Blog Posts

The Canadian Carbine Program - Part 2

5/18/2018

As a continuation of the C7 rifle program, after the conclusion of the SARP (Small Arms Replacement Program), Canada had adopted their rifle based off the American M16A2 program. They had also decided on a carbine program, the C8. This is unlike the US, who never initiated a carbine program until 1996 with the adoption of the M4. The US has had carbines in inventory, but they were all Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) rifles with no “M” designation nor military technical data package. The Canadians ran the rifle and carbine programs simultaneously.

0 Comments

The Colt Individual Carbine Entry

5/15/2018

4 Comments

In Colt fashion, their Individual Carbine entry was shrouded in secrecy. From its development, entry and even after the Individual Carbine program was cancelled, this rifle still remained a mystery. Unlike many poor business decisions made by Colt executives, this incredible rifle would have fared well on the LE and Commercial markets, if they would have produced it. I would like to thank James Rupley/Vickers Guide for the excellent pictures of the Colt Individual Carbine. All photos are © by Mr. Rupley.

The development of the Colt IC (Individual Carbine) entry would be a progression of Colt’s development of an external piston operated rifle. But there is one major change from the standard progression which stands out. The receiver of the Colt IC would come from the Colt LE901 family of rifles. The LE901 was the first Colt lower receiver to be fully ambidextrous. Previous models of the carbine would use the Norgon ambidextrous magazine release, as well as, the Diemaco/Colt Canada designed ambidextrous selector lever. Colt had never introduced a dedicated lower receiver until the LE901/IC programs.

4 Comments

The Passing of a Mentor

5/3/2018

0 Comments

It is with great sadness I have to say that the President and Editor of Collector Grade Publications, R. Blake Stevens passed away 22 April 2018. Blake edited and produced the finest firearms books in the world.

I met Blake in 2000 when I made contact with him about my interest in updating his title, The Black Rifle. I was very nervous because I knew I was talking to the guy who wrote the bible on the M16. In fact, his book, The Black Rifle was my bedtime story since I bought my first copy in 1988. My wife was the person who convinced me that I was the man to take on writing the next volume. I thought for sure Blake was going to say "no" because I was a nobody. I was a 27 year old kid, working as a forensic firearms examiner trainee, with only my first two articles in print. I thought he would not take me seriously. But it was the exact opposite. Blake was encouraging, and completely supportive. He said that my passion for the subject was far more important than my writing experience. He said he would help me where he could and not to worry about the wording, he would take care of that. But that I should focus on doing good research.

Through the three years I worked on the book, his encouragement got me through some rather tough times when I thought my project was coming unhinged. He always calmed me down and helped me get back on track. When the project was completed, and the final book was in my hand, I felt like I just gave birth. Through the entire process, I can only recall having one disagreement and it was regarding the title. He wanted, The Black Rifle Redo and I wanted Black Rifle II. But he supported my wish on the title, as he had always offered me support.

Blake was loved by this entire industry. Not just the firearms industry but by law enforcement, museums, as well as military. His information was invaluable. He would always help a writer who was doing an article and wanted to use some of his pictures. He always gracefully said "yes". He always helped no matter who you were. We all lost a great recourse and a friend, and he will never be replaced. I would like to tell him to rest easy, and I will see you again someday, Eh!

0 Comments

It is Finally Here! The Caracal CAR816 A2

3/23/2018

6 Comments

Based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Caracal International has been manufacturing high quality firearms since 2004. The most notable of these is the Model F, a 9mm striker-fired pistol that features a low-bore, reduced-mass slide and an 18 round magazine, which debuted in 2006.

Other than in Israel, there are no firearms manufacturers in the Middle East. The region lacks vast amounts of skilled labor and industrial capacity found in other parts of the world. And unlike the US firearms market, there are no small machine shops specializing in chrome plating, anodizing, heat treating, barrel production, or the manufacturing of small parts and assemblies. To meet these manufacturing challenges, Caracal International constructed a complex where all these manufacturing processes could be facilitated. The facility in Abu Dhabi truly is a 100% state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and home to Caracal’s hammer forging machine, anodizing, CNC operation, and molding machines. The facility is staffed by a world-class research and development team that hosts engineers and manufacturing experts from around the world, including the US, UK, Germany, Australia and India to name a few.

