You're Invited - New Weaponology User Group

If people would spend 1/10 as much time devising more eficient ways of killing people, and ten times as much time and energy comming up with positive things ,we wouldn't be in the mess we are in now. This whole world is crumbeling around our ears and all that can be thought of is build a more efficient means for killing.

I couldn't' t agree more. You're absolutely right.

Besides that, weapon technology is exciting, in technology terms.

I'm a declared pacifist, and have always been interested by military technology for the heck of it. It has always been the most advanced and innovative, and the pointer to avant-garde technology around.

What can I do? I'm a sucker for advanced invention.

If alien technology was to be available, I would rush to learn about it.

I completely differentiate between the invention, and it's use. I'm funny that way.

Guns don't kill people, people kill people. A blade is not evil, it's a tool. you can cut tomatoes with it, and leave ideology to people. The blade knows none of all that.

I just want to know how it all works

Ideas or future weapons? A gravity mine. You step on it and a 10,000 G field shoves you all the way into your boots. Self resetting, battery powered

I think I have a quantum black hole in my pocket......oooops.........

Perhaps the following ruse will make peace, not war, between the pro's and the con's:

It could be argued that a lot of money is spent on weaponry and not enough on other things. Perhaps the suggested forum will dedicate itself to using military techniques for peaceful purposes. GPS comes to mind and probably there are more.

I respect your opinions, hilltopper, and understand that others share your views; however, this post is not intended as a place for discussion about the morality of defense spending or the ethics of gun ownership. There are plenty of other places on the web to talk about those things. The purpose of my post is to notify people about a new user group and, hopefully, generate some interest. The purpose of the Weaponology group is to examine the technology of weaponry.

Mongoose, I think, says it best: "I detest war, but love technology in all its forms". Like it or not, military technology is powerful, expensive, cutting-edge, and here to stay. Engineers, scientists, and other technically-minded folks want to know how it works and why it matters.

I too enjoy learning about the new killing tools they come up with. I have a few "guns" that are used as "toys", everything from a 1911 .45 to an M-16 (very fun to shoot on full auto!), none of them have ever killed anyone, and very doubtful if any of mine ever will.

Electronics and computers make it possible to have some really "smart" weapons built these days and better ones all the time. And from building those weapons, knowledge trickles down to items that we use in everyday life. GPS for one, look what kind of a tool that has turned into for non-military use. It is great for those (a LARGE percentage it seems) who can't read a map and see where they are.

I look forward to seeing what kind of links and posts show up in this User Group. Thanks for the invite.

Ken

Well I figure, if you want to do an ungoogle of yourself, there are some delightful device on sale in Russian, suitcase thermonecleur devices, tend to make a whole hard ware system fail. Failling that , Go to the part that says Format C: (y/n), then rush the y key. Good luck mate.

I've only been using computers a very short time. What does Format C: do?

Thermonuclear devices! Could you give me the persons address and phone number please? Might be cool to have a suitcase nuke!

FYI hardware is one word ... ah, English is not your native language. Maybe install a free spell checker? :)

The voice recognition on my computer, just doesn't understand 'smell chequer'.

but it does 'wreck a nice beach'.

Literacy amongst engineers isn't a productive thread as there are too many differences between U.S and UK English.

And of course we all think faster than we can type!

(mmmm...happiness is typing Format C:)

Actually for me especially when really tired, I tend to type faster than I think !

When typing at 80 words per minute, and the train of thought stops I keep typing but it doesn't always make sense hahaha...

I don't think there is anything wrong with a weapons group. There's nothing cooler or more manly than finding ways to blow stuff up bigger faster and more precisely...

If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.

To the pacifists out there, take a look at the history of the Rhodesian (Now called Zimbabwe) "chimurenga" and how the innocent, pacifist priests and nuns were SLAUGHTERED! It is a tragic thought, violence begets violence and the rule of the strongest (or in this case the man with the biggest gun) rules.

There is of course the timeless old addage, "GUNS DON"T KILL PEOPLE, PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE!" All technology is doing is making the job decidedly more efficient.

I detest war, but love technology in all its forms, maybe I'm the nutcase.

The statement "GUN DON'T KILL...etc"

Raises loads some good safety issues. Ranging from safety catches which are just another sear on the trigger mechanism which can be jarred off. To I.F.F systems and friendly fire.

Interestingly the arguments about Longbow vs Crossbow carries the same issues. It's virtually impossible to shoot a longbow accidentally, wheres a crossbow can be carried cocked and can be shot inadvertantly.....although you can at least see a crossbow is loaded.

Quote from my older brother, when berated by our Dad for waving an air-rifle about indoors.

'No Dad it's not loaded, see...?'

He pointed the air rifle at the widow....you can guess what happened next.

Derek

(Del is a Cockney abreviation for Derek.....the 'cat'...is because I used to play in goal .(Soccer...for non-brits)..not so agile now! The avatar is my sketch of our family pet.....too much information! Sorry!)

"...To I.F.F systems and friendly fire..."

An excellent appetiser, something to sink our teeth into:

- proximity thumb-ring and other such detached safety devices, to enable fire, and prevent it from the unauthorised

- smart areal target acquisition, to prevent friendly, and please, don't but-munch into "how friendly can fire get?", it's a grave issue, literally.

