Video of the Day: The Stoner Machinegun: A Navy Seal Remembers

                              


                                 The Stoner Machinegun: A Navy Seal Remembers

While not a product of the 80's, this documentary produced during the 1990's is an interview with Retired LT. CME. Michael J. Walsh about Stoner 63 weapons system used with by the Navy Seals in Vietnam. The video shows an impressive firepower demo of the Stoner 63 in a few of it's different configurations. While there is a wide range of information about the Stoner 63 available, this video chronicles the development of the weapons system throughout part of the Vietnam war through the eyes of LT. Walsh.  The video covers the developments made by Cadillac Gauge for the weapon, the development of the "dead man's pin" and various ammunition feeding systems. To see a larger format video please visit: https://youtu.be/uwjx7NA1HQs

Video of the Day: Peter G. Kokalis' Firestorm How To Handle & Fire Fully Automatic Weapons

                                                                Video of the Day:

                              Firestorm: How To Handle & Fire Fully Automatic Weapons

The well known former Soldier of Fortune Magazine editor in chief, Peter G. Kokalis passed away in January of this year. He was a prolific writer for a variety of magazines and journals over his very long  and well documented career. In addition to articles published in SOF, Small Arms Review, and Firearms News (formerly Shotgun News), my personal favorite of the magazines he worked on in the early 1990s was Fighting Firearms. 

After his death, I recalled I had a VHS copy of a video produced in the late 1980s called Firestorm: How To Handle & Fire Fully Automatic Weapons. The video showcases a variety of firearms and firing techniques for subguns, assault rifles, and belt-fed machine guns. Part informational instruction video and part entertainment, the video gave viewers to see a few unusual firearms at the time, such as the VZ 58 and the Mauser Schnellfeuer. The source of the video is from a older VHS tape. DVD transfers exist and are available. Regardless of what you thought of him, Kokalis was a library of knowledge about weapons and wrote some exceptionally technical articles.

The video also can be viewed here in a larger format: Firestorm: How to Handle & Fire Fully Automatic Weapons

Advertisment of the Day: Commando Arms MARK III, Circa 1974

While produced in the late 1960's into the mid 1970's, the Volunteer EnteprisesCommando Arms MARK III were commonly found used in many gun shops during the 80's. Always considered the poor man's Thompson, but there is quite a cult following around these guns.

In fact, this is a site dedicated to the Commando Arms Guns. It has a treasure trove of information and excellent pics of old adds: http://volunteercommando.webs.com/

Video of the Day: Calico Light Weapons Systems Video

                               Video of the Day: Calico Light Weapons Systems Video

The Calico series of carbines and pistols embody the zietgiest of the 80's. The company's tagline was A Revolution in Firepower! This futuristic weapon system that fed from a helical 50 or 100 round magazine was seen in a variety of 80's era action films. Calico was established in 1982 and released its first production weapon in 1985 that was distributed by American Industries. At the heart of the system was an H&K roller lock style locking mechanism.While the Calico series never had much success with military entities and had limited interest from law enforcement agencies. Owners enjoy a facinating firearm that packs a lot of firepower in a compact package.

Advertisement of the Day: Class 3 Airguns in Berkeley, California

                                                1984 Class 3 Airguns Advertisement

Today we take for granted the availability of realistic Airsoft replicas that often take the place of guns many of us probably cant afford or will never own. In the early 1980's spring powered Airsoft guns began to emerge in the market for the first time in the US.  I personally had the MP5K listed above and it was quite fun. They used a plastic cartridge about the size of a standard 9mm round and the 6mm BB was placed  in the front of the cartridge. The fore-grip served as a handle for the pump action and the shell ejected after firing. Some of the Plug Firing Cap (PFC) guns, such as the M11 pictured above, had been in the country for some time and enjoyed use by collectors. I'll be hosting a few pictures from some of the main distributors of  PFC guns at the era, including the Collectors Armory.

Magazine Cover of the Day: Firepower Magazine November 1984

                                               Firepower Magazine November 1984

         
The fourth issue of Firepower Magazine really kicked off a series of issues that provided detailed Class 2 conversion methods for many popular semi-auto firearms of the era. In this issue conversion methods for the HK 91 and M1 carbine were provided with schematics and detailed drawings of conversion parts. The issue also helped thrust the 10/22 into the consciousness of the Class III world and the Sterling Pistol review by Bud Lang was also a great read. But at the heart of the issue, the photo shoot for Firepower models took center stage.

Back in Action

Hello everyone, back from a few months of hiatus. I'm back posting and have a few gems to follow.