Negrini Tactica Concealed Carry
Negrini srl and International Case Company are introducing the Tactica Concealed Carry line of lightweight travel and security cases dedicated to shooters and collectors of tactical weapons and handguns. Designed specifically for today’s handgun and tactical weapon shooters, Negrini Tactica CC cases hide their intended use with attractive Italian design instead of looking like typical gun cases. The Tactica CC cases also offer unique flexibility through the use of ultra light ABS double wall construction coupled with modular, transformable inner sections of dense die-cut PixelFoam, which allows the shooter to easily fit any weapon or accessory as well as add new internal sections for use with different weapons. Thus, one case can serve multiple functions with perfect fit. Negrini Tactica CC Series cases come in 8 sizes to fit from one to 6 handguns plus AR Take-Down, AR Carbine and double AR Rifle Case. All sizes have room for magazines, optics and accessories. The Negrini Tactica Concealed Carry line of cases is manufactured using a patented double wall technology making it the lightest weight case available with International Air Travel Certification. New ultra-tough high rubber content multi-layer ABS is thermoformed, seamed and welded using Negrini’s patented ultrasonic welding and liquid ABS bonding methods. The resulting double wall system that is uniformly strong, absorbs maximum shock and has the highest strength to weight ratio of any case made. The multi-layer ABS is a technical polymer which, unlike wood based cases, has no water content and is guaranteed to be free of corrosives at extreme temperature ranges. The signature gray gasket band around the entire case is actually designed to enhance the seal of the case to further protect the firearms. Negrini’s PixelFoam allows the user to configure the case as needed to any firearm that needs to be carried. By simply removing the pixels that are not needed, the case quickly custom fits the firearms for safe and secure transit. Additional PixelFoam inserts can be purchased for all models and used to fit other weapons as needed. For more information or to purchase contact them at www.negrinicases.com.

Qioptiq SAKER Fused Weapon Sight
SAKER is the new Fused Weapon Sight (FWS) from Qioptiq providing the Dismounted Close Combat User with an enhanced Detect, Recognize and Identify capability. SAKER combines image intensifier and uncooled thermal imaging sensors into a single sight unit. Designed with a low-power architecture and featuring a removable battery pack, SAKER can be used as a stand-alone sight or as an in line / clip-on sight, providing flexibility and forward compatibility.

SAKER Technology Advances & Delivers True Fused Capability
Through involvement in a number of programs addressing the requirements and potential for FWS for the Dismounted Close Combat User, Qioptiq have designed and developed a true fused weapon sight for the wider Soldier Modernization community.

SAKER, the first of the Qioptiq FWS family, was launched formally at Eurosatory 2012 at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center. Following the initial launch, SAKER was on display at exhibitions throughout the year as part of the Qioptiq product family.

SAKER is a Clip-On In-Line (COIL) fused weapon sight utilizing and combining the latest Image Intensification and un-cooled thermal imaging capability in one compact, lightweight package and delivering a flexible architecture to allow the user to maximize the benefits of both technologies. This structure coupled with a number of other innovations taken from on-going technology development processes and the use of lightweight materials (exploited as alternatives to aluminum and plastics as an alternative to glass) assist with overall size and weight reduction. As with all of Qioptiq’s products, ITAR free solutions are available without compromising performance.

SAKER is built around a forward facing architecture resulting in a flexible system that can take power from a range of standard batteries including AA and CR123, along with having the ability to integrate with powered rails and other centralized power supplies. The use of Man Machine Interface (MMI) developed on the DRAGON thermal weapon sight family combined with simplistic controls for managing the fusion elements of the system significantly reduces the training burden in both time and cost terms.

SAKER, the first of the Qioptiq FWS Family, is targeted at Special Forces users and urban environments in particular by providing a lightweight low light / zero light solution that will greatly assist in target detection and recognition at ranges well in excess of most modern assault rifles. SAKER is compatible with a range of optical sights and attaches via a quick release bracket, providing a true 24 hour capability with the ability to continue operating even during the harshest visibility conditions.

SAKER was recently nominated by serving and former military personnel in two categories at the Soldier Technology Conference in London winning the award for the “Best situational awareness device.”

About Qioptiq
Qioptiq designs and manufactures photonic products and solutions that serve a wide range of markets and applications in the areas of medical and life sciences, industrial manufacturing, defense and aerospace, and research and development. The company is known for its high-quality standard components, products and instruments, its custom modules and assemblies, its leading-edge innovation, its precision manufacturing and its responsive global resourcing. Through a series of acquisitions, Qioptiq has an impressive history and pedigree, and benefits from having integrated the knowledge and experience of Avimo, Gsänger, LINOS, Optem, Pilkington, Point Source, Rodenstock, Spindler & Hoyer and others. Qioptiq has a worldwide presence with locations throughout Europe, Asia and the USA, employs over 2,300 people, and generated revenues of approximately US$380 million in 2010. For more information, visit www.qioptiq.com

Arsenal SLR-106UR
Arsenal, Inc. introduces the all-Bulgarian SLR-106UR Pistol in 5.56x45mm NATO. The SLR-106UR Pistol is manufactured entirely at Arsenal’s factory in Kazanlak, Bulgaria using components specifically engineered for accuracy and reliability in a short-barrel configuration. The SLR-106UR Pistol includes many features not found on any similar 5.56mm pistol, and is as close to a semiautomatic AKS-74U (or ‘Krinkov’) as American shooters may possess without ATFE approval. Features include; a factory-installed scope rail allows mounting of optics and accessories, a short gas system designed for 100% reliability with a 10.5-inch cold hammer-forged barrel with hard-chrome plated bore and chamber. It also has a hinged dust cover with close-range and 500 meter rear sight settings as well as a replica muzzle device that is pressed and pinned to the front sight block for AK-74SU appearance. The gun also has high-quality polymer furniture which includes an ergonomic SAW pistol grip and a heat-shielded lower handguard for shooting comfort. The new pistol has a spring-loaded firing pin for increased safety with Boxer-primed ammunition; a 90 degree rear sling swivel prevents twisting or tangling of the sling and also has an AKS-74U-style rear block for conversion to SBR configuration (all NFA rules apply). Whether fired as a pistol or converted to a registered short-barreled rifle, Arsenal’s SLR-106UR Pistol delivers unmatched quality and unique features in a firearm that will provide many years of accurate and reliable service. The gun comes with 1 five-round magazine and accepts all Mil-Spec 5.56mm AK magazines. For more information contact them at www.arsenalinc.com.

Classification.  What’s the big deal?  Often, parties to an export transaction are aware that a particular item requires an export license.  In general terms, if the item being exported is firearms related, an export license will be required.  But – what kind of license?  In some instances, a firearm might even be exportable without an export license.  Classification begins with a determination of whether the item being exported is governed by the U.S. State Department, or the U.S. Commerce Department.  In basic terms, shotguns and shotgun ammunition are governed by the Commerce Department, but there are exceptions.  If a rifle optic is being exported, the licensing requirements may fall to State or Commerce.  If the item being exported is a center fire pistol or rifle, center fire or rimfire ammunition, a sound suppressor, machine gun or grenade launcher, one can count on a State Department DSP-5 export license being required.

The ECCN
The U.S Commerce Department regulates the export of most items from the United States.  Items exported are classified by numbers – specifically, Export Control Classification Numbers, also known as an ECCN.  An ECCN is an alpha-numeric classification used in the Commerce Control List to identify items for export control purposes.  Note that the ECCN system is different than the U.S. Census Bureau’s Schedule B classification, which is used to collect trade statistics.  One may determine whether an ECCN exists for a particular commodity by searching the Commerce Control List, a supplement to the Export Administration Regulations.  The most up-to-date version of the CCL may be found online at the U.S. Commerce Department, Bureau of Industry and Security website.  A good place to start is here:  www.bis.doc.gov/policiesandregulations/index.htm.  A link to the Commerce Control List is linked about halfway down the page.  Many exportable items are classified under the ECCN system, but the majority of exportable items have no ECCN classification.

If after careful review, the item to be exported is not listed, one may wish to consult the manufacturer, producer, or developer of the exportable item.  Review of more than one ECCN description may be required.  In addition, the item to be exported may be described in a unique manner that defies easy determination.  If the item to be exported is indeed not listed in the CCL, the item will carry the classification of “EAR99.”  The EAR99 classification is a catch all for items that are covered by the EAR, but are not specified on the Commerce Control List.  EAR99 items can be shipped without a license to most destinations under most circumstances. The majority of the commercial exports from the United States fall into this category.  Holsters, belts, and backpack usually, but do not always fall under the EAR99 category.

A short note on EAR99 items:  Just because an item is classified as EAR99 does not automatically mean that the item may be exported.  If an EAR99 item is being exported to an embargoed or sanctioned country, to a party of concern, or in support of a prohibited end-use, an export license may be required.

