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The Lee Enfield Rifle and variants might very well be called the British Land Pattern Musket, otherwise known as the beloved Brown Bess, of the early part of the 20th century. That is to say, it is not a musket or even a smoothbore, and it certainly isn’t a muzzleloader, but it did find itself in the hands of an overwhelming number of British troops, including colonial regiments around the empire in the first half of the 1900s. Reliable, dependable, rugged, and just all-around an attractive rifle, it was very much appreciated by those who carried it. Chambered in .303 British, it also offered enough power and a flat enough trajectory to make it favorable to a wider number of shooters than just military personnel. Therefore, the Lee Enfield Rifle has found itself in large numbers of civilian hands around the world. It may have outlived its useful term as a service rifle, but target shooters, competition shooters, and collectors of militaria alike still have a pronounced desire to hang ...

The SKS rifle has developed a loyal following in many circles for a number of reasons. There are those who don’t appreciate some of the limits of wooden stock and other elements of the older platform, but for a number of reasons the SKS rifle is just a service rifle that refuses to go away.  There are those who can’t get enough of that fact that it has seen so much widespread military service around the world. Although it was developed too late in the Second World War to see any practical use during it, it became a standard issue in the Russian Military in the wake of the war and Russian backed powers around the world have at times used SKS or SKS variants in their military service. In addition to its use in the Red Army, SKS and SKS variants have been used in China, Vietnam, Albania, Yugoslavia, Romania and others. In fact, it has been said that the SKS or some version of it has been used at some point in history in the military service of nearly 100 countries around the world....

The M1911 is probably the most significant handgun platform that has ever been developed. There are a number of reasons for its popularity - so many that it can be hard to start somewhere. Suffice it to say that it was an instant success in engagements when it was released to U.S. troops at the beginning of the 1900s, and it has spread like wildfire in shooting circles throughout the world in the years that have followed. Because it has been widely used - and for many purposes - there are a number of reasons that you might want to invest in a 1911 Parts Kit to maintain, service or even upgrade your own M1911 pistol. The first reason you might want to think about a 1911 parts kit is not tied to a specific shooting discipline but is a catchall for anyone who owns a 1911 and uses it with fair frequency. It hinges on the fact that most 1911 parts kits will contain all of the functional parts that an M1911 needs to function. If you use your 1911 heavily, whether for fun or ...

The M1911 which was originally chambered in .45 ACP solved a bunch of problems for the soldiers who were carrying it. It was built around an all metal frame that was slim and highly ergonomic. The action was reliable and the trigger was crisp and predictable. Most importantly, the .45 ACP cartridge around which the original 1911s were built offering significantly more stopping power than the .38 caliber rounds of the revolvers of the day. Today, the M1911 is as popular as ever and perhaps more so. It’s not even relegated to the halls of historical collectibles. Truly, there are many historical collectors who probably admire the original M1911s for their widespread use throughout the last 100 years of American military history, but there are just as many modern shooters who continue to make the most of what a model 1911 has to offer. As a result of its ubiquity, you can find an M1911 or other in just about any caliber you want. That being said, it’s nowhere near uncommon...

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Springfield Armory was the primary center of manufacture for firearms used by the US military from 1777, a year after the advent of the revolutionary, until 1968, when it shuttered during the Vietnam conflict. Springfield was the first federal armory, and one of the first factories in the US dedicated to the manufacture of weapons. Today, the armory is preserved as a national historic site, which features the world’s largest collection of historic American firearms. The Springfield Armory was first used as the US’s primary arsenal during the Revolutionary War. In the 19th and 20th centuries, it became the site of numerous technological innovations that shook the globe, including the development of interchangeable parts, the assembly line style of mass production, and modern business practices such as hourly wages. The numerous firearms manufactured at the Springfield Armory from 1794 to 1968 are known as Springfield rifles. One...

The need for a reliable semi-automatic pistol originated in the Phillipine-American war. The islands’ jungle terrain was unsuited to the current range of US military pistols, which included the Colt M1892 revolver, and the .38 Long Colt. The M1911 was entered into preliminary military trials in 1906, where it competed against six other pistols. A series of field tests was held between 1907 and 1911 to determine which design was best, and to allow the designers to refine their weapons over time. The Colt M1911 eventually won out. During one test, the Colt fired six thousand rounds over the course of two days without a single malfunction. The M1911 operates using principles of short-recoil operation. As combustion gases force their way down the barrel, they give reverse momentum to the slide and barrel, which are locked together during this portion of the firing cycle. After the bullet has left the barrel, the slide and barrel continue rearward, before a link pivots the rear ...

Helmets became an important part of armed forces’ body armor during World War I when heavy artillery emerged as a staple of military strategy. Artillery softened positions along the front with rolling barrages of flame and iron, bits of shrapnel bursting forth from the impact points. Because they could not protect their soldiers with suits of steel, saving their wrists and ankles from bullets, German, French, and British army commands developed separately the Stahlhelm, Adrian, and Brodie, which cased the brain in protective metal, and preserved the soldier’s sense of relative safety. The development of WW2 Helmets built upon the innovations demanded by the trench warfare of its predecessor. The USA’s M1 helmet was composed of an outer, metal shell constructed from non-magnetic Hadfield steel, and called the “steel pot.” It was primarily designed to protect soldiers from shrapnel. Informal testing of the M1 showed that the helmet’s shell was able to stop pistol fire. Two sim...