UK Homicides UP 14% & 'Plebgate':

Figures for England and Wales published by The Guardian for the year to September 2015 show Homicides rose 14% above the previous year (Total Deaths by Homicide 2015 were 574).

Police figures released show a 27% rise in violence against the person and a 4% rise in gun crime.

- Mind you - everybody knows that you can prove anything you want by using statistics. I would never dare to publically claim that official Government figures can be manipulated .. but I did work for the Board of Trade Retail Trade Statistics Department in Horse-guards Parade, off Whitehall, when I was younger and smarter ...

"Can we rework this months figures using a corrected set of variable seasonal factors please?"

Cynical - who - me?

The detailed application of the UKs multiple gun bans does vary by districts - but basically you need to be a member of the Titled Landed Gentry with extensive estates (or his servant) to qualify for a license to privately own and use a high power rifle.

The UKs 'lower classes' (plebs?) do still seem to find ways to attack others despite the Gun Ban laws - strange that eh.

 Mind you Lord Lucan missing since 1974 has finally been declared dead so that his title and House of Lords income can now pass to the oldest son & heir - so he (being now declared deceased) can't have been actively adding further to the homicide stats.

______________

 I see that the 'underclasses' are still being treated by the media to new revelations about who said what in "Plebgate":

 British Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell was Government Chief Whip but later resigned - over stories accusing him of calling Police Officers guarding the entrance gates to Downing Street "plebs" ( - this is located off Whitehall, the centre of British Government Power).

Downing Street Security Gates - Complete with Plebs.

- I used to work just across the road.

The railings and a gate were first placed there in 1982 but the current black Security Gates were emplaced in 1989 to further restrict public access. Did you know that 'Number 10 Downing Street' (The Prime Ministers Residence) used to be numbered No. 5 ?

Note: Number 9 Downing Street is currently the Chief Whips Office but was previously part of Number 10. - The Chief Whips office used to be located at Number 12. (Don't be confused - just accept change to long standing and ancient traditions from "The Ministry of Truth"..)

19 September 2012 Mitchell was leaving Downing Street with his bicycle and became upset when police refused to open the main gate for him indicating that he should use a side gate. - What he said to them and what they said to him has assumed huge significance, -  Ministerial statements, apologies, resignations, disclosed CCTV video, Libel Cases, Old Bailey prison sentences for false statements (P.C. Keith Wallis - 12 months) - on and on.

Use The Side Gate Mate.

During the libel case it was revealed that Government Chief Whip Mitchell had been involved in 16 previous altercations with police around Westminster.

"Plebs" is taken as being an insulting term meaning persons of low social class.. from the Latin (English usage) 'plebeian' meaning 'ordinary citizen'.

However - to be historically accurate - the 'Plebs' of ancient Rome in fact gained considerable recognition and full rights and status as 'novus homo' or "new man" - self made nobles - following very effective protest - when they walked-out saying "Run the place without us then"!

- I personally would be proud to be called a Pleb - but I am a bit of a stirrer eh.

M.K.

Fiji Gets Russian Arms Delivery:

The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) took delivery last month of at least 20 shipping containers containing Russian military equipment believed to be 'small arms and munitions'.

Fijian Minister of Defence Timoci Natuva says the deal was signed back in 2013.

- Todays NZ media are reporting the landing of twenty Russian training instructors in Fiji from a Korean Airlines plane.

The Arms Convoy In Transit to Queen Elizabeth Barracks Delainaba

 

This shipment said to be worth $41.8 million may contain Kalashnikov AK101 type rifles in NATO 5.56x45mm calibre.

 

Kalashnikov AK101 /102.

 

Fijis small military consists of 3,500 active forces plus 6,000 reservists and is active within the UN Peacekeeping Forces - and keeps two Battalions deployed under UN Command in the Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Sinai, and East Timor - with a third battalion based in Fijis Capital Suva. A further three battalions are spread through their islands.

Back in 1987 when there was a military led coup in Fiji - there was speculation that the then NZ Prime Minister David Lange had wanted to send NZDF in to restore order - and had been advised strongly that such action would have been ill advised and that an invading NZ force would have had its ass badly kicked by the well trained and experienced RFMF.

Fiji is an archipelago of more than 332 islands - some 110 permanently inhabited. - Fiji has a well developed economy based on tourism, sugar cane, forestry, minerals and fisheries. - Funding payments received from the UN are also considerable.

