The Download Munkey : Download This, Download That :)

A stunning vexel illustration of a Heckler & Koch MP5 and definitely one of the best firearm illustrations that I’ve ever seen out there on the Net. According to Scottsdale Gun Club, it should be a MP5A3 with the “Navy” trigger group with full-auto and semi-auto firing modes only (the MP5A5 has an additional 3 round burst mode).

© John Norris

This beautiful illustration is also conveniently sized for use as a wallpaper on a 1280×960 screen

Illustrated by John Norris aka donbenni who also does a mean vexel Mitsubishi Eclipse (below) among the various car illustrations in his deviantART gallery.

© John Norris

Check out John Norris’ MP5, Mitsubishi Eclipse and his other artworks at deviantART.

MORE @ THE DOWNLOAD MUNKEY:
Tracking Your Favourite Deviants via RSS
Masada ACWS Technical Drawing
Heckler & Koch Catalogue 2007
Russ Schwenkler (dangeruss) - Vexel & 3D Cars and Motorcycle Art
Wallpapers from JDM Option : Japanese Car Tuning and Modification Magazine

Oleg Volk, an art director and photographer from Nashville, Tennessee has an impressive online photo gallery of over 5000 photos with a substantial number comprising high resolution photos of firearms. I especially like those photos with the actual firearms captured against a clean white background since I’m an avid collector of high resolution firearm photos.

My favourite firearm gallery is definitely the one featuring Advanced Armament Corp’s (AAC) sound suppressors. This gallery is the first time I’ve seen suppressors attached to light machineguns like M249 SAWs and M60s and medium machineguns such as M240s. Wonder how a light machinegun fitted with a sound suppressor would sound like when fired on full auto … UPDATE (23 Apr 2008) : Oleg has very kindly sent me a email saying that a suppressed LMG sounds like a small diesel when firing in full auto. Thanks Oleg!

© Oleg Volk

The AR10/AR15/M16 gallery is another firm favourite

© Oleg Volk

There’s quite a few interesting photos in the main Weapons photo gallery if you take the time to browse throught the 11 pages of photos in there

Of course Oleg Volk’s photos aren’t all about weapons - there’s several much smaller galleries on creepy crawlies, reptiles and amphibians and other assorted themes.

© Oleg Volk

Visit Oleg Volk’s photo gallery or view specific galleries like the Weapons gallery, the AAC gallery (also check out AAC’s catalog) or the AR10/AR15/M16 gallery.

MORE @ THE DOWNLOAD MUNKEY:
High Resolution Photos of FN Herstal’s Firearms (P90, SCAR, M249, etc)
Dick Kramer - FN Herstal Military Art
2008 Military/LE Firearm PDF Catalogs
Bushmaster AR15/M16 Internals & Operation Flash Animation
Accesorized vz 61 ‘Skorpion’ SMG, CZ Pistols & Rifles Cutaway Diagrams

The classic image of an ungainly looking AK rifle furnished with a wooden handguard and stock is probably the first thing that comes to mind when AKs are mentioned in the media. Maybe the following photos and links to manufacturers of AKs and mounting systems will change your mind on this venerable weapon of war.

© TDI Arms

TDI Arms’ X47 Picatinny rail system makes it possible for AK47 users to fit as many accessories to their rifle as their AR-15 counterparts. The X47 is distributed in the US by Command Arms Accesories whose 2007 catalog was where I first read about the X47. A similar kit even exists for the Tokyo Marui Airsoft AK and is available from Inokatsu (see below).

© Inokatsu Inc.

© Samson Manufacturing Corp

Samson Manufacturing Corp also manufactures the K-Rail (above) which is similiar to the X47.

© UltiMAK

UltiMAK is another AK mounting systems manufacturer from the US. Check out some of the AKs from UltiMAK’s photo gallery like the two beautiful Hungarian AMD-65s customized with UltiMAK accessories above.

© Blackheart Manufacturing

Blackheart Manufacturing also offers the BHI SOPMOD AK which is essentially a Krebs Custom AK fitted with Picatinny rails and other accessories. Krebs Custom isn’t the only manufacturer or importer of AKs in the US though, there’s many others listed at www.ak-47.us.

UPDATE 07 March 2008: : More photos and information on AKs and variants over at online version of the Kalashnikov Arms photo album edited by Alexei Nedelin.

