Australia’s famous Lithgow factory, which originally opened just before the first world war to produce Enfield rifles for British Commonwealth troops, stopped producing civilian rifles decades ago and instead focused on military weapons, such as the Australia/New Zealand variants of the FN FAL and Steyr AUG rifles. I was surprised to learn that Winchester Australia have partnered with Thales (owner of the Lithgow factory) to start producing a new tactical/hunting-style bolt action rifle called the Lithgow Arms LA101 CrossOver. The rifle will be officially unveiled at the Melbourne Shot Expo this weekend.

The rifles feature a heavy barrel and a wide forend for bench shooting. The stock is made of the same injection molded nylon as Australia’s new Thales EF88 (F90) service rifle. The pistol grip is described as “more upright” (I believe that tactical-style guns cannot be exported from Australia, so this might be as close to a “tactical” pistol grip they could make without giving up the option of exporting it).

Initially the Lithgow Arms LA101 CrossOver will be offered in 22 LR, .22 WMR and  .17 HMR. These will be followed by a center-fire variant chambered in .223 Rem. and .308 Win.
Hopefully this will be first of many new guns from Lithgow. I don’t know when (or if) they plan on exporting these guns to the USA, but I would not be surprised to see Winchester importing them next year or the following year.

Many thanks to Nigel for the tip.

Arsenal is calling it quits on the 5.56 NATO chambered AK. The SLR-106 line of rifles and pistols broke new ground when introduced nearly a decade ago, and remain popular among AK aficionados and those who want the toughness of the Kalashnikov platform and ammunition commonality with the AR15. The SLR-106 series rifles proved that the AK loses none of its legendary reliability when adapted for the NATO round.

The SLR-106 guns, like the rest of Arsenal’s line, represent some of the finest Kalashnikov-pattern firearms made anywhere in the world. I believe the demise of this line means there will not be an original-style AK available in 5.56 NATO for the foreseeable future after the current stock of -106 series rifles runs out. Certainly the Saiga rifles chambered in .223 Remington are high quality guns, but their sporterized configuration means a lot of modification is needed before they resemble a classic AK. Older, lesser quality SAR-3 rifles from Century are still available on the used market but are no longer in production.

Arsenal’s website says “A comprehensive audit of the current offerings in the firearms industry, recent trends and near-future shifts with regard to technology and advancement all factored into the decision to discontinue the series. Arsenal’s obligations with military and government contracts, production for the movie industry and commitments to distributors and dealers also shaped this decision.” Wait, what?

Whatever their reasoning, if you want a high quality, original style Kalashnikov that shoots 5.56 NATO ammo, you’d better get one while you can. Its the end of an era for the AK in the United States.

SLR-106CR models are favorites of AK gurus like Ray Cunningham

New from Aimpoint is the 9000SC-NV, a night vision compatible version of the non-magnifying (1x) optic developed for the sport shooting and hunting markets.  This is the first night vision compatible 9000SC brought to market by Aimpoint.

The 9000SC-NV has a 2 MOA red dot and is parallax-free.  It operates on a single 2L76 or DL1/3N battery which offer five years of continuous use before replacement.

MSRP was not announced.  In a press release, Aimpoint stated the 9000SC-NV will have a “user friendly price.”

Over the course of my life, I have probably waddled into no fewer than twenty or so indoor gun ranges. I love a quick visit to an indoor range to test a few pistols, have a short bit of fun, and get out quickly because the facility is usually either too hot or cold (depending on time of year), filled with lead particles and spent powder in the air that seems to linger forever, or be so dark and dank that at longer ranges you can barely see the holes you punch in the target. I am proud to say that on the advice of a friend of mine I got to check out what I believe may well be the finest gun range I have ever set foot inside. On Monday, May 6^th I hopped on a plane and flew from Dallas to Nashville to check out this facility that I had only seen a few photos of hoping that it would be all it was cracked up to be. Let me tell you that without a doubt, it was.

