Gaujo
UZI Talk Supporter
Do you think it could be possible to have an official forum group visit be planned with permission of the family? I know a lot of us would love the chance just to walk around and visit.
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“retro” RPB Cobray accessories thread
- Thread starter MitchWerbellsGhost87
- Start date
UZI Talk Supporter
MitchWerbellsGhost87
UZI Talk Life Member
As much as I would love this, I don’t think he would go for it. He is the type who likes to keep his connections private. He wasn’t even gonna tell me he was there, I found out because a complete stranger who happens to know my buddy as well spilled the beans on eBay, because of my user name, thinking I was a member of the family. So no, sadly I don’t think he would want anyone else to have the opportunity to go there like that and tour the place. At this last visit, he picked the place totally clean, he and his wife do estate sales and I think the family wanted to get rid of the last of the stuff there. He was trying to sell me odds and ends from around the house like ornate door handles etc but I am just not star struck enough in regards to werbell and the powder springs farm to pay big money for an ordinary household item just because it was at the werbell farm, like it’s the paramilitary Graceland or something. I told him I’m only really interested if it’s MAC/Cobray/gun related… but I think he’s gonna be keeping all that kind of good stuff for his personal collection, he has a VERY impressive collection of MAC/werbell stuff.
MitchWerbellsGhost87
UZI Talk Life Member
Wow the one on the top right and the Doc Dater TM manual (REALLY cool) On the bottom left I’ve never seen, his suppressor manuals always have that TM format, never seen the one for the MAC suppressors. I have a very large collection of manuals and literature, I’ll have to get some pics in here. I put together a book, 150 pages of MAC, RPB and SWD sales sheets and catalogs, I sell it on GB. If you would like a copy let me know.
MitchWerbellsGhost87
UZI Talk Life Member
I have a few others floating around, these are the ones that were in the stack in the closet. I have a LOT of catalogs and sales sheets, the book I put together spans from 1970-1989 or so, I’m gonna be putting out another one for the 1990s
MitchwerbellsGhost87 = Do you have any US Navy SEAL's photos or other docs related to the M-10?
I have seen few actual SEAL photos of an M10 - there is that one with the Vietnam SEAL with the pornstar mustache and the UDT Team photo - and very few others. If you have anything or any war stories with them - that would be cool to hear as well.
I have seen few actual SEAL photos of an M10 - there is that one with the Vietnam SEAL with the pornstar mustache and the UDT Team photo - and very few others. If you have anything or any war stories with them - that would be cool to hear as well.
MitchWerbellsGhost87
UZI Talk Life Member
From the cover of the GUNG HO navy seals issue… actual SEALS doing a training exercise with their Ingrams, they have the oversized knurled Navy seal charging handles on them.
MitchWerbellsGhost87
UZI Talk Life Member
I can see the oversized charging handle in that pic as well. From what I have seen so far, it appears as if the SEAL team guys liked to use the MAC without it’s suppressor.. I suppose it made for a good compact up close and personal room broom or jungle gun and if they weren’t going for the stealthy approach then they didn’t really need that added length of the can getting in the way.
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MitchWerbellsGhost87
UZI Talk Life Member
here is all of the different logo marked sling patterns that were sold by RPB/SWD with the exception of one (that I know of). The one that is missing is a green cotton military surplus 2 point general purpose clip sling (canteen sling), with the large RPB Cobray snake logo (same as #2 and #3).
#1 i believe may be the earliest example of an RPB produced nylon sling, prior to this they were only selling the government surplus canteen sling with their logo screened onto it (the one that is missing from this group) it appears as if they went with the small logo stamp on this sling as it is too narrow to accommodate the larger logo that they used on the wider slings. That same small logo stencil was also used on the ruger 10/22 buttstock magazine pouches, Cobray wallets, and the rear end of the wooden shoulder stocks.
#2 and #3 were sold by RPB out of their catalogs beginning in 1980 or 81. #3 was also included with the camo 40rd M10 magazine pouches that came with a shoulder sling. #2 seems to be the most common of the RPB slings, I have found a handful of these in the last few years of collecting. On the contrary, I have only been able to actually secure one example of #3 black/white, which seems to be very rare compared to all of the other varieties. RPB also sold #3 with no markings, it was luck of the draw if it had a logo on it or not from what I understand.
#4 is very faded, but it is an earlier example than 2 or 3, as it doesn’t say “Cobray” underneath the logo stamp, this is the same stamp that was used on the earlier gov surplus canteen sling that is not pictured, as well as the surplus CIA magazine pouches.
#5, 6 and 7 are all SWD era.
#5 is a gov surplus canteen sling of the same type that had previously been offered by RPB, this example was sold by SWD and features their version of logo. #6 is the exact same sling as 3 and 4 but it is SWD logo marked. Eventually SWD switched over to a shinier heavy nylon seatbelt Material for the black “assault slings”. This one appears to be leftover RPB inventory that was sold by SWD.
#7 is a later SWD era sling, I believe it is from the early 90s possibly late 80s. I have never been able to find this variety of sling mentioned in any of the catalogs or literature and I don’t know much about it. I have most often seen it featured with M11/9 semi auto pistols. I do not know if this was included with some of the guns at one point. If anyone has any literature that references the red and black sling, lemme know!
#1 i believe may be the earliest example of an RPB produced nylon sling, prior to this they were only selling the government surplus canteen sling with their logo screened onto it (the one that is missing from this group) it appears as if they went with the small logo stamp on this sling as it is too narrow to accommodate the larger logo that they used on the wider slings. That same small logo stencil was also used on the ruger 10/22 buttstock magazine pouches, Cobray wallets, and the rear end of the wooden shoulder stocks.
