We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:21:44 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:52:14 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85421 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85421 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:27:33 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85419 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85419 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:07:59 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85360 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85360 Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:02:48 -0600
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85349 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85349 Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:52:19 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85347 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85347 Sun, 08 Mar 2009 03:04:40 -0600 With better weapons.
M14  great rifle!
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85346 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85346 Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:35:18 -0600
The new stocks derive the benefit of 50 years of progress.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85265 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85265 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:21:11 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85263 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85263 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:08:12 -0600
The troops seem to like the current stocking for the M21 (the M14's current styling) in the several available variants.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85236 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85236 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 07:07:46 -0600
That's interesting, I didn't know that.

And I do know that with handguns, I do prefer the modern rubber grips to wood...but I've never tried fiberglass.

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85235 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85235 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:18:46 -0600
As for the lack of greaves, etc, well, everything you saw there was plucked from Castle stores.  Clearly the Quartermaster has some gaps to fill.

As for wood stock - it is *much* easier to grasp than the fiberglas stock, especially in weather extemes.  There is no doubt the fiberglas stock was more durable, but, as long as the bedding and stocking was done correctly, I will take a walnut or birch stock any day of the week.

Today's synthetics, especially with the rubber grip panels, etc, answer most of the criticisms leveled at the fiberglas stocks of the '60's.

But for my historic pieces, I'll take the historic stocks.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85225 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85225 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:52:36 -0600 The helm is a Great Helm, 14th Century Transylvanian.

Even cooler!

The chest plate is French, WWI, and they were some skinny folk, them poilus. Because I *know* you weren't suggesting I was fat.

Indeed.  Rather, I was suggesting that in combat, you might desire to retain your legs.  Or your right shoulder.  Or at very least, your balls.

While I do have the fiberglas stock for the M14, I prefer the wood.

Do you prefer the look?  Or is there something else about it?  Myself, I've never really understood why people like to have wood for, well, much of anything.  Except maybe baseball bats.

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85223 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85223 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:29:49 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85205 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85205 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:34:04 -0600
While I do have the fiberglas stock for the M14, I prefer the wood.

The NVGs work, ex-Israeli, had 'em since the middle 90's.  Got a Gen II starlight scope, too.  I don't think it was ever issued.

Of course, if you've ever used one, you know why...  unless the moon is out or you provide illumination, they aren't very useful, at least as a weapon sight.  You can scan for movement.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85183 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85183 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:50:55 -0600
And I didn't say anything about rifle grenades, but that looks like an M-14, which I certainly hold in high esteem, even if the whole wooden gun thing is a bit archaic...

Although I must say the body armor is a bit...uh...how do I put this...scant?
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85176 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85176 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:36:12 -0600
OK...I looked up how to spell most of that.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85172 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85172 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:29:33 -0600
Which is odd, when you consider I *did* post this one...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85170 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85170 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:27:45 -0600 Exactly the same thing...only different marketing. A ginzo sheepdog in the middle of Kansas...who would have thunk it? And with a WASP name to boot. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85165 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85165 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:01:52 -0600
I know what it is!!!!

It's a gun dude I know, hiding his face from certain persecution from the Clinton-Obama gun control freaks.. holding a new toy with a little grenade on the end!!! 

Nice shades, my man.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85164 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85164 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:55:17 -0600 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85162 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85162 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:40:25 -0600
And Buffy is a Pastore Abruzese. Great dogs.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85161 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85161 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:34:30 -0600
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85160 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/03/a_new_whatziss_9.html#comment-85160 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:33:25 -0600