Tag Archives: history

The Old Issue

I am often reminded of Kipling lately. One I just heard capably performed by Leslie Fish: The Old Issue (the lyrics). You can get this and other Kipling poems set to music from her web site. The specific words that … Continue reading

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A Webley story

Linoge put up an overview of a .38 Webley revolver which actually improved on the official Webley book in terms of useful info.

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“Captain Alatriste”

I watched the movie last year. Over the last week, I read the first five books. Between the quality writing and the apparently well done translations, I really enjoyed them. The plot-wrangling takes a second place to the texture and … Continue reading

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The mad numerologists of gun-control

The push to restrict magazine capacity focuses on the apparently magic number “ten”. Reduce Americans to ten-round magazines and no more mass murder, they claim. Let’s look at where this leads. Ten rounds has been the standard capacity for military … Continue reading

Posted in civil rights, rifle, rkba, self-defense | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Selective Outrage?

The bombardment of Guernica in 1937 is in every history book. The more destructive and murderous bombardment of Copenhagen isn’t. Likewise, the current efforts to raise taxes are condemned but 1950s administrations got a free pass on the 90%+ top … Continue reading

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Censorship.

A journal I follow had a note: “Livejournal is blocked in Kyrgystan, Kazahkstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, so apologies for the long delay and if I have neglected you guys.” So there’s a definite USSR flavor to some segments of it. … Continue reading

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A very special MP40

This submachine gun is not like the others. Can you guess why?

Posted in weapon | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Fun Gun.

Posted in rifle, weapon | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Device 06H

Experimental German rifle made in 1944, the first of the roller-lock delayed blowback designes that eventually became CETME and HK .308s. This one is in 7.92×33. It’s crude, simple and works well. Recoil is minimal, with two distinct stages. Sights … Continue reading

Posted in rifle | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Language as a weapon.

Looking at the current conflicts, it seems that counties with common languages enjoy a major PR advantage in wartime. Countries like Albania and Georgia have to resort to other languages (English and Russian, respectively) to get their version of the … Continue reading

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1941 Soviet infantry manual in English

My friend Boris Karpa translated this historic manual and made it available in Kindle format (also readable on desktop with viewer programs). He’s an excellent translator and knows the topic, so I can vouch for the accuracy of the translation. … Continue reading

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Calling all local reenactors

If you are a WW2 reenactor in or near Nashville, please chime in. I need help with a project requiring American and German characters.

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Then and now.

The past was never perfect, but certain excesses of today would have been beyond comprehension to our ancestors. And, hopefully, beyond the “Nuremberg defense” for the current perpetrators.

Posted in civil rights, interesting people, self-defense, weapon | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

New on CTD: On Reliability of Drum Magazines

An overview of drums.

Posted in ammunition, rifle | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

New on CTD: The absurdity of zero tolerance policy, illustrated.

Read all about it!

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Brown Bess, the movie

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Movie review: Albert Nobbs

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1602098/ Watched a period drama about a woman who spent most of her life pretending to be a man to get by in the late 19th century Britain. I recommend it. The acting was good and carried the film, but … Continue reading

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Fiction is not keeping up with reality

When John Ross wrote his seminal Unintended Consequences, people accused him of being overly dramatic. After all, ATF agents wouldn’t frame people or commit murder, right? When Matt Bracken wrote Enemies Foreign and Domestic series, most readers thought the idea … Continue reading

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Hunter vs. soldier, new post on CTD blog

Hunter vs. soldier, rifle vs. musket.

Posted in rifle, shotgun | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Movie review: Angry Harvest

Very well done film about a man who is…various shades of good, evil and mundane.The film works out much better than the sum of its parts would suggest, and the ending is very, very well handled. I recommend it. Acting:8 … Continue reading

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