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In 1937, the Curtiss SBC Helldiver entered service, but even at that point, the carrier-based two-seat scout/dive bomber was on the verge of being obsolete. Interestingly, it was also the second aircraft produced by Curtiss-Wright to earn the designation “Helldiver” after the United States Marine Corps’ version of the Curtiss Falcon, operated by the U.S. Navy as the F8C Falcon. Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver of Bombing Squadron Ten (VB-10), USS Intrepid (CV-11), flies over Tientsin, China, as the city is reoccupied by the Allies in September 1945. Image: U.S. Navy The name was recycled just six years later with the Curtiss SB2C…

There are reasons why the full-size 1911 pistol is often described as “iconic,” and the gun’s long and successful history on battlefields, in the streets and at pistol championships isn’t the only reason. It’s slim for its power level, an important dimension for both comfort and concealment. When properly built, it’s also remarkably accurate, and its trigger system and grip shape adapt well to a broad range of hand sizes. The 1911 is not seen as often in holsters as polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols. Why is that? But you do not see it as often in holsters as you do striker-fired,…

In this article, Greg Frebourg reviews the Springfield Ronin EMP 9mm pistol. The handgun was loaned to the author by the company for this article. If it quacks like a duck, floats, walks and looks like a duck, well, it is a duck. That common sense saying might be full of wisdom, but it falls short as soon as anyone asks: “what kind of duck?”. Yes indeed, there are many kinds of ducks, and for most people, their differences are anecdotal and only feather deep. In some cases, looking like a duck only goes so far: anybody who tried to…

In the mid-1930s, Adolph Hitler cast his eye towards France and dreamed of revenge for the outcome of World War One. Standing in his way was the French Maginot Line, a collection of massive concrete strongpoints, casemates, armored turrets, and observation posts. Among the barbed wire, mine fields, and tank traps, there were nearly 5,000 bunkers defending France.  A German Karl-Gerät alongside a Panzer IV ammunition carrier known as a “Munitionsschlepper.” Image: Author’s collection Despite this intimidating defensive line, during 1936 Rheinmetall proposed development of a super-heavy howitzer to attack the Maginot forts. The original plan was to have the mortar…

I love 1911 handguns. There is something about the short and light trigger that helps me shoot 1911 pistols more precisely than any other pistol platform. Quite simply, the 1911 pistol hits “home” with me. The craftsmanship engineered into a 1911 supersedes other semi-auto pistols by far for me. I enjoy the solid construction and the comfortable shooting with the 1911. This lineup of Springfield Armory 1911 and Prodigy pistols shows how far optic-ready slides have come on the classic platform. From left to right we have a 3.5″ Compact Prodigy AOS, a 4.25″ TRP Carry Contour AOS, a 5″…

The AR-15 was designed in the 1950’s a time when tail fins were on Cadillacs, the Cold War was running hot, and the Soviet Union and the U.S. were in a race to be the first to reach the moon. As that’s roughly seven decades ago, it begs the question: Is the AR past its prime? As iconic as the carry handle on the original AR-15/M16 was, the change to a flattop receiver and Picatinny rail completely changed the nature of the AR, making it more easily optics-ready. Let’s dive in and decide. Matured and Refined? Historically, the military had…

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In today’s review, Randall Wilson takes a look at the Bulova MIL-SHIPS watch. This is a precision timepiece with its origins tied to the U.S. Navy’s UDT divers. The watch reviewed here is personally owned by the author. The Bulova MIL-SHIPS-W-2181, originally developed for U.S. Navy EOD and UDT divers in the late 1950’s, is a timepiece with a history as compelling as its design. There are times when a high-quality product is enhanced by a compelling history. In the watch world, this accounts for many memorable car racing, moonshot, and adventure timepieces. True, too, of military watches. The Bulova…

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Born into poverty in the woods of West Virginia, Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager was a World War II aircraft mechanic, fighter pilot, double ace, military commander, and a test pilot who broke the sound barrier. His journey from Army private to USAF Brigadier General is an inspiration to all. Yeager began his Air Force career in September 1941 as a private in the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving as an aircraft mechanic. While he wanted to be a pilot, that career path was initially closed to him due to his age and lack of education, as the Air Corps required…