Exportation of Shotguns
What if the item to be exported has been classified with an ECCN number?  Then what?  Two items in particular bear discussion – shotguns and firearm optics.  Shotguns are classified as ECCN number 0A984, while optics are classified as ECCN number 0A987.  A review of classification number 0A984 notes that the CCL applies to: “Shotguns with barrel length 18 inches (45.72 cm) or over; receivers; barrels of 18 inches (45.72 cm) or longer but not longer than 24 inches (60.96 cm); complete trigger mechanisms; magazines and magazine extension tubes; complete breech mechanisms; buckshot shotgun shells; except equipment used exclusively to treat or tranquilize animals, and except arms designed solely for signal, flare, or saluting use.”

By definition, shotguns that are fully automatic, or shotguns with barrels under 18-inches in length are governed by the U.S. State Department, and are outside the purview of the U.S. Commerce Department.

Additional review of classification 0A984 will note that reason for controls on shotguns are due to Crime Control (CC), Firearms Convention (FC) and United Nations (UN) purposes.  Further examination shows that licensing requirements will vary, depending upon the barrel length of the shotgun in question.

The controls for shotguns, ECCN No. 0A984: 

Reason for Control: FC, CC, UN

If (as in this case) there are UN restrictions in place, it goes without saying that the export will require a license, will be closely scrutinized, and may not be permitted.  What about the FC and CC restrictions?  To determine the license requirements for FC and CC restrictions, one must consult the Commerce Country Chart.  The chart is listed at 15 CFR 738, and may be found online via a simple search, or on the Government Printing Office website.  The Commerce Country Chart lists almost every possible country within the world.  Locate the final destination for the item being exported.  Determine whether the FC or CC columns are checked.  Germany has no checkmarks in the FC or CC columns.  It may be possible to export a shotgun with a barrel greater than 18-inches in length to Japan without an export license.  Jamaica has checkmarks in both the FC and CC columns; a Commerce Department export license will be required.

Export of Optics
If the export of shotguns was that straightforward, the export of optics should be easier, right?  Not exactly.  ECCN Number 0A987, governs optical sighting devices for firearms (including shotguns controlled by 0A984); and parts.  The entry goes on to list the following items specifically:

a. Telescopic sights.
b. Holographic sights.
c. Reflex or “red dot” sights.
d. Reticle sights.
e. Other sighting devices that contain optical elements.
f. Laser pointing devices designed for use on firearms.
g. Lenses, other optical elements and adjustment mechanisms for articles in paragraphs a, b, c, d or e.

Continuing to the controls on optics reveals:

Reason for Control: FC, CC, UN

So far, this seems easy.  Under the 0A987 heading, it appears that nearly every type of firearm optic is covered, and as such, the U.S. Department of Commerce should govern the export of firearm optics.  This is not entirely accurate.  Returning to the Country Control Chart, we again see that the export of some optics to Japan may occur without a Commerce Department export license, while Jamaica still requires a Commerce Department export license.

Why are only some optics exportable to Japan without a Commerce Department export license?  Answer: the International Trade in Arms Regulations, also known as the ITAR.  Some optics are classified as ITAR restricted, while others have no such restriction.  In very basic terms, an optic manufactured to U.S. military specifications will be governed by the ITAR. A Redfield rifle scope is a low priced optic built for hunters.  It will fall under the ECCN 0A987 restrictions.  In contrast, the Leupold and Stevens Mark 4 CQBSS optic was built to U.S. military specifications and is governed by ITAR.  As a result, the export of a CQBSS optic requires a U.S. State Department export license.  Mistakenly shipping a CQBSS optic to Japan without an export license under the misguided notion that no export license is required for ECCN 0A987 items may result in a seizure by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, civil fines, or criminal charges.

As a final reminder, how an item is transported outside of the United States does not matter in determining export license requirements.  An item can be sent by U.S. Postal mail or hand carried on an airplane.  Technical drawings may be sent via fax, or as an email attachment to a recipient outside of the United States.  Software may be uploaded to, or downloaded from a foreign Internet site.  Technology can be transmitted via e-mail or during a telephone conversation.  In every example listed above, the transaction is considered an export, and may require an export license.

An item is also considered an export if leaving the United States temporarily, or if the item is leaving the United States but is not for sale (i.e., is intended as a gift).  A foreign-origin item exported from the United States, transmitted or transshipped through the United States, or being returned from the United States to its foreign country of origin is considered an export. Finally, release of technology or source code subject to the EAR to a foreign national in the United States is “deemed” to be an export to the home country of the foreign national under the EAR.

Knowing the nature and classification of the item being exported is important.  Classification of the item being exported is important.  Determine what kind of license is required.  Is the item governed by the U.S. Commerce Department, or the U.S. State Department?  Does the EAR govern the transaction?  Or, as in the case of short barreled shotguns and Mil-Spec optics, does the ITAR govern the transaction?  If the item is governed by the U.S. Commerce Department, does it have an ECCN, or can the item be classified as EAR99?  What is the final destination of the item?  Is the item being transshipped, or being shipped direct to the foreign destination?  When in doubt, seek help from qualified legal experts that are knowledgeable in the export process.

Jason M. Wong is an attorney licensed by the State of Washington and acts as the managing partner of the Firearms Law Group.  This article is not intended as legal advice or restatement of law, and should not be construed as such.  When in doubt, seek competent legal counsel.  Mr. Wong also maintains an import/export company that assists foreign and domestic clients that do not wish to wade into the regulatory morass of U.S. import/export regulation.  Mr. Wong may be contacted via email at jmwong@FirearmsLawGroup.com.

Noveske Rifleworks posted this message on their Facebook page after the announcement: “Noveske Rifleworks would ask you to remember the passing of our founder, John Noveske, who died Friday, January 4th 2013 in an automobile accident.  John planned for all eventualities, and wanted to ensure any changes would be as seamless as possible for our customers, dealers, suppliers, employees and friends.  While this will be a trying time, we do not expect a change in the day to day operations of Noveske Rifleworks.  We would like to thank you for your support as we deal with our loss, and would ask that instead of flowers, you consider a donation to a cause we will announce at later date.  No arrangements were available at press time.

Warne Manufacturing Under New Ownership
Warne Scope Mounts is under new ownership.  Noted for developing and manufacturing premium scope mounting systems since beginning operations in 1990, Warne Scope Mounts was purchased by Daniel Goetz and Salt Creek Capital II LLC in January of 2013.  Mr. Goetz states, “I am very excited about the opportunity to lead Warne through the next phase of growth in this rapidly expanding company by focusing on enhanced customer service, internal process improvement and innovative rapid product development.”  Mr. Goetz brings over 30 years of lean manufacturing experience and demonstrated leadership to profitably build organizations.  Charlie Lake and Dave Wilcox will remain available to provide strategic guidance to Warne as they continue to develop other products within the firearms industry.

Meprolight Introduce New Thermal and Enhanced Weapon Sight Systems at SHOT 2013
Meprolight, a leading manufacturer of electro-optic systems for armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and civilian markets – presented its expanded portfolio at the SHOT Show, January 15-18 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  In addition to the introduction of the new NOA NYX 3X, the company’s enhanced NOA XT4 thermal sight, the Mepro 4X, and the Mepro M5 Red-Dot electro-optical sight also made their first appearances at the SHOT Show.

A new member of the NOA NYX family, the NOA NYX 3X Un-cooled Thermal Weapon Sight with X 2.7 magnification, sustains the recoil of 5.56, 7.62 and .338 caliber rifles.  Less than 2.2 pounds in weight, the sight is designed to meet the highest Mil-Spec requirements.  With this new addition, Meprolight offers four distinct sights with different magnifications of 2X, 3X, and 7X for a variety of operational and tactical needs.

The NOA XT4 is a compact and lightweight dual-use Thermal Weapon/Surveillance clip-on.  It is designed for armed forces and law enforcement special forces – providing easy thermal clip-on for mounting in-line with a combat 4x day scope or used as a handheld surveillance device.

The Mepro 4X is a compact and lightweight (1.7 lbs) combat 4x scope.  Utilizing a quick release Picatinny adaptor, this Mil-Std sight provides five different brightness settings.  The sight operates with a single standard battery and is equipped with a unique energy saver feature for extended operation.

DoubleTap Defense Files Lawsuit Against Heizer Defense and Others
On January 3, 2013, DoubleTap Defense, LLC, owner of the DoubleTap Tactical Pocket Pistol, filed a six million dollar lawsuit against Heizer Defense, LLC of St. Louis, Missouri, and others.  In the lawsuit, DoubleTap Defense is seeking, in addition to monetary damages, an injunction to stop any further action on the part of Heizer Defense, LLC and others to manufacture or market a product based on the intellectual property of DoubleTap inventor Ray Kohout.

