The AWM (Arctic Warfare Magnum)

The AWM (Arctic Warfare Magnum) is a sniper rifle manufactured by Accuracy International. It is also known as the AWSM (Arctic Warfare Super Magnum) (usually meaning the .338 Lapua Magnum chambered version).

Overview

The AWM is a variant of the British Accuracy International Arctic Warfare (AW). It has a longer bolt to accommodate larger calibre ammunition such as .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum
This rifle is based on the AW with minimal changes to accommodate magnum-length cartridges. It features a detachable box magazine which holds five rounds. The normal cartridges for this rifle, and the ones which have been accepted by NATO for use in AWM rifles, are .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum.
Muzzle brakes are fitted to reduce recoil, jump and flash and act as a base for optional iron sights and suppressors.
Normally, the AWMs are outfitted with a Schmidt & Bender PM II 10x42 telescopic sight with 10x fixed power of magnification. However, a Schmidt & Bender PM II with variable magnification of either 3-12x50 or 4-16x50 can be used if the operator wants more flexibility to shoot at varying ranges, or when a wide field of view is required.
The AWM rifle is normally supplied in a metal transit case together with scope, mount, butt spacers, bipod, spare magazines, sling, cleaning and tool kits.

[edit] Magnum calibres

[edit] .300 Winchester Magnum

The .300 Winchester Magnum offers a flatter trajectory, and a significant increase in wind resistance and supersonic range over the 7.62 × 51 mm NATO cartridge. Despite the cartridge's greatly increased muzzle velocity, it delivers greater precision than ordinary 7.62 × 51 mm NATO ammunition and is only slightly eclipsed by the best match-grade 7.62 × 51 mm NATO ammunition. This significantly enhanced range and precision ensures high first-shot hit probability to well beyond 1,100 m using standard .300 Winchester Magnum match grade ammunition. For precision shooting Federal Gold Medal Match is the most commonly used ammunition.^{[citation needed]}
The AWM chambered for the .300 Winchester Magnum is fitted with a fluted, stainless steel barrel that is 660 mm (26") long for optimum velocity and nominal weight.

338 Lapua Magnum

A Dutch ISAF sniper team displaying their Accuracy International AWSM .338 Lapua Magnum rifle and Leica/Vectronix VECTOR IV rangefinder binoculars

The AWM in the .338 Lapua Magnum calibre was designed as a dedicated long range sniper rifle combining the manoeuvrability of rifles chambered in 7.62 × 51 mm NATO with the greater power and range of the .50 BMG cartridge.
Compared to most .50 calibre rifles, the AWSM offers considerably less rifle weight, recoil, muzzle flash, smoke and report. Although the .338 Lapua Magnum delivers less energy to the target compared with the .50 BMG, both cartridges have similar trajectories, resistance to wind drift and penetration, while the .338 Lapua Magnum unquestionably outperforms the 7.62 × 51 mm NATO, especially at ranges beyond 800 m. AWSM rifles in .338 Lapua Magnum can also be deployed against unarmoured hard targets, including armoured glass.
The AWSM is fitted with a stainless steel, fluted, 686 mm (27") barrel, which research has found to be the best compromise between velocity and precision on the one hand, and weight and length on the other.
A problem with the early batches of AWSM rifles was that cartridges loaded to the CIP (Commission Internationale Permanente Pour L'Epreuve Des Armes A Feu Portative) maximum allowed overall length of 93.5 mm did not function properly due to a lack of internal magazine length. The reason for this problem is that the AWSM bolt-action is not specifically designed for the fat and long .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge. Because of this, ammunition manufacturers produced batches of specially specified .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges for the early AWSM rifles that where short enough to fit in the early AWSM magazines. With those specially specified .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges the early AWSM rifles could be used as repeating rifles instead of single shot rifles. Later this magazine problem was solved by Accuracy International.^[3]
Ammunition types currently (2007) available for the .338 Lapua Magnum are FMJ, hollow point, Armour Piercing (AP) and Armour Piercing Incendiary (API).
The AW rifle on which the AWM is based is in service with many countries. The AWM is in service with many police and military units throughout the world.

[edit] Defence forces

• Germany - AWM - .300 Winchester Magnum
• Indonesia - AWSM - .338 Lapua Magnum
• Malaysia
• Netherlands - AWSM - .338 Lapua Magnum
• Norway - AWM - .300 Winchester Magnum
• South Korea
• United Kingdom - AWSM - .338 Lapua Magnum
• United States

[edit] British Army

Royal Marines with L115A1 rifles

The British Army adopted the AWSM rifle chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum as the L115A1. The British AWSM rifles are outfitted with Schmidt & Bender 3-12x50 PM II telescopic sights. They also employ sniper rifles chambered in the standard 7.62 × 51 mm NATO round like the early PM rifle designated as the L96A1. The L96A1's replacement, the AW version (designated as the L118A1), has seen service in recent conflicts such as Operation Granby and Operation Telic.
The AWSM in .338 Lapua Magnum is currently (2007) in service with the British Army and Royal Marines in Afghanistan and Iraq.

