Monthly Archives: April 2016

Of suppressor deregulation and upcoming ATF changes

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At SHOT Show this year I had a chance to throw some knives and hawks on range day and did so like shit. They were SOGs and, while I can make the excuse I wasn’t used to them and prefer my own edged weapons which I do throw much better, I still did miserably.

sog knives and hawks

However, I also did it right behind Josh Waldron, the co-founder and CEO of SilencerCo, the company that is like the Glock of suppressors. How big are they? They ship 10,000 cans a month, which is more than most suppressor makers ship in a year.

I had a chance last week to catch back to up him without the tomahawks and talk about various states dropping prohibitions against private suppressor ownership (42 states now allow it), hunting with suppressors (39 now allow it, up from 22 in 2011), potential deregulation of suppressors from NFA requirements via the Hearing Protection Act, and the impact that ATF 41F is going to have on trusts and CLEO requirements.

SilencerCo.founder.believes.in_.creating.a.lifestyle.to_.mainstream.suppressors
“We’re trying to make guns sexy again because they always really have been in this country,” Waldron said. “It’s been part of the fabric of the culture here but we want to make sure that that continues and so we’re trying to revive that.”

You can read the interview over at Guns.com.

Such mean things about the humble Buffalo

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With concerns voiced this month in an April 14 Government Accountability Office report that the F-35’s Autonomic Logistics Information System, which Department of Defense officials have described as the “brains” of the fifth-generation fighter, that a failure “could take the entire fleet offline,” in part, due to the lack of a backup system, and “if required funding levels are not reached, the program’s procurement plan may not be affordable…” problems continue to mount for the ole F-35 which make off-the-shelf competitors such as Gripen, Typhoon and even the domestic F/A-18E/F look good in comparison.

Which brought the below editorial cartoon from SOFREP.com

f35 brewster buffalo

Which I think is just mean.

Of course the U.S. Navy and Marines had legit issue with the Brewster F2A Buffalo, dubbing it “the flying coffin” when flying against highly trained Japanese pilots with argueably better aircraft but the Finns, who used 44 Model B-239 (export) F2As nicknamed Pylly-Valtteri (“Butt-Walter”) and Lentävä kaljapullo (“flying beer-bottle”) among others, made mincemeat out of Red Air Force planes for a time.

Buffaloes of Lentolaivue 24 (Fighter Squadron 24) claimed a staggering 477 Soviet Air Force warplanes destroyed, with the combat loss of just 19 Buffaloes, an impressive kill/loss ratio of 26:1, while the top scoring Finnish ace, Ilmari Juutilainen, scored 34 of his 94½ kills in B-239s.

Finnish Brewster-239 BW-354 over Lake Tikshozero 1942

Finnish Brewster-239 BW-354 over Lake Tikshozero 1942

So maybe we just need  to export the F-35 to Finland and call it a day?

Now that’s something you don’t see everyday

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The future USS Zumwalt DDG 1000 returned from the at-sea portion of INSURV acceptance trials last Thursday after two days underway at sea.

She is breathtaking.

U.S Navy photo

U.S Navy photo

And, at 600-feet oal and 14,500-tons, this new breed of destroyer is the size of a WWI predreadnought or a WWII heavy cruiser. 

And it shows.

Of course, the WPB is a small patrol boat and the perspective is forced, but the Zumwalt dwarfs her.

Of course, the WPB is a small patrol boat and the perspective is forced, but the Zumwalt dwarfs her.

She is set to commission 15 October and her first sistership, USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), is scheduled to be christened on 18 June.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyer DDG-115 USS Rafael Peralta under construction alongside Zumwalt-class destroyer DDG-1001 USS Michael Monsoor, at the Bath Iron Works shipyard. Again, note the size difference and keep in mind that Peralta is 512-feet long

Arleigh Burke-class destroyer PCU DDG-115 USS Rafael Peralta under construction alongside Zumwalt-class destroyer PCU DDG-1001 USS Michael Monsoor, at the Bath Iron Works shipyard. Again, note the size difference and keep in mind that Peralta is 512-feet long

USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001)

Got some scratch and looking for an investment?

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Cliff and Lynne Young assembled a collection over a 65 year period but it will be sold in just a day by Cowan Auctions this week, with subsequent offerings put on the block later in the year and in 2017.

As you can imagine, these are not your typical gun show relics.

“There are collectors who just buy Confederate arms,” said Lewis. “Cliff went deeper than that. Quality and historical significance were paramount. These are truly the best known examples of some of the rarest Confederate weapons ever produced.”

Young was a studious collector, often documenting his guns to a degree far surpassing what is typically seen.

“Some of them have a file of provenance two-feet thick,” said Jack Lewis, Cowan’s director of Historic Firearms and Early Militaria in a statement.

