Savage 99

Like many other popular rifles at the time, the Savage Model 99 was a lever-action rifle but with a few small but significant alterations. Besides for the fact that the 99 was a hammerless rifle unlike the classic Winchester 1894, the Savage rifle also fed from a rotary magazine. This unique setup helped garner attention across America but the cost of the rifle would eventually be its demise. While Savage clearly knew how to build a top-notch firearm, they struggled to make it suitable for the average American and that’s where Winchester was able to thrive.

Besides for nixing the external hammer and adding a rotary mag, the Savage 99 added a few other small features which made it appeal to a variety of shooters. For instance, the Model 99 had a cocking indicator built-in as well as a spool which acted as a counter for the magazine to show how many shots were left. Additionally, Savage employed a different style of safety mechanism that locks the lever and trigger.

While the Savage Model 99 was a popular hunting rifle, Savage was keen on arming the military with their firearms but failed on several occasions. In addition to losing a major Army contract to Krag-Jorgensen, Savage beat out the Winchester 1895 for a New York National Guard contract but politics caused the contract to be canceled.

Once World War I came around the Model 99 was already a well-respected rifle and Savage had hopes of supplying troops on the front lines. Although nearly all outfits said no to the 99, Savage did supply a small number of modified Model 99s to the Montreal Home Guard.

These guns aren’t so difficult to find these days and are actually very pleasant to shoot. Keep in mind that just because a firearm was discontinued doesn’t mean it was a total dud.

In terms of the feel of the rifle, it’s got intuitive controls, a smooth action, a comfortable grip, and a nice sight system. It’s a pleasure to shoot in a variety of calibers and would probably make a solid hunting rifle.

Savage 99 Models

The Savage 99 was produced nearly 100 years so it’s only natural that there would be variations made throughout the years. For instance, the 99 was built with open iron sights but later models would be developed with the necessary provisions for mounting a long rifle scope. Likewise, some of the later models also used a detachable box mag instead of the original rotary magazine.

One of the most significant variations of the Model 99 was the introduction of more and more different cartridge options. They started by using .303 Savage but would eventually move on to an even more powerful .300 Savage. Nevertheless, the Model 99 would go on to be outfitted for many more cartridges including .30-30 Winchester, .22 Savage Hi-Power, .308 Winchester, and even .410 bore!

One of the most interesting variants of the original Savage 99 was the Model 99D Musket. The Montreal Home Guard agreed to buy Savage rifles during WWI but requested several modifications. In addition to giving it a more musket feel by adding a military-style stock and bayonet lug, the Model 99D was typically personalized for each solider with special engravings.

Conclusion

Overall, the Savage Model 99 was one of the most revolutionary rifles in its time and should be viewed as a significant piece of firearm history. It’s still remarkably quick-pointing and could still be relevant for today’s hunters. Lever-action rifles are making a big comeback, thanks in part to Henry Arms, and I believe the Savage Model 99 will become a hot item at auction houses. It’s a good looking gun that shoots well and doesn’t disappoint and I think it gets overlooked by Winchesters and Remingtons but it can hold its own against the best in its class.

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Lewis Machine Gun

The Lewis Gun was invented in the U.S. by Isaac Newton Lewis in 1911. It was in between conflicts and the US wasn’t interested in investing in a new magazine fed machine gun. After getting fed up with the U.S. military Mr. Lewis took his design across the Atlantic where it was adopted by the British Armed Forces. It was one of the first magazine fed light machine guns that was actually successful.

Unlike the American adopted French magazine fed model Chauchat light machine gun, which was an utter failure and was replaced by the BAR. It was chambered in the British .303 round and was approved for service in 1915. The World War 1 Lewis Gun was first used by Belgian Army forces while defending Namur and was used by British Army forces early in 1916 as a replacement for the heavier Vickers machine gun. The Lewis gun was more expensive to produce than the Vickers, but could be produced faster.

The issue with the Lewis gun in WWI combat was that it wasn’t an ideal platform for being fired for extended periods of time. The Vickers, Maxim, and Browning M1917 machine guns were water cooled and could be fired over long periods of time without the barrels overheating. This was an issue in the first World War because of poor battlefield tactics used by military brass. They would send wave after wave of their troops into machine gun fire to try and overwhelm entrenched enemy troops. Which, more often than not, failed and would cost thousands of lives. Each side took turns doing this, marching in lines into machine gun fire for extended periods of time, hoping their numbers could over power the enemy defenses. Which by the end of the war costs the lives of 7-8 million brave soldiers in combat related deaths.

Battlefield tactics obviously changed which made water cooled machine guns unnecessary. The Lewis gun was not water cooled and could fire 12 drums before being too hot to handle. This was not ideal for use as a defensive weapon in the trenches. Its lightweight and mobility made it well suited for going over the top. Going over the top was a term used in the First World War to describe leaving your trench, entering no man’s land (the area between allied and central powers trenches), and attempting an offensive maneuver to take ground. The Lewis Light Machine Gun also saw success mounted on airplanes. It has the unique distinction of being the first machine gun fired from the air. Oddly enough, this was was accomplished during peacetime from a Wright Model B plane in 1912.

The Lewis Light Machine Gun became a staple on aircraft during the first World War, although it wasn’t without issue. The propeller planes of the first World War had their weapons mounted behind the propeller. Aircraft following the first World War mounted their weapons on the wings. However, during the first World War they initially fixed the problem of shooting their own propellers with a small device that would synchronize the machine gun and the propeller, but the device didn’t work with the Lewis Gun because it has an open bolt unlike the other machine guns which used closed bolts. 

By World War II, the Lewis Gun was replaced by the Bren gun by the majority of British forces, however, it still saw a lot of action around the world. It was very popular as an anti aircraft weapon and was often mounted side by side. This is where the iconic image of the SAS soldiers in north Africa driving jeeps mounted with side by side Lewis Guns through the desert, which were later swapped for the Vickers K machine gun that had a higher rate of fire. The Vickers K also had a top feeding drum, but was without the iconic barrel shroud of the Lewis gun. The Lewis Gun was used extensively by the British Home Guard, New Zealand, and Australian forces in the Pacific theater. It took down more low flying aircraft than any other weapons system while protecting Britain from Axis air attacks. 

Significance of the Lewis LMG

The Lewis LMG was a significant weapon, that is why so many people recognize it. In fact, it’s probably one of history’s most influential weapons. However, many argue that its significance hasn’t been completely felt yet. I believe more countries will be converting their light machine guns to magazine fed instead of belt fed light machine guns. The lewis gun was the first successful attempt at this. Although magazine fed LMG have a slower rate of fire, over the course of a battle they will have a higher rate of fire when you take into account reload time and their reliability. The Russian military has already adopted a magazine fed light machine gun in the RPK. The World War 1 Lewis gun also helped several Allied countries defeat the central powers. The Lewis gun also helped to defend mainland UK from German air attacks during the second world war, North Africa, and was influential in the Pacific theater. The Japanese even copied the Lewis gun in their type 92 machine gun. It’s an important firearm in history and its influence hasn’t fully been felt in military firearms.

