to great effect.

A historic Sharps Model Model 1853 “John Brown Sharps/Beecher’s Bible” slant breech percussion carbine documented as shipped to abolitionist General Samuel C. Pomeroy in Kansas during the Bleeding Kansas period. For its role in revolutionizing sniping tactics, the Sharps rifle platform wins a nod as one of America’s best guns of all time. Available this August.

The Springfield Model 1861 Rifle-Musket

The Springfield Model 1861 rifle-musket became one of the most prolific Northern rifles issued during the Civil War, taking the field in quantity from 1862 onward, from Shiloh to Appomattox. With over 1 million being produced during the conflict by Springfield Armory and two dozen other firearm producers, the dependable .58 caliber rifle improved precision over infantry traditional musket. This percussion powerhouse finds a worthy spot on our list of America’s best guns of all time thanks to its role in winning the Civil War, protecting workers on the Transcontinental Railroad, and serving as the material platform for a line of Springfield breechloading rifles that would culminate with the 1873 Trapdoor.

An outstanding Civil War U.S. Springfield Model 1863 Type II/1864 percussion rifle-musket, the final iteration of one of the most iconic arms of America. Available this August.

Remington Rolling Block

Developed from the Remington “Split Breech” carbine, a Civil War gun designed to fire the same cartridges as the Spencer repeater, the Remington Rolling Block family became not just one of the most iconic arms of America but a popular longarm around the world. As the most widely used single shot military breechloader of the 19th century, the Remington Rolling Block’s service record is expansive. The gun was produced in a variety of calibers, both rimfire and centerfire, and its action was sturdy enough to easily accommodate the increased pressure of new smokeless powders hitting the market in the late 1890s.

An impressive example of one of the best frontier guns of all time, this Remington No. 1 Rolling Block long-range target rifle sold for $8,050 in RIAC’s May 2021 Premier Auction.

The Colt Single Action Army

The Colt Single Action Army revolver is a no-brainer inclusion for any best guns of all time list. Possibly the most famous firearm ever made, “Judge Colt and His Jury of Six” was first adopted by the U.S. Army in July 1873 and went on to serve as the choice sidearm for countless lawmen, cowboys, homesteaders, and desperados who came to define the American frontier. For 150 years, the Colt SAA has prominently appeared in dime novels, radio shows, film, and television, and today continues to represent the enduring spirit of the American West.

An Ainsworth inspected Lot Five U.S. Cavalry Colt Single Action Army revolver with a Kopec Gold Seal letter, a stunning early example of one of the most iconic arms of America. Available this August.

The Winchester 1873

A well-armed frontiersman carried a Colt on his hip and a Winchester over his shoulder. As the successor to the Henry rifle and the 1866 Yellowboy, the Model 1873 put the name Winchester on the map and went on to conquer the open range. Dubbed “the Gun that Won the West”, the Winchester ’73 became a symbol of freedom and self-determination on the American frontier. From movie sets to modern-day cowboy action shooting competitions, these iconic arms of America have stood the test of time.

An exceptional example of one of the best guns of all time, a special order deluxe Winchester Model 1873 rifle. Available this August.

Winchester Model 94

The Winchester Model 1894 hit the scene too late to see the height of the American Wild West, but the rifle certainly kept Winchester’s frontier legacy alive. The Winchester 94’s balance and slim profile made it a favorite walking gun for hunters, ranchers, and law enforcement who appreciated the power and reliability of Winchester’s .30-30 WCF smokeless cartridge. The classic lever gun’s accuracy, simplicity, and rugged resilience earned it a place in millions of gun racks across America. In terms of tried-and-tested hunting arms, the Winchester Model 94 is hands down one of the best guns of all time.

A pre-64 Winchester Model 94 carbine with its original box, an outstanding example of one of the most iconic arms of America. Available this August.

Smith & Wesson Military and Police and Model 10

What qualities should a model have to be considered one of the best guns of all time? Production numbers? Versatility? Fame? The Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police series checks all those boxes and more, remaining in continuous production for over a century and becoming the overwhelming favorite sidearm of countless police forces and militaries around the world. Later renamed the Model 10, this iconic revolver became the most produced wheel gun platform of the 20th century and a mainstay of nearly every police department around the country well into the 1980s. Now that’s an American success story.

As iconic arms of America go, it doesn’t get much better than a classic Smith & Wesson. This factory engraved .38 Military & Police Model of 1905 Fourth Change revolver sold for $4,025 in December of 2020.

Marlin Model 39A

The first lever action chambered in .22 LR, this classic Marlin went through a number of name changes over the last 132 years. Releasing as the Marlin Model 1891, the gun was redubbed “Bicycle Rifle” in 1897, then again renamed to Model 39 in 1922 before finally embracing its most famous iteration in 1939 in the Marlin 1939A.  As the longest continuously produced rifle in the world and the lever action Annie Oakley made famous, the Marlin Model 39A and its predecessors are undeniably iconic arms of America.

A scarce Marlin 90th anniversary Model Golden 39A rifle sold for $4,313 in December of 2021. As .22 rifles go, one of the best guns of all time.

Winchester Model 1897 Shotgun

One of the best guns of all time in terms of military shotguns, the Winchester Model 1897 shotgun was popularized as a sporting arm before finding a role during the Philippine-American War. In WW1, the Model 1897 was officially adopted as the U.S. “Model of 1917 Trench Shotgun” and modified with a bayonet lug, a heat shield, and a shorter barrel for maneuverability in the trenches of Western Europe. The shotgun and its slam fire heroics proved effective enough to earn a diplomatic protest from the Germans, who claimed that America’s use of trench guns caused “unnecessary suffering.”

The Winchester Model 1897 slide action trench shotgun earned a larger-than-life reputation in WW1 and has become one of the most iconic arms of America. Available this August.

1903 Springfield Rifle

Not all iconic arms of America were born in the Land of Stars and Stripes. Based on the German Mauser bolt action, America took the design and made it their own with the Springfield Model 1903 rifle. Initially chambered in .30-03, the rifle suffered from poor trajectory and excessive barrel wear. However, by chambering a lighter, spitzer bullet and a cooler burning propellant, a legend was born in the .30-06 cartridge, and battlefield and deer stand would soon feel the wrath of the mighty Springfield Model 1903.

One of the best guns of all time by sheer production numbers, the U.S. Springfield Model 1903 rifle is still widely fielded by shooters and hunters today. This rare example is equipped with the innovative 1918 Mark I Pedersen Device.

The Colt 1911

As the longest-serving military sidearm in American history, the legendary Colt 1911 pistol is going to find itself in any best guns of all time discussion. The brainchild of John Moses Browning, this .45-caliber magazine-fed semi-automatic pistol set a new design standard that helped the United States become back to back World War champs and continues to be carried by numerous American officers to this day. The M1911 design has been widely emulated, with few major changes made to the pistol’s internals over the decades, a testament to the gun’s exemplary performance record.

A scarce 1937 production Colt U.S. Navy contract Model 1911/1911A1 transitional semi-pistol. The 1911 pistol is easily one of the most recognizable and iconic arms of America. Available this August.

Browning Auto-5

John Browning was said to consider the Auto-5 his greatest achievement, a bold statement from the prolific gun inventor and more than enough to earn the famous “Humpback” a solid ranking among the most iconic arms of America. Browning’s 1903 recoil-operated design was a versatile workhorse for all types of fowling and target shooting. This sturdy scattergun continues to be fielded by the modern sportsman today and holds the title of second-best autoloading shotty of all time.

As the first successful semi-automatic shotgun, the Auto-5 should be considered one of the best guns of all time. The fantastic example below is a double signed, engraved and gold inlaid Belgium Browning Gold Classic Auto-5 with its original box. Available this August.

The Thompson Submachine Gun

In terms of cultural impact and a notable service record in WW2, Hollywood’s favorite gangster weapon merits consideration as one of the best guns of all time. Designed by John Thompson, the fully automatic Tommy Gun was completed too late to fill its intended role as a WW1 trench sweeper. The inventor subsequently marketed the weapon to everyone from law enforcement to ranchers, but the deadly submachinegun found an unexpected niche with organized crime. On the eve of WW2, the Thompson submachine gun was adopted by the U.S. military and employed by the British as well, with over 1.5 million of the new military-issued M1928A1 and M1A1 produced. This earned the weapon international recognition through German and Japanese propaganda posters that portrayed the U.S. and her allies as Tommy-toting gangsters.