In the fall of 2012, DoubleTap Defense, LLC’s relationship with the Heizers was terminated due, in part, to Heizer’s alleged inability to fulfill its manufacturing obligations.  DoubleTap Defense, LLC has since engaged Azimuth Technologies, LLC, a Naples, Florida based company, to manufacture its new and improved DoubleTap Tactical Pocket Pistol.

United States Sues Virginia-based Contractor Triple Canopy
The United States has filed a complaint against a Virginia-based contractor alleging that the company submitted false claims for unqualified security guards under a contract to provide security in Iraq, the Justice Department announced today. The company, Triple Canopy, Inc., is headquartered in Reston, Va.

In June 2009, the Joint Contracting Command in Iraq/Afghanistan (JCC-I/A) awarded Triple Canopy a one-year, $10 million contract to perform a variety of security services at Al Asad Airbase – the second largest air base in Iraq.  The multi-national JCC-I/A was established by U.S. Central Command in November 2004, to provide contracting support related to the government’s relief and reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

The government’s complaint alleges that Triple Canopy knowingly billed the United States for hundreds of foreign nationals it hired as security guards who could not meet firearms proficiency tests established by the Army and required under the contract.  The tests ensure that security guards hired to protect U.S. and allied personnel are capable of firing their AK-47 assault rifles and other weapons safely and accurately.  The government also alleges that Triple Canopy’s managers in Iraq falsified test scorecards as a cover-up to induce the government to pay for the unqualified guards, and that Triple Canopy continued to bill the government even after high-level officials at the company’s headquarters had been alerted to the misconduct.  The complaint further alleges that Triple Canopy used the false qualification records in an attempt to persuade the JCC-I/A to award the company a second year of security work at the Al Asad Airbase.

“For a government contractor to knowingly provide deficient security services, as is alleged in this case, is unthinkable, especially in war time,” said Stuart F. Delery, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice.  “The department will do everything it can to ensure that contractors comply with critical contract requirements and that contractors who don’t comply aren’t permitted to profit at the expense of our men and women in uniform and the taxpayers at home who support them.”

“We will not tolerate government contractors anywhere in the world who seek to defraud the United States through deliberate or reckless conduct that violates contractual requirements and risks the security of government personnel,” said Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

The government’s claims are based on a whistleblower suit initially filed by a former employee of Triple Canopy in 2011.  The suit was filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provision of the False Claims Act, which allows private persons to file suit on behalf of the United States.  Under the act, the government has a period of time to investigate the allegations and decide whether to intervene in the action or to decline intervention and allow the whistleblower to go forward alone.

The Chinn Award is named in honor of Lt. Col. George M. Chinn, a career Marine Corps officer who dedicated his life to the study, development and refinement of machine gun mechanisms.  Lt. Col. Chinn is remembered for his work as a gun designer and for having compiled a five volume reference work entitled The Machine Gun.

PAST CHINN AWARDEES:
1988: Thomas E. Cosgrove
1989: James Ackley
1990: John S. Wood, Jr.
1991: Roderic A. Spies
1992: not awarded
1993: Edward C. Ezell
1994: Richard E. Brown
1995: Joseph Unterkofler
1996: C. Reed Knight, Jr.
1997: Robert A. Trifiletti
1998: George E. Kontis
1999: Vernon E. Shisler
2000: Salvatore A. Fanelli
2001: L. James Sullivan
2002: Ernst Mauch
2003: Phil Baker + Georges Chauveheid
2004: Ronnie Barrett
2005: Rich Audette
2006: Richard Swan
2007: Bill Dittrich
2008: Troy Smith
2009: Joel M. Goldman
2010: Frank Puzycki
2011: Chuck Buxton
2012: Dan Haywood

2013 Chinn Award: Mr. Rudy Nedelka
The recipient of the 2013 Chinn Award is Mr. Rudy Nedelka.  Mr. Nedelka has spent over forty years working on small and medium caliber ammunition/weapons testing and evaluation.  During his career as a U.S. Government employee, he was involved in numerous programs and served in several key positions, which allowed him to develop a tremendously broad knowledge of many aspects of small and medium caliber ammunition/weapons testing.

After receiving a Bachelors of Science Degree in Mathematics in 1968 from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mr. Nedelka began his career with the Department of the Army at Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  For the period from 1968 – 1977, he was responsible for the automation of twenty-five indoor test ranges, including the computer management for the data acquisition and the analysis of ballistic information.  In addition, he assisted in writing the small caliber ammunition pressure specifications and evaluating the electronic pressure transducers used by all NATO countries for small arms ammunition testing.  He became the NATO Proof Officer responsible for the testing of United States and Canadian ammunition to ensure that they met the NATO battlefield interchangeability requirements.

After Frankford Arsenal was closed in 1977, Rudy transitioned to the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) Test Site at Fort Dix, New Jersey.  During Rudy’s seventeen years at Fort Dix, he served in various positions working on small and medium caliber systems.  From 1977 – 1989, Rudy served as a Test and Evaluation Engineer and as Deputy Director of the Small Caliber Testing Branch at the ARDEC Test Site.  His work involved the development of test procedures used in the evaluation of small caliber weapons and ammunition from 5.56mm through 40mm.  From 1989 – 1994 he served as the Chief of the Small Caliber Testing Branch at Fort Dix and was responsible for the management of the small arms weapons and ammunition test facility, overseeing the testing of several weapon systems fielded by the U.S. Army including the 5.56mm M16A2 Rifle and M249 Machine Gun and the 7.62mm M24 Sniper Rifle and M240B Machine Gun.

In addition, for over a ten year period from 1981 – 1991, Rudy also served as the Superintendent of the NATO North American Regional Test Center (NARTC) for Ammunition Interoperability which reports to the NATO Army Armaments Group (NAAG).  As the NARTC Superintendent, he was responsible for the quality certification of all NATO small caliber ammunition produced in the United States and Canada.  He represented the United States at NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium at regularly scheduled meetings of several NATO groups.

Rudy’s testing experience ultimately lead to his involvement as part of the U.S. Delegation in developing and drafting several NATO STANAGs and their accompanying test procedures for small and medium caliber ammunition.  These included the STANAG on 25mm ammunition and the STANAG on 5.56mm ammunition.  In addition to these NATO Standardization Agreements, Rudy also was an integral part of creating a standard for the establishment of new methods of ammunition and weapons testing as a principal member of the NATO Working Group on Ammunition Testing Technology.

Upon the closure of the ARDEC Test Site in 1994, Rudy continued his government service as a Senior Test Director in the Combat Systems Test Activity at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

Following his retirement in 1996, Rudy stayed involved in the small caliber area and continued to serve as a member of the National Defense Industrial Association Small Arms Systems Division Executive Committee, having previously served as its Secretary for many years.

In 2003 Rudy was hired as a consultant, to assist ARDEC with the multitude of ongoing efforts concerning NATO standardization.  One of the largest of these was the creation of the Multi-Caliber Manual of Proof & Inspection, designed to consolidate all testing methods of small caliber ammunition (5.56mm through 12.7mm) into a single document.  Rudy also began to re-attend meetings at NATO Headquarters where his knowledge and experience were welcomed back with great enthusiasm.  He soon became known as the NARTC Information Officer.  Rudy was also asked to update the 25mm MOPI to bring it in line with current test methods and equipment.  Rudy performed this task almost single handedly and this 492 page document consisted of twenty-five different test procedures and sixteen other sections associated with qualifying ammunition to meet NATO interchangeability requirements.

Recently, Mr. Nedelka has assisted the U.S, U.K., France and Belgium by creating new drafts of the 5.56mm, 7.62mm, 9mm and 12.7mm NATO STANAGs with updates due to the completion of the Multi-Caliber MOPI.  In addition, his experience was invaluable during the NATO Certification of the European Regional Test Center in the UK for 12.7mm and the NATO Certification of the Netherlands National Test Center for 5.56mm and 7.62mm.

Rudy has continued to provide his support to ARDEC for both the LCAAP and Olin-Winchester small caliber ammunition contracts during 2012.  His support includes assisting on failure investigations, EPVAT equipment and procedure audits at U.S. test locations, providing on-site assessment of test set-ups/ranges, review of data and test procedures and equipment.  His depth of knowledge and experience is truly an asset to the International Small Caliber Community, ARDEC and the U.S Army.

Throughout his long and distinguished career, Rudy Nedelka has been instrumental in helping to formulate, maintain and improve the test procedures and equipment that are used today for small and medium caliber ammunition testing.

In recognition of his many accomplishments and tireless efforts for the good of not only the U.S. forces but also the forces of our NATO partners and all those who have benefited from his tireless work, Rudy Nedelka has been selected as the recipient of the 2013 Chinn Award.  (Submitted by Angelo Mancini) 

Carlos N. Hathcock II Award
The Carlos N. Hathcock II Award is presented to recognize an individual, who, in the opinion of the Small Arms Section Steering Committee, Armaments Division, National Defense Industrial Association, has made significant contributions in operational employment and tactics of small arms weapons systems which have impacted on the readiness and capabilities of the United States military or law enforcement.  A significant contribution is considered to be: superior performance of duties in an operational environment or the development of tactics or training.