Don’t miss our other WW1 Gun Reviews: The Lee-Enfield and Mosin-Nagant

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The Kolibri was not an effective self-defense weapon against any real threat. At close range against a shirtless target, it might break the skin. However, there’s a good chance it would just bounce off someone wearing a heavy coat. If someone was hit in the eye it could cause some damage, but that would take a special kind of marksman. It would be effective at deterring stray dogs, which was a common issue in those days. However, most of the people who purchased it likely bought it as a cool novelty item since there were cheaper and more effective self-defense weapons available at the time. Let’s take a closer look at this unique little firearm.

Kolibri Pistol Design

The designer of the Kolibri Pistol was an Autrian-Hungrarian watchmaker by the name of Franz Pfannl. His watchmaking skills were obviously what led him to design this world’s smallest production firearm. Watchmakers had to be able to do very intricate precise metal working which would have been far more difficult than building a small firearm. Franz Pfannl designed the pistol in 1910 and it was produced until the outbreak of WWI in 1914. At which point production switched to goods essential for the war effort. Meanwhile, the Kolibri was definitely not essential for the war effort. There are zero cases of it being used in WWI since a soldier’s uniform would have been ample protection against the small, inaccurate, and low velocity rounds. A soldier in the trenches would be better off with a moderately sized stick to throw at their enemy as it would have better range, accuracy, and stopping power. 

The Kolibri Pistol design was identical to any other centerfire semi-automatic gas blowback pistol, except for its size. Likewise, it used the recoil of the previous round to load a new round into the chamber. Besides its size, it’s just like any other semiautomatic autoloading pistol, which is actually somewhat impressive. The original design was chambered in 2.7mm but there were later designs that included 3mm and 4.25mm cartridges. Production of these weapons continued until 1938 with the outbreak of the second World War stopping their production. 

The barrel of the Kolibri wasn’t rifled which further reduced the weapons accuracy. The magazine was meant to hold 6 rounds but realistically held 5 with one in the chamber. On the plus side, the recoil was essentially non-existent. The weapon was far from ergonomic or comfortable to handle. It was so small that it could really only be held and fired with two fingers. Furthermore, the weapon didn’t have a trigger guard and was awkward to carry.

Kolibri Pistol for Sale

Many of the 1000 pistols produced were either destroyed, lost, or taken as souvenirs during the Second World War. There are a few known to be in museums and none of them currently on the market at the time of this post. Occasionally, one will come on the market by private owners. If it were to be sold on the market today, it would range from about approximately $3,500-$8,000, depending on its condition. However, as time goes on, these will only become more rare and more expensive, as historical weapons do. The ammunition isn’t widely available either. From my research, there were 12 rounds sold for around $100 a few years ago. It originally came in a beautiful folding metal box that included a cleaning rod, small ammunition box, and a magazine. The box was around the size of a pack of cigarettes and is a great collector’s item. 

Conclusion

The Kolibri Pistol is a nice piece of history and cool novelty gun. It most recently made an appearance on the video game Battlefield 1 and has the weakest damage out of any weapon in the game, which is an accurate depiction of the firearm. Beyond scaring a dog or shooting your eye out, it was nothing more than a neat tiny firearm that a watchmaker made over 100 years ago. If you’re into collecting historical firearms and you come across one, it might be a cute thing to add to your collection. If you’re ever at a gunshow and find some 2.7mm ammo laying around it would probably be a good investment to buy some. Beyond that, this adorable firearm remains where it should, essentially lost in history.

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The First Machine Gun

The grandfather of the machine gun is the Gatling Gun. Richard Gatling developed this firearm with the idea of saving lives on the battlefield after watching the slaughter that was the American Civil War. The idea being that needing fewer men on the battlefield would result in fewer casualties. Unfortunately, his theory didn’t pan out as he planned.

The Gatling gun and later machine guns didn’t immediately change battlefield tactics, and it wasn’t until the end of the first World War that military leaders realized that marching men in lines against weapons with high rates of fire was suicidal. His invention spawned all future machine guns, which have heavily influenced battlefield tactics and changed the way countries, armies, and squads fight wars. 

The first machine gun was a multi-barrel (6-10 barrels depending on the model) crank-fired weapon that needed its own squad to operate and maintain the weapon. Each barrel had a bolt and firing pin which meant constant supervision.  

The Gatling gun was originally purchased privately by Union military commanders and first saw combat in the Siege of Petersburg in 1864 with devastating effects. A nine-month siege that saw trenches heavily used by both sides. It foreshadowed tactics that would be adopted in the first World War. The Gatling gun was formally purchased by Union forces in 1866. It saw action in several conflicts but due to its weight being comparable to the artillery of the day, it was quickly phased out by machine guns in the early 20th century that were lighter weight, gas-operated weapons, with even higher rates of fire. 

Recoil Operated Reloading Machine Gun

The Maxim Machine Gun was one of the first recoil-operated firing mechanisms using the energy of the last bullet firing to reload the new bullet. It was adopted in a variety of variants by almost every country that participated in the First World War, each country producing a maxim in their preferred caliber. In fact, several countries developed their own machine guns, that were modeled directly after the maxim machine gun.

It saw heavy use in WWI, WWII, and Korea. It was a single barrel weapon that was water-cooled making it quite distinct from the original Gatling. It essentially had a water tank around the barrel to keep the weapon from overheating. It was so widespread that it was even used by Arab forces under the command and guidance of Lawrence of Arabia. Water was scarce on the Arab Peninsula so they used urine instead of water to cool the weapon, however, this increased the likelihood of the barrel corroding. 

The recoil-operated firing mechanism is still used by machine guns and semi-auto firearms today. There has yet to be a system that has surpassed this method of reloading, and it was invented over 100 years ago. 

The Maxim machine gun was heavy and needed to be mounted on a tripod in order to fire it effectively. Nevertheless, it has been solidified as one of the most influential firearms in world history.

Rate of Fire

If the rate of fire was what made a machine gun great then look no further than the MG42. The fastest rate of fire single-barrel weapon, the MG42 was probably the least favorite weapon that allied soldiers encountered during the war. Its barrels could quickly be swapped out and the only issue with it was it was difficult to carry enough ammo to properly feed it.

The number of casualties inflicted on allied forces during the D-day landings is a testament to the effectiveness of the MG42. Modern variants that are chambered in 7.62 NATO are still used by many European forces today. Oddly enough, the United States used many features of the MG42 while designing the M60 machine gun. However, they intentionally slowed down the rate of fire and made the weapon easier to handle. There aren’t many weapons that were invented before WWII and are still in use today essentially unchanged. The only one that comes to mind is the 50 cal. M2 machine gun. Later machine guns developed off of the MG42 design would all slow down the rate of fire. Sometimes there is such a thing as too fast.