From mafia to military to Hollywood, the Thompson became one of the most iconic arms of America. This fantastic example is a police documented Colt Thompson Model 1921 that includes a case and extra magazines. Available this August.

The M2 Machine Gun

A good portion of John Browning’s inventions have become iconic arms of American history, including the famous M2 Heavy Machine Gun. Affectionately dubbed “Ma Deuce” and “The Mother of All Machine Guns” by the troops who continue to rely on its .50 caliber firepower, this air-cooled, belt-fed behemoth has stood the test of time like few other firearms. As a U.S. military mainstay since the 1930s, the M2 has touched the battlefield in every major American conflict from WW2 onward.

One of the best guns of all time, this M2 machine gun lived up to its iconic reputation and sold for a stunning $94,000 in RIAC’s May Premier.

Ithaca 37

Hailed by many hunters as one of the best guns of all time, the Ithaca 37 shotgun is a legendary platform inspired by the ideas of John Moses Browning and John Douglas Pedersen. This pump action icon quickly found a market after its 1937 release and never looked back, becoming the longest continuously-produced shotgun in American history and earning a reputation as a versatile autoloader that was well suited for field, police, and military duty alike.

One of the most iconic arms of America in terms of longevity and adaptability, this USSF marked Ithaca Model 37 Special Forces trench-style shotgun highlights the platforms role as a military weapon. Available this August.

The M1 Garand

In the list of iconic arms of America during WW2, the M1 Garand might be number one. Fielded by millions of American GIs, General George Patton once hailed the rifle as, “the greatest battle implement ever devised.” The .30-caliber M1 Garand served as the standard U.S. infantry rifle from 1936 to 1959 and it continued to see use as late as the Vietnam War. From Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers to the Call of Duty video game series, few weapons can symbolize America’s valor in WW2 better than John Garand’s iconic rifle.

An exceptional WW2 U.S. Winchester “WIN-13” M1 Garand. For its role as WW2s most successful semi-automatic infantry rifle, the M1 Garand can be hailed one of the best guns of all time. Available this August.

The M1 Carbine

Another red-blooded American gun that complimented the M1 Garand’s high-volume fire, the M1 Carbine offered an effective firearm sized somewhere between a rifle and a pistol that was ideal for units like paratroopers, drivers, weapon crews, intelligence officers, and communications personnel who required a lighter burden. One of the best guns of all time thanks to its spectacular service history, the M1 carbine helped lead the United States to victory in Europe and the Pacific theater then went on to become widely owned and fielded after the war thanks to an abundance of WW2 surplus.

Winchester Model 70

If you’re widely known as the superlative bolt action rifle, chances are you’re going to make America’s best guns of all time list. Enter the Winchester Model 70. Widely dubbed “the rifleman’s rifle,” the Model 70 has gone through numerous changes and iterations over its nearly nine decades of production and is chambered to take everything from white-tailed deer to African dangerous game. The gun served the United States Marines as their precision rifle during the Vietnam War, famously fielded by Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, who used the mighty Model 70 during most of his 93 confirmed kills. Today, the Winchester Model 70 continues to find favor with shooters and collectors, the latter preferring the desirable “Pre-64” production model.

One of the most iconic arms of America, the Winchester Model 70 is instantly recognizable to nearly every sporting gun enthusiast. This rare documented U.S. property marked Winchester Model 70 “Van Orden Sniper” rifle includes an 8x Unertl U.S.M.C. sniper scope and case and a CMP Certificate of Authenticity. Available this August.

Smith & Wesson Model 29

Elmer Keith and Clint Eastwood helped elevate the .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson Model 29 into one of the iconic arms of America. Elmer Keith had long been advocating for a more powerful version of the .44 Special cartridge. In 1955, Remington Arms introduced the .44 Remington Magnum cartridge, while Smith & Wesson delivered a revolver to chamber the beast. The S&W Model 29 found niche success with handgun hunters, law enforcement, and revolver lovers before launching into the stratosphere thanks to 1971’s ‘Dirty Harry.’ While this powerhouse pistol has been since surpassed by monsters like the .500 S&W Magnum, for a time Dirty Harry’s revolver truly was the most powerful handgun in the world.  

A Smith & Wesson Performance Center Model 29-5 revolver from the Hank Williams Jr. Collection sold for $10,350 at RIAC in September 2021. For it’s power, aesthetic, and cultural appeal, the Model 29 family earns a nod as one of America’s best guns of all time.

Remington Model 870

With over 12 million in circulation and counting, the Remington Model 870 should be considered a candidate for any top 25 best guns of all time list. A shotgun known for its rugged reliability, the Model 870 has lent itself perfectly to every need over the last seven decades. Game wardens, duck hunters, police officers, and Vietnam Navy Seals have all shouldered the Model 870, and the gun is featured in nearly every modern film and TV show involving law enforcement, zombies, or action of any sort. One would be pressed not to find an example of this robust shotty in every town across the United States, and it continues to sell as the recently introduced Remington 870 Fieldmaster.

This example of a Remington Wingmaster 870 realized an astounding $38,188 in RIAC’s December 2021 Premier Auction, an impressive example of one of the most iconic arms of America.

The M60 Machine Gun

First issued in 1959, the M60 machine gun was an attempt to combine the firepower of the M1919 Browning with the relative mobility of the BAR. What resulted was one of the most iconic arms of America, a 23-pound belt-fed beast that could eat a ton of  7.62mm ammo and chew through anything down range. The M60 often found itself in the mud and muck during combat, and its relatively slow cyclic rate made this heavy hitter sound akin to a grunting boar. The Pig humped, sailed, and soared through Vietnam, Operation Just Cause, and the Persian Gulf War and continues to see service in specialized roles today.

Inspired by the German FG42 and MG42, the M60 became one of America’s best guns of all time. Available this August.

Marlin Model 60

For years, Marlin billed the Model 60 as “the most popular 22 in the world.” Whether that’s enough to also call this prolific semi-auto one of the best guns of all time is up for debate, but it certainly ranks as an American essential. Introduced in 1960, Marlin’s semi-auto .22 LR tack driver remained in production for six decades and was carried by generations of Americans who fell in love with its resiliency and ease of use. For target shooting, plinking, and small game hunting, the Marlin Model 60 is a true American classic.

Caleb Savant from Brownells shows off the Marlin Model 60, one of the most iconic arms of America.

The M16

Adapted from the famous ArmaLite AR-15 platform, the M16 offered an all-in-one battle rifle that could excel at both distance combat and close-quarter fighting. Though the refinement of the M16 was not without its hurdles, the rifle’s updates and successors soon stepped up to the challenges of modern warfare and became the longest-serving infantry long arm in U.S. military history, a contemporary defender of Lady Liberty, and one of the indisputably iconic arms of America.

Who doesn’t need a Colt M16A1 selective fire rifle in the 9 million serial range? Available this August.

Iconic Arms of America

While our top 25 list includes some undeniable American icons, there are countless gun models that could be considered legends in their field. For their historic influence, market success, or cultural impact, a few honorable mentions include the Colt Walker, the Hawken rifle, the Derringer, the Gatling Gun, the Winchester Model 1895, the Colt Detective Special, and the Winchester Model 21 shotgun, and examples of all these gun collecting cornerstones can be found at Rock Island Auction Company.

Perhaps the most influential non-firearm weapon in American history, the Bowie Knife carries a fascinating story in its own right. This rare Tillotson Sheffield patriotic “Gold Hunters Knife” Bowie knife is available this available this August.

