Eugene Stoner is one of history's firearms design geniuses and his Stoner 63 has attained a cult-like following. Stoner's ambitious concept for a stamped metal, modular machine gun with 16 interchangeable parts gun was groundbreaking, and the gun's use by Navy SEALs in Vietnam solidified its place in history. The designer, the design, and its notable field use, makes these "complete small arms weapons systems" supremely collectible, and this example offered in our 2024 December Premier was no ex

#OTD in 1944, Aviation Machinist Mate (Gunner) 2nd Class Loyce Deen was killed when his Avenger from USS Essex was hit by anti-aircraft fire from a Japanese cruiser. In perhaps the only occurrence in U.S. Navy history, Deen was buried at sea in the plane in which he gave his life. | U.S. Naval Institute