Belt-Fed Reliability

The FN Mag was developed in the 1950s in Belgium as a multi-purpose machine gun. They have licensing agreements with several nations and have sold the weapons to over 80 countries. This weapon is the definition of a workhorse. It’s still in use today by several nations including the US and for good reason.

This weapon is incredibly sturdy plus it can be used on armored vehicles, tanks, and by infantrymen. Its rate of fire is ideally set so it can lay down a solid wall of fire without burning through ammo unnecessarily. The weight of the Mag is an issue, which some of the new variants such as the M240L by the US military try to fix. This variant cuts down the weight of the M240 machine gun by about 5 pounds. There were some thoughts to replace the M240 with a machine gun chambered in 338 Lapua instead of the 7.62 NATO, but nothing has been finalized and nothing is near ready to be produced. This weapon is used by all the branches of the military and is a reliable firing platform. You can literally throw this weapon down a mountain and it will still shoot. Troops hate carrying it, but in a firefight, it’s beloved by the soldiers who are using it.   

Magazine-Fed Light Machine Gun

The Lewis machine gun is synonymous with the British military and air corps, however, it was originally developed in the US. One thing led to another and it wasn’t picked up by the US military and its designer Issac Newton Lewis decided to take his invention abroad. This magazine-fed gas-operated light machine gun first saw service in the first World War and set the groundwork for future magazine-fed light machine guns.

The Lewis machine gun has a very recognizable top feeding round magazine and a large barrel shroud that acts as a heat shield. It was far superior to the French magazine-fed Chauchat machine gun used by US troops at the beginning of the war. The US eventually adopted a variant of the Lewis gun in WWI. Later on, the US military eventually used the BAR Machine Gun (Browning Automatic Rifle). The Lewis gun showed how the effectiveness of the magazine-fed light machine guns and paved the way for the Browning machine gun to take its place. The BAR was put into service at the end of WWI and was arguably a better and more modern version of the Russian RPK. Nowadays, many nations are switching their light machine guns to magazine-fed weapons instead of belt-fed. The idea is that the overall rate of fire will be higher when you take into account not having to clear the inevitable jams that occur with belt-fed weapons. 

Conclusion

There have been many innovations surrounding machine guns particularly because wars and conflicts have made it necessary. Nevertheless, machine gun innovation seemed to be prevalent among militaries around the world with multiple countries getting us to where we are today. I’m not sure if this level of global input exists with other types of firearms but I think it makes machine guns that much more interesting. The fact that any modern machine gun has so much history built into its design from across the world makes these weapons special.

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.45 Colt pistols have always been appreciated, especially by the military. From 1911 to 1986, the Colt Government pistols were some of the gun models dominating wars and not only. Chambered with the .45 ACP cartridge, these were semi-automatic, single-action, magazine-fed, recoil-operated pistols that were always popular. Even though this classic Colt 45 was replaced in 1986, it wasn’t completely forgotten. In fact, there are modernized variants of it that can be found today, and they are able to give you a similar feel to the historical pistol. 

The classic gun used in both World Wars, as well as the Vietnam War and the Korean War, has a beauty of its own that not many guns are able to reproduce. The former standard-issue sidearm of the United States Armed Forces surely left its mark on today’s Colt guns, particularly through the M1911, which is known as the Colt Government. 

History of the Classic Colt 45 Model

Considering so many were looking for a replacement for the revolvers that existed in the 1890s, the search for a new, self-loading pistol began. It was at that time that the M1911 gun originated in the U.S. There were many guns adopted, and some of these were Colt revolvers. 

But it was only in 1911 that this pistol actually made it to the military and became a sidearm. John Moses Browning, who was a firearm inventor, was the one who came up with the idea for the Colt 45 model and gave the military a great opportunity. He started developing the M1911 pistol, which was the only gun to resist a series of tests. 

After competing with multiple gun makers, Browning’s model was the one that won and ended up being adopted as the sidearm of choice of the U.S. military. Basically, the model was able to pass every round easily, even though it had to deal with shooting deformed cartridges and with a 6,000 round torture test, being submerged in acid, and many other things. Unlike other guns that went through the tests, it was the only one that resisted – that’s why it was chosen. 

There was also a need of a way deadlier handgun – while the .38 Long Colt was great, it wasn’t enough anymore. For this reason, the military wanted to use a .45 caliber bullet, as the Army already had a history with these cartridges. 

That being said, the model designed by Browning, aka the M1911 chambered in .45 Automatic, was the perfect one. It featured a 230-grain projectile, which had the ability to go as fast as 850 feet per second. Its self-defense round was way better than the one of the .38 Long Colt. The .45 caliber won as a result, and it began being a favorite for many years to come. 

The Build of the M1911

What’s interesting about this Colt gun is the fact that it has no fasteners. The only fasteners you’ll see are the grip screws, as the recoil spring is actually the one that keeps the components in place. If you want to check the inside of the gun, the slide will have to be retracted, and the slide stop removed. Also, the barrel bushing will have to be removed. To fully disassemble the unit, some manually removed components can be actually used as tools to fully disassemble the gun. The same goes for reassembling it. 

Another great thing about the Colt 45 unit is that the military was using manual safety and a grip safety with the M1911. Over time, companies even managed to develop a firing pin block safety to make the pistol much safer.

For the most part, there were very few changes to the original design of the Colt 45 pistol over the years. Browning’s design was maintained because it was not only beautiful but also efficient, which was all thanks to the recoil operation. 

The bullet is being forced down the barrel due to the expanding combustion gases. The gases are the ones giving reverse momentum to the slide and barrel, as during this part of the entire firing process, they are locked together. The slide and barrel will then continue rearward a short distance after the bullet has left the barrel.

There’s a particular beauty in the way the M1911 was designed. After the process continues as the bullet leaves the barrel, the barrel is stopped from making contact with the lower barrel lugs, because a link will pivot the rear of the barrel down. Then, a claw extractor will manage to pull the spent casing from the firing chamber while the slide keeps going rearward. What happens is that it will be pivoted out and away from the handgun and through the port of ejection. 

After being stopped, the slide will then be propelled forward by a spring. This will trigger a new cartridge from the magazine to enter the firing chamber, and then the slide will lock into the barrel. As such, the gun can be fired again. 

But if there is no other round in the magazine, you won’t be able to fire it again – the slide will lock in a rearward position, and you will be notified that adding a loaded magazine is necessary now. 

Performance of the .45 Cartridge

The .45 ACP cartridge was long-awaited when the Colt 45 pistol M1911 was created, all thanks to the fact that it has destructive power against humans and it’s great for self-defense. The standard round of this cartridge used to be a 230-grain bullet that was able to travel 830 feet per second, as already mentioned. It was amazing because while it produced recoil, it was quite easy to handle. Also, it didn’t have a high blast or a high flash. 

The cool thing about this cartridge is that it is able to increase the service life of the gun that uses it, and it needs low maximum chamber pressure to operate, respectively 21,000 psi. 