Meet Gary Semanchik:

Gary is the owner of Nashville Armory, but you wouldn’t know it if you were an unassuming patron. You see, Gary says that he likes to meet all of his customers at the door with a smile taking to the Walmart-greeter method (his words, not mine), and immediately you feel welcome. This stands in contrast to some other gun shops/ranges where the staff makes you feel privileged for being allowed to patronize their establishment. You may be thinking that Gary knew who I was and what I was doing and rolled out the red carpet, but he had no idea what I looked like or what I was doing (I had my camera and equipment in an unassuming backpack). It wasn’t until I wandered around for a while that I told one of the employees (who all asked if I needed help or was interested in something) that I was with The Firearm Blog here to do an article on their new range. Quickly I was given the star treatment and Gary grabbed the general manager, Andrew Breneman and assistant manager, Kennan Sanders to answer any questions I might have about their operation and give me a tour. The sales staff was also quick to line up for a photo op (after grabbing their favorite rifles from the wall).

Now what makes Nashville Armory different you might ask? Well, I asked the very same question to Gary and he said simply this: “I wanted to set out and build to Apple Store of gun ranges; A one stop shop for firearms, equipment, classes, and training that would be family friendly and inviting”. Now that is a bold statement, but Gary has made it work and after the tour it is easy to understand how.

Nashville Armory is equipped with a spectacular training center that accommodates classes ranging from CHL, introduction to shooting, group events, and anything else you can think of.

A door from the classroom leads directly to the range, which is by far the most advanced and well-lit indoor shooting facility I have ever been inside.

Action Target of Provo, Utah was contracted to design and install what they called “the most technologically advanced range in the country”. Previous Action Target projects include ranges at the FBI Training Center, Fort Benning, and NATO installations around the world. You see, not only is the bullet trap and baffle system impressive (massive layers of AR500 steel line the entirety of the shooting range and all lead is recovered via a very innovative backstop design), but the computer technology installed on each lane allows users to set exact distances, have targets turn to show either a baddie or an innocent (what a fun game!) and even challenge your friend in the adjacent lane by programming a virtual dueling tree! I was not even aware of this type of technology, but needless to say I was impressed.

Notice how the targets rotate (hard to capture on camera)

And the computer readout-

It is also interesting to note that a large amount of the range staff is female, and let me tell you that these gals know how to shoot, and tell you how to do it right! All employees at Nashville Armory are NRA certified instructors and it shows. I was lucky enough to catch a few photos of one of Nashville Armory’s staff giving some instruction:

Other interesting things about this range are the sound dampening material and ventilation system. I kid you not, from the outside it is so quiet that it sounds kind of like a bowling ball being dropped into sand every time a shooter pulls the trigger. This material might explain why:

The ventilation system is also very, very impressive and cost nearly $500,000 to build. You see, Gary said he wanted it done the right way and he is not kidding when he says that the air coming out of the range is actually cleaner than the air going in! Like Andrew (the GM) told me, some ranges have little more than a sophisticated box fan to vent gasses into the atmosphere, but doing it the right way so customers can breathe easy requires this:

It is quite funny when you compare this to the system used to heat and cool the store section of Nashville Armory:

Now of course there is one place to sit and watch the action right in front of the glass:

Entering the range the normal route (not through the training center as I did) allows the shooter to stop and ogle the guns on display for rent:

And both lane and rental rates are reasonable:

If you are like me you saw the words “full auto” and a nice shiver went down your spine. As of the publishing of this article Nashville Armory has their SOT and is awaiting a few machine guns so they can rent them out. The guns they will have include an M10 with Lage upper, an Uzi, two M16s (one with an ARES Shrike upper!) and a TDI Kriss SMG. That being said you are more than welcome to bring in and shoot your own legally registered machine guns for a normal range fee.

While most ranges will have a typical AK or AR up for rent, the folks and Nashville Armory elected for some more unconventional offerings:

An employee showed me his favorite: An FN Herstal SCAR 16s.

