Canadian Small Arms Used in Afghanistan

Yeandle31

Yeandle31

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Hello all,

I'm putting a call out for help, specifically to those of you who took part in Canada's War in Afghanistan. I am in the early stages of writing a book on the small arms used by Canadian service members during the war. The scope of the book will cover everything ranging from rifles/carbines/pistols/machine guns/accessories (holsters, rails, bayonets, etc). This book will not be a history of the war in Afghanistan but a history of the Small Arms that were used. There are many books written about country's small arms during a certain war, this book will focus on the issue and development of Canadian small arms during the War in Afghanistan.

If you have any pictures of yourself holding/using/near the weapons that you used and are willing to share them, I would very much appreciate them bing posted here or emailed to me (given via PM). Any/all pictures would be appreciated as they help with context. Also, any information you have would be greatly appreciated as well!

In the post/email, please let me know if you do not wish for said photos to be published in the book. I want to ensure the owners' wishes are adhered to.

Thank you,
Kevin

P.S - Admin's if this post doesn't belong here, I apologize. I deemed it to be the most relevant forum.
 
Last edited:
Bile said:
Who's your publisher?

Why don't you ask a Public Affairs Office (PAO)? They can figure out that stuff for you better then here. They literally exist to deal with these sort of things. Call a base or email your MP or something.

Also, never put an email out like that.
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That process has already been started but I thought I'd put the call out here as well.

Thanks,
Kevin
 
Do you expect people to relinquish their IP in the photos for publication? WIll you be crediting the photographer in the book?

Do you have specific questions you are trying to answer? Can you be more specific about the concept of the book?

Have you tried googling for photos? there are millions of photos out there already. What exactly are you looking for?

Afghanistan was a bit of the wild west for personal kit and equipment. You are going to get a lot of pictures of dudes sporting unissued/unauthorized equipment along with the issued. And that includes accessories and modifications on the service rifles themselves. And I don't know any self respecting soldier who used an issued holster for the Browning HP.
 
Cameron SS said:
Do you expect people to relinquish their IP in the photos for publication? WIll you be crediting the photographer in the book?

Do you have specific questions you are trying to answer? Can you be more specific about the concept of the book?

Have you tried googling for photos? there are millions of photos out there already. What exactly are you looking for?

Afghanistan was a bit of the wild west for personal kit and equipment. You are going to get a lot of pictures of dudes sporting unissued/unauthorized equipment along with the issued. And that includes accessories and modifications on the service rifles themselves. And I don't know any self respecting soldier who used an issued holster for the Browning HP.
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The book will focus on the small arms used during the war as well as their development. This book is a not a history of the War in Afghanistan, but instead the history of the small arms used. There are books written about the weapons used in WW1, WW2, Vietnam, etc but this one will focus on Canadian weapons from the era. The book is geared towards being a small arms reference book for collectors/small arms historians. The pictures are needed to illustrate the many variations of each weapon that was used. For example, I have spent hours in Google trying to find pictures of all 5 C8 Carbine variants used but that has proven to be very difficult.

If someone is willing to let me use photos, I will comply with their wishes. I can credit the photographer if they want, or not won't if they prefer it that way. if someone doesn't want the photo published at all, I completely understand. Any information helps provide context and help with further research.

Thanks,
Kevin
 
Cameron SS said:
.....

Afghanistan was a bit of the wild west for personal kit and equipment. You are going to get a lot of pictures of dudes sporting unissued/unauthorized equipment along with the issued. And that includes accessories and modifications on the service rifles themselves. And I don't know any self respecting soldier who used an issued holster for the Browning HP.
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I had a knob for a boss, and fully expected to have to tote my BHP in the issue Bianchi. So when I stepped up to the folding table of holsters at Camp Mirage, I inspected all dozen of them and picked out one with the least damage.
 
maple_leaf_eh said:
I had a knob for a boss, and fully expected to have to tote my BHP in the issue Bianchi. So when I stepped up to the folding table of holsters at Camp Mirage, I inspected all dozen of them and picked out one with the least damage.
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And then there was the boardwalk at KAF where you could see all the staff officers sporting the latest custom leather shoulder holsters. Some of which were purchased right there at the bazaar from Habib.

The OP could probably write a whole chapter just about the evolving fashion trends surrounding holsters used to sport pistols that would never have a chance at being fired in anger.
 
tenringbound said:
There was a Rem 870 with the LE steel folder in a LAV from the PRT used for QRF that I recall seeing.
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Like this model?

