Inside the World's Smallest Cartridges: 2.7mm Kolibri

This review from Forgotten Weapons, presented by Ian McCollum, details the world's smallest centerfire pistol, the 2.7mm Kolibri Autopistol. The video provides a historical context, designer information, and mechanical overview, emphasizing its extreme concealability and unique status among firearms. McCollum uses comparative pistols like the Walther PPK and Model 9 to highlight the Kolibri's diminutive size.

This video details the incredibly small 2.7mm Kolibri pistol, the smallest centerfire firearm ever produced. Created by Austrian watchmaker Franz Pfannl in 1914, it utilized unique 2.7x9mm Kolibri ammunition. Despite its novelty and historical significance as a technical marvel, the pistol lacked practical stopping power, with its effectiveness limited to minor threats. Surviving units are now rare and valuable collector's items.

This video provides an in-depth look at the 2.7mm Kolibri, the smallest centerfire pistol ever produced, originating around 1914. It details its autoloading mechanism, unique design lacking a trigger guard, and surprisingly low ballistics, barely capable of penetrating cardboard. The presentation highlights its historical context, inventor Franz Pfannl's background as a watchmaker, and its design lineage from the Steyr 1908.

This entry details the Kolibri pistol, the world's smallest production self-defense pistol, and its surprising connection to the MG42 machine gun. Expert Jonathan Ferguson highlights the Kolibri's unique stamped steel frame design, which influenced the mass-production techniques used for the MG42. The video also covers the Kolibri's mechanical operation, its 2.7mm caliber, and its limited lethality, originally marketed for personal defense.

This guide details the specific technique for separating two MAS-36 rifles that have been inadvertently locked together by their bayonets. It outlines the historical context of this issue, the modification made to the bayonet to resolve it, and the step-by-step procedure for disengagement. The technique requires precise alignment and the use of a pointed tool to access the internal release mechanism, as demonstrated by firearms expert Ian McCollum.

This guide details the loading and firing procedure for the M134 Minigun, as explained by Ian McCollum. It covers manual indexing of the barrel cluster, feeding the ammunition belt, engaging controls, and firing. The guide also touches upon the weapon's spin-down inertia and the function of modern clutch systems. Expert instruction from a recognized firearms historian highlights the technical aspects of operating this powerful weapon system.

This guide details the operational features of the H&K G11 K2, a prototype assault rifle known for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt. It covers the selector settings, magazine capacity, integrated optics, and the internal action designed for recoil management during high-rate-of-fire bursts. Expert insights from Ian McCollum highlight the historical context and technical innovations of this advanced firearm.

This guide details the operation of the German L.Gr.W.36 50mm light mortar, as demonstrated by expert Ian McCollum. It covers assembly, leveling procedures, ammunition handling, and live fire execution, emphasizing the difficulty in visually tracking the projectile. The instruction highlights the importance of proper setup for accuracy.