Marty K.

Firearms Prohibition Orders:

Police Minister Judith Collins is today reported to be waiting for a report on the use of Firearm Prohibition Orders in Australia before deciding if they will be introduced here in New Zealand.

NZ Police Minister Judith Collins

This type of regulation in Australian States is usually aimed at motorcycle / criminal gangs restricting individuals movements - and allows for property searches without warrants and imposes large fines for the breach of a Prohibition Order.

This Picture Taken at An ESR Laboratory
-  Lead to Complaints Of Unlicensed Firearm Use

Labours Police Spokesman Stuart Nash and Police Association President Greg O'Conner both said they broadly supported such a move - but it was "piecemeal" and more in depth changes were needed.

The Police Minister is reported as confirming that there is "active consideration of a law change".

Marty K.

Repeated Gunfire Heard in London Park:

Saturday 6th February 2016 in London there were widespread reports of gunfire from Green Park - a centrally located park.

 It soon became clear that royalist supporters - members of The Royal Horse Artillery wearing incorrect period fancy dress - had dragged WWI 13-pounder field guns into the open parkland and fired the guns in a 41 Gun Salute to commemorate Elizabeth II accession to the throne in 1952.

Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha Royals (aka Mountbatten-Windsor) 1952.

(Due to Anti-German Sentiment - GeorgeV Changed The Name During WWI)

In an effort to upstage that 41 gun salute - members of the Honourable Artillery Company later fired a 62 Gun Royal Salute from Gun Wharf at The Tower of London - 21 extra - to demonstrate the citizens of The City Of  London's loyalty to the Monarch.

 

A 'Basic' Royal Salute is 21 guns - plus 20 guns because it is fired in a Royal Park. It is known as a "Salute" because it is said to demonstrate 'friendly intent' by emptying the guns - as does the hand salute that shows ones hand is empty of any weapon.

 

Six Horse Gun Team Galloping Into Action

The rapid firing mobile field guns were designed to support Cavalry and have  5"8" long bores firing a 3" shell with a range of 5,400 metres at a velocity of 1,675 ft. per sec.

The 13 pounder was soon found to be ineffective against WWI prepared defensive positions and was widely replaced with 18 pounders and 4.5" howitzers.

- At this time there were no reports of damage - which confirms that the field guns who's use is not currently prevented by British gun law - were firing blanks.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

- Doesn't the current debate about British membership of the EU seem a little daft - when they've had no problem accepting a European ruling family for years - since 1839 when German Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha  married his first cousin Queen Victoria, Empress of India and had nine children after becoming 'Prince Consort'?

- Queen Victoria had been strictly raised by her German born mother Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.

Marty K.

P.S.  A Proud Tradition of Shooting by Generations of Teutonic Royalty:

The Queen Mother (Elizabeth).

Elizabeth II - Queen of New Zealand.

Prince Charles.

Prince William

 

Harry.

Armed and dangerous royals, 

 

M.K.

Old & New Zig-Zag Revolvers:

The Mauser C78 Zig-Zag Revolver dates from 1878 and was a Single Acton six shot built in both solid-frame with a side hinged cylinder - and later a 'break-action' frame.

Solid Frame Mauser Zig-Zag

Hinged Frame C78 Mauser Zig-Zag

Built in three calibres 6mm, 9mm, 11mm, it was a smaller gun than the later Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver.

Mauser C78 Cam-lug in Frame.

As the single-action C78 hammer is cocked a frame mounted 'cam-lug' moves forward and - being mated into the cylinders 'Zig' it rotates the cylinder and indexes it in place. When the hammer falls the lug returns to the rearward 'Zag' position ready to repeat its function when the hammer is again cocked.

 Mauser Between Two Webleys.

Lieutenant-Colonal George Vincent Fosbery patented his automatic revolver in 1895 - having built his prototype on a much modified Colt SAA revolver.

The whole top assembly recoils on firing and cocks the hammer, indexing the cylinder - giving a smooth and very accurate trigger action that was popular with target shooters of its day. - The slide action must be cycled fully after loading to cock and ready the gun for use.

Designed to be carried fully cocked there is a safety-catch on left side grip.

Webley-Fosbery broken open for loading / unloading.

