Column Date 2011-05-04
Quick -- can you name your state's official weapon?
As state after state jumps on the ‘official weapons bandwagon,’ we thought we’d review which states have chosen what as their official weapon.
It started, as you may recall, last March in Utah, where the state legislature selected the John M. Browning M1911 pistol, as their official firearm.
The M1911 joined other state symbols such as Utah’s official tree (blue spruce) and the official state cooking pot (the Dutch oven).
A few weeks later, Arizona picked the Colt single action Army revolver as its official state gun, despite the fact that it is manufactured in Connecticut.
Yesterday, rumors were flying around Austin, Texas that lawmakers were close to naming the Airtronic MK 777 Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher as the official weapon of the State of Texas.
Vigorously denying this was a reaction to Arizona and Utah naming their own state weapons first, a legislative spokesperson said:
“We’ve been thinking on this for a while now. We just figure that, well, being Texans, we should have something more substantial that just a little handgun.”
He pointed out that the MK777 is handy for the average Texan to use when confronted with light armor, main battle tanks, bunkers, and infantry lurking behind barriers and walls.
In other breaking news, the state of New York, by unanimous vote, named its own official weapon: irony.
(c) 2011 Peter Tannen
To hear a podcast of this column, please go to:


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Large Caliber Shootout
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I am the first to say that gun shooting to me is a little scary. Besides my dad's hunting guns hanging on the basement walls when I was a kid, I have very little experience in guns. I was beyond naive about how they worked, how to load, and especial how to shoot. My sister and I bought our husband a Living Social coupon for a day at the gun range. It included, a lane, one gun rental, 50 rounds, glasses, and ear muffs for two. Neither Ryan or I had ever shot a gun, so we were a little nervous when the day came to face our fear.
Our adventure started with the boys trying to help us pick out a gun to shoot. Steve decided we should shoot 9mm because it has the least kick. Unfortantely it also has little aim lol (I will get to that). Once we had guns, the boys also had to teach us how to load them. Then it was time for shooting. I was so nervous to take my first shot. What if it hurts, what if hit something I'm not suppose to, what if I heate it. But, it wasn't that bad. Once I shot a couple, it got easier to relax and try and aim. Lets just say, I am going to need some more practice if I plan on being good at this at all. However, I did have some good shots.
|Steve and I's target|
After the regular target shooting, Ryan and David rented a metal shooting lane. This was a lot more fun. These lanes had a game where the targets popped up randomly and you had to shot them down. Plus there were only 3 lanes in this room, so it was much quieter than the big open range. Overall I say it was good family bonding experience. Who knows if I will do it again, but at least I am not scare of them anymore and I faced my fear!


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Slahan was the sword forged by Nocker out of a shard of the Gate of Horn. It contains the soul of Lord Dougal.
After Lord Aelil used the weapon to kill Sidabras, it lay on the blasted plain until Rain took it and the two remaining bones of the dragon.
[What was Rain doing there? What did she do after taking the sword but before returning to Arcadia? Did she take Slahan back to Arcadia? What happened to it then?]
Slahan was the only weapon which could pierce Sidabras's hide, being made from one of his own horns (which had been shaped into the Gate of Horn.


“Stimson, what was gunpowder? Trivial. What was electricity? Meaningless. This atomic bomb is the second coming in wrath!” Those words were spoken by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to U.S. Secretary of War Henry Stimson. The two men were gathered at the Potsdam Conference in July of 1945, and Churchill had just been informed that America had successfully exploded an atomic bomb.
In one sense, human history was transformed the moment that bomb exploded in the New Mexico desert. Nevertheless, it was the first use of an atomic bomb in warfare that is seared into the human memory. On August 6, 1945, Colonel Paul Tibbets and his crew flew the Enola Gay, their specially modified B-29 bomber, and dropped “Little Boy” over the city of Hiroshima, Japan.
The power and destructive force of the bomb defied the human imagination, and it continues to do so today. Within seconds of its detonation, the bomb had destroyed most of central Hiroshima. A giant fireball unleashed annihilation and a consuming inferno throughout the city. Buildings, bridges, and human bodies were evaporated by the force of the blast as successive shockwaves spread throughout the region and a now-familiar mushroom cloud reached heights of over 48,000 feet over the city. Just three days later, an even more destructive bomb would be dropped over the city of Nagasaki.
News of the bomb and its power soon spread around the world. Joseph Stalin had been informed of the American development of the bomb during the Potsdam Conference. According to historians, he then went into an entire day of mourning and seclusion. The actual use of the bomb could not be hidden from the human consciousness. Indeed, the American use of the bomb was intended to break the Japanese military’s will to fight.
At first, the American people responded to news of the bomb with a sense of relief. This was especially true for millions of American soldiers, who knew that the alternative to a Japanese surrender was a ghastly invasion of the Japanese mainland. Just after dropping the bomb, navigator Theodore (Dutch) Van Kirk heard someone aboard the Enola Gay express, “This war is over.” As Van Kirk later reflected, he silently agreed with the assessment. “You didn’t see how anybody–even the most radical, militaristic, uncaring for their people–how anybody like that could stand up to something like this.”
Writer Paul Fussell, a 21-year-old soldier serving in France and waiting for likely deployment for the Japanese invasion, expressed his thoughts with simple relief: “We were going to live. We were going to grow up to adulthood after all.”
The actual destruction wrought by the bomb was classically described by novelist John Hersey in Hiroshima, first released as a book in 1946. Much of the book had already appeared in a series of articles Hersey wrote for The New Yorker. The human toll eventually numbered somewhere between 100,000 and 200,000 deaths. An estimated 120,000 were killed immediately in Hiroshima and Nagasaki but thousands of others died later from catastrophic injuries and the effects of radiation.
In the years since the Japanese surrender, the American use of atomic weapons at Hiroshima and Nagasaki has become one of the most debated questions of history. The burden of history falls upon all of us, but Christians bear a particular responsibility to make sense of the past and to evaluate events, issues, and decisions from the framework of Christian moral teaching. For some, a quick condemnation of nuclear weapons is the only conceivable response. Those who hold to such a position of absolute condemnation assume that President Harry S Truman and his colleagues were war criminals. On the other hand, the majority of Americans living at the time saw the use of the weapon as beyond question, believing it to have been necessary in order to force a Japanese surrender and to save an even greater death toll in Japanese and American lives.
When the Smithsonian Institution decided to create a special exhibit focused on the Enola Gay and its mission on the 50th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing in 1995, a contentious controversy and battle among historians ensued. As Richard B. Frank explains, the “traditionalist” view held by historians understands that the United States had used the two atomic bombs in order to end the war in the Pacific. “They further believed that those bombs had actually ended the war and saved countless lives,” Frank explains.
In contrast, historical “revisionists” argue that the use of the atomic weapon was actually motivated by the American concern that the Soviet Union might gain advantage in the Pacific. According to the revisionists, the Japanese were already attempting to surrender, but Truman dropped the bomb in order to prevent the Soviets from claiming more territory in the Pacific.
Nevertheless, there is no evidence that the Japanese were really ready to surrender–certainly not on the unconditional terms of the Potsdam Declaration. In reality, the Japanese were engaged in a high-stakes gamble that the Soviets would force the Americans and the British to negotiate.
Frank offers a compelling argument that the revisionists are simply wrong. In an article published in the August 8, 2005 issue of The Weekly Standard, Frank argues that new evidence, mostly drawn from declassified intelligence reports, demonstrates that the Japanese high command was not even close to a decision to surrender and that the Allied demand for a Japanese unconditional surrender was still rejected by Japanese authorities. As a decoded message from Prime Minister Togo stated to his Russian ambassador: “Please bear particularly in mind, however, that we are not seeking the Russians’ mediation for anything like an unconditional surrender.”
Sixty years later, it is now clear that the developing Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union did play a part in the background to the conclusion of the Pacific war. Nevertheless, we also now know that the Japanese war council was adamantly opposed to surrender, even as defeat was virtually certain. A decision to surrender–with the understanding that the Japanese monarchy would survive in revised form–came only after Emperor Hirohito personally intervened to force the issue.
In his brilliant and controversial new book Racing the Enemy: Stalin, Truman, and the Surrender of Japan, historian Tsuyoshi Hasegawa of the University of California, Santa Barbara, argues, “The Japanese leaders knew that Japan was losing the war. But defeat and surrender are not synonymous. Surrender is a political act. Without the twin shocks of the atomic bombs and Soviet entry into the war, the Japanese would never have accepted surrender in August.”
Thus, Hasegawa argues that it was the combination of the two atomic bombs and the Soviet declaration of war on August 8 that led to a collapse in the Japanese war party. Nevertheless, we should remember that an attempted coup against the emperor and the government was almost successful, even as Hirohito prepared to announce the surrender to his nation.
Sixty years after the event, we know much more about the sequence of events that shaped the context and about the deliberations that shaped the decisions on both the Japanese and American sides. Writing in the August 1, 2005 edition of TIME magazine, Michael Elliott summarizes: “Ever since, there has been a controversy over when the war would have ended had the bomb not been dropped on Hiroshima . . . and how many Japanese and Americans would have died before it did. But, plainly, the most terrible war ever known ended earlier than it would have because of the Enola Gay‘s mission. The bombs cost tens of thousands of lives . . . but they saved lives too.” Elliott adds, “Right from the start, the nuclear age was wrapped in a paradox. An awful weapon had saved lives; a terrible instrument of war had brought peace.”
Was the use of the atomic bomb categorically wrong? Some are certain that this is so. Nevertheless, catastrophic bombing of populations had already taken place in both the Pacific and European theaters of the war. As Jerram Barrs, resident scholar at the Francis Schaeffer Institute argues, nuclear weapons “are qualitatively different, capable of greater destruction than conventional weapons, but not of a quite different order.” As he explains: “Man has shown, again and again, that he can kill millions of people with quite simple weapons (Julius Caesar’s wars in Gall are one example). The ability to kill many with one bomb is not qualitatively different from killing many with swords or guns.”
The most challenging moral questions related to the actual use of the bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are whether the bomb was actually necessary to end the war and whether it was right to bomb cities, knowing that thousands of civilians would be among the casualties.
Here again, Barrs argues that “while the desire to keep civilians out of battle is obviously praiseworthy, we have to recognize that this is sometimes difficult.” When military assets are deeply embedded within civilian populations, the issue becomes even more troubling.
The Christian conscience must continue to struggle with the morality of the atomic age and with the specter of nuclear weapons. We must be thankful that 60 years has now passed without any further hostile use of nuclear weaponry. Whatever moral questions may be addressed to the Cold War doctrine of “Mutually Assured Destruction,” the fact is that neither the Soviet Union nor the United States used a nuclear weapon against the other.
The current picture is further complicated by the fact that the proliferation of nuclear weapons remains a paramount concern. Most contemporary observers believe that the greatest danger posed by a nuclear weapon is that one might be used by a terrorist group.
In the final analysis, there is good reason to believe that the deployment of the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki may well have saved more Japanese lives in the end, as well as the lives of unnumbered American soldiers and sailors.
I cannot reflect on this question without thinking of my friend Joe Reynolds, who was then a young Marine officer who had seen the carnage of Iwo Jima firsthand. Had Japan not surrendered in August of 1945, Joe Reynolds and millions of other American servicemen would have invaded Japan, facing a nation then willing to fight the invaders to the bitter end–even if it meant elderly women and young children wielding sharpened bamboo spears. I am thankful that that tragic war did end in August 1945, and I am thankful that Joe Reynolds, along with millions of his fellow soldiers and sailors, lived to serve their country in other ways.
The 60th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing should serve as a catalyst for Christian reflection on the morality of warfare, the reality of human sinfulness, the frailty of human wisdom, and the burden of history. For all these things, we will give an answer. Until then, we must do the very best with what we have, what we know, and what we face.