What truly helped the M1911 was how effective the .45 cartridge was against humans. In both its non-expanded and expanded versions, this is a very destructive bullet that can cause enough damage to allow you to adequately protect yourself. 

In its non-expanding full metal jacket form, the cartridge can do enough damage due to the fact that it’s able to penetrate tissue very deeply. Add that to the fact that the central nervous system can be damaged as well. If it manages to hit some important organs that aid the circulatory system, then blood pressure can be lowered instantly. 

Meanwhile, the expanding hollow point form will also be effective, but not as destructive as the non-expanding one. It will also cause damage to a human, but it’s rather effective in causing more blood loss as it opens up a larger wound diameter. This makes up for the fact that penetration is not that deep, and there are fewer chances of hitting vital organs. 

Why the Colt 45 Model Is Popular to this Day

Maybe you are one of the people wondering what makes Colt 45 so popular even in today’s world. Well, there are quite a few reasons for that, and you can discover them below. 

Great Concealed Carry

If you think about it, the M1911 wasn’t a huge gun – it was a smaller pistol and a very effective one at that. Even though the model has been an inspiration for multiple modern weapons, the design still has the same convenience as it used to have decades ago. It makes a great concealed carry gun because it can be nicely hidden if you wear a good gun belt. Basically, the slide is quite slim. It’s not that heavy either, especially if you wear the right gun belt. 

The Colt 45 is also a great fit for your hand, which means it will be easy to shoot in a situation when you need it the most. After all, a good grip is essential, especially when the situation you’re involved in is very dangerous. What’s better is that there is not a lot of recoil with the .45 either, making things much more convenient.

Nostalgia

Nostalgia can easily hit you when you think about the history of the Colt 45 gun, which is one of the selling points of this weapon. Since it was used in both World Wars and not only, the gun is a popular choice for many people, especially for those related to individuals who took part in the wars and want to honor their loved ones’ memory. 

Furthermore, it’s a piece of American history, as it was created by one of the geniuses of firearms, John M. Browning. Even though at this point it has evolved and it’s past mere nostalgia, history is still one of the things that give it a special appeal.

Nice Design

Let’s be fair, this gun has a classic beauty that many other guns cannot reproduce. While it doesn’t have too many details, the simple design is what gets it going, particularly for those who prefer something less detailed and less modern-looking. The design will make many people proud to own the gun. 

Very Versatile

When it comes to versatility, very few other guns can come close to the M1911. It is pretty much able to deal with every necessary task in the world of handguns. Over the years, the gun has been expanded upon, and the M1911 has been modified in such a way that multiple duties can be fulfilled. There have been combinations of barrels, frames, triggers and many others that demonstrated the gun is very versatile. 

As such, the model can be used for speed shooting, self-defense, duty carry, and many other things.

It’s Easy to Learn

The operation is so easy that it is one of the contributing factors to the popularity of this Colt 45 handgun. Although many people like to complain about the manual safety, it’s actually quite easy to get accustomed to the single-action operation of the gun. Many would, of course, argue that it is harder than it seems, but with some training and dedication, it’s a skill that can be learned fairly quickly. 

What you have to do is pretty much wiggle your thumb, then try to incorporate deactivating the safety into your draw stroke. It may take some time to learn, but once it becomes a habit, it will be a piece of cake. Single action auto can be very easy to learn, as long as you become a master at deactivating the safety and cocking the pistol.

The 45 Colt Is Very Effective

The effectiveness of the 45 Colt cartridge is another reason for the popularity. Many guns have .45 calibers, all due to the destructive power they have and how excellent they can be for both self-defense and hunting. 

This is why you should have one too – and one such example is the Henry .45-70 Government, which was the first lever-action rifle to ever see the light of the day. This gun changed history. The weapon has the ability to take down big animals while hunting, giving you the power to take down bucks, a moose, a bear, and many other animals. With a strong four-round capacity, it is just what you need. 

As such, the .45 caliber, with its amazing strength, was able to maintain its popularity and is a favorite for many people. 

Final Thoughts

Colt 45 is truly a classic beauty, which was able to stay popular for a very long time. The M1911 invention was something that influenced history, as the gun was used in two World Wars and not only. To this day, you can purchase modern versions of the gun, which you can use for self-defense, hunting and much more. 

* This guest post is brought to you by our friend Jay Chambers *

Jay is a pro free speech business owner based in Austin, Texas. Having lived through several natural disasters and more than a few man-made ones (hello 2008), he believes that resilience and self-sufficiency are essential in this increasingly unpredictable world. That’s why he started a business! Jay writes over at Minuteman Review.

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Pump-action shotguns have become standard issue in police and military units for a variety of uses, not to mention their popularity with civilian shooters for home defense and hunting. The trench gun was the first pump-action shotgun that allowed the user to take off the barrel, which is now common practice in modern pump-action shotguns. It came in both a 12 gauge and 16 gauge model with a wide variety of barrel lengths. The military versions came equipped with a bayonet lug and a heat guard on the top of the barrel so soldiers would not burn themselves after extended use of the weapon. Overall, the Win 1897 is a true piece of Americana that deserves our attention.

Winchester 1897 Military Use

The trench gun received its name while being used by doughboys in the first World War. The first World War was the first time industrialized nations were engaging in war against each other, it was the most brutal and deadly war that the planet had seen up until that point. The war was essentially a stalemate with both sides dug in with trenches taking turns throwing their men into the meat grinder. They were using old tactics with modern weapons while their men were paying the costs. The Winchester 1897 was one of these modern weapons and it deservedly earned its name in the trenches.

It was a very effective weapon if the soldier wielding it managed to navigate across no man’s land into the German trench. One of the reasons it was very effective was because of its rate of fire. I am aware that it is a pump-action shotgun, but when compared to bolt action rifles of the first World War, it fired at a considerable rate. The trench gun had a high rate of fire due to its external hammer being recocked when the weapon was pumped and the weapon lacking a trigger disconnector.

In short, a soldier could hold down the trigger and simply pump the shotgun to get it to fire. It would fire as fast as an individual could pump it. Making it a devastating weapon when a soldier was clearing a trench. Pairing this rate of fire with buckshot and a trench could be very effectively cleared. There are also claims that it was used to shoot grenades out of the air when germans attempted to throw them into American trenches, similar to high explosive skeet shooting.

It was such an effective weapon that the German high command petitioned the legal use of the trench gun in an international court. Claiming it caused “unnecessary suffering” Their diplomatic protest fell on deaf ears, so in response, they threatened to punish any US soldier captured carrying a trench gun. The US responded that reprisal punishments would be carried out against German soldiers captured with flame throwers or serrated edged blade weapons.  