1A2BEE41-AF64-4536-8A0A-474C1ACA8C25_4_5005_c.jpg


Thanks,
Kevin
 
Yeandle31 said:
Like this model?

1A2BEE41-AF64-4536-8A0A-474C1ACA8C25_4_5005_c.jpg


Thanks,
Kevin
Click to expand...


Yeah, but I didn’t think it had the extended mag. Just remember thinking it was pretty cool to see the folding version was still in use. Nothing beats an AK an ANA soldier had completely covered in pink stickers and tape. He was ok with me snapping a pic of it too lol. Lots of cool leftover Russian weapons, our PSS had an antiaircraft gun on the roof that the ANP manned. A book about the weapons used there would be pretty interesting that’s for sure.
 
Rarest would likely be the C8 with Weaver rail that showed up in ‘03 on Op ATHENA roto 0. It had the same 14.5” skinny barrel as found on the carry handle version but it was a flat top Weaver rail and came with an EoTech 552. I believe it had a four position buttstock but I could be wrong. Furniture was black and the buttstock was smooth, unlike current models.

C7 was pre A2 at the time. Do believe we had Triad rails.

Cbt Arms were all issued Surefire Weapon lights. Basically a P6 with pressure pad tail cap in a Weaver ring.
 
We had Rem 870, that we bought parts from the Gun Dealer, Choate +2 EXT and mag clamp. Some had fixed stocks, some had pistol grips.

I used a KAC M5 RAS, and a Safariland 6004, that other people used on other tours. There was traveling gear from CGN members.

Lights we got was a Streamlight M3X
 
Interesting to hear about the 870s indeed. An armourer told us there was numerous 870s and 1100s. Other missions the 1100 deer gun was only a dog shooting device. In Petawawa some fellow soldiers trialed the Winchester Defender however when the troops deployed to Somalia I was told they had some 870s.
 
Brutus said:
Interesting to hear about the 870s indeed. An armourer told us there was numerous 870s and 1100s. Other missions the 1100 deer gun was only a dog shooting device. In Petawawa some fellow soldiers trialed the Winchester Defender however when the troops deployed to Somalia I was told they had some 870s.
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Pretty sure the 870s we had in 06 were the same ones from somalia. The military places an even lower emphasis on shotguns than it does on pistols. 870 is a great platform but the in aervice shotguns are set up all wrong for what we want to do with them.

I saw some engineers who were running after market stocks, mag tubes, etc to make it more mission specific.
 
This conversation doesn't include any of the SOF small arms. A colleague of mine was an augmentee to the mission in Graceland. His personal weapon was a flattop with what is now common known as a pistol length barrel, and a muzzle device. I don't think he got a can, but the front end was definitely not a conventional birdcage.
 
Leg said:
Rarest would likely be the C8 with Weaver rail that showed up in ‘03 on Op ATHENA roto 0. It had the same 14.5” skinny barrel as found on the carry handle version but it was a flat top Weaver rail and came with an EoTech 552. I believe it had a four position buttstock but I could be wrong. Furniture was black and the buttstock was smooth, unlike current models.

C7 was pre A2 at the time. Do believe we had Triad rails.

Cbt Arms were all issued Surefire Weapon lights. Basically a P6 with pressure pad tail cap in a Weaver ring.
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The C8A1 (or C8FT "Flat-Top) was made to emulate the C7A1. To my knowledge, there were a total of 5 C8 variants used during the conflict. That doesn't include CANSOFCOM's variants...which will be fun to write.

Thanks for confirming the Surefire lights used. I have pictures of their usage but I have yet to find the paperwork trail of DND's purchasing them. More work to be done!

Thanks,
Kevin
 
Cameron SS said:
Pretty sure the 870s we had in 06 were the same ones from somalia. The military places an even lower emphasis on shotguns than it does on pistols. 870 is a great platform but the in aervice shotguns are set up all wrong for what we want to do with them.

I saw some engineers who were running after market stocks, mag tubes, etc to make it more mission specific.
Click to expand...

There was no set start for the 870's. Just going off the NSN from the era, there were at least 4 variants, the most common being the 870P. That doesn't include the modifications made by the soldiers in the field. Some of the most interesting items regarding the 870's were the "jerry-rigged" holsters/shealths soldiers made for them to use them as a secondary weapon (breaching, pest control, riot control). There isn't a whole lot written about the 1100 in Afghanistan, but there is some to go off of. CANSOFCOM even had Benelli M3 Super 90's.

Thanks,
Kevin
 
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