From the Oregonian, September 24, 2011
Nearly three months after a Portland police officer mistakenly fired lethal shotgun ammunition from a less-lethal beanbag shotgun, striking and wounding a suspect, the Portland Police Bureau has yet to take any significant steps to prevent a similar mistake from happening.
Yet a review of practices in other police agencies in Oregon and elsewhere, and interviews with firearms experts, suggest there are several changes Portland could make to prevent another mishap.
Some agencies, like Washington County Sheriff’s Office, discontinued the lethal shotgun when it brought in less-lethal beanbag shotguns, concerned about the very mix-up that occurred in Portland.
“When you’ve got two rounds that go into the same gun that do two different things, there’s potential for mistakes,” said Sgt. David Thompson, of the Washington County Sheriff’s office.
When Washington County Sheriff’s Office started using the bean-bag shotgun in 1998, it eliminated the lethal shotgun on patrol, Thompson said.
Seattle police Officer Tom Burns, a co-founder of Critical Research and Training Less Lethal Inc., said training in the last 10 years highly recommends that agencies do not use the same weapon system for less-lethal and lethal ammunition.
“They really stress you dedicate an individual tool to an individual purpose,” Burns said. “Weapons should not be interchangeable.”
Other agencies, such as Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, don’t allow officers to carry both shotguns.
If a Clackamas County deputy carries a standard shotgun and becomes trained in the less-lethal beanbag shotgun, the deputy has to turn in the lethal shotgun and lethal shotgun rounds. “You will not carry lethal and less lethal rounds together,” said Deputy Don Weatherford, a firearms instructor. “It will not be done.”
In Portland, the less-lethal bean-bag — nylon bags filled with lead shot that strike with the intensity of a line-drive baseball — are fired from 12-gauge shotguns whose stocks have been painted bright orange. The less-lethal ammunition is painted yellow and clear.
In contrast, the lethal shotgun rounds, fired out of the fully black 12-gauge shotguns, are red or blue. Yet they still fit the less-lethal shotgun.
A Portland directive says police must only load lethal munitions into the lethal shotgun, and less-lethal rounds into a less-lethal shotgun. Portland police train officers not to carry lethal with less-lethal ammunition.
But the police bureau’s directive simply states that officers are not allowed to carry 12-gauge lethal rounds on “his/her person or utility belt while also carrying a less lethal weapon.”
Portland officers say it’s not uncommon for officers to carry lethal shotgun rounds and bean-bag shotgun rounds in their duty bags. There’s no directive that prevents that, Portland police said.
Firearm experts called that “unacceptable.”
Ronald Scott, who retired in 1998 after more than 25 years as a Massachusetts state trooper and ran the agency’s ballistics sections investigating police shootings, says Portland police should immediately end the practice of ammunition mixing in officers’ duty bags.
“Really, you got to keep the ammunition completely separate,” Scott said. “As far as throwing them in a bag, having them mixed up, that’s absolutely unacceptable.”
In Portland, specific officers are certified to carry the bean-bag shotgun in their patrol cars. At a shift’s start, they check out the less-lethal shotgun from their precinct, but the officers maintain their own ammunition. As they load the less-lethal weapon, they must visually inspect each round, protocol says.On June 30, Portland Officer Dane Reister fired four lethal shotgun rounds – a fifth ejected – from a less-lethal beanbag shotgun, striking William Kyle Monroe.
Monroe, 20, suffered two entry wounds to his left thigh; one of the two a “through and through” shot. Another hit his right gluteal muscle, or buttocks, “with sufficient force to shatter his pelvis, and puncture his bladder, his colon and cause injury to his rectum.” His lawyer said the wounds are expected to cause permanent nerve damage.
Reister had a lethal shotgun and a less-lethal bean-bag shotgun in his patrol car. He grabbed the less-lethal shotgun out of the trunk, witnesses said.
It’s still not clear how Reister, who remains on paid leave, made the error.
“Nobody can speak on it yet,”said Sgt. Pete Simpson, a Portland police spokesman. “The conversation will be based on the outcome of the investigation. We kind of have to wait to see what happened, then look over our practices and determine if there’s a better method, or if this is just an anomaly.”
Simpson said the vendor of the less-lethal beanbag shotgun could not recall a mistake like this happening before.
The district attorney’s office hired a less-lethal firearms expert to review the Reister shooting, and is examining Monroe’s medical records to prepare for grand jury.Last Monday, detective division Cmdr. Ed Brumfield ordered all Central Precinct officers to fill out special reports, asking that they account for where they stored their duty bags the week of the June 30 shooting, what type of ammo they had stored in their bags and how they kept the lethal versus less-lethal rounds, such as in a manufacturer’s box, evidence or plastic bag. The order — which followed an earlier, unsuccessful voluntary request — is to “identify any training and/or performance deficiencies,” Brumfield wrote.
The request revealed the Central Precinct practice of having some officers store duty bags, which hold their ammunition and gear, in the basement of the parking garage at Southwest First Avenue and Jefferson Street, raising security concerns. The location was chosen when Central Precinct absorbed more officers in 2009 and ran out of space.
Several other agencies require their patrol officers to check out both the less-lethal weapon and its ammunition at the start of each shift.
Los Angeles Police, for example, check out less-lethal shotguns to officers, with the less-lethal rounds preloaded onto a sleeve of their prominently marked green less-lethal shotguns.
Salem police said some officers carry both the less-lethal and lethal 12-gauge shotguns, but they’re not allowed to mix the ammunition. They check out the less-lethal ammunition for each shift. “The less-lethal rounds are in a separate carrying case,” Salem Lt. Dave Okada said.
Vancouver Police, like Washington County sheriff’s office, don’t have interchangeable weapons that leave open the possibility of a mix-up. Vancouver carries a less-lethal weapon that fires a rubber projectile; Washington county sheriff’s office four years ago dropped the bean-bag shotgun for a less-lethal firearm that shoots a 40 millimeter foam-baton round.
Burns, of Seattle police, said more agencies are moving away from the beanbag shotgun as it’s less accurate at longer distance. He’d recommend agencies, like Portland, end the two shotgun weapons. “It’s a horrible way to learn a lesson, but sometimes we learn from our biggest mistakes.”
Scott, the retired Massachusetts trooper, said supervisors also should conduct regular inspections.
Geoffrey Alpert, a criminal justice professor at the University of South Carolina, said the current requirement to check each weapon and its ammunition before each shift is critical and must be reinforced in training.
“It’s a very simple fix. You check the ammunition,” he said. “It’s one of those mistakes that shouldn’t happen. It’s certainly preventable.”