6 Comments

Diemaco/Colt Canada C7 - The Canadian Connection, Eh! Part 1

3/13/2018

5 Comments

There is little known in the United States about the black rifles of the great white north. That is primarily due to the importation restrictions set forth by President Bush in the early 1990’s. He banned the importation on “war products” from overseas, which is where 922r comes from. As a lifelong AR15 aficionado, my interest is in everything AR15 related. I had first read about Diemaco in Blake Stevens and Ed Ezell's book, titled Black Rifle. That ended in 1985, which was just at the conclusion of the Canadian SARP (Small Arms Replacement Program) where the Canadian Forces were looking to replace their C1 family of weapons (FAL) with a new modern assault rifle.

At the conclusion of the SARP program, the Canadian Forces liked the American M16A2, but they were a lot smarter, in my opinion, on their final design than the US military was. They looked at the M16A2 and Canadianized it. First, they got rid of the ludicrous burst mechanism and went back to fully automatic. Next, they realized that the fully adjustable sight was a complete waste of money because it was impractical to the average soldier. Because (s)he would not be engaging targets beyond 300 meters, they opted to stay with the A1-style field sights. Hence the C7 was born.

5 Comments

Gun Control, Media Sensation, And What Is The "Real" Issue?

3/10/2018

4 Comments

I tend to avoid getting political on my channel. I like to stick to the core of what Small Arms Solutions was incorporated to do, which is to teach history, give detailed mechanical evaluations, and fill the role for a technical channel with less emphasis on entertainment. Of course, I have opinions on the current state of the industry and the threats to our US Constitution and 2nd Amendment and I'm going to share some of those on the blog today.

I got my first AR15 (AR15A2 Sporter II) in early 1989. I was 15 years old and it was my world. My parents taught me the proper values of responsibility, discipline and most importantly, the value of life. Later that same year was the first mass shooting our country had seen. Patrick Purdy went into a Stockton, California school yard and shot up children with a Chinese Type 56 AKM. Subsequently, this was the catalyst for the first attempt ever to ban semi-automatic rifles.

Chris Bartocci, 1989, center left.

4 Comments

LMT Introduces Their New Zealand Rifle for Commercial Sale

2/26/2018

8 Comments

One of the more exciting product releases for me has been the LMT release of a commercial version of their New Zealand rifle (NZ16). LMT won the contract for the next generation fighting rifle for the New Zealand Army to replace their aging and outdated AUG rifles. The LMT production line has been busy for awhile meeting their contract with New Zealand. But with that out of the way they are now able to bring this awesome rifle to the commercial market. I have to say, I believe this is the perfect M16/M4 variant. If I had to walk into battle tomorrow, of any firearm in the industry, the MARS New Zealand rifle would be what I would pick up. This rifle has every modern enhancement one could ask for and then some.

8 Comments

The Bumpfire Stock Fiasco

2/9/2018

2 Comments

Once again, the industry and the community face another witch hunt of reaction-ism over realism. In typical fashion, after a rather unfortunate incident where a legal product was used by one deranged individual, we now have to go through another ban. Traditionally this happens. I will be the first to admit I am not really a fan of the bumpfire stock. I have no use for one. But I can appreciate that it is popular, and people have a lot of fun with it. Also, that it is not a danger to the public safety.

2 Comments

The Brownell Retro Series

2/7/2018

2 Comments

We have all heard the saying, what is old is new again! Well, there has always been a segment of the AR community who preferred the original Vietnam-era type rifles. Also, since the replacement of the M16/M16A1 rifles with the M16A2 in 1985 led there to be a lot of spare parts that found their way to the commercial market. Now we are more than 30 years since the M16A1 went out of production with a renewed interest in retro guns and an increasingly high demand for what are now obsolete parts.

2 Comments

Custom Rifle Build

2/6/2018

0 Comments

In a recent Q&A on our YouTube channel, Chris was showing a rifle he had custom built with components that he believed to be some of the best. I wanted to provide you with a parts list of all the components he used in order to build this custom boutique rifle.

Vltor Imod stock and buffer tube (Numbered) goo.gl/yNAdAE
Battle Arms Development (BAD) Forged Lower goo.gl/dZS8kC
BAD 45 degree BAD ASS ambi Safety goo.gl/NQcsPG
BAD ETS pivot/takedown pin goo.gl/biWJQZ
Norgon ambi bolt catch goo.gl/LHn9mC
Seekins billet mag release button goo.gl/7RfJd5
Seekins bolt catch goo.gl/fyibmW
BCM bolt carrier group MPI goo.gl/3rtHvS
Vltor VIS free float upper goo.gl/noG7yB
Faxon 16 in match fluted barrel goo.gl/3c48xx
Faxon light weight gas block goo.gl/vosjJw
Vltor flash hider goo.gl/Mk2nzx
Geissele Trigger goo.gl/5Y3QmS