There were also the traditional medieval sets of armor that they are famous for, weighing close to 40lb each. That looks pretty good on a resume. This has made them long-time users of room brooms with Central European origins.

If things ever go hot though, be aware that they can switch to SIGs, HKs and Glocks in double time. Remarkable. The HK MP7 (probably) rides shotgun with the dark (purple) suit wearing Swiss Guardsmen closest to the pope. It’s highly unusual indeed to see an armory filled with early-Renaissance plate armor and 20th Century submachine guns and assault rifles alike, but the Swiss Guard is far from an ordinary unit. … on the same rack as SIG SG 550s with double magazines, alongside.. … a nearly forgotten MKPO subguns (bottom left) and a couple of MP43-44s (top left). Weapons marked in bold are considered personal equipment of the soldier, who is responsible for their well-functioning and were required to keep them at home until the end of the military service (unless living near an external border of Switzerland). In fact, the Guard is about the only known user of this forgotten gun. Although not adopted by the Swiss Army, the Pope’s guard bought several. The unnamed soldier’s weapon and helmet are still kept there in pristine condition alongside the Swiss weapons. With the Swiss military tradition of marksmanship, it’s guaranteed that these soldiers can use them if needed. Since 1990, that has meant the SIG SG550 rifle. Being a Marine with a similar duty, I had a special interest in seeing the barracks of my counterparts in the Vatican — so when my brother-in-law said he could get us and a tour of the armory of the world’s oldest continuously operating army — I jumped at the chance. Share on Facebook

Scope Review: Leupold VX-Freedom FireDot Twilight Hunter. This is a good choice as these same types are used by US Navy Seals, German GSG9 and just about anyone who doesn’t agree with Jerry Tsai.

The Vatican’s Swiss Guard has been on protection detail since the 1500s. Still, I highly encourage you to follow the think and read the whole thing: I recently returned from a trip to the Eternal City with my wife’s family and was able to make a tour that I thought you might enjoy hearing about.

To be a member you have to be an adult male Swiss citizen, at least 5-foot, 8-inches tall, under 30 years of age, and have successfully completed prior service with the Swiss Army. Shortly before Rome was abandoned by the Germans, he turned himself over to the Swiss Guards. So how does the no-frills Ruger AR-556 perform when put to the test? This is a list of weapons, vehicles and aircraft used by the Swiss Armed Forces at present or in the past. I was only able to identify two weapons from sight- the pair of Sig 550’s and an MP40.

In the 1970s, these guns were augmented by HK MP5s from West Germany, one of the first instances of the Guard using non-Swiss made guns. Some of side-mounted bayonets were shorter (not terribly, though) than the Marine NCO sword. Ranks above corporal do not have polearms, but on certain ceremonial occasions carry command batons. Today the Guard now carries the ultra-modern HK MP7 PDW chambered in 4.6×30mm. They are also one of the best equipped. Only for official use. The fact that this series of 9mm submachine gun could fire 900 rounds per minute and its 30-round magazine folded alongside the bottom of the stock for easy concealment (say, under a big balloon uniform) made it an obvious choice. The eponymous main weapon of the halbardiers is the halberd; corporals and vice-corporals are equipped with a partisan polearm. These armor suits are still worn daily. Items in the armory are marked ‘AG’, which means “Ausrustung der Garde,” or “Equipment of the Guard/Guard Property” but have never been sold as surplus, making any Swiss-made firearm so marked a subject of a very interesting conversation. After more than a year's worth of use, where do I stand on the P238?

It amazed me how far we have come in both personal protection and weapon technologies, and that one organization experienced these many developments first hand.

This 7-shot .32ACP was ugly but reliable. For those just now coming across this model, how has it stood up over the years?