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The next day we drive to the Cold War Museum outside Platelai. Having driven almost all the way around the lake and found out the actual location, we realised it had just been a few km through the forest from our overnight stay.
The missile site is hidden in the forest. Each silo is 25m deep and with a final width of 5m. Each shaft was lined with a thick concrete collar then a 1 m gap then a 3m steel lining. The final shaft had to be exactly perpendicular to ensure that the missile did not touch the sides if fired.
There were 4 missiles at this site. The underground area consisted of 6 levels (reached by a network of elevators and tunnels) for communications, equipment, fuelling and personnel rest areas. Some areas were supposedly protected against accidentally missile explosion. In the event of a nuclear attack the troops would only have been able to survive for about 3 days.
The original design intended that the shafts would be able to be reused after repairs if a missile was launched and so reserve missiles were stored in the neighbouring area. Eventually they realised this was impractical and four missiles were installed. To ensure they were fit for use, they were replaced every 6 months.
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If a unit follows the Integrated Weapons Training Strategy, they will have their yearly allocation of ammunition spread across the training calendar so that soldiers will actually shoot more than once ppam 6 months. Leave a Reply Cancel reply You must be logged in to post a comment.
FM Appendix C Forecasting and Managing Training Ammunition
Skip to toolbar About WordPress. Factors that impact requirements-determination forecasting include the following: Submit the completed forecast to the next higher headquarters. This book is revised annually based on changes made by the council of colonels. You must be logged in to post a comment. The same storage and inventory procedures that apply to basic load ammunition apply to training ammunition. Comments So empty here Also, they offer suggested weapons training strategies, a model for resource requirements, and measurable standards for evaluating overall training readiness.
Refer to the computation data apm DA Pams and Psm will monitor amnesty programs as indicators of effectiveness of ammunition accountability and ensure that they are not used to circumvent accountability.
These pamphlets provide commanders and other unit trainers with a common set of standards for weapon and weapon system qualification. DA Pam identifies weapons and weapon systems for which training programs have been written and approved. Do not exceed a quantity when that quantity remains on dz authorized allocation for the current fiscal 350-3.
Generally, the procedure is as follows: Training strategy tables reflect generic requirements.
Figures are based on the number of weapons systems assigned, readiness levels, and ppam of ammunition needed to sustain soldier and crew proficiency.
Installation commanders will establish and implement an amnesty program that does not intimidate the individual or prevent the individual from freely turning in ammunition. The intent of amnesty programs is to ensure maximum recovery, not to circumvent normal turn-in procedures.
DA Forms and Enter Your Email Address. See DA Pam for more guidance on establishing an amnesty program. This flexibility is intended to accommodate unit requirements. Units that request and receive pm from an ASA must maintain training ammunition management and control documents. STRAC is broken down based off of unit type.
DA PAM 350–38
This forecast also feeds the WARS. Because they are generic and notional, they do not generate specific requirements. Training ammunition requirements are determined using DA Form R.
Units prepare and use this forecast to maintain an up-to-date calculation of ammunition needs. Forecasting ammunition requirements is a peacetime procedure. Later, we will be discussing how to use STRAC to plan your yearly allocation of ammunition in a walkthrough. Both of these books are the bible for the amount of ammunition that individuals are supposed to shoot in a given year. It is based on data in the pamphlets cited above and on projected training events such as individual weapons qualification, FTXs, and crew weapons qualification.
They do not automatically translate into resource authorizations or allocations of rounds on the ground to be fired. They apply to the weapon and weapon systems used throughout the force for both the Active and Reserve Components.
DA Pam (Standards in Training Commision) |
The G-3 or installation DOL usually manages this computer-based report. As an example of how this will help the average Infantry company is as follows: MACOMs use it to determine requisition needs. Its mission is to determine quantities and types of munitions required for soldiers, crews, and units to attain and sustain weapons proficiency relative to readiness levels.
Training strategies and ammunition requirements are not prescriptive.


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McGowen Precision Barrels was formed in 2007 from the mothballed equipment of Mr. Harry McGowen. The processes have changed and modernized and the barrels are even more accurate. The McGowen button rifling process, attention to detail, and top quality materials create one of the most accurate barrels on the market and at a very attractive price. The Barrel Outlet specializes in the semi custom process only. We do not stock ready-to-ship finished barrels, nor do we offer FULL customization. We strive to provide fast turn-around on the most popular and common configurations.
Looking for ultimate performance coupled with significant weight reduction? Carbonsix barrels are just what you need. Based on the same, match grade McGowen Precision Barrel blanks as our regular barrels, but much lighter. Select from a world of ever-expanding options to build your dream barrel. Just don’t let it float away! Need proof our carbon fiber barrels shoot? With proper load development, you can expect to get 1/2 MOA results. Click the button below to start building your perfect light-weight rifle barrel.
Do You Stock Ready-To Ship Finished Barrels? (Prefits)
The Barrel Outlet Does Not Stock Pre-Fit Barrels.
We inventory a selection of ready to finish barrel blanks. If you would like to shop for prefit barrels, please visit McGowenBarrel.com or PrecisionCutBarrels.com for their current inventory. We also do not offer all contours, calibers, twists or calibers. More will be added as inventory demands, but these options are considered “FULL CUSTOM,” and are to be ordered directly from the manufacturers. The Barrel Outlet does however specialize in “semi-custom” barrels shipped to you lightening fast! Check our the build-a-barrel pages to craft your perfect McGowen or Precision Cut Savage barrel and have it delivered in just weeks! Enjoy same short delivery time or Remington Barrels and Remage Barrels!


The knife with the most value and capabilities is easily the black KA-BAR Kukri Machete 1249. This knife is ideal for chopping, clearing and basic field use – or just a really tough gardener.
Blade Length: 11.5”
Overall Length: 17”
Weight: 1.7 lbs.
Edge Angle: 20 degrees
Steel: 1085 Carbon
Appearance: This is a great looking knife and our personal favorite of any kukri that we’ve seen (we’re partial to the all-black look). The shape of the blade is obviously the classic kukri shape. It is a very front-heavy blade which is perfect for chopping. This means that you’re using more of a kinetic energy of the blade itself rather than exerting a lot of force on your own. The handle is super comfortable. In fact it is a lot more comfortable than most kukri machetes that we’ve held. There is no separate guard, however the handle does have somewhat of a built in guard as the handle flares out towards the blade.
You’ll notice that the handle of the machete has a hole which allows for a small slip rope to be threaded through. This does not come with the knife but we highly recommend that everyone who owns this knife adds their own slip rope for added safety.
The black textured finish is very clean looking and well done. Like most knives, this can be subjected to a little bit of rust so please always use proper oil to prevent that from happening sooner than later. It’s tough to find any complaints with this knife, but one comment that a few other owners have mentioned is that they felt the blade was a tad short. Although we personally don’t see that as a notable issue, to each his or her own we suppose. You will soon discover, though, that any perceived shortness is quickly eradicated once you actually begin swinging the machete. The extra weight at the tip of the knife really does make it seem like the knife virtually swings itself.
Sheath: If purchased through a retailer like Amazon, your knife will also come with a black leather/Cordura combination sheath. The sheath has 2 button straps built in, and we found it unnecessary to ever unbutton the lower strap towards the tip of the blade. Just unbuttoning the first strap allows for the knife to go in and out of it extremely easily.
Durability: This particular Kukri is a full-tang knife. Which means that the part of the blade that goes into the handle, goes the entire length of the handle and is constructed as one solid piece, with the handle built around it. There are several types of tang but full is the tang that you want, especially for a larger machete like the KA-BAR Kukri – which adds to the knife’s overall durability in the long run.
Using the Knife: Kukri knives have quite a rich history that began hundreds of years ago. Because of the practicality of the knife, it has remained the best choice for survivalists. The KA-BAR Kukri 1249 is not typically used as an everyday carry knife, because it is a machete. If you are looking for an EDC blade, we’d suggest the KA-BAR Combat Knife. However this machete still is a solid choice for a lot of survivalists because if its capabilities, and our personal favorite survival knife.
The knife comes out of the box very sharp, users have not mentioned needing to perform any additional sharpening before use.
Can I Throw it!? According to the manufacturer and several Kukri experts – NO. This knife should not be thrown under any type of circumstance. It is not balanced like other throwable knives. As we’ve stated earlier, the tip of the machete has added weight, which makes it perfect for chopping/swinging, and terrible for throwing. Technically speaking, any fixed blade knife can be thrown of course, but for this particular style we would advise against it.
Overall: This is easily a 5-star knife which we can’t recommend enough. If you are looking for a high-quality machete, this is the machete for you. Every survivalist needs a way to cut through brush and this is the ideal tool to do such trailblazing. Whether you need to clear a campsite, or just cut small branches, this is the best tool that we can recommend for the job.
This really is the best machete that money can buy. It is incredibly durable, which isn’t just our opinion, rather the opinion of hundreds of reviewers online. The knife looks amazing and performs even better. After initially swinging this machete you will quickly agree.


