Just gotten a big box of old copies of the (in)famous S.W.A.T Magazine courtesy of E-Bay.
Times have ummmm....changed.
Nick in Belfast
Times have ummmm....changed.
Nick in Belfast
S.W.A.T Magazine
- Thread starter Great Pebble
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erm.... :-? ...yes.. i think you could be right!
i used to collect them from around 1986-its end.
the early copies are all about cold war issues and weapons, later ones are more bushcrafty! without pictures of camo clad on the front cover!
i have edited the magazines i had, and now have the useful articles in 3 huge folders!
2/3 of the magazine was guns!
i never quite saw the point of deactivated guns either?
i never wanted a gun but even so, what is the point?
i did find a SWAT manual (1987)2nd hand, recently guess whats on the front cover?
picture of (left to right):
a obviously sad/cold lady next to a fire and mushrooms with a hedgehog.
a gasmasked figure infront of a mushroom cloud!
a colection of stars/dead rabbit/compass/ huge knife/long bow.
and finally a snake and parrot superimposed over a picture of a leanto shelter!
let me tell you some of the "outdated" misplaced subjects!
there are 8 sections on guns including:
AK47/ guide to survival guns/ survival gunsmithing!
there are 7 sections on what are now "eligal weapons" like:
crossbow/ balisong knives/ zulu spear!
and why not... a section on NBC!
yes things certainly have changed ......for the better!
i used to collect them from around 1986-its end.
the early copies are all about cold war issues and weapons, later ones are more bushcrafty! without pictures of camo clad on the front cover!
i have edited the magazines i had, and now have the useful articles in 3 huge folders!
2/3 of the magazine was guns!
i never quite saw the point of deactivated guns either?
i never wanted a gun but even so, what is the point?
i did find a SWAT manual (1987)2nd hand, recently guess whats on the front cover?
picture of (left to right):
a obviously sad/cold lady next to a fire and mushrooms with a hedgehog.
a gasmasked figure infront of a mushroom cloud!
a colection of stars/dead rabbit/compass/ huge knife/long bow.
and finally a snake and parrot superimposed over a picture of a leanto shelter!
let me tell you some of the "outdated" misplaced subjects!
there are 8 sections on guns including:
AK47/ guide to survival guns/ survival gunsmithing!
there are 7 sections on what are now "eligal weapons" like:
crossbow/ balisong knives/ zulu spear!
and why not... a section on NBC!
yes things certainly have changed ......for the better!
I think we'll have to agree to differ on your last point, at least with reference to those things which are now illegal, I've never much liked de-acts either......But I do know how much these things "worry" some people.
The NBC stuff was a symptom of the age, reflective of the politics at the time and now a rather interesting historical footnote, as well as a cultural "badge" for prople of a certain age. There's a couple of great books about on the subject which manage to be humourous and horrific by turns.
The changes in the world in the last twenty years have, mostly, made it a more pleasant place to live in. It's clear though from many of the articles in the mag. Not just those that apply to firearms or impending armageddon that there is actually less tolerance today for certain interests and lifestyles. It's reflected also in the attitude of the current outdoor publications towards what we call "bushcraft".
There's a market there for a more modern publication which deals with outdoor topics beyond those applicable to the rambler or "extreme sports" enthusiast. The forum is evidence of that fact, as I'd venture to suggest that most of those currently available would not look favourably upon most of the activities debated here. They may in fact view them in a rather similar light to that in which we now see SWAT.
Nick in Belfast
P.S. The names of some of the contributors are interesting and may cause a few blushes today. Rather moreso if some of the pseuds were revealed, I believe.
The NBC stuff was a symptom of the age, reflective of the politics at the time and now a rather interesting historical footnote, as well as a cultural "badge" for prople of a certain age. There's a couple of great books about on the subject which manage to be humourous and horrific by turns.
The changes in the world in the last twenty years have, mostly, made it a more pleasant place to live in. It's clear though from many of the articles in the mag. Not just those that apply to firearms or impending armageddon that there is actually less tolerance today for certain interests and lifestyles. It's reflected also in the attitude of the current outdoor publications towards what we call "bushcraft".
There's a market there for a more modern publication which deals with outdoor topics beyond those applicable to the rambler or "extreme sports" enthusiast. The forum is evidence of that fact, as I'd venture to suggest that most of those currently available would not look favourably upon most of the activities debated here. They may in fact view them in a rather similar light to that in which we now see SWAT.
