Arcadia Machine & Tool was the first company to produce a 1911 pattern pistol made entirely of stainless steel. It introduced its standard 1911 type pistol called the Hardballer which was produced with a long slide. The name Hardballer derives from the round-nose hardball .45 ACP ammunition the gun fired. ... Read more
The Springfield Model 1873 was the first standard-issue, breech-loading rifle adopted by the United States Army. The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was the primary rifle of the United States Army from 1873 to 1892. According to the National Museum of the United States Army, The 10th Cavalry, ... Read more
The Gewehr 43, commonly known as Hitler’s Garand, was developed by the Nazi regime during World War II. Chambered in 7.92×57mm (8mm Mauser), the design went into production in 1943 and were the most common self loading rifle utilized by Nazi forces. The design was based on the earlier Walther ... Read more
On June 6, 1944, Operation Overlord, commonly known as D-Day, 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region. The Allies target was under the control of Nazi Germany and was one of the largest amphibious ... Read more
This rifle is unique in the sense that very little were made and shipped to be used on the French war front in Europe even though there was a significant contract from Remington to tool up and fulfill the contract for the French Army. Unfortunately, for Remington, fulfilling the order ... Read more
The legendary Colt 1911 semi-automatic pistol, a design that’s more than 100 years old, served the United States Military from 1911 to 1985. The 1911 pistol remains a pillar of the firearms industry and given its enduring popularity among law enforcement and civilian shooters worldwide, it’s likely to hold its ... Read more
Colt’s popular snake gun revolver series was thrusted into popularity among gun owners with its Python chambered in .357 Magnum. It wouldn’t be until later Colt began chambering its large frame revolvers in .44 Magnum with its Anaconda. Shortly following the release of the Anaconda, Colt produced a limited run ... Read more
The Luger pistol was first manufactured in 1900 for both military and commercial use. The Luger was the standard pistol of the German armed forces from 1908 to 1938 and is cemented in history as a distinct and recognizable pistol that helped define a turbulent time in history. In 1913, ... Read more
Introduced in 1955, The Colt Python was Colt’s top-of-the-line revolver. It was originally intended to be a large frame, double-action revolver. Almost immediately the Python gained a reputation as the premium American revolver.
It is built on a .41 caliber size frame for extra durability. Like all Colt revolvers, the cylinder ... Read more
During the first World War, many U.S. civilian arms companies including Colt and Remington were producing M1911 pistols under contract for the U.S. Army, but even with the additional production there was a shortage of sidearms to issue. The interim solution was to ask Colt and Smith & Wesson, the ... Read more
With an over-saturation of AR-15 type rifles, it can be more difficult to distinguish what is great AR rifle with so many available, especially for those who are not experts in firearms. For those who are not familiar, HK produces some of the most sought after guns in the market ... Read more
In the early 1960s, noted firearms authorities and authors Elmer Keith, Bill Jordan and Skeeter Skelton lobbied Smith & Wesson to fill a perceived gap between the .357 and .44 magnum revolvers. The idea was to give law enforcement a revolver that would help take down bad guys more effectively ... Read more
The Fusil Automatique Léger or commonly known as the FAL, produced initially by manufacturer FN, is a battle rifle that many NATO countries adopted during the Cold War. The FAL has been described as the “Right Arm of the Free World,” and has been adopted by more than 90 nations ... Read more
The Tokarev Model SVT-40 saw widespread service during World War II. The rifle reflects the Soviet’s desire to have a semi-automatic, magazine-fed rifle chambered in a punchy round similar to the American M1 Garand.
The initial reaction of Soviet troops to this rifle was negative. Among the mounting issues were that ... Read more
The AK-47, infamous as the preferred rifle of American adversaries, is considered the “bad guy” gun across pop culture and perhaps one of the most widespread rifles throughout the world. Carried by American enemies and allies alike since 1947, it is the standard infantry weapon for militaries in more than ... Read more
The Winchester model 1873, world renowned as one of the guns that “won the west” were popular among pioneers, Native American warriors, cattle rustlers, outlaws, and lawmen during the Old West and westward expansion of the United States. Introduced in 1873, Winchester unveiled its new steel-framed Model 1873 chambering the ... Read more
Colt’s popular snake gun revolver series was thrusted into popularity among gun owners with its Python chambered in .357 Magnum. However, Colt’s relatively late entry into the large-bore handgun market raised the stakes with its Anaconda. Chambered in .44 Magnum, the Anaconda was introduced by Colt to compete with other ... Read more
The FB Radom Vis Model 35 was considered one of the highest-quality military pistols made before World War II. The materials used were the premium and the fit and finish were commercial grade. When Nazi Germany defeated Poland in 1939, the Germans captured the Radom factory and turned its capabilities ... Read more
When Germany fell into economic depression after World War I its military searched to replace the infamous, relatively fragile and expensive to manufacture Luger with a more modern and easy to manufacture pistol. It found its solution in what would eventually become the Walther P.38. The P.38 was a cutting ... Read more
Nighthawk Custom, makers of one of the of the world’s finest 1911 pistols, has earned solidified its reputation over the years.
Every part used in Nighthawk Custom 1911 pistols have been fully machined from bar stock billet steel and are oversized to later be hand fit. Starting with oversized, raw parts, ... Read more
The Luger is well known for its wide use by German military forces during World War I and World War II. Often associated with the Nazi regime, it was the handgun of the Kaiser’s Soldaten before Hitler took power.
Many U.S. troops managed to bring home these pistols as war trophies ... Read more
A truly iconic rifle and undisputed World War II champion, the M1 Garand asserted its dominance on the battlefields in both the Pacific theater and Europe. Heralded by General George S. Patton as the “greatest battle implement ever devised,” the M-1 Garand was the world’s first successfully fielded semi-automatic ... Read more
The Colt Single Action Army revolver is one of the most recognizable and replicated handguns in history. No Colt revolver has earned greater fame than the Single Action Army. Playing a pivotal role as one of the guns that helped win the West, Colt’s Single Action Army was used by ... Read more
By James Martineau,
Born from the ashes of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, firearms manufacturing in the Czech Republic has established a standard of excellence few other nations can match. While notably led by Česká Zbrojovka, other manufacturers such as Czech Small Arms, Laugo Arms and FK BRNO have made outstanding firearms in ... Read more
By James Martineau,
Heralded by General George S. Patton as the “greatest battle implement ever devised,” the M-1 Garand was the world’s first successfully fielded semi-automatic rifle. The ability to fire semi automatically from an eight round fixed magazine loaded by an en bloc clip put the United States at an ... Read more