However, the history of the Winchester 1897 being used in combat predates the First World War in a lesser-known conflict in the Philippines in 1899. The trench gun gained praise by the marines who were using it for its stopping power. When faced against the ferocious warriors in the southern Philippines, the US military realized their standard-issue sidearm was not effective enough. With many reports that Filipino warriors would still charge and kill US military personnel after being shot by the Colt M1892 .38 caliber pistol. This conflict was the reason the US military decided to develop and switch to the Colt 1911 45 ACP. This conflict had the US military lacking a quality sidearm, but highlighted the effective stopping power of the trench gun in close quarters battle. The Winchester model 1897 was used up until the Vietnam war when it was retired for a more modern shotgun. While the 1897 did see some action in Vietnam, it was phased out in favor of several other shotguns including the Ithaca Model 37 and the Stevens M77E.

Trench Gun for Sale

There are Winchester 1987 shotguns for sale on the civilian market. They are not cheap and are very collectible. Since there were over 1 million produced and many saw a lot of use either in combat or by police forces, there is a wide variety of trench guns for sale in a variety of conditions and prices. If you’re looking for a shotgun to fill a specific use, go with a Mossberg 500 for a fraction of the price. You can find them on the market but even a trench gun in poor condition will still sell for a couple thousand dollars. Since they are still just a simple pump-action shotgun, they are still legal in all 50 states and there is no need for a class 3 license even though they were military-issue at one time. 

Conclusion

The Winchester 1987 was a weapon that helped bring shotguns into the modern age. It brought with it the idea of pump-action shotguns being used from a tactical perspective and helped to spawn revolutionary ideas about shotguns that we take for granted today. Its effectiveness in combat cannot be questioned and its use in law enforcement is still echoed today in many departments’ choice to have a shotgun in the squad car.  It still lives on with police units, in popular culture, films, and video games.

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Sharps Rifle Manufacturing remained open until 1881 when they declared bankruptcy. New repeating rifles were all the rage and the old falling block design couldn’t compete with newer models of the day. The legacy and impact of Sharps Rifles can certainly be seen in history and still be felt today.

Sharps Rifle

When thinking of rifles from the American Civil War the majority of casual historians will picture muzzleloading percussion cap rifles, which is not wrong. However, many cavalry units and sniper units used breech-loading percussion cap rifles.

These were by no means the first break loading rifles, the first breech-loading rifle is nearly as old as rifles themselves going back to the 14th century. However, Sharps’ design was original in many ways. It was one of the first breech-loading rifles to use the new percussion cap and utilized a falling block design.

This made reloading much faster especially when kneeling or in the prone position. The Sharps Rifle was a carbine and was preferred by calvary men on both sides. The use of cavalry during the civil war differed from wars in the past. They would usually dismount when using their weapons. Calvary soldiers were among the more elite units of the day and would get better quality weapons.

Sharpshooters also favored Sharps rifles for their greater accuracy and rate of fire compared to muzzle-loading rifles of the day, like the Springfield 1861. Sharps Rifle had double the rate of fire of the Springfield 61. This feat was accomplished without the use of cartridges.

Obviously the implementation of cartridges would make the rate of fire of the Sharps rifle obsolete. Its muzzle loading feature was used by Springfield in the US Army’s next standard issue rifle the Springfield model 1873 which utilized a trapdoor breech-loading action along with a cartridge. A testament to its popularity among soldiers and effectiveness at the time.

Sharps Rifle Ammo

Sharps rifles were also popularized after the civil war in the Wild West. The classic rifle’s large-caliber cartridge and fantastic accuracy made it ideal for buffalo hunting. In fact, Buffalo Bill famously used the .50-70 cartridge in a buffalo hunting competition where he came in the victor even though his competitor was using a repeating rifle. 

Conclusion

The Sharps Rifles made a significant impact on the philosophy of military firearms. Many military leaders of the day didn’t want their soldiers to have the ability to have a high rate of fire, worrying they would waste ammunition. Sharps rifles certainly impacted the ideas of effective tactical loading and the philosophy of rate of fire for military leadership. 

Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments and request more historical firearms reviews at Gunivore.

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It’s lightweight, easy to shoot, insanely versatile and accurate. But we keep forgetting about the AR-15’s father: The AR-10.

Now, I know what you’re thinking:

“The AR-10 is no match for the AR-15.” 

And for that, my friends, you couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, the AR-10 is VERY similar to the AR-15: It’s lightweight, powerful (capable of firing off 700 rounds in 60 seconds) and accurate — especially if you use a good AR-10 optic.  

And in today’s guide, I’ll show you why detailing out the AR-10’s history and the myths made the AR-10 fall from stardom. 

So without further ado, let’s dive into the AR-10’s birth story.

ArmaLite Comes To Life

On October 1, 1954 ArmaLite came to life as a subsidiary of Fairchild Engine and Aircraft Corporation.

George Sullivan, the president of ArmaLite, wanted the company to focus on creating small arms concepts and designs to be sold to other manufacturers.

So he leased a small workshop in California, hired a few employees and began to work. At the time, ArmaLite was working on a lightweight survival rifle prototype called the AR-5. 

And because of this rifle…

George Sullivan Meets Eugene Stoner

George Sullivan was testing his new AR-5 at a local shooting range when he noticed a young man shooting a rifle that he has never laid eyes on before: the M5.

His name? Eugene Stoner.

Sullivan, seeing the huge potential in this young man, immediately hired him as the Chief Design Engineer at ArmaLite. 

That decision would be the best Sullivan has ever made. Because that young man would later invent the AR-10 and the infamous AR-15.

How did he do it? The answer lies in…

Eugene Stoner’s Origins

Stoner was born on November 22, 1922 in Gasport, Indiana. 

After graduating from high school, he worked for Vega Aircraft Company — a company that produces advanced lightweight aircraft designs. He’d later use what he learned from aircraft design to build the lightest weapons known to man.

Anyways, he’s forced to leave the company and respond to his call of duty in World War II. He’d serve in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Aviation Ordnance man. This experience would later inspire him to design rifles. 

And guess what? That’s exactly what Stoner did in his free time: design rifles.  But his designs didn’t go anywhere until he met George Sullivan at the Topanga Canyon Shooting Range and was hired as the Chief Design Engineer at ArmaLite. 

For the first time, Eugene Stoner was given the chance to unleash his creativity to design the most advanced (and lightweight) guns the world has ever seen.

And that’s exactly what Stoner did when he used light, aircraft-grade aluminum and synthetic material to make the lightest battle rifle in the world.

The natural next step? Find a customer that would take it. And that opportunity opened up when…

The U.S. Army Needed to Upgrade Their Rifle

The trusty ol’ M1 Garand became obsolete.

The United States Army needed something new. More specifically, they were looking for a rifle that was accurate, lightweight, and fully automatic. 

So the Rifle Steering Committee (formed by NATO) started the Army’s Lightweight Rifle Program. Through this program, gun makers had the opportunity to compete with one another for a chance of getting their rifle adopted by the military.

Everyone submitted their designs. 

Springfield Armory submitted the T44E4, which was essentially an updated version of the M1 Garand chambered for the new 7.62mm round.

While on the other hand, Fabrique Nationale submitted their T48 FAL. 

