GunnyGene wrote: ↑Fri Dec 23, 2022 1:15 pm
All are simply marketing, albeit to different audiences.
Perhaps.
I remember all the arguments in magazines and on forums over the validity of Col. Cooper's Scout Rifle. If the concept made sense to you, you bought one or built one. If it didn't fit you, you didn't. Maybe that was marketing. I say different strokes for different folks.
Heck, some folks buy replicas of old cowboy guns ... or collect old military rifles. And some folks just wouldn't have one.
However, various military s have commissioned and issued survival arms of various types for a while now. I'll warrant the military's interest came LONG before the public even cared about such a thing. After all, the public already had a shotgun by the door or in the gun rack out in their truck.
Aircrews have generally carried handguns, revolvers or automatics, since WW I. During WW II, the German Luftwaffe issued the M30 drilling (3 barreled rifle & shotgun) which was intended to be used by aircrews for hunting and self-defense against natural predators. As mentioned in a post above, the Soviet Space Agency had the TP-82 built for missions in space after a very frightened Cosmonaut insisted on one. The USAF had a long interest in survival rifles, and formerly adopted several. The IDF actually bought AR-7 Survival Rifles and issued them to their fighter pilots. I suppose all of this could be called a form of "simply marketing", if somebody really wanted to press the point. The military s are
selling the notion of "surviving" to their aircrews.
For myself, I'm kind of sold on the idea of a reliable 12 gauge close at hand and a good stockpile of various types of ammo for it. My aren't all "tactical-ed out", just a set of sights, a sling and a shorter barrel. Good as both a grocery getter and home defense weapon with the right ammo. My wife can shoot it, and do well with it. I actually like it better for her then the 9mm I bought her. These shotguns make a lot of sense to me. Please note that they are not the only firearms I own, not by a long shot.
On the other hand, we have Hy Hunter and The T-62 Civilian Defense Weapon. Marketing at its finest.
- from_1962_showing_the_AR7_design_modified_to_be_a_M1_carbine_a_Tommy_gun_or_a_Broomhandle_Mauser.jpg (52.4 KiB) Viewed 3206 times
The German Luftwaffe M-30 Drilling survival firearm. Two 12 gauge shotgun barrels on top and a 9.3x74mmR rifle barrel on the bottom.:
- Sauer M.30 Luftwaffe Survival Drilling 3.jpg (115.74 KiB) Viewed 3205 times
Israeli AR-7 Survival Rifle:
- AR7 Israeli wire stock note carry bag and claning kit.jpg (80.91 KiB) Viewed 3190 times