Here is some of the more than 47 uber-rare items on the block:

The unique, one-of-a-kind wooden model for the LeMat revolver submitted to the U.S. Patent Office for protection against competitors.

The unique, one-of-a-kind wooden model for the LeMat revolver submitted to the U.S. Patent Office for protection against competitors.

Griswold & Gunnison prercussion revolver. Featured prominently in AMC’s Hell on Wheels, interest in these ultra rare Confederate wheelguns has exploded in recent years. Cullen Bohannon, is that you?

Griswold & Gunnison percussion revolver. Featured prominently in AMC’s Hell on Wheels, interest in these ultra rare Confederate wheelguns has exploded in recent years. Cullen Bohannon, is that you?

J. H. Dance & Brothers Navy percussion Confederate revolver without recoil shield. “Always considered a ‘holy grail’ for the advanced Confederate arms collector”

J. H. Dance & Brothers Navy percussion Confederate revolver without recoil shield. “Always considered a ‘holy grail’ for the advanced Confederate arms collector”

Extremely rare Confederate Cofer Third Type Revolver in its original holster as captured by 11th Maine Captain S.H. Merrill. Just 266 Cofer revolvers were picked up by the Confederate government and only 15 are believed to still exist.

Extremely rare Confederate Cofer Third Type Revolver in its original holster as captured by 11th Maine Captain S.H. Merrill. Just 266 Cofer revolvers were picked up by the Confederate government and only 15 are believed to still exist.

The sale will be held at Cowan’s Auctions, 6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati. Public previews are noon to 5 p.m. Monday, April 25; and 8 to 10 a.m. both days of the sale, Tuesday and Wednesday, April 26-27.

More images and details in my column over at Guns.com

Is that a case of Winnies, or are you just looking to pick up $218K?

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Here we see the beauty that is 10 un-issused Winchester Model 94 Saddle Ring carbines in .30-30 (serial SN 924224, 924599, 924761, 924762, 924783, 924829, 925026, 925502, 930960, 930961) in their original crate.

10 unissused Winchester Model 94 Saddle Ring carbines in .30-30

The guns were all made in the early 1920s and have a 50th Anniversary stock band that was put on guns shipped in 1923. The story goes that renowned firearms collector and preservationist Herb Glass, Sr. found 13 cases (!) of Winchester 94s and Models 1895 in cal. 30-06 when cleaning out an old warehouse in New York in the 1950s, subsequently selling the crates for $150 each.

10 unissused Winchester Model 94 Saddle Ring carbines in .30-303

The guns had apparently been stockpiled on the East Coast as part of the effort to arm the British Home Guard in 1940-41 but never shipped, leaving Glass to pick them up for a song.

10 unissused Winchester Model 94 Saddle Ring carbines in .30-302
In the past 65~ years all of the crates have been broken up except for this one, which sold at auction through the Julia House in 2012 for $218,500.

Plucking out a big diesel

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Coast Guard Section Southwestern New England recently shared these images of an engine haul-out from the 110-foot Island-class patrol boat, USCGC Sanibel (WPB 1312). Stationed at Woods Hole, MA, Sanibel is an early “A” series 110 that was equipped with two Paxman-Valenta 16CM diesels along with two 99 KW Caterpillar 3304T diesel generators capable of parallel operation. The big engines are hauled out on occasion for rework and to check the engine mounts and refit.

Removal of the softpatch

Removal of the softpatch

And away we go...

And away we go…

Engine up

Engine up

And out...

And out…

Engine room post removal

Engine room post removal

MK3 from Sector SENE inspecting the engine mounts

MK3 from Sector SENE inspecting the engine mounts

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Built at Bollinger, Sanibel was commissioned in 1987, funded under a DoD Augmentation Appropriation, and has spent most of her career fighting with that cruel mistress, the North Atlantic, enforcing laws, conducting Homeland Security and defense missions and performing rescues. Among her other service, on 22 July 1999, Sanibel served as land-to-ship transport for members of the Kennedy and Bessette families for burial-at-sea services for John F. Kennedy, Jr.

USCGC SANIBEL (WPB 1312) 2014,. USCG Photo

USCGC SANIBEL (WPB 1312) 2014,. USCG Photo

Designed for a 20-year service life, Sanibel and the other earlier “off-the-shelf” 110s were given a SHIPALT that installed intermediate frames in-between her yard original ones and she will continue to serve well into her 30s.

Under Deepwater, all of the 110s were supposed to be replaced by 2009. But anyway…

Bring on the Raptors!

