The Thompson Submachine Gun

Few firearms have had as colorful a history as that of the iconic “Tommy Gun.” It was developed for the trenches of the First World War. But, as it arrived too late, the Thompson submachine gun was marketed to civilians, and later was carried by Allied soldiers in World War II. It could be ar...

By Peter Suciu

Chiappa Unveils Chattanooga Exclusive 1911 Field Special 250th Edition

If you’ve still got bald eagle and patriotic vibes coursing through your veins following the 4th of July, then we’ve got another 250th anniversary firearm to show you. Chiappa USA  has announced a Chattanooga Shooting Supply exclusive handgun dubbed the 1911 Field Special 250th I...

By Adam Scepaniak

Triumph and Tragedy: The USS Indianapolis

No one on board the USS Indianapolis (CA-35) knew anything about the cargo they were carrying. What they did know was that the veteran cruiser (launched in 1931) made the trip from San Francisco to the island of Tinian in the Marianas in just ten days. The crew was proud of the “Indy”, and fo...

By Tom Laemlein

Curtiss P-36 Hawk: Hero Plane of Pearl Harbor?

At the National Museum of the United States Air Force, many visitors will see an unfamiliar aircraft at the entrance to the WWII gallery. The museum’s display of the gleaming silver fighter coded “86” on the fuselage, features a pilot boarding the plane in his pajamas, with an M1911 pistol ...

By Tom Laemlein

Brewster F2A Buffalo: WWII’s Forgotten Fighter

The air war during World War II saw the transition from the last of the biplane fighters to the beginning of the jet age. A myriad of aircraft were in action around the globe; some have become enduring icons while others faded into obscurity. The Brewster F2A Buffalo can legitimately claim member...

By Tom Laemlein