China reveals ‘Sharp Sword’ stealth drone that can carry two TONNES of bombs
China has revealed a stealth drone dubbed ‘Sharp Sword’ that that could be capable of dropping more than 4,000 pounds of bombs.
The unmanned aerial vehicle won second place in China’s National Science and Technology Advancement Prizes, and is the first non-NATO craft of its kind, according to Popular Science.
It’s said the Sharp Sword could enter service as soon as 2019-2020 for use in reconnaissance missions and for tracking foreign warships, and eventually, it could be used for combat.
The stealthy unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) is being touted a huge win for Chinese aviation technology, Popular Science reports.
It was built by Aviation Industry Corporation of China, and is equipped with two internal bomb bays.
This could carry a payload of roughly 4,400 pounds.
The 33-foot-long Sharp Sword craft has a wingspan of roughly 46 feet, and uses a non-afterburning WS-13 turbofan engine with serpentine inlet to mask it from enemy radar.
Sharp Sword first flew in November 2013, and has a similar appearance to a small B-2 flying wing bomber and the American X-47B.
didisaythat, grapevine, United States, 5 minutes ago
Literally a “stealth” drone – the technology was stolen. Now we have to wait and see if it flies.
ElmoFreen, Fort Lauderdale, United States, 1 hour ago
On 4 December 2011, an American Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was captured by Iranian forces near the city of Kashmar in northeastern Iran. Barry refused pleas to retake it or destroy it. We see the result
fleabittenrangebum, Vista Blanco, United States, 1 hour ago
Where did they steal these plans?
Earthling, Milkyway, United States, 16 minutes ago
STOLEN Sharp Sword.
Rob, Brisbane, 38 minutes ago
I wonder what the flying cost per hour is?? Australia take note, a lot less than F35 I would wager.
Curt Irwin, Grand Rapids, United States, about an hour ago
Thanks to the Clinton’s.
madseason, Phoenix, United States, about an hour ago
All from stolen American companies and obumer never did anything to stop them.
SAMSUNG for 2017, Vacationing in Manila, Philippines, about an hour ago
Sharp Sword, what a name. However, this drone doesn’t look anything like a sword!
I miss old England, Halapa, United States, about an hour ago
Stop worrying. They’ll never wipe us off the face of our earth because we owe them too much money. Obama gave Iran 150 billion to use to build weapons to destroy us. Our list of friends keeps shrinking.
inkypinky, Seattle, United States, about an hour ago
Looks familiar, doesn’t it? Wonder how they managed to steal/buy the necessary?
John1017, Meridian, United States, about 2 hours ago
Can they build ANYTHING without stealing and copying the plans?
NO Name, California, United States, about 2 hours ago
It looks like an RQ-170 that is operated by the United States Air Force.
Benny, Glasgow, United Kingdom, about 3 hours ago
and the world is worried about Trump and Putin….


Partagez vos sources et connaissances sur les fourreaux (épée, scram, couteau)
Pour ma part, voici ce que j'ai pu trouver sur le net:
"A sword's scabbard provided protection for the blade when not in use. Scabbards were usually made as a sandwich. The innermost lining was fleece or fabric, since the natural oils in the wool helped keep the blade from rusting. Wood surrounding the fleece provided the physical strength to protect the blade, and leather covered the entire structure. Scabbards, being organic, rot away, but they leave their traces on the surviving blades in ways that inform us about the scabbard construction. These close-up photos of an early 9th century Viking sword blade show the remnants of the scabbard on the blade.
The photo to the left shows the full width of the blade immediately adjacent to the crossguard. The wood grain of the scabbards wooden core is clearly visible. To the right is an extreme close up of the edge of the same blade, near the point. The traces of the fibers of the fleece that formed the innermost layer of the scabbard are visible on the blade.
Many scabbards had a metal chape at the tip, to protect the point of the scabbard (and sword), and some had metal mounts at the throat of the scabbard, as seen in the modern replica above.
Je remets également les sujets du forum qui en parle afin de regrouper toutes nos connaissances
And there is despair underneath each and every action
Each and every attempt to pierce the armour of numbness
Burning bridges becomes a habit to support
And the front line expands like there's no tomorrow


The Best Gun Store Near Me: Elite Firearms NC
Elite Firearms NC has many reasons to be the most reputable gun shop near my home. They offer a wide variety of ammunition, firearms, and accessories for sale and gunsmithing services. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable, and can assist you with any inquiries. They also offer numerous classes to help you learn more about guns and how to utilize their capabilities.
1. Elite Firearms NC: The Most Popular Gun Store Near Me
Elite Firearms NC is the most reputable gun shop in my area. They have a variety of firearms and accessories, and their prices are unbeatable. They also provide training courses and private instruction, so you can be sure that you're getting the most comprehensive education possible about guns and safety.
2. Elite Firearms NC is the most reliable place to purchase guns
There are many reasons to think about Elite Firearms NC when looking for the top gun store in your area. Here are just a few reasons why we believe that we have the most extensive selection, services, and value in the region:
1. We have a large selection of firearms.
We have a wide range of guns for sale, including pistols and revolvers as also shotguns and rifles. There is something for every person. We have the right firearm for you, no matter how experienced or beginner you are.
2. We offer competitive pricing
All of our guns are available at reasonable prices , so you can rest assured that you're getting the best deal.
3. We offer great customer service.
Our knowledgeable and friendly staff will always be happy to assist you in finding the right gun for your requirements. We're available 24/7 to answer your questions and assist you in making the right decision regarding your purchase.
4. We're a family-owned and operated business.
We're proud to be a local company. We are committed to providing the highest level of service we can to our customers. We will always be happy to help you choose the perfect gun for you.
If you're searching for the top gun shop near you, then we'd suggest you consider Elite Firearms NC. Elite Firearms NC has an array of guns at great prices and excellent customer service. We're proud to be a locally owned and operated business and we're dedicated to serving our community.
3. The wide range of firearms offered are available at Elite Firearms NC
There is no one-size-fits all solution when it comes to firearms. The type of gun you pick is based on the specific requirements and preferences of you. Whether you're looking for a handgun for self-defense or a rifle for hunting, Elite Firearms NC has a wide selection of guns to choose from.
This is just a small selection of the firearms we have in our inventory
We offer a wide range of handguns available that include small caliber pistols and large caliber revolvers. We carry a range of handguns that will meet your requirements, whether you're searching to carry a concealed gun or a gun for home defense.
We have rifles that are suitable for hunting or target shooting. We have the ideal rifle for you, no matter if you need a bolt-action rifle that matches your shooting style, or an AR-15.
We have a range of shotguns, ranging from pump-action to semi-automatic. No matter if you're searching for a hunting shotgun , or a shotgun for home defense we have a shotgun that will meet your requirements.
We also have a broad variety of ammunition, gun accessories, and gun safes. Visit our store today to let our friendly staff help you pick the right gun for your needs.
4. Elite Firearms NC's experienced staff
Elite Firearms NC is the most trusted gun shop in the area. Our knowledgeable staff is passionately engaged in firearms and can help you find the perfect gun for you. We can assist you in finding the right firearm, no matter if you're a beginner buyer or an experienced collector.
A wide variety of firearms are on offer such as shotguns and handguns as also assault guns. We also carry a wide assortment of accessories and ammunition which means you're sure to find everything you require in one location.
We're pleased to offer affordable prices on all our products. We also provide a price match guarantee so you can be sure that you're getting the best price. We offer financing to allow you to get the gun you're looking for and pay it off over time.
Visit Elite Firearms NC today to discover why we are the top gun shop around.
5. Elite Firearms NC offers competitive pricing
Elite Firearms NC is your top option when it comes down to gun shops near you. They have the best prices for ammunition and firearms within the region. If you're in search of a new handgun or rifle, Elite Firearms NC has the ideal firearm for you. They also have a broad selection of accessories to choose from, allowing you to personalize your firearm to suit your requirements. Elite Firearms NC is the only place you should look for all of your firearm needs.
6. The location is convenient for Elite Firearms NC
Are you in search of the best gun shop in your area? Look at Elite Firearms NC! We are your one stop shop for all of your firearms needs! We offer a wide variety of guns and accessories to pick from. Our expert staff is available to help you with any questions you might have. Our convenient location makes it easy for you to drop by to purchase the items you require. No matter if you're a first-time gun buyer or a seasoned professional, we've got everything you need to make your experience one to remember. Come by and check out our latest offerings!
7. Elite Firearms NC offers outstanding customer service.
You may be wondering where the top gun shop near me. Check out Elite Firearms NC. They offer great customer service and have a large selection of guns to pick from.
Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Elite Firearms NC. I was impressed with the level of customer care I received. The staff were extremely welcoming and accommodating, and they made sure I got the right firearm to meet my requirements. I highly recommend this shop to anyone searching to purchase a new gun.
Elite Firearms NC has the most extensive range of firearms. There are many guns, shotguns and pistols to choose from. Elite Firearms NC has the best handguns to suit your needs, whether you're in search of a hunting rifle and a handgun for self defense.
Elite Firearms NC is a great place to start if you are looking for a brand new firearm. You won't regret it.
Name Elite Firearms
Address 415 W Swannanoa Ave, Liberty, NC 27298, United States