Gary gravitates more towards the Springfield M1A (who doesn’t like a fine 7.62 rifle?).

One of the most unique features of Nashville Armory is its shooter’s lounge. Say you are out of ammo and your buddy is still punching holes in paper, well instead of standing around like a dope you can wander into the shooter’s lounge for some coffee, a soda, or some snacks if you are getting a little hungry. Hey, say the Titans are playing and you want to check them out? Well there is even a nice TV set that allows you to do so.

And of course they don’t call it Nashville Armory for nothing. The shop boasts an impressive inventory of over 220 handguns and 110 rifles on the floor, and if they don’t have what you want then they said that they will try their damndest to get it for you! Also while most shops have repurposed jewelry cases or simple displays for their wares, Gary had custom well lit cases built in order to really make the displays pop.

A customer was checking out an ARES AR variant, which I also had to see up close and personal.

A full line of accessories also dot the store:

For the readers lucky enough to live in the Nashville area, I would highly recommend a visit to Nashville Armory. I can honestly say I have never seen anything quite like it and it should serve as a model to other gun ranges and stores. With customer service and safety as their number one goals, it is easy to understand why this gem just south of downtown Nashville shines so brightly.

If you have a suggestion for an outstanding or interesting gun range or store nearby, please post a link in the comments and I will do my best to get in touch with them and organize a tour of their facility (please limit suggestions to the United States and Canada at this time).

If you have not heard of them before, The Ballistics By The Inch project tests cartridges by shooting them through a rifle-length barrel, noting the velocity, then cutting an inch off the end of the barrel and repeating until the barrel is just 2″ in length. This provides valuable information because the velocity published by ammunition companies come from measurements through a long test barrel. For example .22 Magnum bullets are usually tested by the manufacturer with a 24″ barrel. Nobody these days shooting .22 Magnum with a 24″ barrel, and the .22 Magnum has a growing following among revolver and pistol shooters who are shooting with 4″ or shorter barrel.

The BBTI project have just published their tests of the .22 Magnum with barrel length ranging from 19″ to 2″. They have also tested the cartridge in a number of real-world guns.

Looking at these figures, I have to wonder if there is any point in owning a snub-nosed revolver or derringer in .22 Magnum instead of .22 Long Rifle, since the velocity/energy is going to be the same. The only “advantage” is a bigger fireball.

TriStar announced the addition of left-handed Viper G2 shotguns.  The shotguns will be nearly identical to the set ups found on the right-handed guns.

The shotguns will be available with a black synthetic stock and with a camo patterned synthetic stock.  Both guns will have 28″ barrels and be chambered in 12 gauge.  The 3″ chambers will take both 2 3/4″ and 3″ shells.  The guns will come with three choke tubes.

The chambers are chrome lined and the guns come with a fiber optic front sight.  MSRP is $549 for the black stock and $629 for the camo patterned stock.  There is no word at this time if TriStar will introduce a left-handed version of the wood stock Viper G2.

Auto Ordnance is bringing back the 1911TC pistol.  The original Thompson Custom 1911TC was introduced in early 2008 and only 100 pistols were made.  Auto Ordnance states the production numbers were so low because of the shift toward concealed carry pistols after the 2008 US national elections.

The slide is made of stainless steel, machined from a single billet, while the frame is 420 stainless casting.  The ejection port is flared, the gun has 20 lpi machined checkering and the trigger is adjustable.  Additionally, the gun comes with:

• full length guide rod
• extended beavertail grip safety
• extended magazine release
• checkered slide stop
• one seven-round magazine
• dovetailed iron sights

The 1911TC is chambered for the .45 ACP, has a 5″ barrel and weighs 39 ounces (unloaded).  MSRP is $813.

