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Gaston Glock, inventor of the GLOCK Safe-Action Pistol, has passed away at the age of 94. One of a select few individuals who have dramatically changed the firearms industry, Mr. Glock pioneered the use of polymers for pistol frames, re-defined the term ‘reliability’, and methodically advanced the use of defensive handguns around the world.

The United Kingdom has selected the Knight’s Armament Company KS-1 as the new individual weapon for the new Ranger battalions and elements of the Royal Marines Commandos. The requirement for the new rifle was released back in August 2021.

During a video introducing some new products published on 31 August, Bill Geissele announced that Geissele’s submission to US SOCOM’s MRGG-S (Mid-Range Gas Gun) program had been selected. The new rifle appears to have beaten out rival designs from other down-selected companies, including FN and LMT.

CZ just released the CZ Shadow 2 Compact this morning, and the full details can be found here on CZ’s website. I was lucky enough to see the CZ Shadow 2 Compact when I was in Nuremberg at IWA 2023 this year. Champion shooter Eric Grauffel himself walked me through the features, although this was still pretty early so price and full specs had not been nailed down yet. Accordingly, the video below is more of a broad overview:

The Finnish and Swedish Defense Forces will purchase a range of various rifles from Sako Ltd. TFB reported about this almost two years ago, but it’s now official what the framework and the firearms will look like.

According to mainstream news sources, Alec Baldwin and the armorer of the Rust movie, will be charged with involuntary manslaughter after a October 2021 incident involving a gun on the film set that resulted in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The incident has put a spotlight on the use of prop firearms on film sets and the armorer’s responsibilities during filming.

Australian Defense company NIOA has acquired Barrett Firearms. Founded in 1982 By Ronnie Barrett the company quickly became synonymous with their .50 caliber anti-materiel rifles and later thier precision rifles including the MK22 Advanced Sniper Rifle. Barrett rifles have been used by militaries, police and civilian shooters all around the world.

On the virtual eve of SHOT Show 2023, the Department of Justice is amending the regulations surrounding the clarification of firearms that constitute a rifle under federal law. At the heart of the ruling is the factoring criteria for firearms with stabilizing braces. Approximately 10 years ago, the ATF evaluated the first device designed to assist people with disabilities while shooting longer/heavier guns. Since then, the market for ‘pistol stabilizing braces’ grew exponentially, with most major manufacturers offering models with braces. The 300 page ruling focuses on six criteria, including weight and length, length of pull, type of sights, the design of the weapon, advertising materials, and general use throughout the community.

The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court has ruled against C.G. Haenel’s appeal against the courts earlier decision that Haenel had infringed on Heckler & Koch’s patents. A statement was released by the Ministry of Justice of North Rhine-Westphalia that outlined the case and the courts ruling on 30 December.

On 14 December the German government’s Budget and Defense Committees convened and the initial funds for the procurement of the German Army’s next service rifle were granted. This clears the way for the initial procurement of the HK416A8 as the G95A1.

The Canadian government has announced that the SIG Sauer P320 will replace the Browning HiPower. The Canadian government will procure an initial batch of 7,000 pistols and holster systems for the Canadian Army. There will be a follow-up option to procure up to 9,500 more pistols for further elements of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy and Military Police.

This week you may have seen a pair of photographs of an AR-15 pattern carbine in FDE shared around the Internet. What set this carbine apart, however, was the intriguing markings on the lower receiver. There have been rumours of a Glock carbine for a number of years but the photos that recently surfaced are our first good look at it.

On Friday Japan was shaken by the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe was shot from behind by a gunman who was arrested at the scene. Abe was rushed to the hospital but died later.

Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the YHM R9 multi-host suppressor. Last week we gave you a look at the B&T RBS .30 caliber QDR silencer that runs on Surefire mounts. This week we finally get our hands on the Dead Air Sierra 5, a dedicated 5.56mm rifle suppressor that fans have been begged Pappas and crew to bring to market for years. Is it worth the wait? Let’s find out.

FN Herstal is announcing a brand-new 9x19mm handgun called FN HiPer. The new handgun is mainly dedicated to armed forces and law enforcement. The pistol has been designed and developed in Belgium, where it will also be manufactured.

Lone Star Future Weapons have lodged a formal complaint with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (the GAO) against the US Army’s selection of SIG Sauer’s Next Generation Squad Weapons submission.  On 19 April the US Army announced the selection of SIG’s MCX 6.8 Spear as the XM5 Rifle and the LMG-6.8 belt-fed as the XM250. SIG Sauer’s entries to the program beat out the entry from Lone Star Future Weapons, which submitted the RM277 bullpup rifle.