Nick in Belfast
P.S. The names of some of the contributors are interesting and may cause a few blushes today. Rather moreso if some of the pseuds were revealed, I believe.
that's fair enough. 
i had wondered what happened to the people? do you know?
i was never interested in the "fire arm/weapon" side of things so i guess i will have that opinion, i can also see why people would be interested in thier own security, it's just not for me.
it did have some great articles though! as i say i still have some!
did you find it repeated itself a few times?
i had wondered what happened to the people? do you know?
i was never interested in the "fire arm/weapon" side of things so i guess i will have that opinion, i can also see why people would be interested in thier own security, it's just not for me.
it did have some great articles though! as i say i still have some!
did you find it repeated itself a few times?
Only flicked through them again, my principle intrest being the hardcore self-sufficiency stuff, of which there was a fair bit until it became "Paintball Monthly".
Many of the old contributors still write for firearms mags. I think some would be a bit...coy about some of the reviews they did back then.
Nick in Belfast
Many of the old contributors still write for firearms mags. I think some would be a bit...coy about some of the reviews they did back then.
Nick in Belfast
yup i agree there too!
there seemed to be a sort of theory going that:
"if the army use it we must too!"
on the flip side though i do remember a "great debate" concerning the use of camo/army equipment and its wider ranging effects in the media.
i also remember they did have a change around and changed to:
SAOT (survival and outdoor techniques) which i thought was great, no more camo on the front cover, more about the great outdoors less about armageddon, and just as i thought it was going well the magazine decides to throw in the towel
!
the reasons being basically because the wall had fallen less people worried about WW3 therefore they sold less magazines :-? !
still a great magazine, i do miss it but fear it would be tottally different now more for the sunday lunch rambler than the more serious "bushcrafter"!
now the internet has taken over i guess, far better for communication, but not something you can take to work or read on the bog(i don't have a laptop) :roll:
there seemed to be a sort of theory going that:
"if the army use it we must too!"
on the flip side though i do remember a "great debate" concerning the use of camo/army equipment and its wider ranging effects in the media.
i also remember they did have a change around and changed to:
SAOT (survival and outdoor techniques) which i thought was great, no more camo on the front cover, more about the great outdoors less about armageddon, and just as i thought it was going well the magazine decides to throw in the towel
!the reasons being basically because the wall had fallen less people worried about WW3 therefore they sold less magazines :-? !
still a great magazine, i do miss it but fear it would be tottally different now more for the sunday lunch rambler than the more serious "bushcrafter"!
now the internet has taken over i guess, far better for communication, but not something you can take to work or read on the bog(i don't have a laptop) :roll:
I do have a laptop... And it's even been known to go to the woods with me.
I must admit to having rather a lot of cammo... principly because I collect it, but I digress.
I remember the name change, which was at least partially to stave off negative image problems. Whether right or wrong, that probably killed off the magazine entirely as a "Survival" or "Outdoor" publication. In the main, the people who were still reading it for those articles objected to the change. Iterestingly, (or not depending on your views) the American magazine "American Survival Guide" carried out a similar image change just a couple of years ago and exactly the same thing happened it became "Self-Reliant Living" and very soon thereafter became history as the subscribers cancelled en masse.
There were also a couple of legal cases involving people who while they were not directly connected with SWAT were often mentioned in the magazine, it can't have helped.
It's worth bearing it all in mind, because sooner or later you're going to see an article in one of our daily papers about the "bushcraft wierdos" who carry knives and hatchets, set vicious animal traps and disfigure the countryside for their own perverted pleasure....
Nick in Belfast
I must admit to having rather a lot of cammo... principly because I collect it, but I digress.
I remember the name change, which was at least partially to stave off negative image problems. Whether right or wrong, that probably killed off the magazine entirely as a "Survival" or "Outdoor" publication. In the main, the people who were still reading it for those articles objected to the change. Iterestingly, (or not depending on your views) the American magazine "American Survival Guide" carried out a similar image change just a couple of years ago and exactly the same thing happened it became "Self-Reliant Living" and very soon thereafter became history as the subscribers cancelled en masse.
There were also a couple of legal cases involving people who while they were not directly connected with SWAT were often mentioned in the magazine, it can't have helped.
It's worth bearing it all in mind, because sooner or later you're going to see an article in one of our daily papers about the "bushcraft wierdos" who carry knives and hatchets, set vicious animal traps and disfigure the countryside for their own perverted pleasure....
Nick in Belfast
I wonder if there will be a bushcraft monthly mag coming out??
It'll probably be published by DeAgostini and feature a 'build it yourself' Debris Hut
FIRST 4 TWIGS WITH ISSUE ONE !! :rolmao: :super:
It'll probably be published by DeAgostini and feature a 'build it yourself' Debris Hut
FIRST 4 TWIGS WITH ISSUE ONE !! :rolmao: :super:
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