Although this isn’t the first year I’ve heard rumor of FN halting production of the FS2000, the conviction has been much stronger recently. With so many forum threads starting up on the subject, including a confirmation from reputable source, I decided to call a few people that have been reliable in the past. On speaking with FN directly, I found the FS2000 Tactical and CQB (above) versions remaining on the FNH USA website is no mistake. The FS2000 is between runs but future sales have not been canceled.

Periodically the machines are shut down, cleaned up, retooled, and a different firearm is manufactured. Currently new PS90′s have been expected and the new batch should be on the market by early Q3. Once it is time for more of the 5.56mm bullpups to be produced, FN will retool again.

When the day comes for the FS2000 to be discontinued, I suspect NIB specimens will become worth quite a bit to purists. I plan to keep shooting mine.

FS2000 Standard (1.6x optic model)
This model was discontinued a few years ago

FS2000 Tactical OD

UPDATE: The rumor was wrong. They are actually just between production.

I have been hearing rumors from
credible sources that FNH-USA will soon be telling dealers that they will no longer be selling the FN FS2000 bullpup rifle (the civilian semi-automatic version of the FN F2000).

The latest variant of the FNS2000, the FNS2000 Tactical, is not a bad rifle at all, but I do not think it has ever been a great seller and FN need to focus on selling the FN SCAR.

An X-Ray technician uploaded this X-Ray taken of a person shot by an “AK” (non-shooters call just about any gun an AK, so lets just assume it was a semi-automatic rifle). The patient will require “two really long plates and some bone graft.”. Ouch!

Hat Tip: /r/Radiology

Redditor Halvors7 has published the printable parts to build his FN P90-inspired Charon AR-15 lower. The Charon features an integrated buttstock, handgrip and trigger guard. The stock is fixed but can be adjusted for length-of-pull by using spacers. The lower even supports a number of P90 style foregrips!

Foregrip alternatives

Length-of-Pull Spacers

The printer files can be downloaded at Reddit. If you want to support the development of this stock, the Halvors7 is accepting anonymous donations on behalf on the creator, WarFairy, via. Bitcoin (1JwXiC883Rh3GQ7jTWPzLAEEterL29Z2n2).

The Henry US Survival Rifle didn’t start out as the Henry US Survival Rifle.

Armalite originally built the rifle, for the USAF, for pilots and bomber crews during the Cold War. The idea was that American pilots would need to survive if shot down, until rescued. A small, light, portable rifle was chosen. That is the now-fabled story of the origin of the AR-7. When looking at this rifle through that lens, it’s easy to see the utility of such a gun. Also, it’s easy to imagine it being on the list of items Major Kong reads to the crew of his B-52 in the film, Dr. Strangelove.

Major Kong (Slim Pickens) piloting a B-52 with a nuclear payload toward a Soviet target.

Armalite eventually sold the rights to Charter Arms who then sold the rights to Henry in 1980. There have been several variations of the rifle over the years. The rifle gained some notoriety because of its use in film, especially in several of the Connery-era Bond films.

The entire rifle is made to be disassembled, without tools, and fit into the stock. The barrel is held onto the receiver by a large barrel nut and the receiver is attached to the stock by a long bolt. Both the barrel nut and the bolt are easy to manipulate and the rifle can be assembled and disassembled in less than a minute. The barrel, receiver and magazine(s) fit into the stock in spaces molded for the respective parts. It is an interesting concept to say the least.  Once the weapon is disassembled and inside the stock, it is very portable. Overall, it is probably the most lightweight, portable, semi-auto .22 rifle commercially available.

The AR-7 fully deployed.

The real issue with this particular gun is this: is it just a novelty? Despite Henry’s recent improvements in the rifle (rail on top of the receiver, teflon coating, etc.) people either seem to love them or hate them. Several people I know that have owned them in the past have sold them because the fun of disassembly  and reassembly wears off over time. The reasons for owning them or liking them seem to boil down to personal preference.