They are suposed to be coming up with a radio system to identify friendlies but they are fighting a bitter war in the back rooms of the companies and nations involved. No one wants to rely on some one elses design. How can we possibly ever get the thing out to our troops if all we can do is squable over features and who will land the gravey train of a contract.

There is some similarity here, concerning universal standards: Manufacturers gather in consortium bodies, to decide on some common standard, as in digital video, broadcasting standards, munition standards, etc.

Would anyone here support government regulation onto some universal technology for smart safety-catches, or would it be better to leave this to a manufacturer's consortium?

I think it would be better to keep this in the realm of the manufacturers. They are more likely to confine their deliberations to the practical and cost effective considerations and leave politics out of it. I would think that this approach would lead to a quicker solution.

Examples of a few conventional safety features, illustrated on some given models here, a Russian site to specify pistols by country of origin.

I recently bought a new .45 pistol. It is a Ruger P345. It has an interesting feature that I haven't seen on others. There is a little 'flag' (for lack of a better term) that pops up whenever there is a round in the chamber. I thought it was a very cool feature since it now is possible for me to tell if it is loaded, at a glance.

I have an H&K Hk4 .380 that has that feature. Really nice to be able to see if a cartridge is in the chamber by feel and sight both. They were made from 1967-1984 and were Hk's first pistol.

Hi,

I maybe out of step....but this could be a 'new' weaponology group or a 'new weaponology' group.

Semantics maybe, but the English Yew Longbow, (surely Yew is one of the best natural 'composite' materials?) Chinese repeating crossbow and model seige engines I have buit belong to one forum but not the other!

Laser guided pen? (the pen being mightier than the sword!)

A discussion of old weaponry is welcome, too, Del the cat.

Hi Moose,

I'm trying to remember a quote, possibly either Oppenheimer or Einstein (or some other lad on the Manhattan project), that goes something like:" I don't know what the third world war will be fought with, but the next one will be fought with clubs and bows"

One of my favourite Generals in the 2nd WW, was without doubt, Gen. Patton who said:" Nobody is asking you to die for your country, so make sure the other S.O.B dies for his!"

I always thought it would be fun to build a trebuchet. Where I live I could fire one without getting into any trouble.

Hi, I thought you might like to see the action sequence of my model seige engine throwing a marble.

Go to the home page look to the lower right side and see take the trebuchet challenge.

Don't know beans about Yew wood But Osage Orange makes a mighty fine stick bow.

This looks interesting. During my career I have had drawings from just about any aerospace ( read weapons systems ) company you can name pass across my desk or bench. It will be interesting to see what the latest technology brings forth, and history is always interesting.

I have read the comments that have been posted and can offer just these of my own. None of us want to be in a war, but they do happen. It is the nature of man. If you must be in one, even if you want to say that there are really no winners, it is better to be the one left standing than not. Consider also that every war in history regardless of the strategy was one first in the factory then on the battle field.

Hi; Be very careful what you talk about. Some one might beam you up or apart. NSA is watching these things. NO joke. Mr X

Yes FBI, CIA, NSA, all are activly monitoring sites like this 24/7 365.

Do you think we should give them something to worry about, just for the hell of it.

Do a Google search for home made nuclear devices and go to that particular site that starts off something like this:" Don't be an innocent bystander in the next atomic war, become an active participant......" Need I say more!!!!

Hang on a sec, there's a knock at my front door.............................................!!

I was in the US Navy for 6 years working on weapon systems. My specialty was ship's self defense. Not many people know there are self defensive weapons for a ship. The firepower behind it is awesome. Just look up CWIS or Phalanx weapon system. That was my secondary system. I got to fire that honey off. 20mm rounds @ about 4500 rounds/min. It is hard to picture how fast it fires. I only did a 100 round burst. 1.5 seconds. I have been out for almost 2 years now, but I try to keep up with advances, not only with both of my systems but all naval (and Marine) weapon systems.

Is that the one called the GE gatling gun? If so I made straightening fixtures and inspection fistures for the investment castings in the mid to late 70's.

I believe so. My primary system was NSSMS. but we fired CWIS much more often than Nato. mostly because of cost. a couple of hundred dollars for 100 20mm rounds or couple tens of thousands for 1 Rim 7 missile. Both are really nifty systems.

To create a literal "firewall", no punt whatsoever

Here is an item for you guys:

Blackening of combat arms with this new tech, in this article, "Ultra-Intense Laser Blast Creates True 'Black Metal'" from Rochester University.

Thanks, Guest. This is great stuff. I hope you'll register with CR4 so that you can become an official part of the Weaponology user group. Let me know if you need assistance with registration, etc.

The link:

"Ultra-Intense Laser Blast Creates True 'Black Metal'"

I can see where the laser blast making metal black would have all kinds of applications in weapons. A good post, interesting reading. Thanks Guest!

This story may be of interest, too.

http://cr4.globalspec.com/blogentry/2008/May-17-1997-The-X-36-Tailless-Aircraft

I have thought that using the same material that is used on the shuttle tiles only shaped like a teardrop and fired from an orbiting platform in space might have some results on the ground.