Both were decent rifles. And the Committee was about to wrap up and choose a rifle However, right before they could, a new competitor came with a gun that would blow them away…

The AR-10

The AR-10 (built by Eugene Stoner) was FAR superior to the T44E4 and T48.

It featured a recoil compensator, straight-line stock design, an oversized aluminum flash suppressor, rugged elevated sights, and an adjustable gas system.

In other words: it’s everything a military man could dream of.

And the best part? The AR-10 was INSANELY lightweight (only 6.85 pounds empty) because of the fiberglass reinforced construction.

At that point, it met ALL of the requirements the US Army were looking for…

• Accurate
• Lightweight
• Fast rate of fire

… and it shot like a dream.

In fact, the Springfield Armory staff (who tested the AR-10) commented the AR-10 was the “best lightweight automatic rifle ever tested by the Armory”. 

So the deal was sealed, right? It was about to until George Sullivan, the president of ArmaLite, decided to…

Modify The AR-10

He wanted to submit an untested AR-10 prototype design that featured an aluminum/steel composite barrel.

This would turn out to be a HUGE mistake. Even Eugene Stoner himself tried to urge Stoner to reconsider…to no avail. 

Stoner submitted the design to the military and then the U.S. army torture tested it. The result? 

As Stoner predicted, the aluminum/steel composite barrel BURST.

And as a result, the U.S. Army decided it wasn’t going to adopt the AR-10 rifle. ArmaLite tried to fix the mistake by quickly replacing the barrel with the original steel barrel design. 

But, it was too late. The damage had already been done. The Army viewed the AR-10 as a prototype firearm and that it would take, as the army put it, “five years or more to take it through tests to adoption”. 

As a result, the committee passed on Stoner’s rifle and opted-in for the more conventional (and safe) T44 as their next service rifle. 

It was a real blow for ArmaLite, but they weren’t willing to give up. So what did they do? Change directions.

ArmaLite’s New Direction

Rather than selling it to the U.S. government, Armalite decided to sell it internationally to whoever was interested. 

Whether you were Fidel Castro or an isolated country, Armalite was willing to sell their AR-10s to you.

But before they could, Armalite needed two things: 

1. A gun manufacturer
2. Salesmen

After doing quite a bit of research, ArmaLite ended up licensing the AR-10 to a Dutch manufacturer called Artillerie-Inrichtingen (A.I.). Afterwards, they hired 4 salesman — including the famous arms dealer, Sam Cummings. 

Now that they had a gun manufacturer and reputable salesmen, Armalite was ready to start selling the AR-10. And that’s what they did when they landed…

The Nicaragua Deal

In 1957, Cummings demonstrated the power of the AR-10 to Nicaragua’s chief military commander, General Anastasio Somoza. 

Surprised with the rifle’s capabilities, Somoza placed a whopping order of 7,500 AR-10 rifles! Not so bad considering they only had 50 rifles. And that was the problem: 

ArmaLite was in short supply of the AR-10. So Cummings left his personal AR-10 demonstrator rifle with the General and left. 

This was a big mistake. You know why? 

It turns out General Somoza conducted the endurance test trial on the rifle. The problem? 

The AR-10 malfunctioned (the bolt lug over the ejector popped off) during the test, almost killing the General himself. And understandably, the General made sure Cummings heard hell for the malfunction. 

He cursed Cummings out and canceled the 7,500 AR-10 order. 

At this point, the AR-10 was pretty much a failure. Nobody wanted it, including the U.S. military and Nicaragua. 

But that didn’t stop ArmaLite. They decided to…

Sell The AR-10 To Militaries Worldwide

In fact, ArmaLite’s first sell came from the Sudanese government — selling 2,500 rifles for $225 each.

This boosted the AR-10’s credibility. After that success, ArmaLite couldn’t keep the AR-10’s in-stock. 

Everyone wanted them. 

Countries like Portugal, Guatemala, Cuba, Burma, Italy, and Germany all bought up the AR-10’s limited stock.

In addition, other countries like Austria, Netherlands, South Africa and Finland purchased a couple of AR-10s for ‘test’ purposes.

Despite that huge success, ArmaLite unfortunately couldn’t stay in business due to logistical and political problems like: 

• Dutch export restrictions
• Cuba’s worsening relations with the U.S.
• Netherlands embargoing AR-10 shipments to Portugal
• A.I.’s poor production capabilities 

The result? ArmaLite was drowning. They needed a lifeboat to save them from bankruptcy. Fortunately, Armalite’s luck was about to change when the U.S. began the…

U.S. Continental Army Command Rifle Program

This time, the U.S. Army was looking for a new ‘super rifle’. 

One that could: 

• Chamber .22-caliber
• Weigh 6 pounds
• Accurate up to 500 yards. 

This was ArmaLite’s final chance at survival. And Eugene Stoner didn’t want to miss it. So he assembled together his own ‘Avengers of Firearms’  team. 

It consisted of Eugene Stoner, Jim Sullivan, and Bob Fremont. These 3 geniuses put their minds together to produce the exact rifle the U.S. Continental Army needed. 

The result?

In 1958, ArmaLite introduced the infamous AR-15 (which is VERY similar to the AR-10) and AR-10A. 

Despite the incredible attention the AR-15 got, the AR-10A didn’t attract any buyers (domestically or abroad). 

Fed up with what seemed like a failure, ArmaLite sold the rights of the AR-10 and AR-15 to Colt Firearms for a mere $75,000 and 4.5% royalty on all future productions. 

And, as you know, that was a HUGE mistake. Because the AR-15 ended up being…

America’s Most Popular Rifle

And it was simple.

All Colt had to do was make a few slight modifications on the AR-15 (most notably, relocating the charging handle) and it was golden. 

Matter of fact, the U.S. military would later adopt the AR-15 as the M16 rifle. After that happened, Colt just bathed in the AR-15’s cash. 

All the while, the AR-10 continued to fall from the spotlight. Was it because the AR-10 was an inferior weapon? Of course not. 

It just boiled down to marketing. The AR-10 just got a bad vibe from its early history. But as that early history slowly became forgotten, the AR-10 saw a comeback. 

Nowadays you’ll see hunters, competitive shooters, and even militaries use the AR-10. And as one Congo Police instructor put it: 

“[The AR-10] was a good combat weapon that never failed me.”

And if you’ve ever used the AR-10, you know just how true this phrase is. That said…

It’s Now Your Turn

• What are your thoughts on the AR-10? 
• Do you think the AR-10 is a bad rifle? Or do you like the AR-15 more? 
• Let me know your thoughts by leaving a quick comment down below.

* This guest post is brought to you by our friend Richard Douglas *

Richard Douglas writes on a variety of topics ranging from guns to self-defense, all presented through years of hands-on experience. He’s been featured on various publications like NEWSREP, ODU Magazine, Boyds Gun Stocks, Burris Optics, JPFO and so much more. Richard is also the founder of Scopes Field, a blog where he personally reviews various scopes and guns on the market.

The post The Complete History of the AR-10 Rifle appeared first on Gunivore.

