It Was May, 1984...And Something Wonderful Happened...

**SteyrAUG** · 03-29-20, 02:03

Inflation Calculator says the same item today should cost about $1620. Given the SP5 has added a factory short Navy barrel, paddle mag and some other improvements I'd say the going rate of $2,600 isn't a terrible deal.

By 1984 I had just purchased a 91 and a 93 and simply couldn't swing the price of a 94. But man this is the one I wanted.

**FromMyColdDeadHand** · 03-29-20, 02:40

And an P7M8...

Breath slowly.......

I know this is heresy, but I have a MP5 in 22lr when I want to spray ammo and play SAS guy. Maybe 5 years ago I might of said what the heck, but now, with all the other pistol carbine and 5.56 guns coming out in this form factor.... It's just hard to peel off the cash for something that I'd never have a real purpose for.

How old are you? I thought I was old.

**SteyrAUG** · 03-29-20, 03:46

Originally Posted by FromMyColdDeadHand

And an P7M8...

Breath slowly.......

I know this is heresy, but I have a MP5 in 22lr when I want to spray ammo and play SAS guy. Maybe 5 years ago I might of said what the heck, but now, with all the other pistol carbine and 5.56 guns coming out in this form factor.... It's just hard to peel off the cash for something that I'd never have a real purpose for.

How old are you? I thought I was old.

Mentally I'm still the same kid who saw footage of the SAS hitting the Iranian Embassy, I'm the same kid who grew up reading Soldier of Fortune and the details of that SAS raid and I'm the same kid who read Peter Kokalis reviews of the MP5 and generally lusted after all things Oberndorf. Then they made a movie called Die Hard that was in fact a clever advertisement for the MP5, but that is another story.

I have all kinds of SMGs and lots and lots of 5.56 carbines. But like a first true love that you never really forget, the MP5 will always have a place in my fond memories in my safe no matter what.

**militarymoron** · 03-31-20, 20:09

Originally Posted by SteyrAUG

Mentally I'm still the same kid who saw footage of the SAS hitting the Iranian Embassy, I'm the same kid who grew up reading Soldier of Fortune and the details of that SAS raid and I'm the same kid who read Peter Kokalis reviews of the MP5 and generally lusted after all things Oberndorf.

We sound like the same kid. I was in England in the spring/summer of 1980 staying at my cousin's and saw the Iranian Embassy siege live. It left an indelible mark on me that has never been erased, and what kicked off my interest in all things SAS. Last year, when my wife, son and I were on our Europe vacation (good thing we didn't plan for it this year - that would have been a disaster); my wife was wondering why I just had to make a little detour/pilgrimage a couple of blocks from the museums...

**SteyrAUG** · 03-31-20, 20:27

Originally Posted by militarymoron

We sound like the same kid. I was in England in the spring/summer of 1980 staying at my cousin's and saw the Iranian Embassy siege live. It left an indelible mark on me that has never been erased, and what kicked off my interest in all things SAS. Last year, when my wife, son and I were on our Europe vacation (good thing we didn't plan for it this year - that would have been a disaster); my wife was wondering why I just had to make a little detour/pilgrimage a couple of blocks from the museums...

Awesome. I've never been there but the details always fascinated me, especially when contrasted with our hostage crisis and Operation Eagle Claw. Of course US news talked about our "military debacle" and it was always somehow "our fault" and "doom and gloom", then I saw a blip about the Iranian Embassy raid in London. Even though it didn't fit the "everything is the fault of the west" preferred narrative they just couldn't resist those explosions in London and I bet most of them thought the shape charges were actually bomb detonations set off in a last desperate act by the hostage takers. The spent 5 minutes on "powerful explosions in London and men with machine guns" but maybe 5 seconds on the actual results of how many hostages were rescued.

Thankfully I got something of a more complete story when SOF covered the event a month or so later and after that I was hooked. I was already a kid who hummed the Ballad of the Green Berets so when I discovered the SAS that was it for me. Add MP5s to the mix and I was all in.

