Pistol Grips& Gun Accessories

Camouflage

Smaller, irregular units of scouts in the 18th century were the first to adopt colors in drab shades of brown and green. Major armies retained their color until convinced otherwise. The British in India in 1857 were forced by casualties to dye their red tunics to neutral tones, initially a muddy tan called khaki (from the Urdu word for 'dusty'). This was only a temporary measure. It became standard in Indian service in the 1880s, but it was not until the Second Boer War that, in 1902, the uniforms of the entire British army were standardised on this dun tone for battledress.

The United States was quick to follow the British, going khaki in the same year. Russia followed, partially, in 1908. The Italian army used grigio-verde ("grey-green") in the Alps from 1906 and across the army from 1909. The Germans adopted feldgrau ("field grey") in 1910.

Other armies retained brighter colors. At the beginning of World War I the French experienced heavy losses because the troops wore red (garance) trousers as part of their uniform. This was changed in early 1915, partly due to casualties and partly because the red dye was manufactured in Germany. The French army also adopted a new "horizon blue" jacket. The Belgian army started using khaki uniforms in 1915.

The Bronze Horseman camouflaged from the German aircraft during the Siege of Leningrad (August 8, 1941).The French also established a Section de Camouflage (Camouflage Department) in 1915, briefly headed by Eugene Corbin and then by Lucien-Victor Guirand de Sc vola. The camouflage experts were, for the most part, painters, sculptors, theatre set artists and such. Technological constraints meant that patterned camouflage uniforms were not mass manufactured during WW I. Each patterned uniform was hand-painted, and so restricted to snipers, forward artillery observers, and other exposed individuals. More effort was put into concealing larger pieces of equipment and important structures. By mid-1915 the French section had four workshops - one in Paris and three nearer the front - mainly producing camouflage netting and painted canvas. Netting quickly moved from wire and fabric to use raffia, hessian, and cocoa - the integration of natural materials was always recommended.

Units of Camouflage who were artists, designers, or architects in civilian life were also largely used by the forces of the United Kingdom (Camouflage Section established in late 1916 based at Wimereux) and the US (New York Camouflage Society established in April 1917, official Company A, 40th Engineers set up in January 1918 and the Women's Reserve Camouflage Corps) and to a lesser extent by Germany (from 1917, see, for example, Lozenge - possibly the earliest printed camouflage), Italy (Laboratorio di mascheramento established in 1917), Belgium and Russia. The word camouflage first entered the English language in 1917.

Camouflage added to helmets was unofficially popular, but these were not mass-produced until the Germans began in 1916 to issue stahlhelme (steel helmets) in green, brown, or ochre. Mass-produced patterned, reversible, cloth covers were also issued shortly before the end of the war, although hand-made examples were in use from late 1914. Net covering was also examined, either fitted with natural vegetation or with colored fabric strips called scrim.

Specialist troops, notably snipers, could be supplied with various items of camouflage, including patterned veils for the head and gun, hand-painted overalls and scrim covered netting or sacking - an adaptation of the rag camouflage used in Scotland by anti-poaching wardens, gillies, the first ghillie suits.

Two HMMWVs, one in desert "camouflage", one in woodland.The first mass produced military camouflage material was the Italian telo mimetico ("mimetic cloth") pattern of 1929, used to cover a shelter-half (telo tenda), an idea copied by the Germans in 1931. With mass-production of patterned fabrics possible, they became far more common on individual soldiers in WW II. Initially patterning was uncommon, a sign of elite units, to the extent that captured camouflage uniforms would be often 'recycled' by an enemy. The Red Army issued "amoeba" disruptive pattern suits to snipers from 1937 and all-white ZMK top-garments the following year, but it was not until hostilities began that more patterns were used.

The Germans had experimented before the war and some army units used "splinter" pattern camouflage. Waffen-SS combat units experimented with various patterns, including palmenmuster ("palm pattern"), sumpfmuster ("swamp pattern"), erbsenmuster ("pea pattern"), and also telo mimetico ("mimetic cloth") using fabric seized from the Italians in 1943 - the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler division often wore this pattern.

