Most Americans can legally own an automatic knife — a fact decades of movie mythology have obscured. We break down what the 1958 Federal Switchblade Act actually does (it's a trade law, not a possession ban), which states still restrict autos, why assisted-opening knives aren't switchblades, and why a retailer sometimes can't ship one to your address.

A $50,000 handshake in 1949, a black eagle drawn in mourning, the Marlin rescue, and a 2026 move out of Connecticut — the complete 77-year story of America's largest gunmaker, from the $37.50 Standard pistol to the Magpul-built RXM.

Cargo pants are back on the runways and designers are charging $400 for jackets that look like something out of a 1980s armory. After 23 years of buying and selling this gear, here's what the fashion world keeps rediscovering — which surplus pieces to buy first, how to spot genuine issue from reproduction, and how to wear it all without looking ...

Most 1911 "reliability problems" are really magazine problems. We break down the best 1911 magazines by what you actually do with the gun — carry, competition, GI clone, or budget range toy — settle the 7-vs-8-round argument, and show you how to match a magazine to your frame and caliber.

When the phone dies and the fog rolls in, a compass earns its keep. We break down the full Suunto lineup — A-10, A-30, M-9, Clipper, and the MC-2 mirror — so you can match the right one to your kind of trips, from a $20 backup to a one-compass-for-life pick.

No, Ontario Knife Company didn't go out of business — it was sold. Aerospace parent Servotronics offloaded the 134-year-old knife brand to Blue Ridge Knives in 2023, and the Franklinville, NY factory closed. Here's the verified story, and what it means for your knives.

Your suppressor won't thread on — the threads don't match. A firearm thread adapter bridges the gap. Here's what it actually does, the five reasons shooters use one, the honest trade-offs (baffle strikes are real), and how to pick one that won't cause problems down range.

That brand-new SIG or Beretta magazine? It was probably made by Mec-Gar. Here's the OEM story, what the finishes mean, and how to pick the right mag.

Few American firearms have collected as many tall tales as the M1 Carbine. After 23 years buying and selling them, we sort the eight most persistent M1 Carbine myths — Chosin-era cold-weather stories, ammo confusion, accuracy claims, and what to check before buying one.

Spend enough time in firearms and outdoor catalogs and they all start to blur together. Shomer-Tec is what shows up when somebody actually goes looking for the unusual stuff: covert handcuff keys hidden in boot laces, fire-starting buttons sewn into shirt cuffs, stash compartments built into disposable coffee cups. Here's the Bellingham, WA ...