The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" is the only aircraft in United States Air Force (USAF) history designed specifically for the close air support mission.
It was designed to survive in an intense anti-aircraft environment including anti-aircraft guns, radar-guided and infrared missiles and absorb battle damage and keep flying.
In fact, the A-10 is probably the most difficult plane ever built to shoot down due to its extreme maneuverability, self-sealing fuel tanks, wide separated jet engines on top of the fuselage,
twin vertical tails, multiple independent hydraulic systems, manual backup flight control system and redundant wing spars.
A total of 165 of these most recognizable and feared aircraft
from 5 different units participated in Operation Desert Storm. All units were formalized under the
354th Provisional Wing with 144 aircraft
at a time. The remaining aircraft above those 144 were replacements standing by at an off-site location to replace aircraft damaged beyond
continued combat status or aircraft destroyed.
Together, these A-10 and OA-10 aircraft conducted 8,624 sorties
maintaining a 95.7% mission capable rate
, 5% above A-10 peace-time rates, had the highest sortie rate of any
USAF aircraft. They achieved:
- 967 tanks destroyed
- 1026 pieces of artillery destroyed
- 1306 trucks destroyed
- 281 military structures destroyed
- 53 Scud missiles destroyed
- 10 aircraft on the ground destroyed
- 2 air-to-air aircraft (helicopter) kills with the GAU-8A 30mm Avenger cannon: 6 February 1991 by Capt. Bob Swain in 77-0205 of the 706th Tactical Fighter Squadron,
926th Tactical Fighter Group "Cajuns" from New Orleans Louisiana and the second by Capt Todd "Shanghai" Sheehy in 81-0964 with the 511th TFS "Vultures" out of RAF Alcombury United Kingdom.
Pilots often flew up to three missions per day with A-10's accounted for destroying 1/4 of Iraq's entire arsenal. [Read more on statistics....]
Often exposed to withering anti-aircraft fire and surface-to-air missile threats the slow, highly maneuverable A-10's incurred extensive combat battle damage
during Desert Storm. A total of six A-10s were lost
: five in combat action, another destroyed attempting to land at KKMC Forward Operating
Location #1 after being badly battle damaged durng combat. Nearly twenty more sustained significant battle damage and many others incurred minor damage.
Roughly half the total A-10 force, about 70, supporting Desert Storm suffered some type of damage.
Our 2951st Combat Logistics Support Squadron (CLSS)
CLSS, role was to repair battle damaged A-10's and get them back into the war.
My job was as Aircraft Battle Damage Repair (ABDR) Assessor to evaluate damages, develop a plan for the repairs required and prioritize those repairs in a triage method, although in a reverse triage
philosophy than in a hospital emergency room where the worse gets treated first... in ABDR you get the easiest, or smallest damaged aircraft repaired first to get them in the air faster.
2951 CLSS with A-10 540 at the McClellan Air Museum after its return from the Gulf
In addition to A-10 battle damage repairs we also performed major depot level repairs on some of the A-10's, as well as battle damage repairs and routine repairs on
F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-4 Phantom, C-130 Hercules and C-5 Galaxy aircraft as well as a couple trucks, a front-end loader...
Jacks of all trades! I was assigned to the 2951st Combat Logistics Support Squadron, later re-activated as the 652nd CLSS, McClellan AFB from 1988-1993.
In addition to our A-10 role, the 2951 CLSS had F-111 ABDR teams deployed as well as Supply and Transportation teams deployed around the Gulf region.
While my website here focuses on our A-10 mission (my mission), our other teams performed the same type of high quality, professional and extremely valuable missions as any of us.
CLSS... "A Touch of CLaSS!"


One of South Florida's Most Reputable
Gun Ranges and Gun & Pawn Shops
Big Al's Gun, Range & Pawn has what you need!
Serving South Florida for over 29 years.
Need a new handgun or long gun?
Come check out our huge selection of new and used firearms for all your shooting needs. We also carry ammunition and accessories such as holsters, grips, locks and lock boxes, night sights and the items you need for cleaning your gun. If it's not in stock, chances are we can get it.
Want to practice with that new firearm of yours?
Come shoot in our cool, well-ventilated, 18-lane indoor gun range for a flat fee. YES, not an hourly rate!
How about classes?
We offer classes qualifying you to get a Florida Concealed Weapons Permit. We also have instructors ready to set up private one-on-one lessons to teach you the basics, get you more proficient with a firearm or teach you more advanced IPSC style courses.
Need a loan for an unexpected bill or medical expense?
We give loans on items of value, allowing you to make monthly interest payments until you are able to pay the loan in full and pick up your collateral.


War and Pieces Act 2
"Natural" Weapon gifts
Diamagnetic Super-Collider Drills (Hand x2, Arm, Shoulders): The Alchemical can sprout extending drills up to a few yards from their body, from anywhere they choose, as part of an unarmed/Brawling attack. These weapons have the following stats: +2 impaling, bare-handed, reach. Summoning these weapons is part of their initial Ready action.
Piston-Driven Megaton Hammer (Arm, Shoulder, Leg): The Alchemical’s fist carries the power of justice! And the power of an industrial-scale pneumatic hammer which can extend from their forearm.
Requires Brawl d6, Body d6.
The character’s unarmed attack is now a +2 weapon with the impaling, concealed, magic, and bare-handed traits. The character cannot be disarmed, though others may be wary of the fact that they have a lethal weapon in their fist at all times. If the limb is ever removed, it can be reattached with normal healing, or restored at a Vats complex. Even if the limb is utterly destroyed, a Vats complex can provide a fully-functional new one within a day.


Sport Shooting Firearms and Supplies
Established since 2010 in Flowery Branch, Georgia (Home of the Atlanta Falcons), Sport Shooting Firearms and Supplies is offering the finest firearms and accessories from Armalite, Bushmaster, Glock, Ruger, Springfield Armory, Smith and Wesson, Taurus and Thompson just to name a few, online and at select Georgia Gun Shows.
One of the main objectives of Sport Shooting Firearms and Supplies is to promote sport shooting by the entire family and to generally enhance enjoyment at the firing range.
Distributed by a Federal Firearm Licensed Master Arms Dealer, Sport Shooting Firearms and Supplies allows you to purchase firearms online, and then ship them across the country to your closest Federal Firearm Licensed Dealer (where allowed by law). You must be 18 or older to purchase rifles and shotguns (and associated ammunition), 21 to purchase handguns and be able to pass the National Criminal Background Check System.
If you do not see a product listed that you are looking for, send me an email or call me at 678-862-3035 and I will check on it for you. Thanks, and see you at the range.
John M. Dempsey
5318 Railroad Avenue
Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542
Federal Firearm Licensed Dealer
National Rifle Association Recruiter
Glock Sport Shooting Foundation Member


