This entry details the book 'Small Arms of the Cold War: Battle Rifles of NATO' by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons. It covers over 60 authentic battle rifles from NATO and Western democracies, focusing on the period from the 1950s to the 1980s. The book features detailed information on iconic firearms like the FN FAL, G3, M14, and AR-10, alongside lesser-known variants and prototypes, drawing from museum collections worldwide.
The WF-54 was a Swiss prototype rifle developed by Waffenfabrik Bern, scaling up the German FG-42 design to fire the full-power 7.5x55mm GP11 cartridge. It featured a closed-bolt firing system, a simplified charging handle, and a folding winter trigger. While only about 10 were made, it represented an iterative step towards the later SIG Stgw 57.
The Stgw.57/PE57 is a robust Swiss military rifle featuring a unique roller-delayed blowback system and exceptional engineering. Its design incorporates a highly complex sighting system, an integrated bipod for multi-role capability, and a special grenade launching trigger. The rifle's chamber design includes a ring to mitigate bolt bounce, and it ejects spent casings head/base first to protect adjacent soldiers.
This video showcases the 'Rico Special,' a heavily modified SIG 510 (Stgw 57) featuring a collapsing stock, quad rail, and custom muzzle brake. Despite its intimidating muzzle flash and concussion, especially in full-auto, the rifle remains surprisingly controllable. The modifications highlight advanced gunsmithing techniques applied to a classic Swiss rifle.
The SIG PE-57, civilian Stgw 57, is a robust roller-delayed blowback rifle chambered in 7.5x55mm Swiss. Its design, influenced by the MG-42, features a unique 'base-first' ejection system and a 'winter trigger' for cold weather use. Despite its weight, it offers a soft-shooting experience and impressive ergonomics.
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