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When the M1 Garand was adopted in 1936, Melvin Johnson—a lawyer and Capt. in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve—believed it was a badly flawed rifle, and set out to develop his own. Thus, the Johnson Model of 1941 rifle was born. In the end, the Johnson rifle was not selected by the military, but a few did see service with Marines at the Battle of Guadalcanal. Despite this setback, Johnson continued to develop more automatic firearms including the M1941 Light Machine Gun, which later became a sought-after gun in the early days of the Pacific War in World War II. Continuing to invent more firearms, Johnson also developed an auto carbine named Daisy Mae, with only a total of five produced. He also did some pioneering work with existing Gatling Guns, eventually leading to the development of the Vulcan Gatling Gun, for which he is not credited. Check out this segmentfrom a recent episode ofAmerican Rifleman TV to learn more about inventor Melvin Maynard Johnson and his guns.
As an elite World War II unit whose members could be expected to fight as soon as they landed, Marine Corps paratroopers, unofficially known as “Paramarines,” required a special complement of firearms capable of being deployed immediately.
Ruger has officially launched its 250th Anniversary Series of firearms, commemorating the United States Semiquincentennial and celebrating the company’s deep roots in American manufacturing.
With processing power advancing and manufacturing costs decreasing, thermal technology continues to become more accessible. Armasight’s newest release, the Contractor 320 Lite, reflects this trend.
2026 marks the 50th anniversary of Gunsite, an elite training establishment in Arizona founded by Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper to help train Americans in the pragmatic use of firearms for personal protection.