922r Parts and Compliance: A Few Things You Should Know
In September 2014, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives revised Publication 5300.4, section IV.B.8.c, on the “Assembly of Nonsporting Semiautomatic Rifles and Shotguns from Imported Parts.” Part of section 922(r) of Title 18 U.S. Code reads, “It shall be unlawful for any person to assemble from imported parts any semiautomatic rifle or any
MP5 Parts to Keep Close at Hand
For those of you that have a ZF-5, an MP5 clone, or are lucky enough to have the real thing in your safe, congratulations on owning the most prominent roller-delayed blowback firearm the world has yet seen. They are dependable and smooth-shooting, but firearm maintenance is the better part of platform reliability. That being the
Answering a Few Questions About MP5s for Sale
The original MP5 submachine gun (Maschinenpistole 5), chambered in 9×19 Parabellum, is one of the most infamous, recognizable SMG platforms of all time. It has been in production consistently since 1966 and has since seen prolific, widespread use around the world. Law enforcement, paramilitary, and militaries from over 40 countries and countless constituent groups have
German Special Weapons of World War II, Part 1
Britain wasn’t alone in providing tailored firearms to special operations units during World War II. Most countries involved in the war expended at least some effort doing likewise, and Germany was no exception. A number of German special weapons and components from WWII are well known to collectors and enthusiasts, even while others remain obscure.
The Brandenburgers, Part 1
Special operations forces as we know them were conceived in World War II. Before then, there were certainly special missions, and one could argue that some units filled a special operations role. However, virtually all modern special operations units can be traced to a World War II origin or predecessor — Britain’s Special Operations Executive,
British Special Weapons, Part 1
In the last decade, Stoner’s evolved AR-platform has been pressed, stretched, pulled, prodded, and modified. Many consider it a panacea among firearms, although its suitability in certain roles is certainly a matter for debate. Nonetheless, the concept of modifying existing weapons to meet specific, often highly specialized needs is not new. Many nations have experimentally
The SBS, Part 1
The Special Boat Service is a special operations unit of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. Although little known in comparison to its famous cousin, the Special Air Service, the SBS also has its origin in World War II. After the Fall of France in 1940, an isolated Britain marshalled its forces to defend the far-flung
Germany’s Prolific Parabellum
Notwithstanding that the Wehrmacht, the united armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935-1946, commited some of the worst large-scale atrocities the world has ever seen, many people today are fascinated with this military machine on account alone of its technological accomplishments. After all, Germany’s engineers and designers during that period paved the way to the
The History of the 9×19, Part 3
World War II’s ashes were still warm when the Cold War began, and it began in a world that had been fundamentally changed by the former conflict. Warfare would never be the same, especially after the events of Aug. 6 and 9, 1945, but on account of other developments as well. For instance, most major
The History of the 9×19, Part 2
Unfortunately for Luger, the 9×19-chambered pistols he sent to the 1907 U.S. field trials did not impress the reviewers enough to be selected, although neither did the ones chambered in .45 ACP. It was not so much an issue of caliber as pistol design that kept the Luger, and thus the 9×19, out of U.S.
Imitation is Flattery: MP5 Clones, Part 1
In the 1970s, Heckler & Koch began licensing companies worldwide to produce various models of its legendary roller-delayed blowback firearms: MP5, G3, HK33, HK21 and others. In addition to manufacturing these guns for their host-country military and police forces, most licensees also have or at least had a healthy export business. Examples include POF in
The History of the 9×19, Part 1
The 9×19 is the most popular handgun cartridge of our era, serving military, law enforcement, and civilians worldwide. And unlike other handgun cartridges of the same general time period, such as the .38 Special and the .45 ACP, the 9×19 — officially 9x19mm Parabellum, 9mm Luger, or 9 mm NATO (I will explain each of