The shooting club «Ratnik» is not only rest and entertainment.
Here you will be taught to use correctly these firearms and we have all necessary for this purpose.
One of favorite entertainments, both men, and women is firing. There is the shooting club for such hobby in Khabarovsk. It is possible to shoot from the most various small arms in the center of Khabarovsk, without leaving it.
Here in shooting club «Ratnik» you will have a chance to have a good time and try yourself as the sniper.
The firearms captivates by the force and power. To keep in hand a cold heavy barrel is an incomparable feeling.
To shoot means to manage energy of a shot. Firing from the gun is an excellent method to relax, reduce stress and receive a lot of emotions and adrenaline!
Have you got a big group of tourists?
Perfect! Our experience in the organization of interesting leisure can't be revaluated, and visited once recommend us to the friends.
Our instructors have a wide experience of work. They will prompt, will teach, and will help to cope with uncertainty. And of course they will keep an eye that all shooters will be safe and happy!
You can be sure that it is very fascinating! Firearms of different models and calibers are as a set of desserts; each is rather well in its own way, each has the peculiarity.
Feelings from the first shot are great, especially, from the first which hit the mark … Firing captivates more than the TV, and gives to you adrenaline more than parachute jump. Nobody will be bored! And for absolute happiness we can hold a mini-tour for your company.
You will remember it for a long time! When you will have such an opportunity to shoot from our various arsenals, to feel an bumping push of recoil in a palm, inhale smells of firearm’s lubrication and the burned-down gunpowder?!
Certainly, by the end of a shooting part of celebration you can take a photo with all firearms you like. We can organize a photo-shoot with the professional photographer; memories it is great, but beautiful photos that you can be proud of are better, ever. Partners and competitors will only envy!
Find it interesting? Do you need more details? Visit our website!
join to shooting club «ratnik»
admission ticket - 300 rubles
+7 (4212) 65-00-19
When visiting a shooting gallery, we recommend that you arrive 15 - 20 minutes before the start of training for the necessary documents. Billing begins when your recording session, except in cases of delay on the part of our Club. A visit to the shooting range is done by appointment. In the case of the end of the rental paid time direction (the gallery) and the work of the instructor, the shooter must pay the additional time to complete shooting. The amount of extra time is agreed with the shooting range administration.
The shooting club «Ratnik» have a wide choice of weapons.:
Handgun SIG Sauer Mosquito 22LR
Handgun МР – 446 С «VIKING»
Handgun S-PMA (Makarov) 9 mm
Handgun С – ТТ caliber 7,62х25 mm sample of 1933
Handgun Р226Т ТК – Pro
The submachine gun SMG Shpagin Caliber 7,62х25 mm sample of 1941
2. assault rifles:
Kalashnikov assault rifle Luger (9х19)
Kalashnikov assault rifle AKM 7,62х39
Kalashnikov assault rifle 5,45х39
3. machine gun:
Degtyareva gun 7,62х54 mm sample of 1927
Rifle BI 7-3
Mosin's rifle (TO)
Tokarev Self-loading Rifle, Model of 1940 (SVT-40)
5. small-caliber rifle:
Small-caliber rifle CZ 455
Self-loading hunting carbine Vepr-3V (VPO-134)
For details on each model of our arsenal
can be found in the relevant section of our website.


There is No doubt in the fact that Agni VI is better Among all other Agni Missiles. Its features made it most advance and powerful missile in India.
How Agni VI is different from Agni V|Agni VI vs Agni V
How it is different from Agni V missile?
Agni VI is the three stage intercontinental ballistic missile with the first and second stage is solid and third sage is liquid and has a range expected up to 10,000 kilometres(6,214 mi).
According to the DRDO scientists it will be ready to be flight test by 2017 and it is the only missile in Indian air force which will capable of carrying four(4) to six(6) Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs), depending upon its weight.
Some other sources also claim that it would be capable of carrying up to 10 MIRV warheads and have a strike range of 8,000 km to 10,000 km but DRDO scientists refused to clarify the exact figure.
On the other side if we take a look on Agni V, It has a operational range of 5,000 km with three stage solid fuel engine. It can capable of carrying three nuclear warhead weighing over tones and hit the speed of Mach 24.Presently it is in service and is used by Strategic Forces Command. Its accuracy to hit the target is within 10 metres whereas the accuracy of Agni VI is specified after its testing.
Both Agni V and Agni VI uses the ring laser Gyroscope and inertial navigation System with GPS Augmented on them which is one of the reason for their better accuracy.
Agni V can be launched from the rail mobile launcher and by Transporter erector Launcher( a type of vehicle just like tank which can carry missiles one or more missiles and used to fire for both surface to surface as well as surface to air targets) whereas Agni VI will have the capability to be launched from both submarines and land based variants.
AGNI VI will also be capable of launching MIRV from underwater .
BOTH the Missiles can be easily transported by road due to their canisters.


Velazquez Announces Support for Iran Nuclear Deal
Washington, DC –Washington, DC – Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) released the following statement today announcing that she would vote in favor of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear program:
“In analyzing this agreement, my fundamental and primary concern was ensuring we stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. An Iran with a nuclear bomb would present an existential threat to Israel, be a destabilizing game changer for the entire region and directly threaten and undermine U.S. security interests. It is a scenario that the world absolutely must avoid. After careful reflection, I have concluded that the JCPOA is our best option for preventing Iran from acquiring the materials needed to develop a nuclear bomb.
“It has been estimated that before an interim agreement was reached in 2013, Iran was only one month away from securing enough material for a nuclear weapon. That stopgap measure pushed back that period by 2 to 3 months. Today, Iran is once again on the brink of developing a nuclear weapon.
“Given this reality, inaction at this stage is simply unacceptable. If Congress were to reject the JCPOA, there is a high probability that our partners in developing this agreement would resume doing business with Iran, freeing up financial resources that Iran was previously denied due to sanctions aimed at thwarting its nuclear program. It is also possible that Iran might simply choose to walk away from the agreement altogether and continue developing weapons grade plutonium and uranium, thereby prompting American military intervention.
“A U.S. strike on Iran would be costly, causing significant loss of American life, likely lead to attacks and loss of life in Israel, yet would only postpone Iran’s nuclear weapons development by a few years. Clearly, a strong, enforceable diplomatic solution is far superior.
“I recognize that critics of this agreement hold deep concerns about how it is constructed and in particular its enforceability. It is important to recognize that the monitoring and inspection provisions are more thorough and intrusive than in any previous agreement. Most importantly, they will prevent Iran from producing fissionable material without the United States and the world community knowing about it.
“I know many involved in this debate have also suggested that this agreement would not permanently resolve this issue and that, in the long term, there remains a threat that Iran will acquire weapons grade nuclear material. While that is true, this agreement remains, in my view, our best chance of thwarting the very real and immediate threat of Iran developing this capability in the next few months.
“There has been significant debate in Washington and in New York about this agreement and I have heard from constituents on all sides of the issue. I certainly understand and respect the opinions of those who do not support the agreement. However, after several months of deliberation, it is my deeply held belief that the JCPOA is the best option we have for preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon in the near term. I will support the agreement when it comes before the House for a vote.”
# # #


Windtinder Axe –
All handfinished and cast in the USA.
D2 tool steel axe sharpened to a razor edge.
Hand finished and set hickory handle.
Total length – 19″
Axe head weight – 1.6 Pounds
Since each axe is hand finished there may be a slight variation on handle finish.
To preserve blade edge please refrain from hitting sand,rock, metal or anything other than wood.
No sheath available at this time.


Here is the main argument proving that WMDs, Weapons of Mass Destruction are not a reason to go to war to kill/murder people.
Do the Math
On 9/11/2001 3000 people were killed.
The weapon of mass destruction used: a box cutter.
If there is any lesson to be learned from the attacks of 9/11 it is that if you have the will to kill, you can find a way to kill.
A well spent day at a Coke bottling plant can result in thousands of deaths.
Almost anything can be used as a weapon. We can not eliminate all weapons.
We can however reduce the will to use them against us.
Attacking Iraq just increased the will.
Think about it; if the US had no bombs do you think that would have stopped Americans from doing everything in our power to eliminate Al Quaeda? What makes you think the families of Iraqis that we are murdering will not take vengeance just because we disarm them?
The Bush clan’s justifications for invading Iraq have either been lies, as in the forged documents submitted to the UNMOVIC as evidence or just do not make sense.
Their reasons just do not add up.
Do the math.
Looking for WMD? 8 million chemical weapons exist - They were no-shows in Iraq, but tons of chemical weapons are stoking fears and costing billions to clean up elsewhere in the world -- from concrete ''igloos'' in Oregon, to the Panama rainforest, to the highlands of China, where Japanese war leftovers reportedly have killed hundreds. - In fact, more chemical munitions have turned up lately in Australia than in Iraq, where the Bush administration claimed up to 500 tons would be found. As Baghdad arms hunters searched in vain, chemical weapons material was even being unearthed in Washington, four miles from the White House. - At least 8 million such weapons are stockpiled worldwide, and concern is deepening not only over the health and safety of nearby communities, but also over the threat of theft or attacks on depots brimming with sarin or VX, fearsome nerve agents.
Could this be the real reason for attacking Iraq?
IMPORTANT STEP TO TAKE!