In answer to the above question, yes, the gun technically is a novelty. It was designed to be a novelty limited to certain scope of use or set of circumstances for particular shooters. But when you distill the concept of the original intent of the rifle – something portable to have on hand just in case – it certainly isn’t a bad item to have around. As always, I’ll tell you my observations and you can make up your own minds…or scold me in the comments section.

My thoughts centered on its practicality. It is, as rifles go, very portable. The overall length of the gun once tucked into the stock is 16.5 inches. Plus, it weighs just over 3 pounds. I was able to find room for it (easily) in the backpacks that my family and I use for the outdoors. I couldn’t help but wonder just how much more portable it could be if the NFA rules didn’t apply or exist. As it is now, once assembled, it’s just a hair shorter than the Ruger Takedown rifle.

There is no doubt that it’s convenient, but I kept trying to imagine a scenario that this gun would be perfect for a time or place I wouldn’t already have a gun or two handy. For example, if I’m camping, this rifle would fit into a backpack and is light enough where it wouldn’t be a bother to carry it. But in that situation, I’d already have a primary and secondary, both probably larger than .22. What about as a backup gun? That’s a good idea, but for me, I’d want a backup gun that I can get to in a hurry, not one I need to assemble. It would be fun to take camping and put on a red dot or scope, but you’d have to take those off if you want the parts to fit in the stock – every time. Don’t misunderstand me. The gun is tough and made well. It shoots good groups and is lightweight. But where would someone like me take it where I wouldn’t already have a gun filling the purpose I need one for?

Portability.

I can’t imagine a scenario where I would need this rifle. But that’s the point. That led me to the conclusion that I spent a lot of time wondering why I’d need one, but I certainly can’t think of I reason why I shouldn’t have one. It would be foolish not to have something in a backpack or a bug out bag or a trunk (where permissible by law). I’d much rather have it and not need it (although it is a great and inexpensive shooter that I think most people would enjoy) than to need it and not have it. And that’s just it. The rifle is built for scenarios just like that. When faced with the abundance and relative opulence of the guns we own, this may seem frivolous. When faced with a survival scenario, you better believe that I want one of these. That’s the niche this rifle fills. In that regard, it really is a “survival” rifle. This rifle was built for when a novelty might be an absolute necessity. And none of us ever know exactly when those times are.

Personal preference reigns, but after having an opportunity to experience this rifle, I’m going to get one. I would encourage you not to dismiss the chance to own one.

Our seven-year-old daughter utilizing the AR-7 and exercising extreme trigger discipline.

The Chamber-View Company introduced a safety accessory for the shotgun market.  This bright orange device fits into the chamber, through the ejection port, of nearly any shotgun.  It provides immediate visual recognition that the firearm has been rendered safe.

The device is currently being sold by Beretta USA and will also be sold through Brownells.  Beretta is selling them for $9.95.  It is made of 100% silicone.

AAI Corp continues to develop caseless, telescoped ammunition and machine guns to fire it under the United States Joint Service Small Arms Research Program Office’s (JSSAP) Lightweight Small Arms Technologies (LSAT) program.  The caseless, telescoped ammo and gun developed by AAI under this program, was first mentioned at The Firearm Blog in 2010.

In a parallel development program, the company developed a polymer cased, telescoped round.  The cased round is a “full polymer cartridge” that claims a 40% weight reduction when compared to metal cased ammo.  The rounds also feature a 12% volume reduction, meaning the same sized pouch will carry more ammo and still be lighter than conventional ammunition.

According to AAI, more than 50,000 of the cased, telescoped rounds have been fired.  Presumably, this includes the US Army 2011 testing.

AAI has two belt-fed guns, one a full size machine gun comprable to the M249, and a second compact variant with a short barrel and folding stock.  The company states the guns use a rotating chamber to “…[provide] in-line, push-through feed and ejection…”

Currently, the cased, telescoped ammo is in 5.56mm, and the same technologies are being used to develop a 7.62mm round.

