MAT-49 – French Cold War SMG

In the 1970 film Patton, the legendary U.S. Army General George S. Patton is seen arriving in North Africa to command the Second Armor Division. Moroccan troops are lined up holding a unique-looking weapon. It is an anachronism – one of many in the Oscar-winning film – and a reminder that the...

By Peter Suciu •

VZ-9 Avrocar – Cold War Flying Saucer

Few experimental aircraft have captured the imagination quite like the Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar. Conceived during the Cold War, a time of intense technological competition and geopolitical tension, the Avrocar was a bold attempt to revolutionize vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft design...

By Eugene Nielsen •

Why “Knockdown Power” Fails Every Big Game Hunter

Watch enough hunting footage and you’ll see the same two outcomes with the same cartridge. An animal shot squarely through the lungs and heart sometimes runs 30, 40, or 50 yards before it expires, and other times falls where it stood. Hunters describe loading an identical cartridge and bull...

By James Chen •

San Diego County Sues 3D Filament Manufacturer Over "Ghost Guns"

The 3D-printed gunmaking revolution is here and now, with home enthusiasts now able to crank out fully-functioning firearms from their kitchen table. While Glock clones and pistol-caliber carbines  are the most common examples you see, you can find 3D printing plans for stuff as diverse as a...

By Zac K •

Inside the British L85 Bullpup Rifle

The British L85 is one of the more unusual stories in modern military small arms. Conceived during a period when Britain was attempting to develop a new generation of infantry weapons around a domestically designed intermediate cartridge, the project eventually produced the L85 rifle. This advanc...

By Lynndon Schooler •

How the 1911 Evolved Into the 2011, and Took Over the Handgun Market

John Browning’s 1911 served the U.S. military for 75 years and became one of America’s most respected handguns. More than a century later, its trigger, ergonomics, and proven operating system live on in the modern double-stack 2011. Here is how a military sidearm evolved into one of today’s...

By Ryan Hodges •
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