Although we tend to take the Japanese martial arts for granted these days, back in Victorian times they were pretty much unknown outside Japan. Queen Victoria ascended to the throne in 1837 beginning the Victorian era…
If you’ve read the original Ian Fleming novel “The Man with the Golden Gun” you will be aware that the villain, “Pistols” Scaramanga, has a gold plated Colt .45 revolver. If you’ve seen the James Bond…
Imagine you are out in the midst of Central Asia, racing across the landscape in your off-road vehicle in search of an elusive and exotic quarry: and that in your travels you encounter a frozen river…
Introduction: The Locomotive That Shouldn’t Have Been Built The 241P steam locomotive stands out as one of the most beautiful ever created. It might be thought of as being like a classic Bugatti of the rails,…
History The 450/400 3″ Nitro Express is a cartridge that not so many people write about, probably for the same reason that you don’t hear a lot about the 9.3×62 either: they are quiet achievers. The…
Introduction George Brough was a man who wanted to build motorcycles that were “superior” to everything else being made: and he wanted to do it using “off the shelf” parts from other manufacturers, which was a…
It’s powered by a 1,560 cubic inch V12 engine that features 48 valves, 24 spark plugs and dual four barrel carburettors. That Kermath “Sea Raider Special” V12 marine engine delivers a nicely sufficient 580 hp to the…
Background The best things are created by people who are passionate about the thing they are setting out to make, not about whether or not it will sell well. So, to understand the underlying reason for…
Introduction The 9.3×62 is a caliber that is common in Europe, well known in Africa, especially in countries that were once German colonies, and quite uncommon in the United States. In Europe almost, if not all,…
Described by T.E. Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia) as “the jolliest things on wheels” the Brough Superior SS100 was the ultimate motorcycle of the 1920’s and 1930’s. Lawrence was known for riding his Brough Superior for…