Fitting a lightweight 308 muzzle brake is the answer to achieving improved accuracy and a better shooting experience.
Having the right brand on hand is key to help you achieve your goals in terms of proper recoil reduction and avoiding unnecessary muzzle rise.
In this regard, the TMB (Triple-port Muzzle Brake) by MadHouse Design comes to mind, for three reasons:
- Ultimate weight savings – Due to the kind of material it’s made of, you save a ton from using the lightweight stainless steel. What is more, it only weighs 3 ounces.
- Minimum muzzle rise and blow back are some big reasons why this model stands heads above shoulders from the rest.
- The mil-spec single point cut thread of the TMB ensure optimum interface
No doubt, the TMB is perfect if you are looking for the best quality companion for your barrel and do not wish to struggle in attaching the muzzle brake to your AR-15.
How the Triple-port Muzzle Brake Improves Your Shooting Experience
One thing is for sure; you do not need to tweak anything as the gas is dispersed evenly through three precision ports. Proof it for yourself by taking with you a couple of rounds and testing it out on a 100-yard shooting range. You will be blown away by the ease of handling and the overall shooting experience.
Taking a Closer Look at the AR-15 Shooting Capabilities
It is often stated that the TMB range by MadHouse Design is well suited to an AR-15 rifle. Do not forget that the AR-15 itself is deserving of praise. Let’s take a closer look under the hood to see why.
First off, the AR-15 is said to be the U.S favorite and most popular sporting rifle and for a good reason. Come to think about it; you are spoiled with dozens of options and thousands of accessories. Whether you find yourself to be a first-time buyer or a more experienced shooter, you cannot go wrong in opting for an AR-15 firearm.
Your pops will tell you with a twinkle in his eye how they used to just head down to their local gun shop and make a selection from a pair of AR-15s on the shelf without too much hassle.
Nowadays, it is a whole diverse story as there so many choices that you do not know what to do. Seeing that you’ll need a top quality muzzle brake to complement your AR-15, speaking to old hands such as the guys over at MadHouse Design is a brilliant idea.
Doing so will get you rewarded with the perfect AR-15 that not only matches your budget but provides you with a pleasant shooting experience time after time.
Questions Worthy of Asking When Looking to Buy an AR-15
Anyone new to an AR-15 would have a ton of questions up their sleeve. Three of the more common ones include:
- How does it work?
- Who is the best manufacturer?
- Would an Ak-47 be a better choice as a semi-automatic rifle than the AR-15?
Needless to say, the AR-15 is a man’s gun as it releases the inner GI Joe for various reasons. Some would simply make use of this semi-automatic as a hobby to practice their shooting abilities on a range nearby, while others will take the art of shooting more seriously as a way of defending themselves if the need ever arises.
Other questions posed by newbie AR-15 enthusiasts would be:
- Where can I go to learn more about firearm safety rules?
- How do I operate an AR-15 safely?
- What is the best stance to take when practicing at my local shooting range?
- Any advice on how best to clean and maintain my AR-15?
Regarding the last question, you will find it has two pins that hold the upper and lower together that makes it a complete rifle. Most of the time for cleaning, all you have to do is pop out the back pin by pressing down on it, and you will feel it pop, then you simply pull the mechanism out. Soon your chamber will be ready to be cleaned out using a bore snake or whatever other cleaning methods you choose to use.
Then, there is a host of ammo choices too. It depends on whether you intend using the AR-15 for self-defense or to practice your range shooting.
There you have it. Some useful advice coming from expert 308 muzzle brake designers at MadHouse Design.


As part of the Unified Community Platform project, your wiki will be migrated to the new platform in the next few weeks. Read more here.
Lathyrian War Axe
Stats[edit | edit source]
Description[edit | edit source]
| A fine axe despite its antiquity. The Lathyrian art of making weapons like this has been lost to most. |
|"I only trust an axe once it's been blooded many a time." - Jokell|
Location[edit | edit source]
At ground level slightly Northeast of the Cracked Path.