Maybe I am way off, but I don’t feel that Asia plays too big of a role in our local firearms market. After all, we have so many great manufacturers right here in the States, plus there are the European gunmakers, some of which are hundreds of years old. Howa Machinery, Ltd. of Japan manufactures Howa rifles and has done so for almost 90 years. Welcome to our Howa Rifles review where we’ll explore the Asian gunmaker’s arsenal.

Don’t miss our in-depth look into the Asian arms industry!

When it comes to firearms, I actually think the Philippines are more well known than Japan – at least in terms of manufacturing. Armscor and American Tactical Imports, for example, are two companies which import their firearms from the Philippines. Interestingly enough, America was at war with both of these great nations, albeit under entirely different circumstances and resulting in very different outcomes.

Howa Rifles

Howa’s timeline began at the aughts of the 20th century. At the time, about 1907, Howa was founded as a manufacturer of textile machinery, and it operated under the name Toyoda’s Loom Works, Ltd. Years later, in 1932, the company accepted an order from the Japanese military and began manufacturing weapons.

Showa Heavy Industries was a separate company that was established in 1936 and produced arms and parts for Japan’s military. In 1941, the two companies merged. The newly established 2-in-1 company dropped the ‘S’, and became Howa Heavy Industries, Ltd., which manufactured weapons during WWII. Perhaps the most famous firearm to come out of that factory was the Arisaka Type 99 bolt-action rifle, which they produced for the Imperial Army.

In the years following the Second World War, and in accordance with the post-war decrees made by the Allied Forces, Japan was barred from producing weapons.

However, when the Korean War broke out in the 1950s, Japan was allowed to manufacture weapons again. Howa (now renamed Howa Machinery, Ltd.) worked with the American Armed Forces to make mortars, hand grenades, and parts for crafts used by the United States Air Force.

Howa’s Japanese headquarters are located in Kiyosu City. Howa USA, its American subsidiary, has Legacy Sports International as a parent company. Before Legacy took over, there were several unsuccessful attempts to import Howa rifles into the US and popularize them. These attempts were carried out by Smith & Wesson, Mossberg, Interarms, and others, but only Weatherby had seen some success in that importing endeavor.

Located in Reno, Nevada, Howa USA is now used as the importer, builder, developer, and marketer of all Howa products which are distributed in the United States.

As a side-note: Howa (Japan) currently manufactures the Type 89 assault rifle, which has been the standard issue rifle for the Japanese Defense Forces since 1988.

Howa Rifle Reviews

Howa rifles may be less known than other brands, but those who have had the pleasure of shooting their weapons – especially their more modern, long-range models, as opposed to their mid-20th weapons – know that the company has sure come a long way since those days of textile machinery. In fact, there probably isn’t a single firearm which Howa produces nowadays that can adequately process, spin, weave, or dye fabric!

The rifles which are produced in Howa’s facilities are considered to be accurate and affordable, if somewhat lacking in the area of appearance. Not sure if these count as your classic “budget rifles” or not, but the price point is certainly a contributing factor to any prospective buyer’s number-crunching. Shooters all over the world have good things to say about Howa’s bolt-action rifles, and their smooth actions and quick handling make them more of a “grower” kind of weapon.

Aftermarket parts and components can be an issue, no doubt. If you get something more popular (Savage, Tikka, or Remington all come to mind) you will have more options with regards to acquiring aftermarket bits and pieces. Straight out of the box, though, Howa rifles are built well, and they do offer some measure of build and customization with chassis, triggers, and stocks.

The trigger which accompanies most modern Howa models is the two-stage Howa controlled actuator trigger (HACT). I actually like it a lot, but as I have mentioned many times before, I am not too finicky when it comes to triggers. Obviously I have my personal preferences, but I feel that with practice, a shooter can become comfortable with different types of triggers. Muscle memory counts for a lot in cases like this.

On the other hand, if you don’t handle a certain type of firearm too often or train with it, it could very well be that many triggers would be considered a hindrance or a bother.

Howa 1500

The M1500 Hogue is probably the rifle which Howa is most associated with, and this is certainly the case within the US. It’s a centerfire rifle, available in many popular calibers – from the .223 Remington to .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor.

It comes with light, standard, or heavy barrel options (depending on the model and caliber). The 1500 features a Hogue over-molded stock and recoil pad, a one-piece bolt with two lugs, and a three-stage safety.

Some call that kind of safety superfluous, but I think that there are times when that extra protection can become useful.

• Model: M1500 Hogue
• Caliber: .223 Rem
• Barrel length: 22”
• Overall length: 42.25”
• Weight: 7.8 lbs
• Capacity: 5+1 magazine
• MSRP:  $529

Howa HCR

The Howa Chassis Rifle (HCR) was unveiled at SHOT Show 2017, and immediately caught the eye of many shooters (amateurs and pros alike), some of whom had never even heard of Howa till that point. It is highly-adjustable, shoots well, and it was the first Howa rifle to carry Legacy Sports International’s lifetime warranty, along with a badass look and a sub-MOA guarantee. 

• Model: M1500 HCR
• Caliber: .308  Win
• Barrel length: 20”
• Overall length: 43.25” (extended)
• Weight: 9.9 lbs
• Capacity: 10+1 magazine
• MSRP:  $1,379

Howa 6.5 Creedmoor

Hornady’s 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge positively exploded onto the scene in 2007. It was designed with long-range target shooting in mind, but has since become a favorite of outdoorsmen and hunters of all sorts. Howa’s rifles are offered in 6.5 Creedmoor and 6mm Creedmoor, and these include:

• Australian Precision Chassis (24”, 26”)
• Bravo (24”, 26”)
• Howa Chassis (24”, 26”)
• Hogue Lightweight (20”), Standard (22”)
• KUIU Lightweight (20”), Standard (22”)
• Multicam Cerakote Heavy (24”), Scoped (24”)
• Youth Rifle Lightweight (20”), Scoped (20”)

Howa 308

The .308 is one of the most badass calibers ever produced, in my opinion. Several Howa rifles are chambered in this caliber, and it is a round which is always in high demand (no matter what the brand or barrel). Whether for hunting or for active duty, there is always room for this popular caliber.

Currently available from Howa in .308 are:

• The American Flag Chassis (20”, 24”, 26”)
• Hogue 1500 Lightweight (20”, 22”)
• Australian Precision Chassis (20”)
• HS Precision (22”)
• Kinetic Research Group (KRG) Bravo (24”)
• GameKing Scoped Package (22”)

Howa Mini Action

When you’re talking about a rifle’s action, or any firearm’s action for that matter, you’re talking about the very guts of the cycling process. The action is what keeps the mechanism moving, and this makes a huge difference in nearly all scenarios.

A shorter action basically means less weight and quicker follow-up shots. The Mini Action is precisely what it sounds like – a firearm which makes use of a miniature Howa action. The size of the mini is 6”, the short action is 6.9”, and the long action is 7.4”.