PROTECH TACTICAL DEBUTS TACTICAL CARRIER WITH FIRST SPEAR TECHNOLOGY

Safariland, a recognized leader in the tactical armor market, has just announced the release of the PROTECH Tactical Shift 360 Scalable Plate Rack System as its first platform to encompass the FIRST SPEAR Tubes closure system. Utilizing advanced technologies from industry-leading armor brands, PROTECH Tactical and FIRST SPEAR, the Shift 360 plate rack is a high-speed carrier system representing PROTECH Tactical’s fastest and most dynamic scalable plate rack offering. The system starts as a basic plate rack carrier with the ability to transition into a fully loaded tactical system for a multitude of mission specifications. FIRST SPEAR Tubes modernize the armor carrier closure system, enhancing the ease of donning and doffing the Shift 360 carrier with a quick up or down single hand function. The simple motion for attaching or detaching the system capitalizes on the user’s muscle memory, ideal for stressful or high-speed scenarios. This lightweight closure system ensures the cummerbund is always positioned in the same location, which is vital for proper ballistic coverage and mitigates the risk of misalignment and incorrect attachment. The Shift 360 meets the requirements of patrol and tactical law enforcement officers who need to transition from routine activities to high-threat situations in a matter of seconds. Facing increased occurrences of scenarios evolving into an active shooter, hostage or terrorist situations, law enforcement officers can have confidence that the Shift 360 will outfit them for any situation. The Shift 360 system was put to the test with a variety of law enforcement teams, providing PROTECH Tactical with vital feedback to make it one of the most sought after scalable plate racks on the market. Beyond the FirstSpear technology, the Shift 360 plate rack incorporates other recently updated design elements, which elevate the functionality of the system, such as a cummerbund attachment, ballistics insertions and reinforced support. The Shift 360 AWS is available with all three closure system options – FirstSpear Tubes, single-point Quick-Release and Velcro closure. For more information, please contact them at www.protechtactical.com.

NEW PANDEMONIUM FULL AUTO KNIFE FROM BROWNING

New to the Black Label line of products from Browning is the Pandemonium Full Auto Knife. This unique modified tanto blade model is made in the U.S.A. and has full auto-assisted opening for rapid blade deployment. The blade on the knife is hollow ground and made from 440 stainless steel. The blade is 3 ½” long, and the knife has an overall length of 7 ¾” when opened. The handle is made of checkered black G-10 scales and has a tactical pocket clip. The Pandemonium Full Auto Knife has a suggested retail $309.99. More information at www.browning.com.

FIREFIELD CHARGE AR LASERS

Ideal for quick target acquisition and tactical situations, Firefield’s new Charge AR Lasers are primed and ready to deliver pinpoint accuracy. Firefield Charge AR Lasers are available in four models to best suit your individual needs. Offering a compact and low profile design, the Firefield Charge AR Red Laser Sight (FF25006) and Firefield AR Green Laser (FF25007) feature strong lasers visible out to 300 yards and 600 yards respectively at night. Both lasers use a single CR2 battery, are operable with push button or pressure pad, and offer reliable accuracy via windage and elevation adjustments. Constructed of aircraft-grade 6061-T6 aluminum and finished in matte black, Charge AR lasers mount perfectly to weaver and Picatinny rails. Taking advantage of the same durable aluminum construction, the Firefield Charge AR Red Laser and Light Combo (FF25008) and Firefield Charge AR Green Laser and Light Combo (FF25009) weigh a mere 3.4 oz., adding value and functionality to rifles without adding much weight. Both laser sights light up surroundings with a bright 180-lumen flashlight. The offset design of the Charge AR Lasers allow the lasers to work with front sight posts and does not block views around the gun. You can reach them at www.fire-field.com.

AIMPOINT NOW SHIPPING NEW 3X-C MAGNIFIERS

The new Aimpoint 3X-C Magnifier, which debuted at SHOT Show 2016, is now available from authorized Aimpoint dealers. Designed for the civilian shooter at a budget-friendly price point, the 3X-C can be used in conjunction with all Aimpoint sights for long-range aiming or observation. Additionally, a variable (-2 to +2) dioptic setting allows this magnifier to be adapted to the individual shooter’s eye. The 3X-C can also be used as a handheld 3X monocular. Aimpoint magnifiers utilize the red dot in Aimpoint sights as the aiming reticle, eliminating the need for re-zeroing when shifting between non-magnified and magnified aiming. The 3X-C is encased in a shock absorbing protective rubber cover that also creates an ideal ergonomic grip. Internal optical adjustments make aligning the magnifier and sight quick and easy. The new 3X-C carries a retail price of just $307.00. Their website is www.aimpoint.com.

TRULOCK TACTICAL CHOKE TUBES

In an ideal world, you’d never need to use a tactical or home defense shotgun. But in a less-than-ideal world, if you do need to use one, it has to work exactly as it’s supposed to. Failure is not an option. Under those conditions, you want that shotgun equipped with a tactical choke tube from Trulock Choke Tubes. The Trulock Tactical Choke was designed to produce optimum performance with breaching rounds, buckshot, and slugs. This new and innovative design eliminates the need to change muzzle devices when alternating ammunition from breaching rounds to either buckshot or rifled slugs – potentially saving valuable time in any situation that requires the rapid firing of different load types. The Trulock Tactical Choke has a crenulated muzzle so that it can be used as a standoff tool with a positive grip. That allows breaching loads to be fired safely and effectively by holding the standoff directly on a door hinge or lock. The design reduces the chance of slipping off the target and vents gas from the blast at the same time. It makes the breaching process faster and safer. Internally, the Trulock Tactical Choke is more than just a breaching tool. The new design is constructed to produce improved downrange performance and accuracy for buckshot or rifled slug applications. To find out more about Trulock Choke Tubes, visit their website at www.trulockchokes.com.

LYMAN’S AUTO-ADVANCE TARGET SYSTEM

The new Lyman Auto-Advance Target System is a revolutionary design, offering shooters the ability to change targets at up to 200 yards with the press of a button! No more walking downrange to replace targets, or waiting for cease-fires! The Auto-Advance Target System is battery operated, so there is no need for wires and power outlets, plus it disassembles easily for transportation back and forth to the range. The Auto-Advance Target System has steel protection plates that are rated for use with all rimfire calibers. The Auto-Advance Target System comes with a roll of standard bullseye targets. Additional 50-foot target rolls are available with bullseye, animal and silhouette designs. Price for the Auto Advance Remote Controlled System is $229.95, and additional target rolls are $19.98. You can contact them at 1(860)-632-2020, or see their whole line up at www.LymanPRoducts.com

By Chris A. Choat

BROWNING INTRODUCES BLACK LABEL 1911-380 HANDGUN

For 2015, Browning is proud to introduce the Black Label 1911-380 autoloading pistol. This new offering pairs two of John M. Browning’s original inventions: the Model 1911 handgun and the 380 ACP cartridge. The 1911 has been a favorite firearm among shooters for decades and the new 1911-380 keeps with that tradition of innovation and function. Scaled down to 85% of the size of the original 45 ACP versions, the new single-action Browning 1911-380 is made in the USA and utilizes a precision-built composite frame. Extras like an extended ambidextrous safety, beavertail grip safety, machined steel slide and skeletonized hammer are also featured. The new Black Label 1911-380 comes in a matte black finish with fixed combat sights. The overall length is 7.5 inches and average weight is 17.5 oz. Slightly larger than most .380 ACP pistols, the size manages recoil better and improves control for more accurate follow up shots. The grip is narrow, but long and wide enough for comfortable shooting. Barrel length is 4.25 inches, which increases bullet velocity for more downrange punch and improved accuracy for sport shooting. The magazine capacity is 8 rounds. An ABS carrying case is included with the retail price of $669.99. Go to www.browning.com.

CMMG EXPANDS THE MK47 MUTANT LINE

CMMG’s Mk47 MUTANT has been the most talked-about rifle of 2015. Built around the 7.62x39mm caliber, the MUTANT features a shortened AR-10-sized bolt carrier group that is paired with a unique upper and lower receiver to minimize weight and increase ergonomics. One of the primary benefits of the Mk47 design is its ability to accept existing AK magazines. After thorough review and testing by the foremost rifle experts in the industry, the Mk47 MUTANT has earned a solid reputation as the ultimate mid-sized AR rifle. Now CMMG has announced the addition of an AR pistol and a short-barreled rifle (see NFA regulations) version of the MUTANT, as well as the availability of California-compliant versions of the three original MUTANT rifles (Mk47 T, Mk47 AKM and Mk47 AKM2). The new Mk47 K Pistol and Mk47 K SBR utilize many of the same features as the full-sized rifles, including the ability to accept AK magazines and drums, a shortened AR-10-sized bolt and CMMG’s SV BrakeComplete specifications on the new Mk47 K Pistol and SBR models include a 7.62x39mm 10” medium taper profile barrel, a CMMG SV Brake hand guard, a CMMG RKM9 KeyMod upper receiver, a CMMG Single Stage trigger and MagPul MOE® pistol grip. The new guns come with one Magpul PMAG® 30 round AK/AKM MOE® magazine. See more at www.cmmginc.com.

