Pistol Grips on Rifles - Problem??:

I was grumbling inside my head about stoopid rules imposed by morons on legal shooters - such as the bans on stocks with "free-standing pistol grips" that apparently make a rifle "unsuitable for sporting purposes".

Early 'gonnes' had a straight pole used as a stock.

- this next one is dated 1426..

Check-out this antique Jezail matchlocks curved stock:

- reminds me a little of the "New York Approved Stock" as per my JustRight Carbine.

- And a European effort ..

A 'Brown Bess' Musket. 1722 ..

 

The weapons have become so sophisticated as to no longer be tucked under the arm or held against the torso - the lump of wood forming the handle has become a 'shoulder stock'.

 

Then the stocks held by the firing hand started to be more comfortably shaped to fit the hand:

 

Greener Shotgun with "Prince of Wales Grip'.

 

Then:

 

A lovely piece of walnut 'treble-grip'.

 

Once the industry started to move forward in stages from timber furniture it was an easy step to increase the hand-grip angle to a completely 'ergonomic' and comfortable free-standing grip:

 

Winchester M70 Stocks.

Via the next obvious move:

Through thumbhole stocks to:

 

 

Uhh-Ohhh - The dreaded 'FREE-STANDING PISTOL GRIP.

 

How could we be so stupid as to think that our masters ( sorry - that should read 'our democratic representatives') could be fooled into letting us get away with such an obviously evil development?

Classic AR15 with very bad free standing Pistol Grip

 

 In order that these deadly details are limited and controlled from being unleashed on the innocent public - we now have such safely designed stocks as these recent  police approved examples:

 

'Druganov' Stock on AK.

 

'New York' Stock on Just-Right Carbine.

 

-  Nothing free-standing to see here - And not a bayonet lug in sight !

 

- The world is now a safer place - Thank The Lord - Alleluia!!

 

Marty K.

 

Rod - my all time favourite Gun-smith and expert witness - has e-mailed in to say that pistol grips were adopted by target shooters in the 1800s and the purpose is to serve as a means of better control & comfort - and add to the safety of using long-arms. The military did not adopt pistol grip designs until 100 odd years later.

 

 

 P.S.  I couldn't resist adding this photo of Winston Churchill with Eisenhower shooting  Thompson sub-machine guns .. double-dangerous because they have TWO pistol grips!