Week 50 2023

 This Week in Firearms History:

December 10: In 1898 The Treaty of Paris ends the Spanish-American War; in 1817 Mississippi is admitted as the 20th state; in 2012 exhibition shooter Bob Munden dies in Butte Montana.

December 11: In 1620 the Mayflower makes land at Plymouth; in 1725 Patriot George Mason is born; in 1941 the U.S. declares war on Germany and Italy. 

December 12: in 1870 Joseph Rainey, a Republican, becomes the 1st black to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives; in 1936 China declares war on Japan; in 1957 exhibition shooter Ed McGivern dies in Butte Montana.

December 13: In 1636 Massachusetts Bay Colony establishes a militia for defense from Indians, recognized as the 1st National Guard; in 1887 Sgt Alvin York is born; in 1948 Ted Nugent is born.

December 14: Guns Save Lives Day; In 1799, George Washington dies at the age of 67; In 1819 Alabama enters the union as the 22nd State; in 1896 General James Doolittle is born

December 15: In 1791 the U.S. Bill of Rights is ratified; 1923 gun designer Uziel Gal was born. in 1995 Heat is released in theaters.

December 16: In 1773 The Boston Tea Party protest; in 1907 American Naval "Great White Fleet" departs Virgina for their World Tour.

Gun of the Week: The U.S. M1 Carbine

The U.S. M1 Carbine served as the light infantry rifle for the U.S. Armed Forces for 32 years.

Developed for use for infantry men who had to carry other gear (radios, artillery, staff equipment, etc) and needed a capable rifle that was lighter and used ammo that was also lighter. The carbine fired a 110 grain 30 caliber bullet to nearly 2000 feet per second.

Developed during the late 1930s from an Ed Browning design for Winchester, David Marshall Williams redesigned the rifle using a smaller version of the M1 Garand's rotating bolt. Approved on October 2nd, 1941 the rifle served until 1973.

Cartridge of the Week: Winchester 44-40

The cartridge known today as the 44-40 Winchester started out with a different name.

Named the .44 Winchester Center Fire the cartridge was introduced by Winchester in 1873 as the primary chambering of their new model of 1873 rifle. The name of the cartridge changed with Union Metallic Cartridge began producing the round, they didn't want to use a competitor's name on their box, so they dubbed it the .44-40.

Not a true 44 caliber, the bullet actually measures .427" and thus is not compatible with the .44 Special or .44 Magnum.

Read more about the history of .44 caliber guns here.

 

Gun Quote of the Week:

"Men fight for liberty and win it with hard knocks. Their children, brought up easy, let it slip away again; poor fools. And their grand-children are once more slaves."
- D. H. Lawrence

Bubba Gun of the Week:

This weeks bubba gun comes from Enel Angus of Fort Stumpy Tennessee. It is a Marlin model 70 with a custom stock of his own creation.

Gun Sticker of the Week:

I have no idea who made this sticker, but I like it, could use some editing tough, I can think of a few other worthless things:

tits on bull, a government bureaucrat, etc...

Gun T-Shirt of the Week:

This week's t-shirt comes from Grunt Style and is available at Walmart.