The Hathcock Award is named in honor of Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II, a career Marine who dedicated his life to the service of this country in both the military and law enforcement communities.  He was honest, tactful, considerate, courageous, quietly proud and determined in all things and all places from the range to the battlefield.  “The Gunny” not only distinguished himself in combat as a scout-sniper but also as a competitive marksman and trainer.  In his capacity as a trainer he not only significantly impacted the current United States Marine Corps Scout-Sniper program but also influenced the sniper programs of the other military services and similar law enforcement programs nationwide.

PAST RECIPIENTS OF THE HATHCOCK AWARD
1999: Carlos Hathcock
2000: Charles B. Mawhinney
2001: Bart Bartholomew
2002: Jim Owens
2003: Larry Vickers
2004: Steve Holland
2005: Pat Mitternight
2006: Allen Boothby
2007: American Snipers.org
2008: J. Buford Boone
2009: Robert J. Thomas
2010: Jeff Hoffman
2011: SGM Jason Beighley
2012 Craig R. LaMudge, MSgt, USAF (Ret)

Presentation of 2013 Hathcock Award to: MSG Jim Smith.
Jim Smith began his military career in the US Army 2ND Ranger Battalion, and served both stateside and abroad in challenging NATO assignments.  He served as a Long Range Reconnaissance Soldier, a mountaineering instructor, and instructed at the NATO International Long Range Patrol School.  He later earned a spot in Army Special Operations and served as an assaulter and sniper for several years.

Early in his special operations career, Jim was selected to attend the special operations sniper course, and this turned out to be a watershed event in his career and life.  Jim trained as a sniper and worked to perfect his skills, which would later become one of the deciding factors in the outcome of a significant battle and the lives of the men involved.  During his career, Jim was involved in many combat operations, most notably the Battle of the Black Sea; known to many as “Blackhawk Down.”

During this incident while serving as primary aerial sniper on board Super Six One, his job was to provide over watch and lethal fires interdiction in support of the Task Force Ranger Mission on October 3rd, 199s in Mogadishu, Somalia.  Well into the battle, Super Six One was shot down by an RPG and crashed into a hostile section of the city.  Jim was wounded, but still secured and defended the crash site until it could be reinforced.  He was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star for his actions in this incident.

After his Special Operations career, Jim served in many challenging assignments including the Asymmetric Warfare Group where he was instrumental in developing a training plan that revolved around a combat carbine course, which actually had the effect of changing the way the Army trains its soldiers.  The instant effect was training that made the soldiers more creative while arriving at the correct solutions during stress based training that inoculates them for combat.  The true impact of this efficient, reality based combat training is now being felt at all training levels throughout the Army, and will continue to produce the most survivable, effective soldiers possible for many years to come.

After retiring, Jim started Spartan Tactical, and dedicated his efforts to training the military and law enforcement in both the United States and select foreign countries.  He is heavily involved in training counter-terror operators, law enforcement, and military forces in other countries as well as the United States, passing on the hard learned lessons of his career as a counter-terror operator in U.S. Army Special Operations.  A partial list of these countries includes Israel, Jordan, Greece, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

Jim was also called upon to create a firearms training program for the Air Marshall’s Service subsequent to 9/11 and went on to supervise that program afterwards… he was also instrumental in creating a firearms program for Immigration Customs Enforcement, which is still in use today.  Jim has trained SWAT teams from some of the larger municipalities in Texas and is heavily involved with the Texas Tactical Peace Officers Association.  A short list of the agencies Jim has trained includes SWAT officers from Irvine, CA, San Diego, CA, Los Angeles, CA, FBI SWAT Teams from NJ and NY, SWAT officers from NYC, Austin and Dallas PD, and several agencies in Oregon and Washington.  His contribution to American Law Enforcement is daunting, and the legacy effects of his efforts will be seen for years to come.

Jim regularly trains Special Operations forces from both the Army and Marine Corps, both in sniping skills and combat marksmanship; to include MARSOC, 5th and 19th Special Forces Groups, although most of his focus is the conventional force.  Jim has previously trained battalion sized units from the 75th Ranger Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division, and others.  His program was so well received by the 82nd he ended up spending a year at Fort Bragg training all the battalions in the Division, at the request of General Petraeus, the Division Commander at the time.

He is currently heavily involved in pre-deployment sniper and combat marksmanship training for the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard.  In fact, the pre-deployment training he has done for the 36th Division since 2009 has been so successful, the program is now poised to go statewide, with every deploying Texas Unit receiving Spartan Tactical training before going to theater.  This will ultimately affect 20,000 soldiers in the state of Texas alone.

Jim Smith has also significantly impacted the industry through his work with Leupold and Stevens.  As a consultant Jim took full advantage of the opportunity to contribute to the design of cutting edge optics and reticles that are currently being used out on the sharp edge of U.S. military operations in both theatres, as well as domestic law enforcement tactical operations in the United States.  Jim has been involved from the conceptual phase of a project to test and evaluation and placement of these optics for our military and enforcement.  Jim leverages his extensive background and experiences as a Special Operations combat sniper to provide relevant input into the research, design, and manufacturing process, resulting in the most efficient, intuitive optics ever made available to the modern warrior.  Several current Leupold tactical offerings benefit from his knowledge and experience.

MSG Jim Smith’s past service, willingness and to continue significantly contribute to the success of our warriors worldwide, both in training and combat, qualify him to be this year’s Awardee of the Carlos Hathcock Award.  (Submitted by MSG Russ Clagett)

5.56mm is the ammunition of the infantrymen who have used it for the combat at short distance since the war in Vietnam.  Its current range for battlefield use is approximately 440 yards (400 m) and its performance improved with the introduction of the 5.56mm NATO whose SS 109 bullet made it possible to engage up to 650 yards (600 m).  For shooting up to 1,100 yards (1,000 m), sniper rifles and machine-guns in 7.62mm NATO are used.  This ammunition, temporarily forgotten, is again found to be useful because of the increase in ranges, particularly in Afghanistan.

LWMMG machine gun (left).

When it is necessary to engage the enemy at longer distances up to 2,200 yards (2,000 m), .50 caliber sniper rifles or machine guns are the best, so many 12.7×99 rifles have now become available.  But if a high volume of fire is needed, it is necessary to use the .50 caliber M2HB machine gun.  Because of its weight, more than 90 pounds (50 kg), it cannot be easily carried by infantry and is generally mounted on a vehicle or helicopter.  Thus, the idea of an intermediate weapon, with a power between 7.62mm NATO and 12.7mm was born.  First .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum were used for snipers and recently a new calibre was developed into the system, the .338 Norma Magnum.

.338 Norma Magnum
This cartridge was initially a wildcat developed by Jimmy Sloan, an American shooter.  The case is slightly larger than the .338 Lapua Magnum, but shortened to 63.5mm (2.5 inches).  The concept was developed by Norma, which in collaboration with Ruag, developed an ammunition that followed an American Army program of June 2008 for a new sniper rifle cartridge intended to replace the 7.62×51(.308 Win), .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum for snipers.

With a shorter case than its competitors, the .338 Norma Magnum could be used in many models of existing weapons without it being necessary to develop special mechanisms.  The diameter of the body of the case is slightly greater than that of the .338 Lapua Magnum, which eliminates any confusion between the two rounds.  The basic loading uses a 300 grain (19.44 g) bullet, with a muzzle velocity of 2,648 fps (805 m/s).  The .338 Norma Magnum cartridge is C.I.P. approved and has been adopted by the American Army since February 2009.  Already several shooting or hunting carbines are available for this round including McMillan, Remington 700 and Remington MSR (Modular Sniper Rifle).

.338 Norma Magnum head.

LWMMG
To accompany Special Forces and to enable them to engage the enemy at long range, they reviewed machine guns firing the .338  Magnum levels of ammunition.  The LWMMG (Light Weight Medium Machine Gun) using the .338 Norma Magnum makes this possible.  The weapon was first shown on May 15, 2012 at the NDIA Joint Armaments Conference at Seattle and was also presented at the Eurosatory Show in Paris in June 2012.  It was developed by General Dynamics in Charlotte (North Carolina).  With a weight less than 25 pounds (11 kg), it can engage the enemy on any ground up to 1,860 yards (1,700 m) with a maximum range greater than 6,000 yards (5,600 m).

General organization of the gun is similar the MAG.  The telescopic stock is assembled to the back around a tube containing the shock absorber.  The frame is U-shaped.  The stamping is reinforced with machined steel elements assembled by rivets.  The cocking lever is positioned on the right.  The feeding mechanism is placed on the top with a cover that opens and closes for loading.  Cartridges are linked similar to the U.S. M13 link, but slightly larger.  They are introduced from the left side and the fired cases and the links are ejected on the right.