The British did not use disruptive-pattern uniforms until 1942, with the hand-painted Denison smock for paratroopers, followed in 1943 with a similar style M42 garment.

A Royal Norwegian Navy craft, in a splinter camouflage pattern.The US Corps of Engineers began wide-ranging experiments in 1940, but little official notice was taken until 1942 when General MacArthur demanded 150,000 jungle camouflage uniforms. A 1940 design, dubbed "frog-skin", was chosen and issued as a reversible beach/jungle coverall - soon changed to a two-part jacket and trousers. It was first issued to the US Marines fighting on the Solomon Islands. Battle-field experience showed that pattern was unsuitable for moving troops and production was halted in 1944 with a return to standard single-tone uniforms.

With the return of war camouflage sections were revived. The British set up the (camouflage) Development and Training Centre in 1940 at Farnham Castle, Surrey. Early staff included artists from the Industrial Camouflage Research Unit such as Roland Penrose and Frederick Gore, and the stage magician Jasper Maskelyne (later famous for his camouflage work in the North African campaign).

From 1978 to the early 1980s, the American 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment stationed in Europe used a digital camouflage pattern on its vehicles. During 1979 and 1980 the Australian Army experimented with digital camouflage on helicopters. More recently, battledress in digital camouflage patterns has been adopted by the Canadian Army and Air Force (CADPAT), the United States Marine Corps (MARPAT), and much of the military of Jordan.

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July 17 - Today in the News

• Alphecca suggest we all Buy Those Assault Weapons While You Can...
• The AnarchAngel discusses Arizona Lawful Open Carry.
• Captain's Quarters blogs the Hidalgo County, Texas in Why The Sheriff Won't Patrol The Border.
• Gun Legislation & Politics in New York makes a point about Pistol-Packing Judges.
• And points to Antigun campaign contributions.
• John Lott goes to New York: It is fine for New York Judges to Keep Guns Under Their Robes While They are On the Bench.
• And tells us what we need to know in Prohibition on confiscating guns during an emergency passes overwhelmingly.
• Finally, Lott gets into the "BRAZILIAN GUN BAN - The participation of Movimento Viva Brasil in the Referendum".
• mAss Backwards says votes against confiscation prohibition amendment should rate Sixteen Counts of Treason.
• From the NRA:

1. Stopping Gun Confiscation

• Of Arms and the Law points to Washington Times: A Call to Arms.
• And mentions a Utah AG opinion on guns in government buildings.
• Pro-Gun Progressive blogs Crime in DC.
• Repeal the Lautenberg Amendment, aka, section 658 of Public Law 104-208 has Sen. Lautenberg speaks on the Lautenberg Amendment. (7/13/06).
• SayUncle says we should be Going on offense. Sounds familiar.
• Thank G-d for Guns has Alaska packer saves cop's life.
• TriggerFinger says The Supreme Court has repeatedly suggested an individual right.
• And on the gun confiscation amendment says Hold the phone. It is a positive start, but lets hope they follow through with H.R.5013.
• The War on Guns is Doing the Numbers in DC.
• The Vatican: United Nations Gun Trade Conference Ends Without Final Agreement
• Dubai: Surprise: Prior to 1850, Only One in Ten Americans Owned a Gun - clueless at many angles.

First, it is all over the place that an amendment to the Homeland Security Dept. appropriations bill has been passed to prevent confiscations of firearms. Senate Amendment 4615 was passed by a vote of 84 - 16 yesterday. S.A.4615 prevents HSD budget from being used to confiscate legally owned guns in emergency situations.