PULSAR RECON X870 NIGHT VISION MONOCULAR

Pulsar is proud to release its newest addition to the already successful Recon line of digital night vision monoculars, the Recon X870. The Pulsar Recon X870 digital night vision monocular features a 5.5x magnification and 752×582 camera resolution for a crisp, detailed view. The new Recon is designed with an intuitive, easy-to-use interface packed into a lightweight and durable composite housing while featuring the highest sensor resolution of all Recon models. The new Pulsar Recon X870 is a revolutionary digital night vision monocular. It was designed for a wide array of uses and activities from hunting to surveillance and provides users the ability to spot objects at over 300 yards. The features built into these compact units are what set them apart from anything else on the market. Nothing in its class can compare to the resolution, range, features, and price. Equipped with an OLED display with 640×480 resolution, the X870 can even be used in colder environments down to -13° F. The Recon X870 model is designed with a 915nm laser IR illuminator that is invisible to the naked eye, an ideal application for law enforcement professionals. To learn more about Pulsar’s latest products, visit www.pulsarnv.com.

WARFIGHTER ADJUSTABLE RECEIVER FROM INNOVATIVE ARMS

The W.A.R.® (Warfighter Adjustable Receiver) is built for suppressed direct impingement 5.56 AR15/M16 rifles. Designed to give extreme advantages to the user, every detriment of suppressed firing of these rifles is now virtually eliminated. The Killswitch® of the W.A.R. is built directly into the upper receiver, meaning that you never unshoulder the rifle or use any tools. The adjustment can even be made in the dark. You can quickly and easily switch from suppressed to unsuppressed or leave it in between the two settings to shut “off” the gas to manually cycle the rifle, all while keeping the rifle on your target. The specific location of the Killswitch not only allows for use with almost every rail system on the market, but it reduces the gas just prior to interfacing with the carrier key. This means that the rifle not only sounds quieter to the shooter’s ear but it also reduces the wear of the rifle component parts from the reduction of heat and excessive fouling. When the W.A.R. is in the suppressed mode it virtually eliminates the “blow back” in the shooters face, along with the burning eyes and the choking gas. The design of the W.A.R. allows the gas tube to fully pressurize which can make the rifle “feel” different. Most users say that their rifle feels like is shoots softer and smoother. This is the only upper in the world that delivers all these advantages. The W.A.R. comes with forward assist, dust cover assembly and proprietary gas tube in either carbine, pistol length or mid length. The W.A.R. is for use in conjunction only with factory 5.56mm ammunition, a quality 5.56 suppressor and barrels with a gas port hole size between .084 – .093. For more information go to www.innovativearms.com.

STEVENS OFFERS 20-GAUGE PUMP SHOTGUNS FOR FIELD OR SECURITY

Stevens has expanded its 320 line with four new 20-gauge models: two field grade versions (standard and youth), as well as two security models. The Stevens 320 pump shotgun series has a reputation for solid, affordable performance for everything from wing shooting to home defense. Shipments of these products are currently being delivered. The new 20-gauge shotguns boast the same features as their 12-gauge counterparts, with dual slide bars, a rotary bolt, rugged synthetic stock, and five-round magazines. Yet, these lightweight, reliable firearms are priced at or below $260. Features and benefits of the new guns include dual slide pump bars, rotary bolt, rugged synthetic stock and a five plus one capacity. They are built on the popular 12-gauge model 320 pump shotgun platform. For more information you can find them at www.savagearms.com.

COMMAND ARMS SIDE-FOLDING, 6-POSITION AK-47 STOCK TUBE NOW AVAILABLE

CAA USA is pleased to announce the CAA ambidextrous, side-folding, 6-position, polymer, collapsible stock tube is now available and shipping to retailers across the country. The CAA side-folding, stock tube (AK47SFSP) allows the installation of M4-style stocks on most AK-style rifles with Saiga stamped receivers. The CAA side-folding stock tube provides rifle enthusiasts and professionals with CQB and covert carry capabilities and easily converts from left-hand to right-hand folding positions. The polymer construction of the stock tube features an internal aluminum lock and latch parts for extra strength. Installation is quick and easy and requires no gunsmithing or tools. The horizontal tube mounting to the stock also improves sight picture. An oversized, ridged push button makes it easy to locate and fold the stock, even under stress. To move the stock from the folded to extended position, a pull on the stock is all that is required (no push button). The 6-positions allow the user to customize the fit of the stock for a personalized and comfortable fit. The CAA side-folding, 6-position, collapsible tube accepts all commercial AR15/M4 collapsible stocks, including CAA’s skeletonized (SKBS) and collapsible (CBS) buttstocks. Available in black only with an Unconditional Lifetime Warranty, the CAA AK47SFSP collapsible tube for AK47’s has a retail price of $114.99. For more information go to www.commandarms.com.

FEDERAL PREMIUM ADDS 380 AUTO TO PERSONAL DEFENSE HST LINEUP

In 2013, Federal Premium® made law enforcement’s top duty round available to the public, creating the ultimate Personal Defense® load: HST®. This year, the product line is even stronger thanks to a new load in 380 Auto, which is an excellent option for concealed carry pistols. Shipments of this new ammunition are currently being delivered. HST ammunition provides consistent expansion, optimum penetration and terminal performance that raise the bar for micro-size handguns. Its specially designed hollow point won’t plug, and the jacket and core hold together to provide almost 100 percent weight retention. The construction ensures micro-size handguns deliver the power needed for personal defense situations. The HST 99 grain bullet’s exclusive design delivers best-in-caliber expansion, outperforming all other leading factory brands in 380 Auto. The result is full-size terminal performance from a compact platform. Performance tests were based on bullet and crush cavity diameters versus competition; tested with a micro handgun in 380 Auto with a 2.75-inch barrel fired into 10 percent ballistics gelatin at 10 feet. The new round offers a 380 Auto load for micro-size concealed carry pistols specially designed with a hollow point that expands reliably. Expanded diameter and weight retention produce the desired penetration for personal defense situations without over-penetrating, and the bullet nose profile, nickel-plated case and Federal primer provide the ultimate in function and reliability in semiautomatic handguns. Find out more at www.federalpremium.com.

SALTED EARTH DEVELOPS ATLAS-08 LASER TRAINING TARGET

The ATLAS-08 is a fully programmable adaptive laser training target; users have full control over the full-color display and detection regions. The ATLAS-08 can detect red, green, blue and infrared laser emitters while differentiating between lasers and flashlights to enable true low/no light training scenarios. Designed to be rugged, these targets can follow you into the field to take your dry-fire training outdoors. ATLAS-08 targets are wireless enabled and can be easily deployed in large scale operations to create sophisticated training environments. Through use of the mobile or desktop application, you can control your training environment while also receiving real time feedback (draw stroke, split times, accuracy, etc). Metrics can be tracked over time (optional) providing users with a real data set to track their progress and ensure that they are operating at the peak of their skill set. The ATLAS-08 includes a 1/4-20 UNC mount on the bottom of the device for mounting to tripods, RAM mounts, or any standard camera mounts to give you the ability to mount your trainers to suit your individual needs. The ATLAS-08 is currently available to Law Enforcement and Military customers, interested departments can send their information to Contact@TheSaltedEarth.com. More info available at www.TheSaltedEarth.com.

Browning Model of 1917 water-cooled machine gun.

By Robert G. Segel

The Browning series of .30 caliber water-cooled machine guns (the Model of 1917 and the later upgraded M1917A1) served the U.S. armed forces for over 4 decades beginning in World War I with the Model of 1917.

The battlefields of France quickly demonstrated the need for a kit to accompany each gun in the field to provide certain key spare parts that would need replacing due to wear or battle damage and tools to keep the guns operating. A wooden box the same size and dimensions as the ammunition boxes was developed to provide the necessary parts and tools to the gunners in the field. It is top opening with a spring loaded brass closure mechanism and has a leather handle. There is a light blue stripe painted around the box to denote it as the spare-parts box and differentiate it from an ammunition box.

This early box was used throughout World War I and in the immediate post-war years until replaced with canvas spare parts and tool rolls that followed later.

There is a parts list of the contents of the box pasted inside the top lid. In this author’s opinion, it is a “suggested” list as there are parts listed that do not normally wear or break and there are parts that are not listed that do and should be listed. Additionally, there is no record in any manuals as to how the box should be packed. It seems that was pretty much left up to the individual soldier as long as the box contained the
necessary parts and tools.

