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Think Swiss watches are nice? You should see the inside of a Schmidt-Rubin rifle. The Schmidt-Rubin was originally adopted by the Swiss in 1889 with the 1911 version created as a modification and improvement of the original. The rifle is unusual to Americans because it has a straight-pull bolt action, but it is one of the nicest ever made. It was a very successful infantry rifle and saw service from 1889 into the 1950s. These days, the rifle has become quite popular in the military surplus market with the majority of the ones available in the K31 Carbine version. For more on the Schmidt-Rubin 1911 Rifle, watch this "I Have This Old Gun" segment from a recent episode of American Rifleman TV.
Original firearms from the American Revolution era are valuable and best preserved for posterity. For those who want to shoot them, several modern makers offer quality reproductions.
Carbine performance is all about maintaining control. The Rifle Standard Delta 2 is a drill that pressures recoil control, visual discipline and cadence as distance decreases and time compresses.
Compared to pistoleros of the 19th century, today’s handgunners have it easy. It's not enough just to get an old-school, cap-and-ball revolver. You also need to acquire everything to shoot and clean it.