Fosbery's  design was built by Webley&Scott between 1901 and 1915 in .455" and .38"ACP calibres but was replaced by later designs after fourteen years production.

Although not used lately on commercial revolvers - those Zig-Zag grooved cylinders do work well to control the action.

- - - - - - - - - - -

More recently an adventurous Japanese Yoshimoto Imura was arrested in May 2014 after videoing himself firing blanks in a 'Zig-Zag' revolver he had made using a 3-D Printer.

 

- Since his arrest members of an on-line rebel group FOSSCAD are busily working at designing and making a gun they have named in his honour:

3-D Printed 'IMURA' Revolver.

(Bottom chamber - 6 O'clock Fired.)

X-Ray Image

- Now an engineering student James Patrick has published his plan for the interesting PM552 Washbear Revolver - a 3-D printed .22" rim-fire pepperbox design firing from the top chamber:

Patrick options cylinders in 8 shot configuration (ABS plastic) or a stronger 6 shot version printed using nylon polymer - and recommends use of sub-sonic ammunition.

Where all this goes will be fascinating to watch.. "Throw-Away Guns" with full on-line plans and instructions? - Certainly much will depend on the strength of the plastics available for use in the 3-D Printers and whether metal inserts are used in critical areas.

 Washbear Cylinder Metal Inserts Detail.

One interesting Washbear design feature is a "drop safety' - When the trigger is forward the zig-zag is held by its cam out of line with the striker - only lining-up when the trigger is pulled.

James Patrick reports that following successful trials with the .22" concept he is currently developing and printing a .38" Special striker fired six shot 'Pepper Box'. - The .38" Special has lower internal pressure than the .22" rim-fire.

Greywolf Project.

Marty K.

After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

https://www.patreon.com/user?u=16618870

Nagant M1895 Gas Seal Revolvers:

I did say "No more Russian revolvers already."  - but I have a politicians weak excuse - that you could claim that the seven shot Nagant is actually Belgian as it was designed by Leon Nagant in Liege Belgium and was made there for the first three years - before the Imperial Russians bought the rights and took up manufacture at the Tula Arsenal in 1898.

Most of us will likely recall that this 'oldie' has an odd mechanism that moves the seven chamber cylinder forward as it cocks the hammer to seal off the normal cylinder-barrel gap. This only works well because the distinctive extended case-neck pushes into the barrel and 'obturates' to seal off the escaping gases - this so increases the gas efficiency that some extra 50-150ft./ sec. velocity can be gained.

- This gas seal is so good that the Nagant is the only revolver truly able to be 'silenced' in the conventional way.

Mind you the cartridge loading / unloading operation is slow - one at a time through a loading gate - and the trigger pull will amuse Colt 1911 fans.. but can be smoothed by stoning.

There's a good reason why the unusual 7.62x38R Nagant round is pictured with the .32" cartridges in the above photo - and that is that some shooters use the .32"s as a 'near enough' substitute ammunition. The 32"s .312" bullet may bounce a bit in the Nagants bore after jumping the gap.. but there are alternative H&R Magnum .32" cylinders made to better use the .32"round - although these shorter rounds won't seal gases at the cylinder gap.

I also see that some less risk averse have had cylinders made that chamber the excellent .327 Federal Magnum as well as the other & shorter less powerful .32"s. - That might be pushing the Nagants strength to the limits unless done very carefully.

- When using .32"s it would also be advisable to cut a forcing-cone into the barrel end as the original design has not got one (- because the original loading has an extended brass neck that seals into the barrel when the cylinder moves forward.)

Hand-loaders might adapt .32-20" or  .30" Carbine brass or maybe, longer .223" cases cut-down and reformed using .30" Carbine - dies to make useable substitute cartridges.

It Might be Better to Buy a .32" Cylinder

 (or the correct 7.62x38mmR Ammo!)

- but it works for some.

We might think of the seven shot M1895 Nagant as being a strange & clunky old thing - but it was produced for fifty years up till 1945 - more than 2 Million of them were made and it remained in official Russian use until 2006/2009.

M1895 Nagant With Spare .32" H&R Magnum Cylinder.

- Favoured for use by the Bolshevic Cheka secret police as well as the later Soviet OGPU and NKVD - some of the issue ammunition was rather underpowered - but it served their purposes well enough. Standard ammo is quoted as a 97gn bullet at 1075ft.per sec. velocity.