The spare-parts box is intended to provide the gun squad with immediate replacement of serviceable parts for those which become defective in the gun in use. It should, therefore, be kept complete at all times with its contents in good condition and whenever a part is taken from the box to replace a defective part in the gun, a notation should be made in the gun record and the defective part repaired or a new one substituted in the spare-parts box as soon as possible.

By Chris A. Choat

SureFire Introduces Their newest .30 Suppressor

SureFire, LLC, manufacturer of high-performance illumination tools, suppressors, and tactical products, has begun accepting orders for the latest model in its high-performance line of SOCOM Fast-Attach sound suppressors. The new SOCOM300-SPS is claimed to be the quietest suppressor ever built for .300 Black Out (subsonic and supersonic), .308 and .300 Win. Mag. This versatile suppressor is also very effective in suppressing the 5.56mm cartridge. The SOCOM300-SPS owes its sound-suppressing prowess to highly specialized baffles creating a longer dwell time within the suppressor and achieving unprecedented levels of sound attenuation. The suppressor is constructed of Inconel, an advanced high-temperature alloy, and stainless steel, and it typically adds only 6 inches to the length of a weapon. Computer-controlled welding enhances the suppressor’s overall durability, as does a corrosion-resistant coating of Ionbond DLC and Cerakote ceramic finish. In fact, the SOCOM300 SPS, like all SureFire SOCOM Series suppressors, is durable enough for full-time use and designed to typically outlast the weapon barrel to which it attaches. A precision indexing system ensures that the suppressor mounts to a compatible SureFire SOCOM series adapter, which also serves as a high-performance muzzle brake or flash hider when the weapon is unsuppressed – securely and with perfect alignment every time. This patented no-tools Fast-Attach system also makes the suppressor easy to remove after extended firing because the index tab is located in a low-carbon-buildup area. Like all SureFire SOCOM suppressors, the SOCOM300-SPS produces minimal and consistent point-of-impact shift compared with the unsuppressed weapon, regardless of the number of times the suppressor is attached and detached to and from the weapon. The SOCOM300-SPS suppressor is available in two colors-Black and Dark Earth, and has an MSRP of $1,075. It is available for purchase in states that allow suppressor ownership through authorized SureFire suppressor dealers. For complete product information visit www.surefire.com.

NIKON INTRODUCES NEW P-308 RIFLESCOPE

Nikon has expanded its lineup of precision .308 WIN riflescopes with the introduction of the all-new P-308 4-12×40 BDC 800. The new P-308 riflescope provides shooters with everything they need to hit their target, including a 4-12 magnification, a 40mm objective and fully multicoated lenses to ensure a clear view. The P-308 features Nikon’s popular BDC 800 reticle – a reticle specifically engineered for the .308 Winchester/7.62x51mm NATO round with 168gr HBT Match bullet at 2,680 fps. The P-308 is also fitted with exposed, spring-loaded Instant Zero-Reset Turrets with easy-grip course knurling, which make in-field adjustments easier by allowing shooters to reset their turrets back to zero after sighting-in. This new riflescope offering is waterproof, fogproof and shockproof. The P-308 is also optimized for use with Spot On™ Ballistic Match Technology. The Spot On program provides users with the exact aiming points on any BDC reticle for any load or ammunition at a specific range. Spot On is free online at nikonsportoptics.com/SpotOn, and is now free for mobile devices including iPad®, iPhone® and Android™ platforms. The suggested retail price of the P-308 4-12×40 BDC 800 is $249.95. Like all Nikon riflescopes, the P-308 is backed by Nikon’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Browning’s New 4-in-1 Survival Pen

Browning’s new 4-in-1 Survival Pen features an innovative combination of flashlight, cap light, writing pen and a tactical glass breaker with hardened tungsten carbide point. The body of the 4-in-1 Survival Pen is made from rugged aluminum. The pen features a lock on/lock off twist switch to prevent accidental operation of the flashlight and a pocket clip for easy access. The white LED has an effective distance of 22 yards, and four LR41 button batteries give the pen an 8-hour run time. Suggested Retail is $22. For more information on new Browning flashlights for 2015, please visit www.browning.com.

Armalite Introduces New Handguards

In a year full of exciting new product introductions, Armalite has added three new handguards to their list of stand-alone accessories. From the makers of the original AR, these new accessories will help bring your game up to the next level. Available for both the AR-10 and AR-15/M16 platforms, these handguards are backed by 60 years of AR manufacturing experience and are available now. These include the following: 3-Gun Handguard – perfect for those shooters looking for an ultra-light handguard with a slim profile for maximum comfort, minimum weight and fast handling. This handguard is free floating and includes a 2-inch Mil-Std 1913 rail section at the forward 12 o’clock position for mounting of sights and accessories. The KeyMod system is ready for the direct attachment of flashlight mounts, sights, scope mounts, rail panels and doubles as flush cup sling attachment points allowing the shooter to customize the rifle for any environment quickly and easily. It includes a barrel nut and mounting hardware and is available in 12 and 15 inches lengths. The Tactical Handguard – when the mission calls for the perfect combination of light weight gear that is durable enough to hold up under any environment, the Tactical Handguard is ready. This handguard features a full-length Mil-Std 1913 rail at the 12 o’clock position as well as the KeyMod system that is ready for the attachment of accessories or to be used as sling attachment points. It includes a barrel nut and mounting hardware and is available in 12 (AR-10 only) and 15 inches. The Versatile Sporting Rifle Handguard – The unique design of the Versatile Sporting Rifle Handguard is sleek, solid and ready to go from the range to the field at any time. Built for maximum comfort and durability, it features a forward and rear 2-inch Mil-Std 1913 rail at the 12 o’clock position. The KeyMod system at the forward position eliminates the chance of a snag in the field while allowing for the attachment of a sling for easy carry. It includes a barrel nut and mounting hardware and is available in 15 inch lengths. For more information, or to order yours today, visit www.armalite.com.

ARES SCR Rifles

The innovative and patented ARES SCR (Sport Configurable Rifle) is the first of its class of firearms that is not only legal almost anywhere in America, but is the first rifle to successfully combine the traditional lines of a hunting pattern rifle with the modularity of an AR-15 rifle. The ARES SCR blends strength, reliability, accuracy and rugged all-weather characteristics of America’s longest serving infantry rifle with the classic lines of an American sporter. Lightweight, accurate and featuring a Mil-Std 1913 flat top upper receiver that accepts most modern optics, the ARES SCR is designed to perform under the most demanding field, competitive shooting or tactical conditions. The multi-caliber, modular design permits the operator to instantly change calibers in the field by simply pressing two pins and exchanging one upper receiver assembly for another. Designed for optimal configuration, the ARES SCR accepts most Modern Sporting Rifle accessories and parts including magazines, upper receivers, barrels, bolts, handguards and optics, so it can be easily and effectively reconfigured for each individual shooter’s style and activity. Supported by a full line of performance accessories and manufactured of the highest quality aircraft grade alloys by American craftsmen, the weatherproof and dependable ARES SCR will provide a lifetime of accurate shooting pleasure for all Americans. See more at www.aresdefense.com.

KAK and Shockwave Team Up To Create a Superior Pistol Stabilizing System

KAK Industry, a leader in firearms component manufacturing, announces that is has secured the exclusive distribution rights to Shockwave Technologies’ line of Blade pistol stabilizers. KAK also reveals that it has developed a custom buffer tube for the Blade. The class 3 hard-anodized tube features 12 length-adjustment settings. Its anti-rotation and anti-thrust design mean that the Blade stays put without sliding forward or spinning. The tube is flush with the rear of Blade when it’s installed fully forward. When installed fully out, the assembly is incredibly rigid. Being of the castle nut design, the KAK Shockwave tube accepts all carbine buffer systems, Mil-Spec receiver endplates, and aftermarket endplates. These two innovative companies have combined efforts to bring a higher-quality, easier-to-use, more-affordable pistol stabilizing system to the market. KAK Industry will retail Blade pistol stabilizers, KAK Shockwave tubes, and package deals online as well as provide wholesale pricing to Web-based resellers and brick-and-mortar shops. These two new products make for the ultimate in a pistol stabilizing brace. Shockwave will also retail Blade pistol stabilizers, KAK Shockwave tubes, and kits through its website and other Internet channels. For more information you can contact them at www.kakindustry.com or www.shockwavetechnologies.com.