#2 and #3 were sold by RPB out of their catalogs beginning in 1980 or 81. #3 was also included with the camo 40rd M10 magazine pouches that came with a shoulder sling. #2 seems to be the most common of the RPB slings, I have found a handful of these in the last few years of collecting. On the contrary, I have only been able to actually secure one example of #3 black/white, which seems to be very rare compared to all of the other varieties. RPB also sold #3 with no markings, it was luck of the draw if it had a logo on it or not from what I understand.
#4 is very faded, but it is an earlier example than 2 or 3, as it doesn’t say “Cobray” underneath the logo stamp, this is the same stamp that was used on the earlier gov surplus canteen sling that is not pictured, as well as the surplus CIA magazine pouches.
#5, 6 and 7 are all SWD era.
#5 is a gov surplus canteen sling of the same type that had previously been offered by RPB, this example was sold by SWD and features their version of logo. #6 is the exact same sling as 3 and 4 but it is SWD logo marked. Eventually SWD switched over to a shinier heavy nylon seatbelt Material for the black “assault slings”. This one appears to be leftover RPB inventory that was sold by SWD.
#7 is a later SWD era sling, I believe it is from the early 90s possibly late 80s. I have never been able to find this variety of sling mentioned in any of the catalogs or literature and I don’t know much about it. I have most often seen it featured with M11/9 semi auto pistols. I do not know if this was included with some of the guns at one point. If anyone has any literature that references the red and black sling, lemme know!
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They are nice looking slings -and what a collection! Had no idea they had so many!
While I found that USGI strap sling a great sling - its a little short for hanging a SMG at a usable height for me - I have a long torso, but I really like the padded UZI sling - Its perfect length .
What is Forrest Hills California PO box? Was that some address for a marketing group or?? SWD/Cobray/MAC are a source of Georgian pride I think its number 3 or 4 after peach trees or should be if there is an official list.
MitchWerbellsGhost87
UZI Talk Life Member
You must be tall Those gov surplus slings open up to be fairly long! Only one of the slings in that photo I posted is the actual usgi sling, the rest are all of RPB’s own design, similar to the USGI slings but made of nylon and they are a bit longer with a 2 piece construction that features an extra buckle attached to another short length of sling that accounts for one of the clip ends (see photo attached), not sure what the purpose is with that design. If it weren’t for that extra buckle with second piece of sling it would be identical to the USGI canteen sling, just made from a different material.
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MitchWerbellsGhost87
UZI Talk Life Member
I asked Shane about this, he is Sylvia’s son and he is still operating the Excalibur company (formerly SWD/Cobray). He was unable to answer me at the time, he had no idea what was up with that address. and he has a very good recollection of most of this stuff. He was around for basically the entire ride with SWD, working for his mom and Wayne almost his entire young life from what I gathered, and he is still young enough to remember It.
That said, this question was one he wasn’t able to answer and I am yet to discover the origin of that FOREST HILL, CA address. He said they were never in CA. I do know in 1985 SWD got busted by the ATF for selling suppressors and machine guns in kit form and working in cahoots with machine shops and other distributors that were supposedly completing the kits and selling them on the black market. The company that was indicted alongside SWD was a CA firm if I recall correctly. They were doing business with an outlaw biker gang in CA that turned out to be undercover feds.
Or maybe it was just a misprint by the ad agency that printed it in the magazine? Who knows. Maybe a marketing firm as you suggested?
I cannot recall if the Terminator shotgun ad that was in the same issue of Guns and Ammo also had that CA address. The CA address ad was a few pages before the terminator ad, both in the same issue. Another photo from that shoot at the airport became the cover of the early 90s “MAC” Catalog.
Wayne and Sylvia are in both ads, in the MAC catalog they are stepping off of a lear jet with a Cobray logo on it, with some executive protection looking guys standing around with M11/9s. In the Guns and Ammo ad, Sylvia is getting into her rolls Royce and Wayne is outside of the car with some of his cronies, in a suit, doing security with an M11/9
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The company that was indicted alongside SWD was a CA firm if I recall correctly. They were doing business with an outlaw biker gang in CA that turned out to be undercover feds.
Sounds more interesting than most TV shows. LOL
Regarding the slings they seem to have borrowed on influence with Israeli's who were known for taking wide seatbelt nylon and making smooth nylon slings like that and using loops that allowed for smooth adjustment and soft carry feel - Israelis often had long patrolling guard duty where a heavy Uzi or Galil just got heavy after a few hours - so literally ad-hoc cut seatbelts then many made slings for guns out of the same materials - that seems to be a good idea given the weight of a MAC.
MitchWerbellsGhost87
UZI Talk Life Member
I was thinking the extra buckle was for ease of adjustment, the original USGI general purpose canteen slings could be a little sticky to adjust. The nylon RPB/SWD slings adjust quickly and easily, like you have suggested. Another thing that RPB was into was saving money, the nylon webbing used for the slings was probably cheap. If their slings were a rip off of another design, you can probably attribute that to max atchisson, he was one of the design engineers for RPB and he liked to borrow his ideas from existing designs and then improve upon them.
MitchWerbellsGhost87
UZI Talk Life Member
Here’s the sling that was missing from the line up in the other photo I posted of all the slings. This is one of the earlier varieties (if not the earliest) of the RPB Cobray marked shoulder slings, it is a USGI general purpose clip sling, or “canteen sling”. Even still has the US property markings on the inside. RPB marketed a couple different Vietnam era army surplus items with the Cobray emblem screen printed onto them, most notably the CISO sterile grease gun mag pouches, m60 barrel bags as “UZI/SMG/carbine cases” and these cotton general purpose web slings. Also pictured is a very early example of a walther MP9 magazine converted by MAC for the M10/9mm, note the rectangular magazine stop for the M10 welded to the side of the magazine body, the original walther MPL stops have been ground off.
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