[edit] German Army

G22 with suppressor, telescopic sight and night vision unit "Nachtsichtvorsatz 80" (NSV80)

Since 1998 the Bundeswehr fields an AWM-F chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum (7.62 x 67 mm in Bundeswehr nomenclature), with a 3-12x56 SSG telescopic sight made by the German company Zeiss, under the designation of G22 (for Gewehr 22) or Scharfschützengewehr 22 (snipers rifle 22). The German G22 rifles have folding stocks and emergency iron sights. For their G22 rifles the Bundeswehr claims an effective range of 1,100 m.
Metallwerk Elisenhütte Nassau (MEN) has specially developed 7.62 x 67 mm ammunition for the G22.

Zeiss 3-12x56 SSG reticle

The Carl Zeiss Optronics telescopic sight has a mil-dot reticle and a scale that enables the operator to see the dialled in elevation setting through the rifle scopes ocular. The Bundeswehr 3-12x56 SSG telescopic sight differs somewhat from the further developed 3-12x56 SSG-P telescopic sight depicted in the Zeiss brochure. The Bundeswehr telescopic sight has no parallax setting option and the range scale has a setting range from 0 to 10 instead of 0 to 11 symbolizing the 11.2 milliradian elevation adjustment range shown in the current (2006) Carl Zeiss Optronics 3-12x56 SSG-P telescopic sight brochure.

[edit] Netherlands Armed Forces

The AWSM chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum has been introduced from 1997 by the Dutch Army’s Korps Commandotroepen snipers and the 11th Air Mobile Brigade reconnaissance patrols and long range marksmen. Recently (2007) the snipers of the Netherlands Marine Corps also received this sniper rifle. The Dutch AWSM rifles are outfitted with Schmidt & Bender 3-12x50 PM II telescopic sights. The Military of the Netherlands claim a maximum effective range of 1400 m for their AWSM rifles.

[edit] Norwegian Special Forces

The snipers in Marinejegerkommandoen and Forsvarets Spesialkommando are currently using the L115A1 as their primary weapon, chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum, with Schmidt & Bender scopes.

Tanto Trench Knife

Tanto Trench Knife - Non Spike Tanto Trench Knife.
A one off new design that was Not really copied from any existing designs but thought up by myself.
I had always wanted a tanto trench knife so I designed this one, although now it is made there are things I do not like about it, I think spikes or triangular striking surfaces would have looked better, still many others may like it and that is why I am sharing this with you all.
The size for this one is medium to large hands, but would probably be too big for smalls hands due to the size finger holes.
Features oval finger holes and a flat palm rest, and standard rounded over striking surfaces. The sheath is leather and was made by myself, it has a belt loop, but no handle catch at this moment and also features a leg tie.
The blade is an old English Dunlop tyre lever, although not razor sharp it is still sharpened as much as i could do at the time and was shaped into a tanto style blade and would still be capable of stabbing and slashing, the handle is solid aluminium, and the blade is held within the handle in a groove and has been secured in place with two large screws.
Weight is average due to size and it being made of Aluminium.
Features no makers mark but was made by the person who makes most of my brass knuckles, the blade is imprinted with DUNLOP and MADE IN ENGLAND across the entire blade.
Overall an average trench knife in looks but is a one off in trench knife designs, not my favourite either, although still makes a good collectors piece, good for display and as a talking point.

Dimensions - 120mm wide (handle only), 80mm high (handle only), 18mm thick, Finger holes are 26mm wide and 32mm high.
Blade is 180mm - (7" inches)  Overall length is 305mm - (12" inches) Approx.

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Very First Knuckle Duster (Made in 1998)

WeaponCollector's Very First Knuckle Duster - My very first one piece four finger Knuckle Duster, although not my first ever, but my first of this kind, made in 1998 or around that time, although they could be even older.
It has a very crude finish and was once painted black, the design was copied from the standard traditional knuckle dusters that are sold all around the world,
Although its looks are not great this is a very well fitting and comfortable knuckle duster and would work fine if used.
The size for this Knuckle Duster is small to medium hands, and would not fit large hands, Features oval finger holes and a curved palm rest and round striking surfaces.
Weight is low due it to its thickness and being made of aluminium.
Features no makers marks but was made by the same person who makes most of my other knuckle dusters.
A very sentimental piece and one I would like to keep for a long time and maybe pass it on to a relative.

Dimensions - 110mm wide, 70mm high, 6mm thick, Finger holes are 24mm wide and 32mm high.

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Old Three Section Knuckle Duster

Old Three Section Knuckle Duster - An old 3 section design knuckle duster / brass knuckles, simple design and old too, at least 10 years old (this is old in relation to my collection), One of the first I ever owned and was just one of many three or four section knuckle dusters that I had back then, most are now lost or confiscated now due to carrying them in the streets.
Although very crude looking they are still comfortable and would still be capable of being used in a self defense situation. they are made from 3 sections of 3mm Aluminium, the same type of metal that road / street signs are made of, each section is glue together and then bolts are added.
The size for this Knuckle Duster is medium hands, but may fit large hands as well, Features round finger holes and a flat palm rest and triangular striking surfaces.
Weight is average due it to its thickness and being made of aluminium.
Features no makers marks but was made by the same person who makes most of my other knuckle dusters.
One of the oldest in my collection and although not the prettiest it still holds a sentimental place in my collection.

Dimensions - 120mm wide, 85mm high, 9mm thick, Finger holes are 26mm wide.

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