It has been my privilege over the last three decades to represent the United States in international meetings when efforts have been made by some to regulate or prohibit, among other things, certain types of military small arms ammunition. Each attempt has been unsuccessful in large measure owing to the expertise and determination the U.S. government can bring to the table to challenge arguments often unsupported by facts, law, common sense or reality. This article summarizes one such effort.

Some historical perspective is necessary. Two events germane to the story occurred roughly a century and a half ago.

In 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was founded in Geneva, Switzerland. It is an organization dedicated to protection of war victims, such as military wounded and sick, prisoners of war, and civilians in enemy hands. It has neither the expertise nor a mandate from governments (who finance its operations) to delve into the legality of weapons of war. Generally, the ICRC has declined to enter this area, as it has felt an endorsement of a weapon as “lawful” would be inconsistent with its humanitarian mission.

In a meeting hosted by the Russian Minister of War in St. Petersburg in 1868, representatives of seventeen governments prepared a declaration in which they agreed in wars between them to refrain from “employment by their military or naval troops of any projectile of a weight below 400 grams (6,172 grains), which is either explosive or charged with fulminating or inflammable substances.” The United States was not a participant.

A variety of explosive rifle projectiles weighing less than 400 grams saw service during the 1861-1865 US Civil War, the most numerous of which was developed by Samuel Gardiner. The Union Army purchased 75,000 .58 caliber Gardiner projectiles for its infantry forces, and 25,000 in .54 caliber for its cavalry. Confederate forces captured 10,000 Union cartridges. They soon developed a crude but effective copy, prompting protests by Union General Ulysses S. Grant following the 1863 battle at Vicksburg. In his personal memoirs, Grant wrote, “The enemy used… explosive musket balls, no doubt thinking that, bursting in the trenches, they would do some execution; but I do not remember a single case where a man was injured by a piece of one of these shells (exploding in this manner). When they were hit and the ball exploded, the wound was terrible. In these cases a solid ball would have hit as well. Their use was barbarous, because they produce increased suffering without corresponding advantage to those using them.”

The argument offered in the last part of Grant’s statement was the issue delegates attempted to address in the St. Petersburg Declaration. While there was military value to explosive anti-materiel munitions, was there value in projectiles designed to explode upon striking a soldier? Unable to distinguish between projectiles designed to explode on impact with soft tissue and those that would explode on striking a hard surface, the delegates banned all such munitions.

Although the representatives in St. Petersburg signed the declaration on behalf of their respective governments, its practical life was short. Only two governments (Baden and Brazil) ratified or acceded to it. Then-President Ulysses Grant declined to endorse it. Technological developments and military requirements quickly outpaced St. Petersburg expressions of humanitarianism as various governments over the next half century developed and acquired projectiles at odds with the declaration’s prohibition. With World War I experience in mind, an international conference meeting in The Hague in 1923 declared, “The use of tracer, incendiary or explosive projectiles by or against aircraft is not prohibited. This provision applies equally to states which are parties to the Declaration of St. Petersburg, 1868, and to those which are not.” The 1923 Hague provision recognized that enemy troops being strafed by aircraft were likely to be struck by tracer, incendiary or explosive projectiles weighing less than 400 grams. World War II and later conflicts found tracer, incendiary and explosive small arms projectiles (or a combination thereof) in common use by all armed forces.

The history of the modern .50 caliber (12.7mm) began in the closing days of World War I. General John Pershing established a requirement for a heavy machine gun in April 1918. The Browning caliber .50 M1921 was type classified in 1921. Modified, it became the venerable Browning M2HB in the mid-1930s. Variants or other models were developed, including modern sniper models such as the Barrett M82A1 employed in Operations Desert Storm (1991) and Iraqi Freedom (2003). Between World War II and the 1980s U.S. ammunition included M2 Ball (to 1950), M33 Ball (1951), M17 tracer, M8 API (1944), and M20 APIT, with foreign counterparts.

There were ammunition performance limitations. Some U.S. and foreign 20mm and other caliber HEI would detonate on impact, without penetration, while API often penetrated through and through with little to no damage within the target. Safety concerns frustrated the desire for better high explosive-incendiary projectiles.

In the 1970s Nordic Ammunition Company in Raufoss, Norway (hereinafter Raufoss), pursued development of high explosive projectiles with fragmentation effect for use in 20mm and, subsequently, in .50 cal. for the Browning M2. The .50 cal. Raufoss Multipurpose projectile offered improved penetration and incendiary effect against attack helicopters and light armor vehicles. Accuracy of the .50 cal. Raufoss Multipurpose (1.0 MOA at 600 yards) proved better than the standard M33 ball (2.4 MOA at 600 yards).

The .50 cal. Raufoss Multipurpose ammunition functions at long range after striking a duralplate of 2mm (5/64”) thickness. With a sharp angle of impact it functions against thinner plates at short range. The Raufoss projectile’s five millisecond delay action virtually eliminated the likelihood the projectile would explode when striking soft tissue as compared with its predecessors. Thus the projectile challenged by the ICRC was more “humane” (to use an ICRC term) than high-explosive, incendiary (or a combination thereof) ammunition in use by militaries for the preceding seventy years.

Weighing 671 grains with a muzzle velocity of 2,650 fps, the .50 cal. Raufoss Multi-purpose round contains explosive, an incendiary composition, a fragmenting body and tungsten hard core. When striking a hard surface such as an aircraft skin, the projectile punches its way through. The projectile’s delay element is a combination of the incendiary in the nose cap, the incendiary in the projectile body and the high explosive. When ignited, the hot incendiary gases are transferred by convective burning of the shell body, igniting the secondary incendiary mixture. This process traces its origins to the World War II U.S. .50 cal. M8 API bullet. The high explosive then is ignited by those very incendiary gases burning under high pressure to a state of deflagration, rupturing the shell body into fifteen effective incendiary fragments to attack the target’s engine and fuel system. Fragmentation is optimized to damage components inside material targets.

The Norwegian Model (NM) 140-A1 .50 cal. Raufoss Multipurpose ammunition received Navy Weapons System Explosive Safety Review Board approval on March 29, 1985. The U.S. Navy designation is Mk. 211, MOD O (Grade A) or MOD 1 (Grade B). Grade A ammunition is bulk packed without links for Navy and Marine Corps sniper use. Grade B, less accurate than Grade A, is linked for machinegun use.

The U.S. military employs the .50 cal. Raufoss round primarily for anti-materiel purposes. Given its accuracy or the inevitability of an enemy soldier walking into a bullet’s path, intentional anti-personnel use or incidental anti-personnel results are not prohibited by law or doctrine.

In December 1998, an ICRC representative met with a Department of State colleague and me to express ICRC concern regarding the “exploding” .50 cal. Raufoss Multipurpose Projectile, arguing that ICRC tests showed it contravened the 1868 St. Petersburg Declaration. My hasty review of ICRC test photographs raised questions as to his conclusions. As the glycerin soap blocks used as targets were cavitated but otherwise intact, the projectiles had not “exploded” as alleged. Further, the ICRC had mistaken the temporary cavity in the glycerin soap blocks for projectile “explosions.”

“Soft tissue” effect has become the accepted standard for evaluation of military small arms ammunition. Two media have been used, ten percent ordnance ballistic gelatin and glycerin soap. The former when shot at a block temperature of 4º C is the more accurate test medium. Most human tissue is elastic and has a memory. Wound ballistics tests of small caliber projectiles shot into ten per cent ballistic gelatin reveal the two areas of projectile-tissue interaction, permanent cavity and temporary cavity. The permanent cavity is proportional to the projectile size as it passes through soft tissue. The temporary cavity is transient lateral displacement of tissue, which occurs after passage of the projectile. In skeletal muscle, blood vessels and skin, this soft tissue is pushed aside, but quickly rebounds – something akin to throwing a small stone into a pond.

Glycerin soap is inelastic, and of greater density than soft tissue. Firing into glycerin soap is deceptive, as the temporary cavity deforms the soap to its largest stretched size. ICRC emphasis on the temporary cavity was misleading. Had the ICRC fired a M33 Ball projectile into glycerin soap as its control group, the wound profile would have been similar to that of the .50 cal. Raufoss Multipurpose projectile.

ICRC procedures were not consistent with standard wound ballistic testing. Shots were fired at full velocity at 100 meters into oversize glycerin soap blocks (fifty centimeters in length), a fact not disclosed by the ICRC representative in our meeting. The average adult male of military age has a thickness of thirty centimeters, while soap blocks for ballistic testing normally are thirty-five centimeters thick. Firing into three soap blocks measuring fifty centimeters thick each is equivalent to firing at five adult males standing in very close formation. Firing rounds designed primarily for engaging anti-materiel targets at 500 to 1,500 meters into glycerin soap blocks of heavier density than human soft tissue at full velocity at 100 meters is not a valid test.