I've probably watched "6 Days" a dozen times. Nice to see they still haven't fixed those windows.

**Ed L.** · 04-01-20, 00:42

Originally Posted by SteyrAUG

I've probably watched "6 Days" a dozen times. Nice to see they still haven't fixed those windows.

I think the movie "6 Days" may have been my tipping point in deciding to buy this gun. I had been interested in an MP5/HK94 for a while. I wound up buying an HK94 and SBRing it in 2016. I had a paddle mag release fitted to it along with the 3-lug muzzle device. I really like the gun, as does everyone who shoots it.

**militarymoron** · 04-01-20, 23:36

Originally Posted by SteyrAUG

I've probably watched "6 Days" a dozen times. Nice to see they still haven't fixed those windows.

How many times have you watched 'Who Dares Wins' (released as 'The Final Option' in the US?). When I first saw that movie as a teenager hungry for good gun movies, I thought it was awesome. It was also the first time I had seen SAS in counter-terror gear featured in a movie.

For those who haven't seen it, it's a 1982 movie which starred Lewis Collins (who was one of my favourite actors from the late 70's/early 80's who coincidentally also played an ex-SAS guy in the TV show 'The Professionals').

Here's a clip of the final raid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUDe6saJFmM
While it's definitely 'Hollywood' for dramatic effect, it's still one of the coolest sequences I've seen in a 'gun film', especially one from the early 80's. Gotta love black-clad guys rappelling off helicopters onto a roof, flash-bangs and long bursts from MP5s!

'Who Dares Wins' had lots of MP5s with the straight mags, and was one of the films that made me fascinated with the MP5.

From the wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Dares_Wins_(film)

"Filming began in September 1981. The film had a number of advisers who had worked in the SAS which led to some concerns from the Ministry of Defence that the film could breach the Official Secrets Act.[1] However Lloyd says the ministry eventually gave its "tacit approval" to the film after two small changes to the story were made; "after that they opened the door quite widely and even provided three military helicopters", the producer said.[7]

According to the DVD commentary, the film was made with the help of the 22 SAS Regiment at Hereford, although their commanding officer Peter de la Billière had initially refused to help in a pre-production meeting with Euan Lloyd. Director Ian Sharp, who was hired due to Lloyd's liking of his direction in the TV series The Professionals, was invited to SAS headquarters at Stirling Lines where he met some of the troops who assaulted the Iranian embassy. With the co-operation of the SAS achieved, production moved ahead swiftly.

During one of his visits to Stirling Lines, Sharp had met a Fijian trooper who had a mishap during the Iranian embassy assault. The trooper told how he got caught up in his descent and his uniform caught fire due to the explosives used for their forced entry. Inspired by this, Sharp had a similar scene inserted.

The first scenes were shot in Portobello Road market in January 1982. The concert, speech and subsequent fight were staged at the Union Chapel in Islington, London. Skellen's house and the hostage taking was shot in Kynance Mews in South Kensington.[12]

When it came time to shoot the SAS assault on the US embassy, the crew had prepared the helicopters and stuntmen but the SAS offered to do the scene instead. Sharp accepted as he thought the look they gave could not be replicated by the crew. "

**Steve Shannon** · 03-29-20, 06:05

Originally Posted by SteyrAUG

Inflation Calculator says the same item today should cost about $1620. Given the SP5 has added a factory short Navy barrel, paddle mag and some other improvements I'd say the going rate of $2,600 isn't a terrible deal.

By 1984 I had just purchased a 91 and a 93 and simply couldn't swing the price of a 94. But man this is the one I wanted.

I saw the same ad and ordered it direct from HK. I ordered a P7 as well. I’m pleased that I’ve still got both. Unfortunately I sold an HK93 to pay for supplies when I went back to college in 87 and I sold an FNC in 1989.

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