The interchangeable barrel is provided with a handle for handling and the muzzle has a flash hider.  The gas cylinder is located under the barrel.  A short handguard, provided with three Picatinny rails, surrounds the rear of the barrel and the gas cylinder and the mechanical or optical sights are mounted on Picatinny rail.  The ambidextrous safety is positioned in the top of the grip.  There is no selector.  This weapon works by gas, the bolt is locked by a rotating head.  It can be mounted on a bipod or an M192 tripod.

Cartridges on links in the feedway.

Characteristics: LWMMG
Caliber: .338 (8.6mm)
Ammunition:  .338 Norma Magnum (8.6×63)
Overall length:  75.98 inches (1.93 m)
Barrel length:  37 inches (0.940 m)
Weight:  24 lbs (10.870 kg)
Cyclic rate:  500 rpm

American Special Forces could have at their disposal a suitable increase in firepower, but which requires a new type of ammunition, whose cost is probably very high.

Remembering other “9mm”
It is possible that the designers of the new ammunition and weapon probably think that they have created a new and innovative weapon and ammunition.  But the “9mm” machine gun is not an innovation.

In 1930s, France launched a program for a general-purpose machine-gun (infantry, tanks, anti-aircraft and aircraft) in various calibres (8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, 13.5mm and 14mm).  Several cartridges were developed, some of them only as drawings, but two of them were produced: the 9×66 and the 11×78.  Several machine guns for these cartridges were made by Chatellerault (MAC) and Saint-Etienne (MAS) small arms factories.

LWMMG machine-gun (right).

The 9×66 in particular catches our attention.  It looks like an enlarged version of the 7.5mm M1929 C cartridge.  At the beginning of its development, it had a case whose head diameter was .55 inch (14.20 mm), later changed to .61 inch (15.62 mm).  The bottlenecked case is made of brass and receives a Berdan type primer.  The Spitzer bullet has a lead core with a cupro-nickel covered steel jacket.  Weight is around 312 grains (20 g) and velocity is 2,565 fps in a 35.4 inch (0.90 m) barrel.

• Other variations were also developed:
• “Gerlich” type bullet for taper bore barrel (test)
• Armor piercing boat-tail Spitzer bullet with steel core and gilding metal jacket
• Armor piercing, flat nose, same as above
• Incendiary, gilding metal jacket with vents
• Spotting cartridge w/ explosive bullet
• Dummy

The “9mm” machine gun program was just about ready for tests when World War II began and it went no further.

Already, other manufacturers have announced new weapons in .338 Norma Magnum, particularly Castle Arms, Inc., which showed a general-purpose weapon called an MMGT, which seems to be a variation on an enlarged M60.

In his 1922 book, Story of the North West Frontier Province, author JM Ewart writes: “That gap in the low hills (south of Peshawar city) marks the Kohat Pass, which really has a better claim to being a historic highway of invasion than the Khyber itself.  By it, across a neck of Afridi country, runs the Frontier Road to Kohat and Bannu, to Dera Ismail Khan and Razmak.  The villages of the pass are famed for a strange industry — the manufacture entirely by hand of rifles and ammunitions, especially rifles, to the eye so like the products of European arsenals as to deceive all but experts.  For these, since they are comparatively cheap and serviceable, there is a ready sale all along the border.”

Going by what Ewart wrote, it seems that Darra Adam Khel’s armament industry and black market was well-established and well-known even a century ago.  In 1920, there was no centralized market, but scattered units located away from the main highway which passes through the region.  It was only after independence that a market, in the true sense of the word, emerged.

No one, however, knows about when arms manufacturing in Darra actually started, but it is claimed that it was established by Hindustani karegaran who came to Darra, most likely from Punjab.  The local people not only provided them with shelter but also allowed them to set up workshops.  For themselves, the locals chose the more profitable and far easier job of becoming arms dealers and to this day, 99 per cent of the gunsmiths are non-locals but almost 100 per cent of arms dealers and shopkeepers are locals who enjoy a complete monopoly over the trade.

Craftsman with beautiful hand made double barrel shotgun, a copy of the famous Holland & Holland.

But why did some people, who were very skilled gunsmiths, come to this far flung part of the subcontinent?  Locals claim that the first gunsmith who came to Darra Adam Khel was in fact a deserter from the British Army, possibly around the time of the 1857 rebellion, who came to Akhor village where he was accorded a red carpet welcome.  The tribesmen of those days, much like the tribesmen of today, loved their guns and were delighted to have at their disposal the skills of this British gunsmith.  Even in the lawless tribal areas, the law of demand and supply remains inviolable, and Darra became a famous weapons manufacturing center within the short span of a few years.

The British called the guns produced by these Hindustanis the ‘passmade’ guns while in his book The Way of the Pathans James Pain refers to them as ‘Afridi’ guns.

Today, most of the local people prefer imported arms for their superior quality, but if you have a tight budget, it’s advisable to find one of the skilled gunsmiths of Darra and get a gun made on order.

“If you want a hand gun for self defense then you should purchase a TT pistol from Malang, who is a very skilled gunsmith,” one of my friends from Mattani told me.  “But you have to wait for at least two months because the man already has hundreds of orders.”  He added that if I wanted something fancier, then I should look up Nawabzada Ustad, who is known for producing exact copies of the world-famed and highly prized Holland & Holland double barrel shotguns.  “But his gun would cost you Rs200,000 a piece and you have to wait for at least three months,” he cautioned. (Editor’s note: That would be $2000 USD, or €1500).

Darra (Khyber) workshop- LMO Chief Armorer Matt Babb holds an AK in 8mm Mauser. The base weapon is a Chinese made underfolding AK-47 (Type 56-1) with milled receiver. The selector is removed so that this fires the powerful 7.92x57mm (8mm Mauser) cartridge in semi-auto only. That’s the same full sized rifle cartridge fired by the Mauser 98 Rifle and MG42machine gun. The AK frame could not support fully-automatic fire. The Chinese receiver has been refinished, and the Chinese markings replaced by Russian markings. Magazine is a modified (Note rear rib) Czech ZB26 Light Machine Gun magazine. (Photo by Dan Shea)

Now equipped with all this advice I headed to Darra Adam Khel.  Every vehicle had to undergo strict checking by Frontier Corps personnel and because of the lengthy question and answer session, there was a long line of vehicles at the very first entry point just outside Darra.  Once I got there, I was met with disappointment.

“Boy, do you want a gun for hunting?  Well, Nawabzada is no longer here.  As you know he is from Mardan and he has now established a shop in Mardan.”  These were the remarks of an old man who introduced himself as Shah Jehan Ustad inside the Malik Market of Darra.  Seeing my disappointment, but obviously excited by the prospect of finding a customer, he went on to interrogate me every bit as forcefully as the FC had.

“Do you have a large salary?  How much do you make?  Not everyone can afford Nawabzada’s guns, you know.  They are excellent but very expensive.”

As he spoke, he quickly offered me a chair and sat me down, telling me that the famous Nawabzada had left Darra for good after the 2007 military operation when the entire market was forced to close down for almost a year.  Many of the gunsmiths had to relocate.  While Nawabzada still owns his old shop in Malik Market, the shutters are down permanently.

“You know I have worked here since 1965, when I came here all the way from Mardan as a teenager.  Nawab’s father was my cousin and he was the first man who copied the world famous double barreled Holland & Holland shotguns.  He transferred his skill to his two sons who have now left Darra for good,” claimed Shah Jehan.

An artisan and his tools- this gunsmith is carefully fitting a slide.

This old man and all his family, including his son and first and second cousins, produced only double barrel shotguns.  “I’ve made these guns from day one, but these are hard times for me.  Only enthusiasts or very rich people buy these guns which cost at least Rs50,000 a piece at minimum.”  He went on to complain that he barely managed to sell one gun a month as there was also stiff competition in the market.

“Pakistan is a small market and my quality is not of international standard.  We use locally produced steel which is not really of weapon grade.  We also lack technical knowhow so our guns are not that durable despite the fact that Darra’s weapon-making units are as old as the Holland & Holland company itself,” he said with a mixture of pride and regret.

It was strange for me to learn that there are over 2,500 skilled gunsmiths, originally hailing from the Attock district of Punjab, who have worked in Darra for generations, while another prominent gunsmith community hails from Azakhel, Nowshera.  Contrary to popular belief, only about one per cent of the gunsmiths are locals.  The people from Attock speak excellent Pashto, albeit with a Peshawari accent, and are considered to be among the most skilled of gunsmiths.

“I came to Darra in my childhood as one of our neighbors was already working here.  I earn around Rs20,000 a month by coloring (browning) the guns but other people from Punjab make guns and work in different factories in Darra,” said Saadullah, a resident of Attock.