Subsequently, I headed a U.S. delegation for the ICRC-hosted Meeting of Experts on “Exploding” Projectiles (an ICRC term) in Geneva, March 29-30, 1999. Participants were representatives from the four manufacturing nations (Norway, Belgium, Switzerland and U.S.). I know a fair amount about weapons and ammunition, but the most important thing I know is to have people who really are smart in this business accompany me. I had two of the best: Colonel Martin L. Fackler, MD, USA (Ret.), was a career military surgeon with Viet Nam experience. As founder and director of the U.S. Army’s Wound Ballistics Laboratory, Letterman Army Institute of Research, Presidio (1981 to 1991), he developed and established the wound ballistic methodology adopted by the United States, its NATO partners, and many other governments. He is the most knowledgeable person I know in the field of wound ballistics. Joining us was Charles F. (Chuck) Buxton (Master Gunnery Sergeant, USMC, Ret.), Supervisory Engineering Technician/NAVSEA Acquisition Design Agent, Navy Small Caliber Ammunition, Naval Weapons Center Crane.

The invited experts were unanimous in challenging the ICRC test methodology and its conclusions, noting ICRC use of the term “exploding” was technically incorrect and intentionally pejorative. The projectile does not explode, as was evident in photographs from the ICRC’s ballistic tests. Had the projectile “exploded,” the glycerin soap block into which each projectile was shot would have disintegrated. The government experts agreed a munition would be illegal were it designed to detonate on impact with soft tissue, that is, the human body. The ICRC’s argument was that were there any chance, under any circumstance, of a single projectile exploding within the human body, the ammunition was prohibited by the St. Petersburg Declaration. There was consensus that its 400-gram limitation is obsolete. The experts demanded a re-test.

The re-test was conducted at the Swiss Low Noise Ballistics Testing Facility, Thun, September 9-10, 1999, attended by the same experts from manufacturing nations. ICRC representatives attended in an observer capacity. Another error came to light in the original ICRC tests and the tests at hand. Both tests utilized 1989 and 1994 production Raufoss Multipurpose ammunition. Early projectiles loaded with PETN were overly sensitive. The main body explosive was changed to the less-sensitive RDX (also known as H-764) in 1997.

Tests were shot at 100 meters at reduced velocities to simulate shots at 500 meters. No projectile “exploded” in shots fired into glycerin soap or ten percent ballistic gel. Nor did full velocity shots fired into ten per cent ballistic gel. Re-test of the ammunition did not support the ICRC methodology, findings or assertions. The report prepared by the Swiss Ministry of Defense concluded in part: “The tests at the simulated distance of 500 [meters] which generated no deflagration or unexceptionally late deflagrations (after passing through soap blocks of greater density than human tissue and equivalent to the thickness of three average adult males) were not seen as a matter of major concern by governmental experts” (emphasis in original).

“The United States experts have indicated they do not regard tests of the projectile at full velocity at 100 meters range to have any validity, given its primary, intended ranges. Furthermore, they stated these retests supported the point of view that the 12.7mm Raufoss Multi-purpose ammunition will not deflagrate in soft tissue at intended ranges of 500 to 1,500 [meters]. This viewpoint was shared by the representatives of Belgium, Switzerland and Norway.”

One would expect this to be the end of the story. It was not. Two years later, as governments met in Geneva in a periodic meeting of States Parties to the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, the ICRC distributed a new document calling for new regulation of so-called “exploding bullets” based upon the 1868 St. Petersburg Declaration and its discredited original test. The document contained mischaracterizations of the original ICRC test and the 1999 re-test. It lacked critical information, such as the distinction between the temporary and permanent cavity. It failed to mention the many technical shortcomings of the original ICRC test identified by the experts. Astonishingly, the ICRC paper incorrectly claimed that fifty per cent of the shots in the two tests “exploded;” a claim wholly at odds with the tests and experts’ unanimous conclusions. The United States delegation strongly resisted the renewed ICRC effort. The meeting concluded on December 21, 2001, with the following statement by Martin Sorby, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “We believe that the (ICRC proposal introduced during this conference) fails to take into account some basic considerations, both on the legal and technical level regarding the 12.7mm Multipurpose ammunition. In light of the fact that we seem to have consensus among … (governments) …in our view the ammunition in question fully complies with the requirements of international law.”

No government disagreed with Mr. Sorby’s statement.

One factual issue remained outstanding from the 1999 tests. The second and third blocks in some shots contained internal smudging. The official Swiss report suggested the possibility of late deflagration of six of the eighteen shots, and early deflagration of two shots fired at full velocity. In response to an inquiry from members of the Norwegian Parliament, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense prepared its own analysis. In 2004, Bjarne Haugstad, Director of Research, Norwegian Defence Research Institute, concluded that what the Swiss report identified as “deflagration” was instead the result of ignition of the small incendiary charge in the nose cap, releasing gases as the pyrotechnic train was initiated. This would have lead (outside the three glycerin soap blocks) to eventual deflagration of the high explosive. The gases from the small incendiary charge in the nose cap flowed back into the soap blocks. It did not in and of itself constitute deflagration of the projectile in the blocks. The report found the 1999 Swiss conclusion “to be both qualitatively and quantitatively erroneous.”

Conclusion

Governments devote considerable time, labor and effort to the development of weapons and munitions for their defense. In doing so, they also ensure their weapons and munitions are consistent with their treaty obligations. U.S. legal reviews of the Raufoss .50 cal. Multipurpose munition, conducted by the author in 1998 and 2000, confirmed its legality. Legal reviews by other governments (e.g., Australia, Belgium) agree with the U.S. interpretation. Today Raufoss .50 cal. Multipurpose ammunition is in the inventory of more than two dozen nations. The failed challenge by the International Committee of the Red Cross to the Raufoss .50 cal. Multipurpose cartridge was based upon flawed test methodology, assumptions and arguments of history, fact and law. It was defeated through a determined effort by the U.S. and other governments to identify and refute the errors contained in the challenge.

(The author is a retired US Marine Corps Colonel with four decades military and federal service. He is writing in his personal capacity. Additionally, the author is indebted to Martin L. Fackler, J. Buford Boone III, Charles F. (Chuck) Buxton, Charles T. (Chuck) Marsh, and Keith R. Pagel for their assistance in preparation of this article.)

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ITC SCOPE COVERS

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BROWNING INTRODUCES CARBON FIBER TECHNOLOGY TO A-BOLT

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NIKON ANNOUNCES TITANIUM RIFLESCOPES

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By Dan Szatkowski

The War in the Pacific

More than half a century after the momentous events of the war in the Pacific, it is difficult to come to terms with the sheer size of the war and its overwhelming geography. It was more than just a war between Imperial Japan and the United States, it was a vast war in which Japan continued the European struggle to dominate China. It was a war to displace European colonialism and condescension, a war to allocate the wreckage of French, Dutch, German and British imperialism. It was a war of little wars within the global struggle. While the European powers were locked in battle with Japan’s Nazi allies, Thailand went to war against a weakened France. The Australians saw their manpower and equipment drawn off by a desperate England. The Filipinos saw the opportunity to displace a decadent foreign army of occupation, as did the Indonesians, Malaysians, Indo-Chinese, and other subject peoples. Between 1941 and 1945, the years of American involvement, enormous political as well as technical changes altered the world forever.

More than anything else, the Pacific war was a war of logistics. The focus of Western powers on the war in Europe led to an amazing variety of weapons in the Pacific theater. The sheer number of governments involved, and the level of desperation late in 1941, assured a remarkable variety of armaments for the modern researcher to discover. As the war progressed, the impact of logistics was overpowering; Garrisoned stores throughout the theater were swept away by the early Japanese advances. Only the US Navy and Japanese Imperial Navy could move arms and men into battle; all other players were pushed to the sidelines. There was near-total change after 1942. Old World War I weapons inventories swept away by Japanese success were replaced by newly manufactured tools of war, and the overwhelming effectiveness and massive availability of new American equipment after Guadalcanal ensured the decline of British and European influence.

