This video provides a special presentation offering an overview of semiautomatic pistols that entered serial production before 1900. It aims to contextualize the early development of automatic pistols by examining these historical firearms together. The description links to individual videos for detailed looks at specific models, including the Volcanic, Luger, Schwarzlose 1898, Mannlicher 1894 and 1896, and various Bergmann models, as well as the Salvatore-Dormus and Schonberger-Laumann.
This video delves into the fascinating and unusual 1901 prototype pistol designed by Andreas Schwarzlose. Unlike his more widely known 1907 machine gun, this handgun features a unique toggle-delayed blowback system, distinct from Luger or Pedersen designs, employing a novel set of arms to delay opening. It also incorporates a rare torsion-type mainspring. The description highlights Schwarzlose's earlier 1898 model and his later, more successful 1908 blow-forward pocket pistol, providing links to videos on these models. The content emphasizes the experimental and distinctive nature of the 1901 prototype, positioning it as a notable, albeit commercially unsuccessful, piece of firearm engineering history.
This video analyzes an interesting extractor failure on a Schwarzlose 1898 pistol using slow-motion footage. The description discusses the necessity of extractors in firearms, noting that some early blowback pistols and later Spanish models functioned without them, relying on residual chamber pressure. The Schwarzlose 1898, however, is equipped with an extractor that malfunctioned in this shooting session. Two instances that appeared normal in real-time were revealed as extractor failures upon reviewing the high-speed footage, making them an excellent case study.
This video provides an in-depth look at the Schwarzlose 1898, a semi-automatic pistol recognized for being ahead of its time. The presenter highlights its simple yet powerful design, chambered in 7.63mm Mauser, and its efficient single-spring mechanism that handles multiple functions. Despite its innovative features and ergonomic design, the pistol did not achieve commercial success, possibly due to manufacturing costs and competition from more economically produced pistols like the Borchardt, Luger, and Mauser. The reviewer considers it the best pre-1900 handgun encountered.
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