MORE @ THE DOWNLOAD MUNKEY:
AK47 fonts
Learn More About AKs from Assault Rifle Basics Vidcasts
Zacca 1/6th Guns Collection & World Weapon Collection
BrickArms - Lego for the Gun Nut

A brand new year and brand new downloadable PDF catalogs from manufacturers of tactical (military/law enforcement) firearms. Firearm enthusiasts and catalog collectors are in for a treat

Most of the major manufacturers such as FN Herstal, Remington, and Benelli are represented here, with a selection of last year’s catalogs further down this post for some of the other manufacturers like Bushmaster and Sabre Defence Industries.

© FNH USA, LLC

First, we have the latest FN Herstal catalogs - one for military (29 pages, 15 MB), the other for law enforcement (108 pages, 24 MB). The military catalog (above top) is the one to grab if you’re interested in the FN SCAR since it’s in double spread format as opposed to the LE catalog’s less readable single page format. The LE catalog showcases more firearms though including info on the new FNAR (above bottom).

© Remington Arms Co, Inc

Remington’s Miltary/LE catalog is available from their Military Products Division as an 39 page PDF (5 MB). There’s the Model 870 shotgun, Model 700 rifle as well as the derivative M24 and M40 sniper systems.

© Benelli USA

A 22 MB, 76 page catalog of Benelli’s mainly sporting firearms with several combat shotguns like the M4 above.

© Heckler & Koch

The best 2008 catalog I’ve seen is the Heckler & Koch Military and Law Enforcement 2008 catalog (15 pages of high resolution photos packed in a whopping 47MB PDF - check out the cool HK417 above). Chen Lee of CL Tactical for posted the download link at the HKPro forums but this link has been removed. It was up two weeks ago while compiling this list - I’ll see if I can upload my copy somewhere for download soon)

Some of the other major manufacturers of military arms - ArmaLite (AR-15), Knight’s Armament Company (M110, SR-25) and Barrett (Model 82A1, M107, etc) strangely do not have downloadable PDF catalogs

© D S Arms, Inc

The catalog I’m most interested in - D S Arms, Inc - mainly for the Mini SA58 FAL OSW, but it’s only available in print

Nonetheless, I have added a list of 2008 catalogs from American maufacturers of AR-15 type rifles and carbines.

© Rock River Arms, Inc

Rock River Arms’s 2008 catalog (56 pages in 2 MB) downloadable from their official site.

© DPMS Firearms, LLC

DPMS Firearms’s 2008 catalog (128 paegs, 12 MB)

© Olympic Arms, Inc

Olympic Firearms has a 2008 retail catalog (60 pages, 25 MB) and a 2007 Law Enforcement catalog (36 pages, 4 MB) both available for download from their catalog page.

© Smith & Wesson

Smith & Wesson’s 2008 catalog - mainly pistols and revolvers with the their take on the AR-15 rifle - the M&P series - in Part I of the catalog. A 2007 Law Enforcement catalog is also available from the same page @ www.smith-wesson.com. M&P 15T image above from the 2007 LE catalog.

© Stag Arms

Stag Arms’s 2008 catalog (40 pages, 21 MB). Learnt of Stag Arms from Airborne Combat Enginner’s feature on Stag Arm’s L series AR-15s for left-handers.

A list of 2007 catalogs for those manufacturers without the latest 2008 catalogs.

Archives of Sabre Defence Industries catalogs for 2005, 2006 and 2007. Browse to Produktinformationen > Sabre Defense-Waffen to download the files.

© Sabre Defence Industries, LLC

The 2007 catalog is pretty well designed, hope to see a downloadable 2008 PDF catalog on their official site @ www.sabredefence.comsoon

© Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC

A 2007 catalog (84 pages, 9 MB) from Bushmaster. I think they’re probably busy adding their newly licensed Bushmaster ACR (Magpul Masada) to their upcoming 2008 catalog Magpul Industries has their own classy downloadable 2008 catalog of their firearm parts and accessories (link from calguns.net)

© Magpul Industries Corp

© J.P. Sauer & Sohn GmbH

Sig Sauer’s 2007 Law Enforcement catalog (20 pages, 1 MB) - last year’s catalog meaning there’s no info on the SIG 556.

© Springfield Armory, Inc

Springfield Armory’s catalog promoting their range of M1911 pistols and M1/M1A rifles (33 pages, 3 MB) - see M1A SOCOM II above.