Searching for Reliable History

At this distance in time, the interested student of Pacific war weapons has limited options for truly understanding the war. The region is so vast that a lifetime could be spent exploring the battlefields, and many are accessible only by submarine and helicopter. New governments have arisen, and the ardent researcher is apt to find himself in the middle of a shooting war, if he is not careful. Most of us are limited to researching literature, museum and private collections, and talking to old soldiers. Inexorable demography is reducing the number of veterans able to tell the tale first-hand, and, as one Okinawa veteran put it, you have to decide whether you prefer the “good” story or the “true” one. Private collectors tend to follow a theme to the exclusion of competing points of view, and it’s up to you to sort out the bias, omission, and fact. Museums are little better for reliability, infected as they can be by revisionist, politically active “interpreters.” Equally distressing is the incredible volume of printed material claiming to describe the war in the Pacific, since the paper refuses no ink…

Artifacts can speak for themselves, but they are often not allowed to. Recognizing and dealing with revisionist historians is a major problem for the student of Pacific war arms. We must realize that the wonderful Smithsonian collection is lost to us for now, and revisionism, as seen in the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry might lead you to think that the war never happened at all!

Three East Coast museums stand out from the politically correct crowd, the Marine Air-Ground Museum at Quantico, Virginia; the NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia; and the US Army Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen, Maryland. In these repositories of history, you can see and examine unmolested artifacts without the drumbeat of Clinton-era distortion.

The Participants, a Thumbnail Sketch

Whole books have been written about each of the weapons, battles and politics of the combatants in the Pacific theater. For perspective, I will only touch upon the equipment of the major participants. All began the war with doctrines and equipment largely left over from the Great War. By late 1942, new American technology began to appear in the field, and new tactics arose to match the “island-hopping” allied strategy for victory. Nearly all of the weapons of late 1941 were passé by the end of the war in 1945. These facts may seem trivial to many readers, but there are now whole generations of Americans, victims of America’s cultural wars, who have not the faintest grasp of who and what were involved in World War II.

Great Britain lost much of her military hardware on the beaches of Dunkirk in the summer of 1940, and she was loathe to share much of what remained with the Far East. With an Army doctrine based on World War I SMLE rifles and Vickers water-cooled machine guns, the British were ill prepared to face the onslaught of their former Japanese allies. A few Brens and Stens went east before December 8, 1941, but most garrisons fought with whatever leftovers they had.. While “British” troops manned twenty-year-old Lewis guns, Indian troops were saddled with inferior weapons like the Vickers-Berthier, and a remarkable quantity of Boys anti-tank rifles found their way to Australia after finding no friends in North Africa. No heavy machine guns and precious little artillery were available

Australia felt abandoned, for good reason, and rushed to produce the inferior Austen and the remarkable Owen submachine guns. “Gangster Guns” had gained acceptance, if not respectability. America, home of the “Chicago Piano,” used the giant island as a huge ammo dump, and American largesse captured the Australian heart. British hardware returned after the crisis passed, but the Australians were never again quite so sure of the British. ’03 Springfields and M1917 Lee Enfields weren’t the cat’s pajamas, but they were very welcome in the dark days of 1942, even if they didn’t share the Empire’s standard .303 ammunition

The Netherlands East Indies met the Japanese invasion with turn-bolt Mannlicher rifles and Schwarzlose machine guns, but too few of either. Sauer pistols and cheap Imperial German surplus items were joined by motley “desperation buys” of United Defense, S&W, Thompson, Mauser, and various sporting guns. It was all too little and too late.

France fought Thailand in 1940 with many of her latest weapons, and modern pieces like the MAS 38 submachine gun would later reappear in the hand of the Viet Cong. Hotchkiss, Chatellerault, and Lebel joined the MAS 36 against the Japanese, but with no more success than against the Germans. Oddly enough, the Chauchat, pressed upon the Americans in 1918 in return for our Marines’ Lewis guns, had disappeared from the French order of battle.

China, dogged by corruption and collapse under foreign intrigue, could field only uncoordinated purchases by independent warlords. A few of everything have been encountered by researchers over the years, but the infatuation with the Mauser broomhandle endured and seemed to be transferred to the Japanese. Several Chinese Mausers appeared on Okinawa late in the war.

The major combatants, Japan and the United States, entered the war with remarkably parallel doctrines based on massed rifle-armed infantry. The Japanese approach was deeply enmeshed with cultural values, and the tactics and Mauser technology were well proved against the Russians and Chinese. Supported by organic mortar and light artillery, the Japanese soldiers applied an unprecedented confidence that was publicized in the West as the Bushido code and Banzai-fanatic mentality. However, the Japanese war machine was ground slowly under heel by American logistic might and new technology. America’s allies in the Pacific at first received largely obsolete World War I equipment via Lend-Lease. The Japanese army and navy went to war in 1941 with similar 1918 technology. When American 1942 technology arrived en masse, the outcome of the war was only a matter of time and blood.

Obsolete Murata 11mm rifles were replaced by 1941 for the most part by Mauser-style Arisaka 6.5mm and 7.7mm rifles and carbines. Hotchkiss-derived portatives also in 6.5mm and 7.7mm accompanied the troops. Small mortars, common in the Japanese army, amazed the Americans, as did the Japanese cultural dislike of pistols. Similarly, subguns like the SIG-made Bergmann MP18 and the home-grown Type 100 were rarely encountered. The impact of the M-1 Garand rifle cannot be overstated, and the Japanese attempt to copy it has left a few amazing examples for examination.

The American army, after 40 years in garrison as foreign occupiers, was slow to rise from its lethargy. Massive underestimation of Japanese resolve and ability led to enormous losses in the Philippines. Generally equipped with World War I vintage Springfield 1903s and water-cooled Browning M1917 machine guns, the American army had poorly integrated light artillery, and the Browning .50 caliber machine gun remained scarce. The Winchester trench shotgun and Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR M1918) were to become firm favorites of the American infantry, too many of whom would be sacrificed on Bataan. A remarkable collection of miscellaneous weapons had been passed down to the Filipino National Guard units, including trap-door Springfields, .30-40 Krags, Navy Lee rifles, and various Spanish leftovers and hunting guns. All would prove inadequate in 1942.

Like the heavy M2 Brownings, the M1 Garands were late in arriving. Once the Army got over its distaste for “ammunition-eaters,” the M1 would join the formerly despised Thompson to transform infantry tactics. Moving ever closer to modern assault-rifle doctrine, the relatively puny M1 carbine and air-cooled Brownings would gain lasting popularity with the troops. Oddly enough, the M3 submachine gun would never engender the affection soldiers and sailors developed for the Tommygun. Like the MAS 38, Thompsons would be found much later in Viet Cong hands, but the M3 was hard even to give away, despite its effectiveness.

In contrast to the polo club-style army preferred by the MacArthurs, father and son, the US Marines had a peculiar make-do culture developed by years at the end of the budget food-chain. Their innovative use of the BAR and Boys rifle revolutionized amphibious assault, when used in combined arms with amphibious armored vehicles, organic artillery, and novel applications of existing weapons. When supplies of the M1, arguably the best battle rifle in the world in 1941, lagged, the Marines made do with the less desirable Johnson. In addition to Boys rifles “obtained” in Australia, the Marines recreated French .75s and Army pack howitzers for the unique conditions on Guadalcanal. Stung by the failure of the Reising as an assault rifle, the Marines embraced the M1, M1A and the soon-to-be universal squad support air-cooled Browning .30s and .50s as they became available. Both the Marines and the Army rapidly recognized the new need for mortars in terrain and jungles that frequently defeated armor.

Finding History for Yourself

The accompanying photographs show a few of the many surviving publicly accessible artifacts of the Pacific war. Their variety and massive scope are far too great for a mere magazine article, but these collections make for rewarding research opportunities, both formal and casual.
The museums I visited display the guns in glass cases and in the open, allowing close examination. All have curators willing to assist the genuine researcher. All are under relentless cultural attack, and welcome honest students of history and support.

I alternated visits to the museums with discussions with local veterans. In the Washington, DC area old warriors are a dime a dozen, but the student of the Pacific War must search for Pacific War survivors. Time is rapidly claiming these heroes, so don’t wait to pursue an interest. There were more participants than most Americans realize, and the inexorable loss of first-hand knowledge reinforces the importance of the non-interpreted, genuine artifacts found in these three museums. The veterans can provide true depth to your understanding and illuminate the greatness of the country’s achievement, but don’t delay. I have yet to find a man without a story to tell.