D.E. Watters

Nyclad Family Data Dump

We’re back with another projectile data dump today, telling the story of the Smith & Wesson Nyclad and its latest generation, the Federal Syntech family. The story begins when a company named ALCAN was formed in 1948 in Alton, IL. They were best known for shotshells and components, although they briefly dabbled in making plasticContinue reading “Nyclad Family Data Dump”

Colt SSP – The Prancing Pony that Could Have Been

Why Colt never introduced the M1971/SSP design will forever remain a mystery. They could have been ahead of the curve on the Wondernine craze, and they even had a .38 Super and a .45 ACP variant. I can’t help but think that if the Colt SSP and the S&W M59 had been competing head toContinue reading “Colt SSP – The Prancing Pony that Could Have Been”

Mystery Colt Prototype – A Horse With No Name

I’ve seen Colt’s patent for this .22LR pistol several times in the past, but only now realized that the actual prototype has been in the wild since October 2008. It also passed through RIAC’s hands in 2011, who I believe was the source of these photos. The anodized blue section is the magazine. https://patents.google.com/patent/US3665631A

Left the Range: Jorge Ballesteros

2017 IPSC World Champion
(May 27, 1983 – January 10, 2023)

APG Honors for Karl Beining and Ted Yost

We share a lot of photos of the guns that pass through Karl Beining’s (KGB Customs) shop inventory. Today, we’ll share a photo of Karl himself in honor of a momentous occasion. The American Pistolsmith Guild (APG) held their annual banquet last week. There were four nominees this year for full membership. Applicants have theirContinue reading “APG Honors for Karl Beining and Ted Yost”

2022 IPSC World Shoot XIX

Congratulations to the new IPSC World Champion – Christian Sailer of Team USA. Sailer has been on a tear for several years. In 2019, as a Junior shooter, Sailer swept every single USPSA Area Championship and then became the youngest shooter ever to win the USPSA Open Nationals. He repeated as the Open Division NationalContinue reading “2022 IPSC World Shoot XIX”

The New RIA 5.0 Has Leaked

Nearly two decades ago, gunsmith/designer Fred Craig teased a new pistol design – the gas-delayed M11 Merc. Alas, this turned out to be vaporware. In the mean time, Craig has done a fair amount of prototype work for Armscorp (Rock Island Armory). The .22 TCM cartridge and the XT22 .22 Magnum pistol have been theContinue reading “The New RIA 5.0 Has Leaked”

Will there be a Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7?

Smith & Wesson appears to be working on a gas-operated, rotary-locked barrel prototype in 5.7x28mm, .22 Magnum Rimfire, and .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire.

Notes on the Springfield Prodigy 1911 DS – A Staccato Slayer?

Springfield is about to introduce a new troublemaker – a punkin’ instigator in the expanding world of Strayer-Tripp modular frame clones.

Springfield Armory’s Forgotten AR-15: The XM15

Despite what several gunwriters are claiming, the Springfield Armory Saint is not their first AR-15 rifle. Their first was the XM15, introduced circa 1982-83. However, Springfield has very good reasons to try to sweep the XM15 under the rug. It appears that in 1983, Springfield (or their fraternal sibling Rock Island Armory, Inc.) wrangled aContinue reading “Springfield Armory’s Forgotten AR-15: The XM15”