One of the things movies always get wrong about firearms is how water will affect the way a bullet travels. Even in the otherwise-almost-too-real "Saving Private Ryan," bullets are shown flying through water almost exactly as they do in the air: on a straight trajectory and with … [Read more...]
History
These are the elite warfighting units throughout history that inspired modern American special operations
It can be said that the need to band together in groups is intrinsic to what makes us human beings. Long before the dawn of civilization, humans gathered together in like-minded groups in order to offer one another protection, defend resources, and share the mental and physical … [Read more...]
The Andrée Expedition: A tragic tale of Arctic exploration and mankind’s indomitable spirit
It can sometimes be easy to lose perspective when talking about historical events. Once timelines stretch beyond the horizon of our own recollection, they tend to get fuzzy. Most people would be surprised to know, for instance, that Cleopatra's lifetime was actually closer to … [Read more...]
Big Phil on Tour: Roman history at the Reculver Towers
The history of the site Big Phil's visiting in this edition of Big Phil on Tour dates back even further than the imposing towers that dominate the landscape. Reculver has been the site of conflict dating back to the Roman era and consistently ever since. Serving as one of the … [Read more...]
The Spanish Star BM 9mm service pistol
The Star model BM Spanish service pistol was an excellent firearm for its time. The pistol saw service with the Spanish military and police but also was used by the South African Defense Forces and found its way into the Rhodesian bush war. Although it looks strikingly similar to … [Read more...]
The Colt 1903 service pistol
The Colt 1903 was the predecessor to the famous Colt 1911 that is still in use today in some small capacities. The 1903 was carried primarily by officers but also favored for concealed carry because of its small size and “hammerless” design; something that is not entirely … [Read more...]
The Polish P-64 service pistol
The Polish P-64 is a unique pistol in that it probably draws more inspiration from the Walther PPK than other Eastern Bloc designs but the influence of the Makarov remains obvious — it even uses the Russian 9x18mm round for the military variant. Developed in the late 1950s … [Read more...]