MasterPiece Arms announced the company upgraded the Sentinel II and Vigilant II suppressors that are designed for the .22 LR.  The upgraded suppressors are a result of re-engineering of the baffle design and the exterior components.  Benefits include:

• reduced sound signature
• quieter first round pop
• improved point of impact shift
• reduced weight
• easier disassembly

The aluminum Sentinel II has a dB rating of 116.4, weighs three ounces and is 5.7″ long.  MSRP is $279.99.

The stainless steel Vigilant II is also rated at 116.4, weighs 7.4 ounces and is 5.7″ long.  MSRP is $325.99.

Many gun owners invest a significant sum of money into a safe to securely store their firearms and other valuables.  But given enough time, any safe can be breeched and the guns stolen.  The key is preventing a crook from having access to your safe long enough to defeat it.

Enter the SAFELERT.  Developed by Liberty Safe, the new SAFELERT is a discreet alarm for your safe.  It will notify you via e-mail or text message when the safe is moved, the door is opened, if the temperature starts getting too high or too low, or if the humidity starts to rise.

The system works on batteries (and will notify you if they get low) and connects to the internet via your home WiFi connection.  Therein lies the point of failure.  If thieves are breaking into your home, they might first hit your phone/cable connection which will prevent the SAFELERT from contacting you.  A workaround would be to have a MiFi or similar device that connects to the internet via cell signal.

The SAFELERT is $199.  Yearly monitoring charges also apply ($59.95 for one year, discounts for multiple years.)

LaserMax is now making a special red laser aiming unit for the Ruger 10/22.  The unit mounts onto a 10/22 rifle by removing the stock barrel band and then sliding the laser unit down the barrel and into the barrel band’s old place.

According to Ruger, the laser is pre-aligned at 25 yards and is visible to 100 yards in good lighting conditions.  The laser aiming point is completely adjustable for windage and elevation.

The unit has two short Picatinny rails on either side of the laser.  Feel free to kit up.  The 1/3N battery is supposed to be good for two hours of continuous run time.

The new unit is sold only through Ruger, but carries a full five-year LaserMax warranty.  MSRP is $129.95.

‘And we’re off to Dublin in the green, in the green

Where the helmets glisten in the sun

Where the bayonets flash and the rifles crash

To the echo of the Thompson Gun.’

-‘The Merry Ploughboy’ (Traditional)

The Thompson submachine gun must have more nicknames than any other firearm: ‘Trench Broom’, ‘Tommy Gun’, ‘Chicago Typewriter’, ‘Chopper’, ‘Chicago Piano’ – but today we’d like to talk about a pair of ‘Irish Swords’ from  the National Firearms Centre at the Royal Armouries in the UK.

When General John Thompson completed his iconic submachine gun design in 1919, the world’s governments were weary of war and strapped for cash. With millions of rifles and pistols in their inventories and surplus, there was little room for an unproven, expensive, and distinctly short-range weapon like the ‘Tommy’. British impressions in June 1921 were favourable, but aside from economic considerations, existing doctrine prevented the issue of automatic personal weapons (ironic considering the existence of an 1894 British patent for an automatic rifle).

Instead, one of their enemies stepped in to fill the gap, and the order books of Auto-Ordnance; Michael Collins’ Irish Republican Army. Initial small orders were supplied via Irish-Americans in Spring 1921, before the IRA had even expressed official interest, so strong was U.S. support for the republican cause. Auto-Ordnance, the company set up to market and sell the Colt-manufactured gun, had itself been established with Irish-American money, making Ireland an obvious market for the gun.