The Howa Mini Action is available in 7.62X39, .223 Remington, 6.5 Grendel, and brand new for 2019 – 300 Blackout. The rifle’s chassis has a lot of furniture which resembles the AR platform, and it is available in different barrel configurations and stocks.

• Model: Mini Action Lightweight
• Caliber: 6.5 Grendel
• Barrel length: 20”
• Overall length: 39.5”
• Weight: 5.7 lbs
• Capacity: 5+1 magazine
• MSRP:  $579

Howa KRG Bravo

The KRG Bravo model has the classic chassis and stock by KRG. It is available in .308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 6mm Creedmoor, with different barrel options. Howa also has a scoped option, with the Nikko Stirling Diamond FFP 30mm 4-16X44 glass.

The KRG Bravo chassis is one of the most comfortable ones on the market. Howa is not the only ones who make use of KRG’s excellent hardware, of course, and the Howa Bravo does it justice. Adjustable comb and length of pull, durable and effective recoil pad, along with M-LOK compatibility and a great price to boot!

• Model: KRG Bravo
• Caliber: 6mm Creedmoor
• Barrel length: 24”
• Overall length: 45”
• Weight: 9.9 lbs
• Capacity: 10+1 magazine
• MSRP:  $1279

Conclusion

Howa certainly has a lot of experience with firearms. They may be focusing on bolt-action rifles now, but this is a company which also produced flamethrowers and rocket launchers. They know their business, and they know how to build a proper and accurate piece of weaponry.

You can compare the Howa to Tikka or Savage or other brands and models which have a rifle for those on a budget. Some of the comparisons are spot on and have some merit, while others are not made with the best judgment.

I am not saying this from the position of someone who has tried everything out there. Far from it. But I am saying this as a person who knows a thing or two about shooting short- and long-range targets.

If the aftermarket issue is indeed an issue for you, then perhaps consider purchasing a more popular brand of firearm. However, you should take into consideration the fact that straight out of the factory, Howa rifles are pretty damn good. And I am not even talking about that (because that can be a given in the eyes of some), but rather I am talking about weeks and months or years down the line. There is this quality to the Howa rifles which is simply good.

By the way, I don’t have any experience with their older models, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the company has learned something about firearms after manufacturing them for about 80 years.

The post Howa Rifles Overview appeared first on Gunivore.

The STEN gun was submachine gun helped to defeat the Nazi during the Second World War and spawned several variations on the submachine gun platform. Its side loading magazine was consistent with the British tradition at the time of having ease of reloading when in the prone position. It was used by British Commonwealth forces during World War II and Korea, and by over 50 other nations in over 30 conflicts in a variety of different variants.

Over 4 million were produced in various versions starting in 1940. It was also used by countless resistance groups as a highly effective insurgency weapon. The STEN gun was born out of necessity, following the British evacuation at Dunkirk where a lot of equipment was abandoned, the British Army was in desperate need of war material.

The demand for submachine guns was not met by the purchase of Thompson submachine guns from the United States, especially after the US entered WWII at the end of 1941. British Commonwealth forces needed a submachine gun. This necessity bread the adaptable, cheap, and easy to manufacture STEN gun. 

STEN Gun Specs

• Model: Major Reginald V. Shepard and Harold Turpin, Enfield (STEN)
• Variants- MK. I, II, IIS, III, IV, V, VI 
• Caliber: 9x 19mm 
• Magazine: 32 round or 50 round
• Rate Of Fire: 500-600 round/min (depending on variant) 
• Action: Blowback, Opened Bolt
• Overall Length: 30.0 in (762 mm)
• Barrel length 7.8 in (197 mm)
• Weight: 7.1 lb (3.2 kg)

STEN Gun for Sale

There are many STEN guns on the market today, several countries in a variety of variants have been produced since the submachine guns inception in 1940. Finding an original mark I may be difficult since only 100,000 were produced, these differ in their wooden grips and flash suppressor.

The Mark II had over 2 million produced during WWII, are void of the wood finishing and flash suppressor. A wide variety of other countries produced variants because the Sten was such an easy gun to make, there are a lot of Polish STEN Guns on the market.

The STEN is not the cheapest submachine gun on the civilian market today, it is a piece of history, but the cost of a semi-automatic version will not break the bank. A full-auto variant will cost you about double that of a semi-automatic STEN gun.

STEN Gun Kit

For self-assembly from a parts kit, you will need a small drill press, a Dremel tool, and a little welding. Kits are available online or at many gun stores, the ease of production made the supply of gun kits high. The majority of the kits sold online will not come with a receiver so it is not technically a firearm.

Building your own STEN gun will cost you about a quarter of what an assembled one will. Assembly does not take much precision workmanship or gunsmithing knowledge. The simple design makes them easy to build, which is one of the reasons for their popularity to begin with.

STEN Gun Parts

Bolts, springs, and accessories are widely available and reasonably priced. Most are originals and heavily coated in oil to preserve them. Reproduction parts are also available. The original recoil springs were designed to be interchangeable with bedsprings from the 1940s to make production easier. The imprecise nature of the firearm makes replacement parts easy to come by. 

WWII

The STEN was a very cheap and easy to produce submachine gun. It was very easy to maintain and had little need for upkeep, if your STEN worked. Due to the magazines which required a more precise mag-well, they were prone to jamming.

The speed of production made the STEN not uniformly produced or distributed. Soldiers in WWII would routinely check if their STEN guns worked before bringing them into combat and then merely throwing away the ones that were not effective. However, not working was not its biggest flaw.

A lack of a proper safety and a tendency to fire without warning were also serious issues with the SMG. If the magazine was in and the weapon was dropped, banged against something, or placed down too hard, it had a tendency to empty its magazine.

Regardless of these drawbacks, it was a popular gun with soldiers because of its lightweight and fast rate of fire. The STEN was very popular with resistance groups because it was easily concealable and effective at close range. Many resistance movements were concentrated in cities were the submachine gun reigns supreme. The British also outfitted many resistance groups with weapons and the STEN was a good choice to give them. 

Post-WWII

The STEN gun was phased out by the British in 1951 by the Sterling Submachine Gun. The STEN still saw action in many conflicts across the globe following WWII. The Israeli military was very fond of the STEN Gun during their 1948 War of Independence and Suez Crisis and used it as the inspiration for their famous Uzi submachine gun. Its ease of concealment and lightweight made it popular with American special forces units in Vietnam, who used the suppressed variant.

The ability to conceal it is one of the reasons it was so popular with revolutionists across the globe. Having a concealable weapon with a high rate of fire is ideal for many revolutionist operations. It is still being used today in the Syrian Civil war and across Africa since the 9mm cartridge is still widely produced and popular.  

Conclusion

The STEN gun was an influential gun in the world’s history. It was involved in stopping the Nazis in the Second World War, in several civil wars across the globe, and inspired several stamped steel submachine guns designs. The unique stamped steel design, wire stock, and side-mounted magazine make it very recognizable. The ugly simple design helped to spawn the submachine gun’s legacy in the firearms world.

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