Well, It’s Not A Sten But It Would Work

When some of the politicians in California were railing on about 80% lowers and “ghost guns” (sic), if I remember correctly Tam said in response that you could get a 90% Sten at your local Lowe’s. That comment stuck with me. Thus, when I saw Ian McCullom’s video on the homemade full auto firearms made by Philip A. Luty which were in the Royal Armouries’ National Firearms Centre collection, I was reminded of it.

Mr. Luty was a man of conscience who objected to the British firearms laws. He designed a 9mm submachine gun from scratch and published the plans to it in his book “Expedient Homemade Firearms” (which is available on Amazon). With a quick Google search you will find PDFs of many of his plans and blueprints around the Internet. I might even suggest that you download these to a thumb drive just because you can. I’m not saying to build one of them but in a TEOTWAWKI situation it might prove useful.

Unlike the US where the receiver is the restricted part, in much of the rest of the world it is the parts like a barrel which must take pressure that is the restricted part. By restricted, I mean subject to government regulation. As Ian notes, Mr. Luty wanted to show the foolishness of British firearms laws and paid for it with his freedom. The British police eventually caught him test-firing one of his submachine guns for which he was convicted and imprisoned.

Mr. Luty passed away in 2011 from cancer while he was facing charges related to his gun rights activism. May he rest in peace.

Q&A On Flamethrowers With Charlie Hobson

Following up on his interview with noted flamethrower historian and technical expert Charles Hobson, Ian of Forgotten Weapons now has a question and answer session with him.

The questions by timestamp are:

  • 0:40 – Still in use today?
  • 1:15 – Hollywood realism
  • 3:02 – Effective historical use
  • 3:55 – Pressure and nozzle diameter
  • 4:57 – Use of fins to create laminar flow
  • 6:18 – Do they blow up if shot?
  • 7:28 – Maintenance and repair
  • 9:44 – Realism in “Saving Private Ryan”
  • 10:52 – Reproductions
  • 12:10 – Accidents
  • 14:07 – Field resupply of fuel in combat
  • 19:35 – Oxygen problems for the user
  • 20:32 – Modern improvements
  • 24:10 – Is there still a role for flamethrowers in modern war?
  • 26:35 – Lighting cigars from flamethrowers
  • 27:43 – Cost

And Now For Something Entirely Different

Flamethrowers are one of the few weapons that were used by the US military in WWII that are not only legal to own but not regulated in any way by the Federal government. Currently, only two US states ban their possession.

Ian McCullom of Forgotten Weapons interviews Charlie Hobson in this video. Mr. Hobson is one of the leading authorities on flamethrowers, their development, and their history. He has worked extensively with military museums as well as the entertainment industry on their restoration and preservation.

Mr. Hobson is the author of The Illustrated Manual of U. S. Portable Flamethrowers.

The interview with Mr. Hobson dispels many of the myths concerning flamethrowers. For example, they didn’t explode when hit by a bullet unlike what is usually shown in old WWII movies. Moreover, they killed, for the most part, not by fire but with carbon monoxide.

Remington Model 8 – Cool Video

A Remington Model 8 or 81 has been on my collecting wish list for a long time now. It is a John Moses Browning design semi-auto rifle that has long been used for hunting. The game on which the Remington 8 has been used includes both deer and criminals. Famed lawman Frank Hamer used one .35 Remington in his ambush of Bonnie and Clyde.

Ian McCullom of Forgotten Weapons blog has just put out a short video on the Remington 8 showing how its long recoil action works. It is in slow motion. His Remington 8 is in .300 Savage which I think is an ideal caliber.