The Nagant - this gun - is said to be fixable and 'tuned' by hitting it with a hammer - but it was also issued (in a different calibre) in Sweden, Norway, Poland & Greece.. You may be able to pick-up a good one cheaply.

Hickok45 has a good video review of the Nagant,

Marty K.
After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

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9x19mm Carbines & Chinese Norinco 1911 .45":

For a long time a couple of years back I was looking for a 9x19mm semi-auto carbine. - to compliment my Glock 17 on the Pistol Club range - and semi-auto action because it was easy for left-handed me to shoot.

The rifles that I was looking for were either the Marlin Camp Carbine or the Ruger PC9 - but it seemed that everyone else wanted them - and any that came-up on our 'Trademe' online auction site sold for big prices - well over NZ$1,400. (neither carbine is currently in production).

 Marlin Camp Carbine

Ruger PC9

Both of those are 'traditional' non military styled and can be had as New Zealand 'A' Category firearms (non-registered).

So failing that - I bought and fixed-up an old silenced bolt action 'DeLisle' conversion built  in 9x19mm on an antique Lee-Enfield (ex..303") rifle.

My "DeLisle" Enfield 9x19mm Rifle.

Then much later I bought my 9x19mm 'Just Right Carbine' and had it fitted with a Hardy 'over-barrel' silencer.

My Just Right Carbine takes Glock Magazines.

The JRC had to be the right choice for me - being both 9mm calibre and taking Glock magazines and readily changeable R.H to L.H action - but I've not yet changed it over.

I truly am a bit keen about 'silenced' guns - as an efficiently moderated sub-sonic calibre makes for a nice quiet day on the range eh.

My JRC is good to handle and shoot - but I disliked the "spong" noise from the naked buffer tube with each shot - right there at my ear. I guess that you wouldn't even notice the sound of that big spring if the carbine were not so well silenced - but I've ended-up squeezing a length of black foam rubber plumbers pipe insulation over the buffer tube to cushion it from my skull - as in the picture below:

 The soft guitar case makes a great cheap carry bag - and the nylon net brass-catcher velcros on for convenient use on the range. And I really like the 'look' of that New York stock .. but some folk don't like it at all!

I'm no sniper (old eyes) -  so a pistol calibre carbine can do anything I need it to at the ranges I can see and shoot.. although some years ago as a teen I could see the targets better.

That was then - now my cobber 'Cutters' has splurged-out on his 'hearts desire' - a (Chinese) 1911 in 9x19mm - and has also found a silenced Ruger PC9 to mate with it.

Poisonally I would consider buying a Ruger 9mm pistol that uses the same magazines as the PC9 - rather than his Chinese built '1911' - but that's life eh - one day honey and the next day onions.

- Talking about those "onions" - bang bang pop - Cutters had an amusing interlude on range with both new guns, a long brass rod and a hammer - as about every fourth shot just went pop as the bullet was pushed up into the barrel by primer-only loads. - That's the sort of thing that can happen when setting-up to re-load with a new press that's not yet fully sorted .. Where's the powder?

Two very nice guns that worked well when fed properly..  Been there, Done that.

Here The New Norinco 9mm 1911 keeps company

with a Silenced Browning Buckmark .22" - Nice eh.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I was shooting .22" in my wee Ruger SP101 8 shot revolver alternately with the 10 round 'Advantage Arms' .22" conversion on my Glock 17, at two bulls-eye targets mounted on the same frame at around 15 metres.

- Using cheap bulk packed Winchester 555 ammo the revolver just kept all its holes grouped in around five inches rapid double-action fire - as did the semi-auto rim-fire Glock .22" - but the magazine fed gun "stove-piped" or fail to feed /failed to go into battery about 20 % of the time.

Yes, true, both guns were dirty unlubricated and neglected - but one of them kept going eh. A decent clean, oiling - and a switch to better quality rounds would fix it and even-up the odds between them.

While I'm having a winge - That Norinco 1911 has confirmed my feelings about Americas favourite icon.
- Brand new out-of-the-box .. badly needed trigger job - floor plate fell off one magazine, and it wouldn't work much at all until the ejector was "adjusted" (bent-around until a working position was found!) - Buy gun for $1,000 - then spend $2,000 getting it to function.

 Marty K.

After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

https://www.patreon.com/posts/24075745