Videos tagged with 1920s Firearms

This video showcases the iconic Webley Mark VI revolver, famously associated with the Peaky Blinders. It details the loading process with .45 ACP cartridges, demonstrates both single and double-action firing at an outdoor range, and highlights the unique top-break ejection mechanism in slow motion. The demonstration emphasizes the firearm's historical significance and mechanical operation.

This video segment from "American Rifleman Television" focuses on the Colt Police Positive revolver. It highlights Colt's historical significance in revolver development and the challenges faced from competitors like Smith & Wesson. The Police Positive is presented as an innovative firearm designed to capture the law enforcement market. Despite being overlooked by some collectors, the description emphasizes the exceptional fit, finish, and the renowned "royal Colt blue" of revolvers made in the 1920s and 30s, describing them as works of art. The video encourages viewers to explore more segments of American Rifleman TV and tune into new episodes on the Outdoor Channel.

This video offers a comparison of four distinct yet similar revolvers used by military and police forces, spanning from the 1920s to the 1980s. It showcases a Smith & Wesson Military and Police from 1928, a Smith & Wesson 15-2 from the 1970s, a Smith & Wesson 64 used into the 1980s, and a Ruger Police Service 6 from the 1980s. All revolvers are chambered in .38 Special, highlighting the evolution and enduring presence of this caliber and platform in law enforcement and military contexts.

This expert-level review details a factory-produced Chinese copy of the FN 1900 pistol from the Nanjing Arsenal, dating to the 1920s. The analysis highlights its mechanical similarities to the original FN, unique markings, and historical context within China's Warlord Era. It also points out a specific anomaly in the cocking indicator and discusses the rarity and collectibility of these arsenally produced firearms.

This video delves into the British Army's search for a replacement for the bolt-action Lee Enfield rifle in the 1920s. It highlights the examination of various self-loading rifle systems, drawing a parallel to the US Army's interest in the M1 Garand. Specifically, the discussion touches upon the 'Bang' rifle and the Vickers Pedersen as potential candidates that were evaluated during this period. The Royal Armouries, as the presenter, offers insights from their expertise.

The Smith & Wesson Straight Line Target was a radical departure in .22 LR single-shot target pistols, introduced in 1925 to compete with Colt's Camp Perry. Despite innovative features like a pivoting barrel for loading and a striker-fired mechanism, it failed commercially due to a perceived inferior trigger and heavier weight compared to predecessors. Only 1,870 units were produced before discontinuation in 1936.

The No1 MkV SMLE represents a significant evolutionary step in British service rifles, featuring an improved aperture sight and a 'bulldog' snub-nose design. Produced in limited numbers (20,000) between 1922-1924, it incorporated lessons learned from WWI, particularly regarding sighting systems. While it retained the magazine cut-off and the No1 MkIII action, its trials at Bisley highlighted areas for improvement, directly influencing the development of the No1 MkVI and the iconic No4 rifle.

The Scheintod Revolver, a German pepperbox design from the 1920s, functioned as a less-lethal defensive tool. It fired irritant cartridges, similar to modern pepper spray, and featured a 5-round cylinder chambered in 12mm. Markings include a dancing skeleton logo and German proof marks, indicating its historical significance in non-projectile weaponry.

This review details the rare Becker Blow-Forward Revolving Shotgun, a 16 gauge firearm produced in the 1920s with an estimated 100 units made. It highlights the unique blow-forward barrel action, where gas pressure forces the barrel rearward to seal and then forward to cycle the cylinder. The review covers its markings, serial number, loading process, and the manual ejection required for the final spent casing.

The Colt Camp Perry Model was a specialized single-shot .22LR target pistol produced from 1926-1941, designed for national match competition. Its unique monolithic barrel/breech block design eliminated the cylinder gap for superior accuracy. Despite advanced features like a coil mainspring to reduce lock time and adjustable sights, it saw limited commercial success due to its niche application and competition from other Colt models.

This review details the Bergmann 1920s Experimental Military Trials Pistol, an updated iteration of the 1910 model by the Pieper factory. Key improvements include a 15-round magazine, a reshaped trigger guard, a relocated magazine catch, a wider hammer for easier cocking, and a simplified bolt disassembly system similar to the Mauser C96. Despite these enhancements, the design was largely obsolete by the mid-1920s.

This video details a rare 1921 experimental semi-automatic conversion of the Springfield 1903 rifle, utilizing a unique primer-actuated system instead of gas or recoil operation. The conversion involved significant modifications to the receiver and stock, including a hollowed stock for a large recoil spring and a custom sheet metal cover for bolt travel. It demonstrates early 20th-century efforts to modernize bolt-action rifles and highlights John Garand's involvement in primer-actuated designs.