This Week in Firearms History:

March 5: In 1770 The Boston Massacre, British kill 5 unarmed Colonists; in 1836 Samuel Colt founds the Patent Arms Mfg Co in Patterson, NJ

March 6: In 1836, after 13 days, the Alamo falls to Mexican forces; in 1849 Georg Luger is born, in 1877 Townsend Whelen is born; in 1940 Simo Hayha is nearly killed by the Red Army

March 7: In 1841, gun maker Iver Johnson is born; in 1936 Hitler breaks the Treaty of Versailles by sending troops to the Rhineland.

March 8: In 1899 Elmer Keith is born; in 1973 the IRA carry out their first attack

March 9: In 1811 Fort Astoria is established; in 1918 the Russian Bolshevik Party becomes the Communist Party

March 10: In 1848 the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is ratified, ending the Mexican-American War; in 1940 Chuck Norris is born

March 11: In 1927 the 1st Armored Car robbery in Pittsburg; WWII, in 1945 Japanese begin kamakazi attack on US Fleet at Ulithi Atoll; in 1989 COPS tv show debuts on Fox

Gun of the Week: Marlin 39A

The Marlin 39A started with a lever action design in 1889, that design was modified in 1891 into what became the most popular lever action .22 rifle.

The model number 39 was assigned to the rifle in 1921/22

More than 2 million of the rifles were produced, at one time it was the oldest and longest continually produced shoulder firearm in the world. When Marlin was purchased by Remington, its fate was sealed, and production ended sometime circa 2014. See more here

Cartridge of the Week: 30-06 Springfield

Often called "God's Caliber" the story of the 30-06 Springfield dates back to 1892 when the U.S. abandoned the 45-70 Government for the .30 caliber 30-40 Krag (aka .30 US). The 30-40 was redeveloped into the rimless 30-03 cartridge in 1903 and then improved again in 1906 into the 30-06 Springfield.

If you hadn't figured it out the development of the cartridge took place at the US Arsenal at Springfield, MA. The 30-06 is a potent hunting round capable of taking nearly any game on the globe. The wide variety of bullet weights (110 grain to 220 grain) and bullet designs make it perhaps the most versatile rifle round in existence.

The U.S. Military had many guns chambered in 30-06 including the 1903 Springfield Rifle, the M1 Garand, the M1918 BAR, the M1941 Johnson Rifle and both the M1917 and M1919 Browning Machine guns. Nearly every maker of a bolt action rifle offers (or has offered) their guns in 30-06 chambering.

Gun Quote of the Week:

"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" - Patrick Henry, St. John's Church, Richmond, Virginia March 23, 1775

Bubba Gun of the Week:

This highly customized Ruger 10/22 was submitted for consideration in the 3rd semi-biannual Golden Poop Awards for Gunsmithing by Creedence Clearwater Cole out of Derriere Bayou, Louisiana