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090622-N-7780S-014 GULF OF ALASKA (June 22, 2009) An Air Force F-22 Raptor executes a supersonic flyby over the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class Ronald Dejarnett/Released)

090622-N-7780S-014 GULF OF ALASKA (June 22, 2009) An Air Force F-22 Raptor executes a supersonic flyby over the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is participating in Northern Edge 2009, a joint exercise focusing on detecting and tracking units at sea, in the air and on land. (U.S. Navy photo by Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class Ronald Dejarnett/Released)

The House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday added a mark-up to the FY2017 policy bill, released by panel’s Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, directing the Air Force to look into restarting the F-22 Raptor line again after just 187 aircraft were produced.

“In light of growing threats to U.S. air superiority as a result of adversaries closing the technology gap and increasing demand from allies and partners for high performance, multi-role aircraft to meet evolving and worsening global security threats, the committee believes that such proposals are worthy of further exploration,” reads the legislation.

Big Blue would have to report on the study to the congressional defense committees no later than Jan. 1, 2017.

However, the news likely won’t be good unless the new 115th Congress in session then has access to deep pockets and the will to go rooting around in them. As noted by Defense News, a 2010 RAND study commissioned by the Air Force placed the cost to buy just 75 more F-22s at $17 billion in 2008 dollars.

Which is $227 milly per jet.

Of course the F-35 is somewhere between $148 million and $337 million per jet in 2015, depending on the model used, so there is that…

Happy Birthday Queen Elizabeth

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As you may have heard, she is 90 today, but she has also served at least 71 years continuously in the military.

Per the IWM:

queen eliz

During the Second World War, King George VI was reluctant to let his daughter – and heir – join any of the organisations that women could serve in during the war. However, in February 1945, Princess Elizabeth was allowed to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS). Second Subaltern Elizabeth Windsor, as she was known, was part of Number 1 ‘Beaufront’ Company and trained as a mechanic and truck driver in Surrey. Her classes included practical maintenance, mechanics theory and map reading. She told a friend, “I never worked so hard in my life. But I enjoyed it very much.” The princess graduated as a fully qualified driver, but the war ended before she was able to make practical use of her new skills

She remained a Junior Commander, Women’s Royal Army Corps after the war, rising to Captain by 1952 with semi-regular periods of service.

Like all monarchs, and members of the Windsor family, she has maintained her military obligations, and since 6 February 1952 has been Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces.

RoyalLadiesMilitaryUniformQueenElizabethAs well as Colonel-in-Chief of the: Royal Australian Engineers, Royal Australian Infantry Corps, Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps, Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps, le Régiment de la Chaudière, 48th Highlanders of Canada, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise’s), Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery,  Governor General’s Horse Guards, King’s Own Calgary Regiment, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers, Royal 22e Régiment, Governor General’s Foot Guards, Canadian Grenadier Guards, Carleton and York Regiment, Canadian Guards, Royal New Brunswick Regiment, Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, Calgary Highlanders, Wellington Regiment, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, The Life Guards, Royal Horse Guards, Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, Welsh Guards, Royal Regiment of Artillery, Corps of Royal Engineers, Royal Tank Regiment, Malawi Rifles, Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons), Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, Corps of Royal Military Police, Queen’s Gurkha Engineers,Queen’s Royal Lancers, Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry, Royal Welsh, Royal Regiment of Scotland, Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.

As well as the Air-Commodore-in-Chief of the Territorial Air Force of New Zealand, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Air Force Regiment, Royal Observer Corps; Captain-General of the Honourable Artillery Company, Commandant-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force College, Countess of Ranfurly’s Own Auckland Regiment, et.al…

SAS legend Barry Davies dies

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Barry Davies

Barry Davies (right) briefs the UK Minister for Defence Procurement, Philip Dunne MP, at last year’s DSEI event in London

Barry Davies, BEM, the former British Special Air Service commando who was decorated for the part he played in Operation Feuerzauber (“Fire Magic”) the successful GSG9 hostage rescue operation of Lufthansa Flight 181 at Mogadishu Airport in 1977, passed away Monday.

Shrewsbury-born Barry Davies was in service with the SAS for 18 years and saw active duty in the Middle East, Africa and Northern Ireland. During that time he assisted in forming the first counter-terrorist team and was awarded the British Empire Medal for the storming of Lufthansa Flight 181 which was hijacked on 13 October 1977 by four members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

After leaving the Special Air Service Regiment, he joined Cardiff-based survival and protective equipment specialists, BCB International Ltd. There he worked on numerous special projects which in recent years included the development and market introduction of surveillance Unmanned Air Systems.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Barry’s wife, Mary, and their family at this difficult time,” said BCB Managing Director Andrew Howell in a statement. “Everyone here at BCB International is shocked at the sad news.  For over 30 years, Barry was a popular and hugely respected member of the team.  For Barry, being able to help design and refine life-saving equipment used by our brave servicemen and women was not a ‘job’ but a labour of love.  He will be sorely missed by everyone here at BCB.”

Davies taught survival, escape, and evade skills to aircrews and special operations for two years of his service in the SAS as shown in this vintage vid.

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