Two local made pistols- ‘Mafia’ and ‘Brigadier,’ both proudly marked ‘Made in Pakistan.’ ‘Caliber .30’ indicates 7.62x25mm Tokarev caliber, a popular cartridge for the old Combloc firearms.

We met a local gunsmith, Farid Shah from Zarghoon Khel, Darra.  This man has a workshop set inside his small shop and has a single helper.  “I produce Kalashnikov (AK-47) rifles and 12 gauge shotgun rifles in the Kalashnikov design,” said Farid Shah.

Replying to a question about the quality of his guns, he simply said that his guns were no match for the Russian, Chinese or Pakistani guns produced in War Ordnance Factories.  “A gun made manually from ordinary steel manually cannot match a gun produced in a well equipped factory from weapon grade steel using computerized machines,” claimed Farid, adding that his guns were bulky and since there is no standardization in the workshops, it is not possible to replace parts.  Hence, if something goes wrong the entire gun has to be thrown away.

“This gun costs Rs12,000 a piece (Editor’s Note: that’s about $125 USD or €90) and takes 10 days to complete.  But we cannot produce quality automatic weapons.  Locals know it that is why no one would buy a Darra made AK-47 rifle in Peshawar or the rest of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).  These are sent to Lahore and Karachi instead,” he said, adding that despite their inferior quality, the Darra AK-47 was in great demand in Punjab because original Kalashnikovs cost Rs100,000 a piece.

Clearly disdainful of the standards of his Punjabi clientele, he goes on to say that a Pathan would ask for a guarantee before purchasing a gun and would most likely go for a serviceable hand gun or shot gun.  Their weapons of choice are either TT pistols, pump action shotguns, double barrels or a Beretta 9mm pistol, as those designs had proved successful over the years.  Non-locals, and in particular Punjabis, go more for the ‘look’ of the weapon rather than how reliable it is.

A variety of newly made handguns, patterned after production model pistols.

“People from other parts of the country come here with pictures of pistols or automatic rifles and insist that we produce it for them despite the fact that we cannot simply copy a gun from a picture!” he added.

Modernization of the Darra workshops is possible but the biggest hurdle faced by these units is that the entire industry is not regulated, or even legal for that matter.

Recently, a local investor got a license from the K-P home department and established a unit after making a total investment of Rs8 million but the license was cancelled after eight months following an objection by the law department.  “I got a license from the home department and when my unit started production my license was cancelled,” said the owner of the unit Shah Nawaz Afridi, adding that he was going to court against it.

“Ours is an illegal market and that is the biggest hurdle.  But no one allows us to go legal as is evident from the home department’s decision,” he said with anger, adding that if licenses were issued to Darra units it would help the government because the arms trade could then be regulated.

“Look at the example of Turkey.  A hundred years ago it didn’t have a single arms manufacturing unit but today they have dozens of well equipped units that are producing guns of local design and earning the country a good name and a lot of cash by exporting their products,” he said, adding that in Darra, guns were produced by hand using centuries-old techniques that were now obsolete.

“A TT gun produced in Darra costs Rs9,000 a piece and it is not of international standard, but a world class TT pistol produced in China is wholesaled at $50 a piece and I blame the government and its flawed policies for it,” he argued, adding that Darra is considered a problem by every government and is blamed for providing arms to terrorists in Karachi and anywhere else in the country.

Darra made 12-gauge select-fire AK variant. Many of the ‘Khyber Pass’ or ‘Darra’ AK variants, including semi-autos in 8mm Mauser, are made from recycled Russian or Chinese AK receivers. This receiver was built from scratch in Darra and was on the open market at a Pakistan gun shop. These weapons are seen with many security forces, who frequently supply their own firearm on duty (Photo by Jason Wong).

“There is a myth that gunsmiths of Darra can produce even atom bombs.  In fact they cannot even produce a serviceable AK-47 automatic rifle!” he says, referring to the famed gun that is the weapon of choice for insurgents and terrorists the world over.  “You can’t be a terrorist by using weapons of this poor quality,” he says with finality.

Among Shah Nawaz Afridi’s pet peeves is that the government simply has not had the imagination to harness the potential of these weapon makers.  “Take Faisalabad, for example.  It is a small city which has become the hub of the textile industry; the government established a textile engineering college to support the industry, thus making it one of the most industrialized cities in the country.”  In contrast, he says, Darra’s skilled gunmakers have been completely ignored.  “They could have established an engineering college in Darra to support the local industry to help it become world class, but that did not happen.”

He even has an argument to counter those who say that weapons manufacturing should not be encouraged.  “If you want these gunsmiths not to produce guns, you should train them to manufacture auto parts or other useful things.  They could be trained to produce air rifles, but do you know not a single unit in Darra produces air rifles despite the fact that a world class airgun is sold at $500 a piece on the international market as compared to $50 in the case of a TT pistol?”

Shah Nawaz added that the gunsmiths of Darra lacked the required type of steel which is light in weight and high in strength, and has undergone heat treatment techniques, surface treatment and parkerization.  The latter is a technique used to protect a gun’s surface from corrosion and wear and tear.  Once he starts listing all the things the local gunmakers lack, it is difficult to get him to stop.

SADJ Editor-In-Chief Dan Shea examines Darra made 12 gauge select- fire AK variant in Islamabad gun shop (Photo by Jason Wong).

“There is no standardization in our manufacturing units so everyone produces guns whose parts are not interchangeable.  This means you cannot export them and if you do, it would only earn you a bad name,” he said.

Shah Nawaz explained that every new government put a ban on arms licenses after coming into power and the nine years of Pervez Musharraf were the worst for them.

“If there is no license no one will buy my hand guns.  And if there is no local market then how can I survive?” asks arms dealer Hassan Gul, adding that terrorists and criminals don’t use licensed weapons in any case.  The Musharraf government only banned licenses in order to fool the people into thinking they were acting against crime and terrorism, he said as he sat back into his chair.

Still, Gul and his handgun business has better prospects than others like the forlorn shotgun maker Shah Jehan.  The price of a TT pistol has jumped to Rs8,000 or Rs9,000 as compared to Rs4,000 to Rs5,000.  “Pistols sell like hot cakes because there is a ban of the display of weapons in the country, and you can carry a pistol in your pocket.  Today, 80 per cent of Darra’s workshops produce TTs or other types of pistols,” said Gul, adding that in the past 10 years a number of factories had started copying expensive 9mm pistols like the Glock-17, Beretta, Smith and Wesson, and the Czech made CZ-75.

So not all of the legends about Darra Adam Khel are true; they can’t build F-16s and nuclear weapons.  But a lot of the bad press is also unjustified, in that the arms makers are not really fuelling terrorism either.  What does exist, however, is a pool of talented gunsmiths who, if given the technical training and the chance, could possibly spearhead the economic revival of an entire region.

On October 17-19, 2012, the Future Soldier Exhibition & Conference (FSEC) took place at the Letňany exhibition centre in Prague.  It is a specific international event consisting of a military fair, a meeting of the highest level representatives of military and armament staff, and a professional conference on a specific topic – this year it was “Future of Cyber.”

As can be seen on their website (www.natoexhibition.org), the history of today’s FSEC goes back to 1985 when it started under the name of The Combat Clothing & Personal Equipment exhibition.  It took place in Prague for the first time in 2000; just one year after the Czech Republic joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.  Since 2008, the Czech Republic (and Prague) has been the only venue of this event.  Its name was changed to Future Soldier (FS) the same year.  In 2012, the name was extended to Future Soldier Exhibition & Conference.  FS and FSEC are held every two years and in autumn 2012 this series of military fairs celebrated its 10th anniversary.

This was the first time this author had visited this exhibition.  Until now, many colleagues had expressed that the Future Soldier fairs offered little to journalists focusing on small arms.  Additionally, this event has never really been taken as a good starting point for the presentation of new products, especially in the small arms field, with one possible exception – in 2008 the Future Soldier exhibition was the first place where the public could see the new Czech CZ 805 assault rifle.  This time, in the autumn of 2012, I was kindly invited by some friends from one of the Czech companies and was interested how the Army of the Czech Republic was going to present its new weaponry.

In short, for the small arms professionals and enthusiasts, FSEC is really no scoop.  On the other hand, the 10th anniversary of this event offered several interesting exhibits that deserve to be mentioned.  What follows is my selection of the highlights in the field of the small arms at the FSEC 2012.

The new standard weapon of the Army of the Czech Republic is the Minimi machine gun in 7.62x51mm NATO, which has been gradually replacing the obsolete UK vz. 59 machine gun in 7.62x54R caliber.

The CZ 805 Bren assault rifle with the suspended grenade launcher CZ 805 G1 was also presented on the project LAFETA – an experimental sample of the wireless operated miniature carriage for small arms, which was developed by the Department of Military Management and Tactics of the University of Defence in Brno in cooperation with the company VOP CZ. This was the only CZ 805 BREN assault rifle at the exhibition that still had the original non-telescopic stock from the first stage of deliveries to the Czech Armed Forces.