At around the same time, the IRA itself had obtained two guns for evaluation. Though Michael Collins himself was allegedly wary of firing the new gun, it made quite an impression on him and other members of the IRA General Headquarters (GHQ). The Thompson’s close quarters firepower appeared well suited to their guerrilla tactics, and whereas it was too expensive to arm a conventional army, relatively few guns would act as a force-multiplier for their small and mobile ‘flying columns’.  Though heavy, it was controllable from the hip in fully automatic fire despite a withering cyclic rate (900 rpm), and with the stock easily removed, could be concealed under an overcoat for clandestine attacks. The demonstration in a Dublin basement further convinced the IRA to procure the weapon in numbers, but in fact a large order of 500 guns had by this time already been placed. The guns, ordered via Auto-Ordnance agent George Gordon Rorke, were intended to resupply beleaguered IRA fighters in the south of the country. The British government was tracking IRA attempts to acquire arms overseas and protested the sale of Thompsons from the officially neutral United States. Even as the 500 guns were being delivered ready for export, Auto-Ordnance Vice-President Marcellus Thompson denied that any substantial orders had been made. Which compared to the wild press claim that 15,000 guns had been ordered by the IRA, was arguably true!

Markings on Thompson M1921 serial # 1234 (PR.7398), including obliterated serial number. © Royal Armouries

Nearly all of the 500 guns were smuggled aboard a collier ship, the East Side as ‘engine room supplies’, their serial numbers obliterated to prevent trace. The ship, stuck in New Jersey as part of a worker’s strike, was supplied with a fresh Irish crew to get it underway. However, on June 15 1921, it was raided and the guns seized under the authority of none other than future FBI director, J. Edgar Hoover. There had been no tip-off from British authorities, no elaborate Bureau investigation; the ship’s captain had simply become suspicious of the activity on the collier. A court case ensued, focused on Rorke and later Marcellus Thompson himself, but this collapsed. Contributing factors included lack of evidence, the death of a key witness, and reduced British interest in pursuing prosecution following the peace treaty of 1922. More importantly however, the export of arms to Ireland from the US wasn’t actually illegal! Even the legislation used to seize the guns turned out to have been enacted for the duration of the First World War only, and had since been repealed. Amazingly therefore, the guns had to be released into Irish hands. They arrived in 1925, too late for the Irish War of Independence, but saw use during the Irish Civil War that followed, and would cause trouble for the British authorities for decades to come.

Given their acquisition by the former British Ministry of Defence Pattern Room, Irish history was a given for our two M1921s. Because their serials had been removed, the details weren’t known. Forensic recovery would have been a possibility to allow further research, but in the event this wasn’t necessary. Colt applied an extra serial number to early examples that can only be seen when the barrel is removed using special tools. Like the American gangsters, those smuggling the guns for Ireland either weren’t aware, or lacked the tools to access this vital piece of information.

Thanks to authors Gordon Herigstad and Patrick Jung, it was possible to confirm that that one of these guns, serial number 212, was an original 1920s IRA purchase. Not only that, it was one of those smuggled on board the ‘East Side’ itself.  212 was one of thirty guns shipped on 6th May 1921 to George Gordon Rorke, N.Y.C. c/o American Railway Express Company, 46th Street New York, N.Y. That company was established to be a fictional front for Rorke’s arms dealing operation.

Our other Irish gun is serial 1235, a later purchase, being one of 300 shipped on the 24th of August 1923 to M.Fitzgerald Co. New York City, N.Y. (thanks again to Mr Herigstad). Though not quite as historic as 212, it is the more original example of the iconic Model of 1921, featuring the original selector markings, knurled controls, and the correct working parts.

Thompson M1921 serial # 212 (PR.7704) with Type C (100 round) and Type L (50 round) drum magazines. © Royal Armouries

Post-Second World War, Thompson guns became prized trophies of the early days of Irish independence, but remained viable terror weapons as the ‘The Troubles’ wore on into the 1980s. We don’t know exactly when, but our two guns were captured by Irish or British forces from the terrorist Provisional IRA and were transferred to the Pattern Room at Enfield near London (now the UK National Firearms Centre in Leeds). They may have formed part of a large cache of 100 Thompsons discovered in County Mayo during the Second World War.