I had a discussion recently with friends about the various depictions of space combat in science fiction movies, TV shows, and books. We have the fighter-plane engagements of Star Wars, the subdued, two-dimensional naval combat in Star Trek, the Newtonian planes of Battlestar Galactica, the staggeringly furious energy exchanges of the combat wasps in Peter Hamilton’s books, and the use of antimatter rocket engines themselves as weapons in other sci-fi. But suppose we get out there, go terraform Mars, and the Martian colonists actually revolt. Or suppose we encounter hostile aliens. How would space combat actually go?
First, let me point out something that Ender’s Game got right and something it got wrong. What it got right is the essentially three-dimensional nature of space combat, and how that would be fundamentally different from land, sea, and air combat. In principle, yes, your enemy could come at you from any direction at all. In practice, though, the Buggers are going to do no such thing. At least, not until someone invents an FTL drive, and we can actually pop our battle fleets into existence anywhere near our enemies. The marauding space fleets are going to be governed by orbit dynamics – not just of their own ships in orbit around planets and suns, but those planets’ orbits. For the same reason that we have Space Shuttle launch delays, we’ll be able to tell exactly what trajectories our enemies could take between planets: the launch window. At any given point in time, there are only so many routes from here to Mars that will leave our imperialist forces enough fuel and energy to put down the colonists’ revolt. So, it would actually make sense to build space defense platforms in certain orbits, to point high-power radar-reflection surveillance satellites at certain empty reaches of space, or even to mine parts of the void. It also means that strategy is not as hopeless when we finally get to the Bugger homeworld: the enemy ships will be concentrated into certain orbits, leaving some avenues of attack guarded and some open. (Of course, once our ships maneuver towards those unguarded orbits, they will be easily observed – and potentially countered.)
Now, let’s talk technology.
First, pending a major development in propulsion technology, combat spacecraft would likely get around the same way the Apollo spacecraft went to the Moon and back: with orbit changes effected by discrete main-engine burns. The only other major option is a propulsion system like ion engines or solar sails, which produce a very low amount of thrust over a very long time. However, the greater speed from burning a chemical, nuclear, or antimatter rocket in a single maneuver is likely a better tactical option. One implication of rocket propulsion is that there will be relatively long periods during which Newtonian physics govern the motions of dogfighting spacecraft, punctuated by relatively short periods of maneuvering. Another is that combat in orbit would be very different from combat in “deep space,” which is what you probably think of as how space combat should be – where a spacecraft thrusts one way, and then keeps going that way forever. No, around a planet, the tactical advantage in a battle would be determined by orbit dynamics: which ship is in a lower (and faster) orbit than which; who has a circular orbit and who has gone for an ellipse; relative rendezvous trajectories that look like winding spirals rather than straight lines.
Second, there are only a few ways to maneuver the attitude of a spacecraft around – to point it in a new direction. The fast ways to do that are to fire an off-center thruster or to tilt a gyroscope around to generate a torque. Attitude maneuvers would be critical to point the main engine of a space fighter to set up for a burn, or to point the weapons systems at an enemy. Either way, concealing the attitude maneuvers of the space fighter would be important to gain a tactical advantage. So I think gyroscopes (“CMGs,” in the spacecraft lingo) would be a better way to go – they could invisibly live entirely within the space fighter hull, and wouldn’t need to be mounted on any long booms (which would increase the radar, visible, and physical cross-section of the fighter) to get the most torque on the craft. With some big CMGs, a spacecraft could flip end-for-end in a matter of seconds or less. If you come upon a starfighter with some big, spherical bulbs near the midsection, they are probably whopping big CMGs and the thing will be able to point its guns at you wherever you go. To mitigate some of the directionality of things like weapons fire and thruster burns, space fighters would probably have weapons and engines mounted at various points around their hull; but a culture interested in efficiently mass-producing space warships would probably be concerned about manufacturing so many precision parts for a relatively fragile vessel, and the craft would likely only have one main engine rather than, say, four equal tetrahedral engines.
How about weapons? Well, we have to consider just how you might damage a spacecraft to put it out of action.
Explosions are basically a waste of energy in space. On the ground, these are devastating because of the shock wave that goes along with them. But in the vacuum of space, an explosion just creates some tenuous, expanding gases that would be easily dissipated by a hull. No, to damage spacecraft systems, you can’t hit them with gas unless it’s really, really concentrated and energetic. So unless you want to just wait till your enemy is close enough that you can point your engines at him, the best bets for ranged weapons are kinetic impactors and radiation.
A kinetic impactor is basically just a slug that goes really fast and hits the enemy fighter, tearing through the hull, damaging delicate systems with vibrations, throwing gyroscopes out of alignment so that they spin into their enclosures and explode into shards, puncturing tanks of fuel and other consumables, or directly killing the pilot and crew. You know…bullets. But it sounds much more technical and science-fictiony to say “mass driver” or “kinetic lance” or something of the sort. Of course, the simplest way to implement this sort of weapon in space is just as some kind of machine gun or cannon. Those will work in space (ask the Soviets, they tested a cannon on their first Salyut space station), and the shells will do plenty of damage if they hit anything. However, space is filled mostly with empty space, and hitting the enemy ships might be a challenge. Furthermore, if the impactors are too large, the enemy could counter them by firing their own point-defense slugs and knocking the shells out of line. Therefore, I contend that the most effective kinetic space weapons would be either flak shells or actively thrusting, guided missiles. The flak shells would explode into a hail of fragmented shards, able to tear through un-armored systems of many craft at once without the shell directly hitting its target, or able to strike a target even after it tries to evade with a last-minute engine burn. The missiles would be a bit different from the missiles we are used to on Earth, which must continuously thrust to sustain flight. In space, such a weapon would rapidly exhaust its fuel and simply become a dummy shell. No, a space missile would either be fired as an unguided projectile and power up its engine after drifting most of the way to its target, or it would fire its engine in sporadic, short bursts. A definite downside to kinetic weapons on a starfighter is that they would impart momentum to the fighter or change its mass properties. Very large cannons or missiles might therefore be impractical, unless the fighter can quickly compensate for what is essentially a large rocket firing. Even that compensation might give the enemy just the window he needs…
Radiation-based weapons that burn out the electronics of a spacecraft sound exotic, but are still potentially achievable. This would be the attraction of nuclear weapons in space: not the explosion, which would affect just about nothing, but the burst of energetic particles and the ensuing electromagnetic storm. Still, such a burst would have to be either pretty close to the target vessel to scramble its systems, or it would have to be made directional in some way, to focus the gamma-ray and zinging-proton blast. But while we’re talking about focused energy weapons, lets just go with a tool that we already use to cut sheet metal on Earth: lasers. In space, laser light will travel almost forever without dissipating from diffraction. Given a large enough power supply, lasers could be used at range to slice up enemy warships. The key phrase there, though, is “given a large enough power supply.” Power is hard to come by in the space business. So, expect space laser weapons to take one of three forms: small lasers designed not to destroy, but to blind and confuse enemy sensors; medium-sized lasers that would be fired infrequently and aimed to melt specific vulnerable points on enemy space fighters, like antennae, gimbals, and maneuvering thrusters; and large lasers pumped by the discharge from a large capacitor or similar energy storage device to cut a physical slice into the enemy craft wherever they hit. Such a large weapon would likely only be fired at the very beginning of a battle, because the commander of a ship with such a weapon would not want to keep his capacitor charged when it might unexpectedly blow its energy all at once once he’s in the thick of things.
Deflector shields like those in fiction are not possible at present, but it would still make sense to armor combat spacecraft to a limited extent. The spaceframes of the fighters would likely be designed solely for the space environment; the actual ships would be launched within the payload fairings of a rocket or assembled in space. If launched from the ground, armor must be minimized to reduce the launch weight of the spacecraft. But if built and launched in space, it would make sense to plate over vital systems of the vehicle. Thick armor would prevent flak or small lasers from piercing delicate components, and might mitigate a direct strike from a kinetic impactor or heavy cutting laser. However, the more heavily armored and massive a space fighter is, the more thrust it will take to maneuver in orbit and the more energy it will take to spin in place. (Here’s where computer games get space combat all wrong: the mass of a huge space cruiser would not place an upper limit on the speed of a vehicle, but it would reduce the acceleration a given engine could produce compared to the same engine on a less massive vehicle.)
I’m assuming that we’d have some intrepid members of the United Earth Space Force crewing these combat vessels. Or, at least, crewing some of them – robotic drone fighters would be a tremendous boon to space soldiers, but the communication lag between planets and vessels in orbit would make the split-second judgments of humans necessary at times. (Until we perfect AIs… but if we’re giving them the space fighters from the beginning, we deserve the robot uprising we’ll get.) The crews will hardly be sitting around nice conference-room command bridges with no seat belts; nor will they be standing upright in slate-gray console pits with glowing glass displays all over. It’s not even a good idea for them to have windows, which would be vulnerable to flak and could give the crew an intense sense of disorientation as the spacecraft maneuvers, and could give them tremendous trouble adapting to rapid changes in light levels as the ship rotates near a planet or star. No, they should be strapped into secure couches and centrally located in the most protected part of the spacecraft. They should also be in full pressure suits, and the interior cabin of the spacecraft should already be evacuated – to prevent fires, or any secondary damage if all the atmosphere rushes out a hull breach. This also reduces the need for escape pods. Camera views from the exterior of the ship and graphical representations of the tactical situation would then be projected directly onto helmet faceplates.
Now, for the final word, let’s say the United Earth Space Force defeats the Martian rebels in orbit. What do we do to hit them on the ground? Well, strategic weapons from space are easy: kinetic impactors again. You chuck big ol’ spears, aerodynamically shaped so they stay on target and don’t burn up in the atmosphere, onto ground targets and watch gravitational potential energy turn into kinetic energy and excavate you a brand-new crater. At some point, though, the imperialist Earthlings probably want to take over the existing infrastructure on Mars. Time to get out the Space Marines!
It’s not terribly expensive or difficult, comparatively speaking, to get people from orbit down to a planet surface. You fall. This is the purpose of a space capsule. What’s really, really, prohibitively difficult is getting them back up again. So, the victorious orbital forces would have to bring in a transport ship chock full of Space Marines and drop them all at once in little capsules (little because they can only be so big for the atmosphere to effectively brake them, and because you don’t want all your Marines perishing in some unfortunate incident). Some orbital forces would remain in place to threaten the ground with bombardment and give the Marines a bit more muscle, but really, the ground-pounders are going to have to be pretty self-sufficient. If they ever want to come back up, they would have to build and/or fuel their own ascent vehicle. (This is the problem facing any NASA Mars efforts, too: getting back up through the Martian atmosphere is much harder than any of the lunar ascents were.)
[ADDENDUM, 14 Dec 09: What would combat spacecraft end up looking like?
Well, there are good arguments to have both large and small spacecraft in the Earth forces. A big spacecraft could have a lot more armor to keep its systems and crew safe, more room for large fuel tanks and electrical power supplies, and larger mass to resist impulses from cannon recoil. However, a smaller craft would be less visible to radar, more maneuverable, and could achieve higher accelerations for constant engine thrust. As with just about any military force, the role of the craft would be tailored to the tactical operations required, so the Space Force would probably include several sizes of craft.
Enemies could come at your ship from any direction in space, which means that you would want to react, strike, and counterattack in any direction. So, you would either have to mount weaponry all around your starfighter, put the weapons on gimbals so that they could rapidly point in any direction, or make the fighter maneuverable enough that it could rapidly point in any direction. Gimbals would be a bad option, because they would introduce points of increased vulnerability, unless they could be very well-armored. I conclude that the big ships would have many weapons, pointed in many directions; the small ships would have a few weapons, with the main weapon systems pointed in one direction.
Maneuverability (angular acceleration) you could achieve with gyroscopes, or by mounting engines or thrusters away from your fighter’s center of mass. For the highest levels of maneuverability, the spacecraft should be close to spherical and these engines should be as off-center as possible, which might mean putting thrusters on long booms or struts. The problem with this kind of Firefly-like engine layout is that it becomes very vulnerable. If a fighter can achieve high maneuverability with gyros, those are probably the best option.
So, I think the small fighter craft would be nearly spherical, with a single main engine and a few guns or missiles facing generally forward. They would have gyroscopes and fuel tanks in their shielded centers. It would make sense to build their outer hulls in a faceted manner, to reduce their radar cross-section. Basically, picture a bigger, armored version of the lunar module. The larger warships would also probably be nearly spherical, with a small cluster of main engines facing generally backward and a few smaller engines facing forward or sideways for maneuvering. Cannons, lasers, and missile ports would face outward in many directions. On a large enough space cruiser, it would even be a good idea to put docking ports for the small fighters, so that the fighters don’t have to carry as many consumables on board.
I think it’s time to sketch some pictures and write some stories!]
I certainly hope we don’t get into any space wars. Human nature being what it is, though, and given how scarce a lot of resources really are on the scale of a solar system or a galaxy, I don’t think it’s out of the question. I would like to think that when we start colonizing other worlds, we will be sufficiently enlightened to do so from on board the Ship of the Imagination, and not as futuristic conquistadores. Still, the part of me that loves science fiction has fun with these thought experiments.