Bumar also presented its sniper rifle Alex-338 in .338 Lapua Magnum. Despite the growing importance of the highly precise small arm on the modern battlefield, this was surprisingly the only sniper weapon at FSEC 2012.

At FSEC 2012, small arms were also presented by the Polish concern Bumar. Maybe the most interesting was the project of the new Polish army pistol of the arms company in Radom and Military Technical Academy in Warsaw. As we could see in Letňany, there are at least two designs of this interesting handgun with the two-piece polymer frame – one, presented during 2012, has an original rail on the top of the slide (whose shape resembles the slide of the Czech CZ P-07 Duty pistol), while the second has the conventional shape of the slide.

The see-saw battle of armor protection versus armament has been going on since the first wooden shield deflected a bone or stone tipped spear.  Most people associate the knights of medieval times as the epitome of armor over armament.  In Europe, plate armor reached its peak in the 16th century until the evolution of firearms brought an end to plate armor ascendancy.  Research & Development (R&D) in armor protection continued behind the scenes without managing to catch up to firearm effectiveness for hundreds of years.  Flak jackets created for the WWII aircrews signified the return of relevance for body armor thanks to advancement in material technology.  The WWII flak jacket consisted of manganese steel plates sewn into a waistcoat made of ballistic nylon engineered by the DuPont Company.  The ballistic protection we are more familiar with and serves as direct descendant of current body armor was developed in the 1970s in the form of DuPont’s Kevlar fabric.  The development of body armor has been going at an unprecedented rate since the 1970s with new materials and techniques discovered that can literally stop a bullet.  The manufacturing and material improvements since the Vietnam War are enabling a level of armor protection with minimal added weight, so important for mobility, unmatched for centuries.

Velocity Systems‘ plate carriers allow for the mounting of chest rig magazine carriers from Mayflower Research.

There are multiple companies involved in producing ballistic protection systems.  This business competition has not only spurred R&D, but also lowered the cost of armor making it available to a wider range of clients besides the military; such as law enforcement, private security, and individual citizens.  A leading armor solutions company helping equip U.S. tier one DHS (Department of Homeland Security), law enforcement, private security contractors (PSC), and military units with body armor is Velocity Systems.  While military or law enforcement budgets often fixate on high end equipment procurement, it is the unspoken rule that trained personnel are the real commodity in any organization.

While not necessarily the most widely known ballistic protection company, Velocity Systems is used by many law enforcement and military units.  At the present time, Velocity Systems’ niche in the market place lies with armor carriers, ballistic plates – soft and hard – and extremely responsive service.  Different entities arrive at Velocity with a need in mind.  If a Velocity Systems’ product is not already available, Velocity makes working products ready within weeks – not months.  Velocity’s sister company, Mayflower Research & Consulting, is another asset that melds well with Velocity Systems’ body armor carriers.

Multiple types of plate carriers are Velocity Systems production items for customers not requiring specialized mission requirements.

In the United States, certification levels by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), which is an agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, are often used as the standard.  The NIJ test protocol is different from all of DoD (Department of Defense) testing.  The different branches of military test their armor solutions slightly differently than each other.  The DoD tests are largely around perceived threats.  The NIJ is strictly a minimum test protocol and is not a threat analysis, though many of the NIJ test rounds used representative of current threats.  The NIJ levels are I, II-a, II, III-a, III, and IV.  Based on extensive laboratory tests, researchers can classify new body-armor design into one of these categories.  Level I body armor offers the lowest level of protection and Level IV offers the highest.  The body armor levels are described by what sort of weaponry they guard against.  The lowest-level body armor can only be relied on to protect against bullets fired from handguns with a relatively small caliber diameter, which tend to have less force on impact.  Levels I through III-a body armor are generally “soft” and thus somewhat more concealable and comfortable and is designed to defend against handgun rounds.  Level III is the first tier in the rating hierarchy to utilize hard or semi-rigid steel/ceramic/composite plates as does Level IV rated armor.  Level III and Level IV armor is designed to stop rifle fire from rounds such as the 5.56mm, 7.62×39, 7.62x51mm, .30-06, 7.62x54R, etc.  A user will need to pay specific attention to plates used to achieve a desired level of protection along with if multiple strike protection is also a requirement.  The increased protection associated with Level III and Level IV armor comes at the expense of weight and greater rigidity in armor construct.  Even in the best condition, this increased weight affects operator performance and efficiency; the degradation in performance is further enhanced if the individual does not utilize a properly designed armor and plate carrier system.

Velocity Systems offers a variety of armor solutions for a wide array of situations — situations that weren’t conceived of some 30 years ago.  Body armor has become just as crucial a part of an operator’s equipment as sidearm, rifle, and ammunition.  Velocity manufactures “soft armor” at their factory with most hard armor plates made to their specifications offsite.  Velocity Systems maintains QAQC standards that meet or exceed industry standards.  All ballistic materials are pre-tested to specification before received into the factory, and all ballistic solutions are Lot Tested after manufacturing.  The individual soft armor packs are counted no less than three (3) times and are weighed to meet weight specification, as well as a final visual inspection before shipping to a customer.  Velocity’s material welders are serviced every twenty (20) hours of service and are re-calibrated as needed.  In recent years, Velocity has started increasing its automation in order to maintain consistency through increasingly larger production runs.  Velocity’s customers require the highest standards of ballistic performance so all the industry standards – NIJ, FBI, DEA, DoD – are given consideration; Velocity also builds armor solutions to specific threats as needed or required by customers.  Velocity maintains ability to provide different ballistic solutions for different market segments albeit law enforcement, security contractor, or military.

To articulate what separates Velocity Systems from other armor companies, their tag line is, “At the Speed of Need.”  Velocity Systems is a specialty/custom house that provides custom armor solutions rapidly, while maintaining no volume constraints.  Velocity’s lead designer maintains over 20 years of experience designing armor carrier platforms and ballistic solutions.  A “typical” Velocity procurement process involves meeting with a customer to discuss mission profile for armor.  A working prototype is then manufactured with the customer encouraged to run the kit for a couple weeks proofing the design criteria in field environment.  Once the feedback is given, Velocity is generally 30 to 45 days in standard production for the final product.  Obviously, people/agencies that have short suspense times and are going down range have the right-of-way and will get put on the fast track.  Velocity’s commitment in being a “solutions provider” also involves Velocity, through industry contacts or other means, regularly acquiring non-Velocity items to help support customers.  The relationship between Velocity Systems and Mayflower Research tactical gear is a good example of this “solutions provider” mentality.  The principal owner of Mayflower is good friends with one of the Velocity owners.  In 2008, Velocity was approached to help support the increasing manufacturing needs of Mayflower.  Velocity Systems agreed to OEM manufacture Mayflower chest rigs and other kit.  In 2010, Velocity owners acquired a minority share of Mayflower and starting sharing manufacturing assets, distribution outlets, and contacts.  Velocity Systems and Mayflower operate as two different companies, but at times this close relationship has design cues and material choices creeping across the factory floor to the mutual benefit of both companies.

Velocity Systems keeps in stock a variety of plate carriers as well as being capable of custom making anything a client desires.

While familiar with Velocity Systems and Mayflower products thanks to usage in the last couple years in firearms training courses and other activities, a colleague and friend, Shannon Campbell, was turned to for further insight.  With several sojourns overseas as a private security contractor using Velocity Systems products, Shannon is a worthy opinion source.  Shannon Campbell is co-founder of Norone Corporate.  Norone Corporate is a weapons and security applications training entity that began as a collaboration of former Federal contractors, U.S. military personnel, and active competitors who gathered a vast amount of tactical experience to bring to bare and share to specific clientele.  Norone Corporate provides tactical weapons training for protection teams of Federal contractors and law enforcement as well as for some of the largest global private security providers.  Of late, Norone has narrowed its focus to stay at mid-level and provide specific training to enhance individual skill development making an individual operator an asset to any team for any environment.

When asked why he chooses to use Velocity Systems plate carriers and hard armor plates versus other options on the market, Shannon responded with, “….the biggest problems operators have with their body armor “kit” is it hindering or competing against efficient employment of their weapons i.e. stock placement, sling snag, cheek weld, sluggish movement drawing a pistol.”  Shannon continued, “You need to set your rig to run your guns.  All else is secondary.  We have all experienced our plates and magazines pulling our whole rig down and exposing us to more problems.  The armor also shifts due to accessory weight and lack of shoulder movement.  I (Shannon) have personally seen guys in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and Indonesia strip their gear down and run it dangerously loose to promote better offensive movement.  After all, “The essence of fighting is mobility” as stated by Bruce Lee.”  Shannon feels Velocity Systems has found the cures to these ailments and more.  Velocity fully realizes one size does not fit all.  Velocity Systems’ experience and attention to detail allows them to set up a full armor rig within the confines of an agency/department’s uniformity requirements; yet tailor the armor to the individual at the same time.  Velocity Systems’ has the ability to make armor “kit” ready for any mission and accessorize it with minimal changes to suit any environment or specification.

