ANNOUNCING! Forged in Snow: Finnish Small Arms 1917-2025

This video announces a Kickstarter campaign for 'Forged in Snow: Finnish Small Arms 1917-2025'. The project aims to explore the history and development of Finnish firearms from 1917 to 2025. The description provides a direct link to the Kickstarter page, encouraging viewers to join and support the initiative.

Ian McCollum's "Forged in Snow" delves into Finland's unique firearms history, highlighting their adaptation of the Mosin-Nagant into the M/39 and their indigenous development of AK variants like the Valmet RK 62. The iconic Suomi KP/-31 submachine gun, known for its reliability and 71-round drum, is also a central focus. The book draws on extensive research, including access to rare prototypes and museum collections.

This YouTube video announces the availability of "Small Arms of WWII: Soviet Union," a new book from Headstamp Publishing. It follows their "Small Arms of WWII: USA" volume and offers an in-depth look at Soviet firearms from the Second World War. The book features historical commentary and meticulous photography by Ian McCollum (Forgotten Weapons) and James Rupley (Vickers Guide). It covers handguns, submachine guns, bolt-action rifles, self-loading rifles, sniper rifles, machine guns, and miscellaneous items like anti-tank rifles and grenade launchers. The video also mentions pre-order shipping timelines and the availability of slipcases for the US volume.

This video explains why 5.56mm magazines for the Israeli Galil and Finnish Valmet rifles are not interchangeable, despite their similar appearance. Both countries independently developed their own 5.56mm magazines for their respective rifle designs, leading to proprietary systems. The lack of commonality means Valmet 5.56 magazines are now rare and expensive collector's items.

This video provides an update on the "Forged in Snow" project, specifically highlighting the achievement of the target model, the L35 Lahti. It also includes a call to action for viewers to order their copy via a provided Kickstarter link. The content focuses on a specific firearm model within a larger project.

Forgotten Weapons announces the upcoming release of 'Battle Rifles of NATO,' a new book focusing on Cold War small arms. Shipping is slated for early December, with US orders expected first. The book features detailed photography and technical information on iconic rifles like the FN FAL, M14, and AR-10.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.