Finland’s armaments industry quietly produced one of the very best submachine guns of the Second World War. This weapon was the KP/-31 (also known as the Suomi m/1931). The design is not well-known now, but in its day it was the weapon that everyone else wanted.
Little Portugal, located at the western-most tip of Europe, was not endowed by fortune with natural resources (save for its Atlantic proximity). Yet it did have the daring, tenacity, and vision of great men, and that proved to be sufficient to propel it to world prominence.
Like most of the belligerents of World War II, Japan found itself faced with an explosive demand for weapons of all sorts in the first few years of the 1940s. Existing supplies of small arms were simply not adequate, and Japan had to improvise as best it could.
Sometimes we should chase the gazelle, and sometimes we should not.
A reader is concerned that he may be setting expectations and goals for himself that are not in accord with reality or practicality. He is wondering if he should make adjustments, but does’t really know if he’s just at a sticking point, or if he should change course altogether. I offer four suggestions for him to think about.
Sicily had numerous Greek cities from very early times. These were colonial settlements that gradually grew into larger urban centers with the passage of years. But Sicily’s strategic position in the central Mediterranean meant that it was destined to become a battleground for regional powers. It was a pattern that would repeat itself down through the centuries.
A 23-year-old reader in a European country is undecided what career path to take. He has narrowed down his choices training in art or training in law. But he’s not sure which one is best for him. I offer my own thoughts, and then some thoughts gleaned from my translation of Cicero’s On Duties (which is now available on Amazon.)
Summer is a time for outdoor activity. Many of us will find ourselves hiking, camping, or just going on long walks. I thought this would be a good opportunity to make up a list of what I consider the most important things a hiker should have in his possession.
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This podcast discusses my new book, On Duties. It is the most explanatory, readable, and well-organized translation of Cicero’s classic that is available in English, and perhaps in any language. In this podcast, I provide the three reasons why this is so. I also discuss the great theme running through the book: the idea of greatness of spirit.
The stories of forgotten weapons make for interesting reading. One such weapon was Britain’s “De Lisle carbine,” which remains one of the more obscure small arms stories of the Second World War. It is perhaps the most quiet weapon ever produced. Very few of them were made, and its full service record will probably never be fully known. But it does have an interesting story behind it and deserves more recognition than it has received.
Quintus Curtius 
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