A variety of hard plates with varied shapes and ballistic performance aids in Velocity Systems tailoring armor carrier per specified mission profile.

According to Shannon and supported by article research, a crucial Velocity Systems advantage is their constant innovations in the body armor they create.  Velocity Systems has an extensive and continual development program for armoring solutions.  The combo of R&D on plate performance and Velocity’s employment of professional fashion designers makes for a functional protection system for any shooter on any mission.  Velocity Systems recognizes the mission evolution that has occurred over the last decade.  A lowering of ones presence, regardless of threat level, for a lower “print” related to smaller team and less obtrusive behavior, is the new norm in when operating in country.  Velocity Systems has developed the applicable body armor kits to accommodate that type of mission without compromising safety or security.  Shannon states, “…guys think that all that MOLLE rigging on a chest carrier has to be used.  They have items all over the place.  Tons of crap to look cool I can only suppose.  This type of set up is not conducive to my work or to those war fighters who need a functional load out that allows them speed, agility, and protection simultaneously.”

Shannon went on to expand on his ideal body armor set up is, “… No MOLLE at all, yet still carry over six AR mags with minimal and optional retention.  Front and rear armor plate is Level 4 multi-hit protection and doesn’t sag at all due to excessive weight, fully adjustable everywhere, doesn’t restrict a waist pistol draw or a carbine shoulder cheek weld at all even with a high plate.  The kit fits under any garment and so rounded that there is no print at all.  Velocity Systems not only had one for me to buy, but it was already made without asking for it.  They already knew – that is impressive!”  It is worth allowing Shannon to describe in more detail what he was looking for in a body armor set up.  “For me, I do not want unknown persons in austere environments I operate to know anything about my kit and capabilities.”  Shannon conceals in various ways using non-military cover garments that do not interfere with natural movements.  In a basic Velocity Systems configuration, Shannon can hold nine (9) AR mags and two (2) Level 4 plates and still button up a jacket over it with no weight shifts and great ease getting in and out of positions.  He explained how a persons gait gives away so much information so gear has to be comfortable and balanced.

Velocity Systems can provide armor protection for any member of a team.

The adaptability of the Velocity Systems body armor is accentuated by the patent pending SwiftClip attachment system.  Velocity’s SwiftClip allows auxiliary equipment such as Mayflower chest rigs, med and E&E bags to quickly clip on or off base component whether it is Velocity Systems Armor Vest, Plate Carrier, LBV, etc.  The SwiftClip system allows for a stable load versus the excessive movement of simply wearing an “H-harness” over your existing armor.  The SwiftClip system is a much faster way of adding gear than tediously weaving MOLLE tabs, especially if multiple mission requirements are present during deployment.  A Mayflower Research and Consulting UW Chest Rig Gen IV is a good example of how Mayflower chest rigs can be married to a Velocity Systems plate carrier.  The UW Chest Rig is a low-profile mission focused vest built to be ambidextrous and designed to carry the following: four (4) AR 5.56mm magazines, two (2) pistol magazines, up to two (2) small radios (PRC-152/MBITR types) as well as two general purpose pockets.  The H style harness features loops and elastic to route antennas, communication wires and hydration bladder tubing.  The UW Chest Rig is removable via four (4) one inch ITW-Nexus side release buckles (SwiftClip) and designed to be mounted to the front of the Velocity Systems armor carrier.  The body of the chest rig has a built in map pocket with a Velcro closure.  Elastic is provided for cable management and antenna relocation.  The Mayflower chest rig is 100% made in the USA – as is the Velocity Systems components.

Velocity Systems is at the forefront of making body armor more comfortable and effective in stopping a wider range of projectiles.  The increased comfort eases the operator’s chore of maintaining self discipline in wearing their armor.  Body armor can be characterized as a contingency, a “what if” plan if you will.  It’s worn for the same reasons that we put on seat belts.  It doesn’t matter how tactically sound we are, we may run into an individual who’s willing to shoot us no matter the cost to them in terms of their own well being.  It doesn’t matter if we are a Tier One highly trained soldier, because we can never control all of the variables in a gun battle.  The most important thing is making sure the body armor is worn for the chance it is needed.  As stated at the beginning of the article, trained personnel are the real commodity in any organization.  Velocity Systems’ products aid in making sure personnel wear their armor with its quality and comfort once put on.

Velocity Systems
45064 Underwood Lane, Unit B
Dulles, VA 20166
(703) 707-6280
www.velsyst.com

One would imagine that everything about German submachine guns of World War Two has already been written.  But in-depth research still goes on and sometimes little treasures surface:  So for the very first time Small Arms Defense Journal can now show details of the unique one-of-a-kind experimental submachine gun MP38(L).

The submachine gun with serial number V3013 is kept in the outstanding collection of the Czechoslovak Military Museum in Prague (Vojenský historický ústav Praha).  Until today, no other example of this model was found.  The relevant literature mentions this weapon, but no detailed pictures have ever been shown.

The thread for the barrel nut is not as fine as on the MP38. Below the sling-lug the logo “AWW” of the Aluminum works Wutöschingen is visible.

At the beginning of 1938, the Erfurter Maschinenfabrik (ERMA) received an official order for the development a new submachine gun from the Heereswaffenamt (office for army weapons).  Already a few months later, at the beginning of June 1938, ERMA presented the Maschinenpistole MP38.  This achievement is impressive; however the time interval seems to be much too short for developing such a new weapon.  This fact must arouse suspicions that a (nearly) ready draft must have slumbered in the drawers of ERMA – and now the time had come to take it out.  Actually, the MP38 wasn’t a complete new construction by any means, but rather the advancement of a nearly unknown predecessor model: the EMP36 (See: Iannamico, Frank: The MP36 – The Missing Link in Small Arms Review, Vol. 2, No. 4, January 1999).

The weightiest change, in the true sense of the word, concerned the manufacturing of the receiver.  For reasons of weight reduction, the solid steel receiver was provided with numerous oblong grooves and the vertical magazine well got a large round cutout on each side.  The furniture of the receiver’s lower part of the EMP36 was completely made of wood, but with the MP38 the much lighter bakelite was used instead.  At this time Bakelite was still a quite new material in the manufacturing of weapons.  In addition, the fire selector was omitted.

The Waffenamt WaA280 was used by ERMA. Also the marking &lsquoEE&rsquo in circle” may stand for &lsquoERMA Erfurt&rsquo. On the barrel the lowest line of the second &lsquoE&rsquo is nearly invisible.

The revision was done in a short time.  Only seven months later the MP38 was basically tested, followed by the official introduction on 29. June 1938.  Serial production started in July 1938, though very slowly.  When Germany launched the attack on Poland (“Fall Weiss”), about 8,700 MPs were listed in the inventory reports of the units.  The distribution of the new weapon took place in a hurry with the result that there was no time for special field tests.  That being so, selected units had to continuously send back experience reports.

But the MP38 was still an expensive weapon to manufacture.  In spring 1940, ERMA tried to simplify their design.  In the meantime, the use of pressed sheet metal parts in the industry had made great progress and so the receiver and grip-piece were redesigned for this kind of technology.  The new weapon was named MP40 and serial production started in March 1940.  The MP38 stayed in service till the end of the war, but most of them were modified with an improved safety from the MP40.

Right side of the MP38(L)

In this time experiments were carried out with a light-weight MP made of aluminium.  No documents or other information could be found, so all that is left is the unique MP38(L) as a piece of evidence.  The initiator of this development is still unknown.  Some researchers think that the “L” stands for “Luftwaffe” (air force) and that the weapon was a development for the paratroopers that were in need of light-weight infantry weapons.  But the air force did not have enough influence on the arms industry at this stage of war and one should keep in mind that aluminium was a rare and expensive raw-material.  Most of it was used in the aircraft industry and step by step the parts made of aluminium on military equipment were reduced to a minimum to avoid shortages.  For logical reasons the “L” means “leicht” (light).  With a weight of 3.34 kg the MP38(L) weighs one kilogram (2.2 pounds)less than the MP40.

The military manufacturer code of ERMA is not put on the weapon.  The only marking that connects the weapon with ERMA is the Waffenamt WaA280 found on some parts.  Some other markings “EE in a circle” can stand for “ERMA Erfurt.”  The cast upper and lower receivers are marked with a nearly invisible “AWW” logo.  So these parts were made by the Aluminium-Werke Wutöschingen in southern Germany close to the Swiss border.

The author wants to thank Jan Skramoušský and the Military Museum Prague (www.vhu.cz)