Week 44 2023

 

This Week in Firearms History:

October 29: in 1919 The Volsted Act passes Congress outlawing the production, transportation and consumption of alcohol; in 1929 Black Tuesday, the stock market crashes, in 2003 the 1st Call of Duty game is released.

October 30: In 1735 President John Adams is born; in 1938 Orson Wells panics nation with War of the Worlds broadcast; in 1954 the US Armed Forces end segregation.

October 31: Halloween; in 1873 PT Barnum's "Greatest Show on Earth" debuts; in 1984 Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is assassinated.

November 1: All Saints Day; in 1864 Nevada is admitted as the 36th state; in 1928 Jack Weaver is born; in 1952 the US explodes the World's first hydrogen bomb. 

November 2: In 1734 Daniel Boone is born; in 1800 John Adams moves into the White House (the 1st to occupy); in 1920 the Ocee Massacre takes place, Democrats kill at least 56 black people to prevent them from voting Republican.

November 3: In 1921 Charles Bronson is born, in 1926 Annie Oakley dies; in 1953 Dennis Miller is born.

November 4: In 1862 a patent for the Gatling Gun is issued; in 1919 John C. Garand starts work at the Springfield Armory; in 1963 the purchase of 85,000 M-16 rifles is approved; in 1979 US Embassy in Iran is overrun.

Gun of the Week: Winchester model 94

The Winchester model 94 started out as the model of 1894, named for the year it was introduced.

In 1912 Winchester changed their model #s to two digits and no longer tied the year of introduction to the model #. Originally offered in .32-40 & .38-55, both black powder cartridges.

The rifles most popular cartridge was the .30 WCF aka the .30-30 Winchester. The combo of the model 94 and 30-30 cartridge was the most popular deer hunting outfit in North America for generations. We should not fail to mention that the gun was also used in numerous wars, civil defense and law enforcement actions.

More than 7.5 Million model 94s in 15 calibers had been built between 1894 and 2006 when the Winchester New Haven factory was shuttered.

The rifle was reintroduced in 2011 by the new owners of the brand and is still being produced today.

Cartridge of the Week:  .40 Smith & Wesson

The 40 S&W cartridge owes its existence to an FBI shootout, a Gun writer and not so tough FBI agents.

After a failed shootout in Miami in 1986, in which two FBI agents lost their lives, the bureau decided to adopt the new 10mm cartridge and S&W pistol as their new duty weapon. The adoption didn't go well, as many of the agents complained about the recoil of the 10mm cartridge. As a result, the .40 S&W was created by Smith & Wesson in 1990. Smith & Wesson shortened the 10mm case from 25.2mm to 21.6mm and reduced the powder charge, which gave the cartridge its alternate nickname of the .40 Short & Weak.

Smith & Wesson introduced the cartridge in their 9mm sized model 4006. Just as with the introduction of the .44 Magnum a competitor (this time Glock) beat S&W to market with their model 22 & 23 pistols. The 40 S&W gained favor with many law enforcement agencies as it seemed to fit the gap between the sometimes "marginal" 9mm and lower capacity of the 45 ACP.

Gun Quote of the Week:

"The obedient always think of themselves as virtuous, rather than cowardly." - Robert Anton Wilson

Bubba Gun of the Week:

This weeks Bubba Gun comes to us from Compton, California. Felonious Davis-Watson committed several crimes against society for this build including but not limited to larceny, possession of a stolen weapon, felon in possession of a weapon, several NFA violations and at least one offense against good taste. He said the risk of Federal Prison time for a Golden Poop Award would be worth it for the street cred both the award and prison time he would garner.

Gun Sticker of the Week:

This gun sticker, designed to fit on the magwell of an AR rifle, sends a message to those wanting to take the gun. Buy them here.

Gun T-Shirt of the Week:

This weeks gun t-shirt is from Magpul