Entries on the amendment:

• Yahoo: Senate votes to bar emergency gun confiscation
• St. Petersburg Times: US Congress Lines Up to Weaken Gun Laws, Protect Negligent Dealers
• Reuters: US Senate Vote to Bar Emergency Gun Confiscation a 'Gun Lobby Victory'
• No Quarters: The first problem is they opened their mouths.
• The NRA: U.S. Senate Votes to Protect Second Amendment Rights During Emergencies
• Alphecca: Calling General Gage...
• SayUncle: Gun Victory
• Xavier Thoughts : US Senate Blocks Emergency Gun Confiscation
  

And in other news:

• The Countertop Chronicles blogs the News York Times: Your Not Gonna Believe It.
• FreedomSight has info on KT Ordnance Fundraising.
• And Restoring the Lost 2nd Amendment.
• Gun Legislation & Politics in New York has a short, but effective, blog on Candidates for Assembly Majority Leader.
• Of Arms and the Law has a Debate on Saul Cornell's "A Well Regulated Militia".
• He is also working on a Working on Second Amendment documentary and has posted a Clip from the documentary film.
• And finally, for those writing new proposals, has A hint on statute drafting.
• TriggerFinger continues his DC suit analysis with Printz v United states (as applied in Parker) and Lewis v United States (as applied in Parker).
• Gun Bounty: Floridians Offered $1000 for Turning in Illegal Gun Owners
• To Bar Concealed Carry Handguns, Kansas Schools Must Now Post Signs
• Austrailia: United Nations Global Gun Trade Conference Branded a Failure

A few days ago I recieved the following email. For readability, I have converted it to mixed case, and corrected some of the spelling and punctuation.

It is obvious that this gentleman has made life choices that some of us would not. On the flip side, those choices should not preclude him from options otherwise available to him.

I leave his story for your consideration with one question: how have stories like this impacted our military readiness?

• Alphecca asks about U.N. To Mandate Gun Control?
• Blogonomicon points to idiocy: Dallas Youth Summit urging kids to turn in toy guns.
• D.C.’s police chief, Charles Ramsey declares A Crime Emergency - a great place not to be.
• Gun Legislation & Politics in New York says Steve Harrison supports gun control.
• And there is going to be a Vote on Bloomberg’s antigun package next week.
• John Lott posts Lott v. Levitt Response FIled.
• The Liberty Zone points to the Houston Chronicle: What about the Second Amendment? Apparently they only read the UN releases and did not analysis of their own.
• Michael Bane: U.N. Gun-Grabbers Lose a Big One.
• Musings of The GeekWithA.45 questions Democrat's intentions: Well, A Lot of Folks Are Talking About...
• The Second Amendment Foundation posts Alan Gottlieb on the United Nations: Q&A.
• From the NRA:

1. Florida Crime Lowest Since 1971
2. Teaching The Second Amendment
3. Nebraska: Lincoln Jumps The Gun On Debate
4. U.N. Misfires; U.S. Protects Its Gun Rights
5. D.C. Police Chief Declares Crime Emergency

• Of Arms and the Law joins the crowd: Florida crime rates dropping.
• Asks about Arizona Are castle doctrine laws retroactive?
• And finally points to Gun activism in South Africa.
• Thank G-d for Guns goes to South Africans want Right to Keep and Bear Arms guarantee. Can't blame them.
• TriggerFinger is continuing his work on Parker v DC. See his post index: Appellant's brief in Parker v DC.
• US and a Handful of States Scuppered a UN Deal to Control Gun Trade
• Texas Gun Sales Spark Firearm Smuggling Blitz on US-Canada Border
• US Congress Should Reject Two 'Especially Noxious' Gun Lobby Bills
• Kenya's Hopes Dashed at UN Gun Trade Talks, Delegates Disappointed
• UN Snub for 2,000 Bahrain Signatories to Control Arms Gun Trade Petition
• United Nations Chief Disappointed With Fruitless Gun Trade Meeting

• Alphecca points to a John McCain podcast, part of which covers gun rights.
• Blogonomicon informs us that Texas State Senator Jeff Wentworth to introduce Castle Doctrine Bill.
• CamEdwards, on Townhall, blogs DC's killer mistake.
• And points to Teacher Fired For Serving His Country. What, exactly, does Dr. Duncan think he is teaching the students?
• Gun Legislation & Politics in New York points to a possible Primary in the 47th Senate District? Some people just want to be a spoiler.
• From the NRA:

1. Tourist Attacks Prompt Declaration of D.C. Crime Emergency
2. Carry Considered In Omaha
3. California: Groups Plan Suit Over Lead Ammo
4. What You Don`t Know Can Hurt You

• Of Arms and the Law informs us that there is a Vitter Amendment. First impression is that it sounds like a Senate version of H.R.5013, the Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006. The NRA considers this legislation a priority. Research to begin.
• PawPaw's House fisks the media and New Orleans PD in Oh, Please!
• Pro-Gun Progressive asks Rudy in ‘08? Apparently he is considered left of McCain. But who cares. He supports firearm registration. Anybody who is electable in NYC is not getting my vote.
• Repeal the Lautenberg Amendment, aka, section 658 of Public Law 104-208 has Another Lautenberg Story.....
• And Johns Hopkins says Lautenberg Amendment has NO affect on DV Homicide. You need to read the report carefully. In only one sentence does the report differentiate misdemeanants . Given that felons were prohibitted persons before Lautenberg, the report seems to show the LA as a waste of effort.
• SayUncle blogs The WaPo Editorializes On Gun Laws.
• And goes to Georgia in Guns and privacy.
• Thank G-d for Guns

1. Mayor 'Loonberg' quacks about new gun laws
2. Thai teachers carry arms, teach U.S. a lesson
3. Sunshine State sheds light on solutions to crime

• TriggerFinger continues his analysis of Parker v DC in The Second Amendment. Consider it a 'must read'.
• The Volokh Conspiracy blogs Tushnet v. Cornell On Guns:
• The War on Guns blogs Philly "Gun Violence" Escalates.

• CRIME, GUNS, AND VIDEO TAPE brings us L.A. Gun Laws Are Really Effective, And Other Lies.
• Gun Legislation & Politics in New York has info on Yassky and Guns.
• The Liberty Zone presents his first of The Rectal Cavity Award.
• mAss Backwards does some fisking From the Pages of Not the Boston Globe.
• Michelle Malkin on one of our favorites: CYNTHIA MCKINNEY WATCH.
• No Quarters blogs on Right verses privilege.
• From the NRA:

1. A Defendable Gun Bill
2. Clinton`s $22 Million War Chest
3. Knowledge And Democracy
4. Carry Will Be Legal In Omaha
5. Halting Global Tax Tyranny
6. Apprentice Hunter Program Hits Bull`s-Eye - This site is not about hunting or for hunters specifically, but increasing the population comfortable with guns can only be a good thing.

• Of Arms and the Law points to the Joyce Foundation at it again -- Stanford Law Review.
• SayUncle points to Gun violence up in New York. Well New York sure isn't Florida, on many counts.
• And considers When the headline doesn’t agree with the story.

• The National Shooting Sports Foundation say U.S. HOUSE MAY VOTE ON PRO-GUN BILLS before their recess.
• 2 Valuable calls for action in Michigan - Don't Forget About the Castle Doctrine.
• Gun Legislation & Politics in New York gets NRA awards.
• And points to a Primary for Dale Volker? for a friend.
• The Liberty Zone points to Illinois: Goosestepping to tyranny.
• From the NRA:

1. Kentucky Firearm License Changes Begin
2. America`s Other Mayor

• Of Arms and the Law suggests Heads up for Californians.
• Pro-Gun Progressive blogs You Can Keep Your Guns When Disaster Strikes. He seems to think the Democrats voting for the amendment sign a change in the Democratic party. I am not so optimistic. I picture them holding their nose during their vote and having a good cry when it was over. Their new gun position will not last.
• SayUncle goes local with Krumm on guns.
• US Shooters Line Up to Escape Conviction Under 'Make My Day' Gun Laws
• How Legal Weapons Fuel Epidemic of Gun Crime in Connecticut