This video from the Royal Armouries features Curatorial Assistant Joe Ford discussing the Beardmore-Farquhar, a British light machine gun designed to be lighter, cheaper, and more efficient than the Lewis Gun. The video details the LMG's unusual gas-spring system, its trials between 1916 and 1931, and the reasons for its eventual failure to enter service. The content includes a look at early trials, the troubled 1921 trials, a disassembly of the weapon, and later design iterations.
This video explores the Praga I, an early Czech machine gun design by Vaclav Holek, developed in 1922. It's noted as a precursor to the renowned ZB-26 light machine gun. The Praga I features a blow-forward, gas-trap action and a wedge-locking system, distinct from the Vickers/Maxim toggle-jointed recoil operation. The filming was made possible by access granted from the VHU - Czech Military History Institute, specifically the Army Museum Žižkov in Prague, which houses this fascinating prototype and other exhibits.
This video showcases the Martini-System Venus Pistole, a fancy, interwar-era single-shot target pistol. It's chambered in .22 rimfire and features the characteristic Martini falling block breech system. The video likely delves into the historical context, design, and operation of this specialized firearm, offering a glimpse into historical target shooting equipment.
This video from Forgotten Weapons explores the distinct Erma EMP submachine gun, designed by Heinrich Vollmer in the 1920s and marketed by Erma starting in 1932. The video highlights its international sales success, including its use by German police and Republican forces in the Spanish Civil War. A key focus is comparing the original German Erma-produced models with the Spanish MP41/44 copy manufactured in La Coruña. The description also notes that many EMPs were surrendered to French forces during the Battle of France.
This video explores the Ribeyrolles 1918, a French automatic rifle designed by Paul Ribeyrolles, a key figure behind the Chauchat and RSC-1917. The rifle is examined for its potential as France's first assault rifle, featuring an intermediate cartridge, select-fire capability, and a detachable 25-round magazine. Despite its advanced concept for 1918, the design suffered from significant reliability issues, with numerous malfunctions reported during trials. Its weight, bulk, and perceived underpowered cartridge for a rifle role ultimately led to its rejection by the French military, preventing it from seeing further development or combat use.
This video delves into the Walther Olympia, a German target pistol produced between the World Wars. Introduced in 1925 as a competitor to the Colt Woodsman, the Olympia was a .22 Long Rifle, semi-automatic pistol. The video showcases various iterations of the Olympia, including the original 1925 model, the improved 1936 version with optional barrel weights, and transitional experimental models. It highlights the pistol's design features, market positioning, and its evolution in response to customer desires and the post-WWI arms manufacturing restrictions on Walther.
This video provides an in-depth analysis of the Solothurn S18-1000, highlighting its status as a sophisticated anti-tank rifle developed between the World Wars. The description details its semi-automatic action, 8-round box magazine, and short-recoil system, comparing its recoil management favorably to the Finnish Lahti L-39. It also mentions the use of iron sights and an optical sight, along with its significant weight and recoil characteristics. The video touches on its adoption by various countries like Italy and Hungary, and recalls its combat use by Dutch forces against German armored cars in 1940. Links to Patreon and merchandise are included.
This video provides an in-depth look at the ZH-29 semiautomatic rifle, designed by Emmanuel Holek in the late 1920s. It highlights the ZH-29 as an early practical and reliable semiauto rifle, despite a lack of large-scale production orders from countries like China, Lithuania, and Ethiopia, though it was tested by the United States. The description details its long-stroke gas piston operation and unique tilting bolt mechanism, which requires an angled barrel. The video also notes the excellent manufacturing quality and the rifle's characteristic plum patina. It mentions that ZB26 LMG magazines are compatible with the ZH-29.
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