A selection of even older military/LE firearm catalogs to wrap things up.

© Colt Defense LLC

Colt Law Enforcement 2003 catalog (18 pages, 26 MB) - Excellent artwork on the cover of this PDF (above)

Colt Defense Weapon Systems catalog (14 pages, 20 MB)

© Colt Canada

Colt Canada 2006 Catalog (36 pages, 6 MB) - Includes some rifles not found in the American Colt catalog like the Colt C7CT as well as SFW and CQB variants of the Canadian version of the M16 (C7)

Swiss Arms Law Enforcement Catalog (14 pages, 1 MB) - SG550, SG551, SG552

© Beretta USA Corp

Beretta Law Enforcement catalog (24 pages, 2MB) - link from Impact Guns.

JP Enterprises (112 pages, 5MB) - the JP15 Viking Tactics Specialized Rifle looks great (more pictures in Part 2 of the four-part catalog).

The above listing is by no means comprehensive, do drop me a mail @ downloadmunkey@gmail.com to add any 2008 catalog that I might have missed out to this list.

MORE @ THE DOWNLOAD M”UNKEY:
2nd Amendment Fonts (Firearm Silhouettes) & Other Cool Dingbat Fonts
M4 Carbine Accessories
High Resolution Photos of FN Herstal’s Firearms
Airborne Combat Engineer’s WTFs
Heckler & Koch 2007 Catalog

Received an email a few days back from one of my favourite military history publishers, Osprey Publishing, about a 25% (!) discount code for purchases made at their online store. Since Osprey Publishing have already announceed it on their official blog, I think it should be OK to spread the good news here

Some of the general military titles are really value for money even without discount as they combine material from several previously published books and with the current discount code which lasts until 8 Feb 2008, it just serves to make new purchases much sweeter. If you haven’t read an Osprey Publishing book before, you can browse the selection available at Borders, Page One (Vivocity) and especially Kinokuniya (Ngee Ann City).

I’ve finally narrowed my shortlist to the following books from the 10+ books that I was orginally interested in. I mainly opt for the paperback editions over the hardback versions where available in order to purchase as many books within an approx £50 budget but that’s just my personal preference

© Osprey Publishing

1. Warriors of Medieval Japan by Stephen Turnbull - Paperback, 288 pages, £12.99 before discount.

A book on samurai, ninja, Buddhist warrior monks and ashigaru (common spearmen/arquebusiers/archers). Being a avid enthusiast of samurai and ninjas, picking this book was a no-brainer. Comprises content from previously pubblished books - Warrior 29: Ashigaru, Warrior 64: Ninja and Warrior 70: Japanese Warrior Monks which retail around 34-38 SGD individually so it’s pretty value for money.

© Osprey Publishing

2. Out of Nowhere - A History of the Military Sniper by Martin Pegler - Paperback, 352 pages, £12.99 before discount.

Tracing the origins of the military marksman from medieval times to the present day snipers, this should be a good read for anyone interested in the field of sniping as well as the personnel, weaponry and tactics involved.

As an example of the savings involved as opposed to purchasing these books from local (in this case, Singaporean) bookstores which are selling Out of Nowhere at ~41 SGD (~£14), buying this book from the online store after discount costs less than £10. Do note that shipping to Singapore is a flat rate of £5 so you do need to purchase several paperbacks or at least a hardback before the savings are substantial enough to warrant an online purchase.

© Osprey Publishing

3. Airborne - World War II Paratroopers in Combat by Julie Guard - Hardback, 304 pages, £20.00 before discount.

A book on the German, US and British paratroopers of WWII as well as the tactics and airborne campaigns of WWII (Crete, Operation Market Garden (Arnhem) and Utah Beach).

© Osprey Publishing

4. War on the Western Front - In the Trenches of World War I by Gary Sheffield - Hardback, 272 pages, £20.00 before discount.

Describes the troops of WWI as well as the tactics formulated for trench warfare of that war.

Other interesting titles include Rome and her Enemies (only hardback available, waiting for the paperback edition ), Aztecs and Conquistadores and God’s Warriors (The Crusades)

Buy Osprey books at the official Osprey Publishing site. (remember to enter your discount code 8JAN before checkout)

MORE @ THE DOWNLOAD MUNKEY:
Osprey Publishing’s Military Art “Advent Calendar
Armada International’s Complete Guides
Free Military History Books @ Focal Point Publications