Tag Archives: history

Bullets and bacon.

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Oleg Volk

Every so often, some genius of strategy suggests using bullets dipped in pig fat to scare Islamic opponents. If history is any indication, deliberate or even accidental insensitivity to the religious views of others is a recipe for trouble. For … Continue reading →

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Unprovoked French aggression of 1812?

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Living in the USSR, I was brought up to view the Great Patriotic War of 1812 as a clear-cut case of French perfidy. Evil Imperial French and their dozen allies invaded Russia…ok, invaded the part of Poland previously occupied by … Continue reading →

Posted in advice requested | Tagged , | 14 Comments

Scoping the STG44: new on CTD blog

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Getting full accuracy from this fun plinker.

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GSG Sturmgewehr 44 in .22LR: new on CTD blog

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Oleg Volk

My experience with the updated STG44-22.

Posted in rifle, weapon | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Redshirts, re-visited

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Responding to my previous post, Howard noted another use of the term redshirt. I find the adoption of it curious, as the other patron of the redshirts, Garibaldi, volunteered his services to the North contingent on the immediate abolition of … Continue reading →

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A bad day in the French countryside

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Oleg Volk

When the bolt stays forward on your last machine pistol magazine, it’s going to be a bad day…but probably not for very long.

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Alternate history bifurication point?

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Oleg Volk

With some minor but plausible changes on the Austrian side, could Prussia have lost the Sadowa battle in 1866? And, had they lost it, could it have ended their claim to preeminence among the German states, along with the ability … Continue reading →

Posted in book | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Price comparisons

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Just an idle thought: from 1900 to 1933, US dollar was worth roughly a pennyweight (1/20 troy ounce or 1.556 gram) of gold. As of today, gold trades for just under $43/gram. A dollar today buys about 67 times less … Continue reading →

Posted in civil rights, food, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Ink and Lead

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Oleg Volk

“Treaties may be written in Ink, but they are ratified in Steel and Lead.” Appleseed

Posted in civil rights, rifle, rkba, training | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Appleseed

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Knowing and understanding the past is the first step to securing the future. Project Appleseed helps us understand how America came to be as a free country. They teach the basics of marksmanship, too.

Posted in civil rights, rifle, rkba, self-defense, training | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Girls just want to have fun.

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Cimarron’s faithful (other than the caliber) copy of the original 1860 Henry rifle is an odd firearms. Loading it is rather unorthodox, the magazine follower is external and can interfere with the hold under the magazine. Lever movement makes holding … Continue reading →

Posted in interesting people, rifle | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Old Issue

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Oleg Volk

I am often reminded of Kipling lately. One I just heard capably performed by Leslie Fish: The Old Issue (the lyrics). You can get this and other Kipling poems set to music from her web site. The specific words that … Continue reading →

Posted in civil rights, rkba | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

A Webley story

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Linoge put up an overview of a .38 Webley revolver which actually improved on the official Webley book in terms of useful info.

Posted in pistol | Tagged , | 2 Comments

“Captain Alatriste”

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Oleg Volk

I watched the movie last year. Over the last week, I read the first five books. Between the quality writing and the apparently well done translations, I really enjoyed them. The plot-wrangling takes a second place to the texture and … Continue reading →

Posted in book | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

The mad numerologists of gun-control

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Oleg Volk

The push to restrict magazine capacity focuses on the apparently magic number “ten”. Reduce Americans to ten-round magazines and no more mass murder, they claim. Let’s look at where this leads. Ten rounds has been the standard capacity for military … Continue reading →

Posted in civil rights, rifle, rkba, self-defense | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Selective Outrage?

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Oleg Volk

The bombardment of Guernica in 1937 is in every history book. The more destructive and murderous bombardment of Copenhagen isn’t. Likewise, the current efforts to raise taxes are condemned but 1950s administrations got a free pass on the 90%+ top … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Censorship.

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Oleg Volk

A journal I follow had a note: “Livejournal is blocked in Kyrgystan, Kazahkstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, so apologies for the long delay and if I have neglected you guys.” So there’s a definite USSR flavor to some segments of it. … Continue reading →

Posted in civil rights | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

A very special MP40

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Oleg Volk

This submachine gun is not like the others. Can you guess why?

Posted in weapon | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Fun Gun.

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Oleg Volk
Posted in rifle, weapon | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Device 06H

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Oleg Volk

Experimental German rifle made in 1944, the first of the roller-lock delayed blowback designes that eventually became CETME and HK .308s. This one is in 7.92×33. It’s crude, simple and works well. Recoil is minimal, with two distinct stages. Sights … Continue reading →

Posted in rifle | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments