POTD: Bavarian Swivel Breech Fowler – Engraved, Inlaid, Carved

Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have an elaborately decorated Bavarian swivel breech percussion fowler from the early to mid-1800s, marked “JOHAN ARNED” and “A. WIRZBURG” with silver inlay at the breech. This is a lot of gun to look at. The lock plate, ham...

By Sam.S

Ayoob: The 1911 at War

I recently heard someone say that handguns have no place in military combat. History shows us otherwise. For the tanker, artilleryman, radio operator or medic whose hands are too busy at designated tasks to hold a rifle, the pistol makes enormous sense. Behind the lines when unpleasant surprises ...

By Massad Ayoob

POTD: Dreyse Needle Fire Sequential Pair – Bridge to Centerfire

Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a sequential pair of engraved Dreyse needle fire self-cocking revolvers, serials 11054 and 11055, manufactured 1864-1872. The Dreyse needle fire system ranks among the first practical cartridge-based small arms, bridging paper percussion cartr...

By Sam.S

Chesty Puller: Most Decorated U.S. Marine in History

Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller is the most decorated Marine in U.S. history and has been awarded the nation’s second-highest military award for valor six times, with five Navy Crosses and one Distinguished Service Cross. He fought guerrillas in the Haitian and Nicaraguan �...

By Friedrich Seiltgen

PP-2000 - The Kremlin's PDW

Founded in 1927 after the Russian Civil War, KBP Instrument Design Bureau has since earned numerous state honors, and its factory has accumulated a long list of proven designs, including small arms and a broad portfolio of air-defense systems. Today, as a joint-stock company, KBP, one of Russia&r...

By Lynndon Schooler