Either in service with the PIRA or later on (see below), gun #212 received modifications to keep it functioning as the decades wore on. It now sports an M1928 lower receiver/grip frame which has also had its serial tampered with – milled away, another number stamped, and then this too partially obliterated. Traditional collectors might view this as affecting its value, but as a museum object it simply adds more history. Some or all of these changes might have been made by the British, as after the Irish Peace Process began in 1997, the gun was once again prepared for firing. When the barrel was pulled, its true serial number was revealed, but it had one more part to play in Irish and British history. In 1998, the ‘echo of a Thompson gun’ was heard again, peacefully this time. Having been purchased during the original War of Independence, the gun was fired as part of a demonstration to assist those sitting in judgement for Bloody Sunday Inquiry into the 1972 killings of Irish civilians by British soldiers. The Inquiry finally reported in 2012, by which time an independent Republic of Ireland had been in existence for 80 years, and even troubled Northern Ireland had become used to relative peace as political efforts took over from bombs and guns.

These Thompson guns, therefore, span the story of the struggle between the emergent Irish state and the British authorities. One that is, we hope, on its way to becoming as much a part of history as these two ‘Irish Swords’.

Jonathan Ferguson

Curator of Firearms

(Title Image: Thompson M1921 serial # 1234 (PR.7398) fitted with Type C drum magazine. © Royal Armouries)

Sources/further reading:

The Gun That Made the Twenties Roar: Amazon.co.uk: William J. Helmer – Ch.3 ‘The Irish Sword’

B. Bell, ‘The Thompson submachine gun in Ireland, 1921’, The Irish Sword VIII, no. 31 (Winter 1967).

P. Hart, ‘The Thompson submachine gun in Ireland revisited’, The Irish Sword XIX, no. 77 (Summer 1995).

P. Jung, ‘The Thompson submachine gun during and after the Anglo-Irish war—new evidence’, The Irish Sword XXI, no. 84 (Winter 1998).

Web:

http://www.historyireland.com/volumes/volume17/issue4/features/?id=114408 – Article by National Museum of Ireland Keeper Lar Joye

http://thompsongunireland.com/ – Best online resource on the background to these guns

http://www.thompsonaccessories.com/home.htm – Gordon Herigstad’s site

http://www.macleantech.com/uploads/ThompsonNumbers-SAR_June09.pdf – Article by Richard Maclean on discovery and tracing of Thompson serial numbers

Rheinmetall Defence are developing a new 7.62mm medium machine gun called the RMG 7.62 which takes a unique approach to dealing with heat, the age-old machine gun nemesis. At first glance it looks like a small version of the M134 Minigun, but the RMG is no Minigun. Unlike the Minigun, with its insane rate of fire, the RMG is designed to fire at the relatively slow pace of 800 rounds per minute (the exact rate of fire is user adjustable). What it lacks in speed it makes up for in endurance. When its barrel gets over heated the electronics rotate the barrels, replacing the hot barrel for a cool one.

The three barrel system would obviously be unpractical for soldiers on the ground, but it is perfect for use with remotely controlled gun mounts where it is neither possible nor safe for the operator to swap barrels manually. This setup would allow the remote-controlled gun to fire a lot more rounds and take fewer breaks than would be possible with a conventional single-barrel machine gun like the MG3.

The short clip shows a prototype RMG 762 firing but does not show the barrel changing procedure …

Many thanks to Kirill for the tip.

Chiappa is now making a clone of the Winchester 1887 lever action shotgun.  The Chiappa states the gun can handle all modern “high-pressure” 2 3/4″ shotgun ammo.  It has a five shell tubular magazine and can also hold two additional shells (one in the chamber, one in the receiver) for a total of seven rounds.

The gun will ship with either a 22″ barrel or a 28″ barrel.  The stock is walnut and the receiver is either case colored or polished blue.  The 22″ barrel shotgun weighs nine pounds, while its longer brother comes in a nine pounds, four ounces.

The shotguns are assembled by hand in Italy.  MSRP runs from $1,333 to $1,533 (US) depending on which model and finish the buyer wants.