Chapter 228: The Weaver Stance
In the cozy office of the Schneider Arms Factory, James sat leisurely by the fireplace, sipping a glass of wine. Just moments earlier, he had finalized an agreement with a supplier named Wendel to double the price of specialty steel, and this was only the beginning. Soon, the price would rise to triple or even higher, depending on the demand.
The reasoning was simple: scarcity increases value. During wartime, France was in desperate need of steel, especially since 68% of its steel industry had fallen under German control. The surge in demand made price hikes inevitable. Specialty steel, originally used only for battleship armor, had suddenly found a new use: tank armor.
Previously, James hadn't realized how crucial specialty steel was for tank production. But after hearing about the tank battle at Cape Town, he quickly understood. The German tanks had used ordinary steel armor, a clear disadvantage.
(Note: Germany's A7V tank used standard steel; its 15mm side and rear armor offered roughly the same protection as an 11mm layer of specialty armor.)
James's business instincts kicked in. While tanks didn't require large amounts of specialty steel, every ounce of it was vital. Without it, producing armor with equivalent defensive strength would require thicker steel plates, which in turn would increase weight, drain engine power, and hinder tank mobility.
Charles didn't have his own steelworks or the technology to forge specialty steel, a critical weakness. By raising the price, James would squeeze the profit margins of Charles's tank orders, making production far less lucrative.
Yet profit wasn't the only factor. More importantly, Schneider could produce a tank model similar to the "Charles A1" by bypassing its patents. They could then offer the military an equally capable tank at a lower cost than Charles's model. Given two similar tanks, which one would the army choose? Smiling smugly, James took another sip of his wine, feeling the satisfaction of an anticipated victory.
Just then, Pauline appeared beside him, speaking softly, "Sir…"
James turned, sensing the tone of bad news in her voice.
Indeed, Pauline reported, "Charles has just signed a contract with the United States, authorizing them to produce the 'Charles A1.' In return, the American military will supply him with specialty steel at a standard rate…"
James's expression darkened as he raised a hand to silence her. Hearing "the United States" was all he needed to understand what had happened. Charles had leveraged his technological edge to secure resources from abroad, instantly neutralizing James's plan to strangle his business through raw material costs.
Watching James wrestle with frustration, Pauline wanted to urge him to let go. Charles's breakthrough with the "Charles A1" had left everyone far behind—there was no longer any realistic way to compete with him in tank development, not even for Schneider.
Yet Pauline knew James wouldn't abandon the fight so easily. To him, conceding meant acknowledging Charles's rise and admitting that Schneider could do nothing to undermine him.
Sure enough, James said, "Bring Eugen in. We need to hold another meeting to discuss the new tank."
If indirect tactics couldn't work, then it was time to tackle the problem head-on.
...
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bang! Bang!
At the police training center's indoor shooting range, Charles held a revolver, taking shots at a torso target. Preparing to handle a weapon was essential training before he'd ever find himself on the battlefield; if he couldn't even handle a revolver, it wouldn't just be his reputation on the line—it might cost him his life.
Charles had chosen an indoor range, mindful that his poor aim might embarrass him if seen. Fame came with its own pressures, and carrying a reputation made even basic tasks feel heavy with expectation.
"Let your arm hang naturally, sight the target through the front sight," instructed Dominique from behind him. "Now, fire!"
Bang! Another shot missed the target entirely.
Dominique pinpointed the issue. "Colonel, you need to pull the trigger more smoothly. Any jerky motion can cause your hand to shake just as you're firing."
"I understand," replied Charles, though the trigger pull felt stiff.
This was a common drawback of revolvers: the trigger not only released the hammer but also rotated the cylinder, making the action long and heavy—a significant challenge for a young shooter like Charles.
Loading the revolver again, Charles recalled seeing police officers in films, holding their guns with both hands. Perhaps a two-handed grip would improve his stability?
With his left hand bracing his right, he fired a series of shots at the target.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
It was working. Two shots hit the target this time.
A sense of rhythm settled in as he continued, almost instinctively adjusting after each shot to improve his aim. If he kept his rate steady, avoiding any frantic squeezing of the trigger, he could maintain a certain control over the gun's movement.
Standing nearby, Dominique was astonished. After a long pause, he asked, "Why, Colonel…why are you shooting this way?"
"Is something wrong with it?" Charles asked, assuming it was just an error in technique.
"No, no, there's nothing wrong at all," Dominique assured him. "It's just… this method is quite unique. I've never seen anyone shoot like this before. Did you come up with this on your own?"
Charles immediately realized he'd stumbled upon something new. At this time, single-handed shooting was the standard; a dual-handed grip was unheard of, typically reserved for pistols fired in Westerns.
(Note: The two-handed "Weaver Stance" was not introduced until 1959, when a California sheriff, Jack Weaver, developed it to win a shooting competition, ultimately outperforming his peers who relied on pure muscle memory.)
"Well…you could say that," Charles admitted, a bit self-conscious. "Just something that came to me on a whim."
Dominique struggled to process this revelation, a look of amazement in his eyes. As a gun tester, he had spent a lifetime working with firearms, immediately recognizing the advantages of this shooting style: reduced profile, faster target acquisition, enhanced stability, and improved aim.
In a combat scenario, where speed was often the key to survival, this technique seemed ideal.
And Charles had stumbled upon it almost by accident.
Dominique felt a pang of regret. How had he, after years of training, never thought to question the standard form? Yet here was Charles, who'd been shooting for only half an hour, devising a technique that could revolutionize shooting stances.
Was he simply slow to catch on, or was Charles simply too quick-witted?
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