SIG Sauer is set to be awarded a contract to fulfil US Special Operations Command’s requirement for a commercial, off-the-shelf, personal defense weapon (CPDW). A notice of intent from SOCOM to award a five-year Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract was shared on 19 May. Following on from their recent success with the NGSW program, SIG Sauer’s  MCX Rattler has been selected and will be procured in 5.56x45mm and .300 BLK. The contract also includes SIG’s SL suppressors.

We, here at TFB, have been closely following the US Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon program since it began back in 2018. Today, it has been announced that SIG Sauer have won the contract to provide both the NGSW-Rifle and NGSW-Automatic Rifle. An initial delivery order contract worth $20.4 million has been awarded. SIG’s MCX 6.8 Spear will be designated the XM5 Rifle and the LMG-6.8 belt-fed will be designated the XM250 – designations directly following on from the M4/M4A1 Carbine and M249 SAW which the new weapons will replace. SIG’s selection means that the US Army’s new 6.8mm round will be based on a hybrid metallic case, not the polymer-based design developed by True Velocity.

Vortex Optics’ submission to the US Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons – Fire Control procurement program has been selected and is set to become the XM157 NGSW-FC.

According to a number of sources, Textron may no longer be part of the US Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program. If this is indeed the case this would mark a significant turning point in the NGSW program, with Textron’s entry being based on mature LSAT and CT technology which had been developed over the past couple of decades. It would leave two submissions: the LoneStar Future Weapons/True Velocity (formerly General Dynamics’ weapon) RM277 and SIG Sauer’s SPEAR and MG6.8.

SIG Sauer will not be exhibiting at SHOT Show 2022 taking place in Las Vegas this coming January. The absence of SIG, normally one of the show’s largest booths, is almost certain to create ripples throughout the industry. After last year’s cancellation, many manufacturers donated money to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the organizer of the decades-old convention. As of now, the event is scheduled to start on January 18th with exhibition halls in both the Venetian Expo and Caesar’s Forum.

The National Rifle Association have announced that their  2021 Annual Meeting has been cancelled. The meeting was due to be held early next month at the George R. Brown Convention Centre in Houston, Texas.

Under new State Department sanctions, there will be no Russian ammo or firearms coming into the US beginning on September 7th of this year. The Department of State published a fact sheet today regarding new sanctions imposed on Russia. The relevant text of the sanctions includes:

A couple of months back HK shared a short video of an SL8 on a rack and caused a little stir. Today they shared that same video on their social media to announce the return of the HK SL8 to the US commercial market. The news comes hot on the heels of the successful return of the HK-made SP5K/MP5 to the US market. Many asked ‘what next?’, the SL8 appears to be the answer!

Aidan Johnston, Director of Federal Affairs for the GOA announced via his Twitter yesterday (June 25th, 2021) that the previous judgment regarding Gun Owners of America v. Garland has been vacated via a three-judge panel. This essentially means that the panel ruled that bump stocks are not machine guns. This is a victory for the 2nd Amendment community even if you’re not a fan of the bump stock. The battle determining the legality of bump stocks has been raging on for quite some time and the GOA has been working to restore these firearms accessories back to legal status as non-machineguns since they were first banned on March 26th of 2019.

The ATF took another step toward regulating firearms with attached stabilizing braces today by proposing an amendment to the definition of a rifle in the Code of Federal Regulations and creating a worksheet that uses a point system to determine if a firearm is a “rifled barrel weapon”. The move comes after years of the agency attempting to classify certain pistol braces as stocks.

For a few weeks, the Belgian company FN Herstal have been promoting an event called: “A New Chapter Begins“. As you know, the company already provides an extensive range of firearms for use in the ground role, or mounted on vehicles, ships and aircraft from 5.56mm cal to .50 cal machine guns.

For those of you who have been not paying attention for the past few years, Cody Wilson of DEFCAD and Ghost Gunner has been providing lawful gun owners the files and means to manufacture their own firearms. Specifically, 3D printed guns. Technology has advanced that it is easier to manufacture a working firearm at home and it is cost-effective. Recently DEFCAD wins in the Ninth Circuit Court.

According to sources in the Department of Justice speaking on the condition of anonymity, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) is making a move to eliminate the marijuana disqualification question to transfer a firearm from a licensed dealer to an individual. The move is significant at a time where states like New York have recently passed laws to legalize the recreational use of the Schedule 1 narcotic and could signify a move to legalize marijuana federally.

Colt have announced the return of one of its iconic snake guns – the Anaconda. With the recent ownership change at Colt, many of us wondered what the company’s first moves would be. The reintroduction of the Anaconda and the continuation of their retro rifle line appear to be smart initial moves.