Little Tom: the World's First DAO Automatic

The Steyr M1912/16 Repetierpistole is the full-auto variant of the Steyr-Hahn M.12 pistol. It features a 16-round magazine and a high cyclic rate of 1200 rounds per minute, allowing it to empty its magazine in under a second. A selector lever, pinned to the trigger, controls fire modes between semi-auto ('1') and full-auto ('16').

This video clarifies the common misconception between 'automatic' and 'semi-automatic' pistols, specifically regarding the M1911. Expertly citing historical military designations and technical manuals, the presenter explains that 'automatic' in this context refers to the firearm's auto-loading cycle of operation, not full-auto fire. The M1911 was officially designated 'Pistol, Automatic, Caliber .45' by the U.S. military, a nomenclature that persists in common parlance.

The Norwegian Model 1909 Sunngard is a rare automatic pistol featuring an innovative dual-magazine system, allowing for a total of 50 rounds in the grip (two 25-round magazines) and an additional 25 rounds in the holster. This unique design, chambered in 6.5mm, offered exceptional firepower for its time. The demonstration highlights the mechanism for dropping the empty magazine and sliding the second one into place.

The Glock 18 and 18C are select-fire machine pistols with a unique selector switch for semi-automatic or full-automatic fire. The 18C incorporates a ported barrel and lightened slide to mitigate muzzle flip and improve controllability during automatic fire. Understanding the internal mechanism, particularly how the slide interacts with the sear in full-auto mode, is key to its operation.

The Mauser 1912/14 is a rare, experimental semi-automatic pistol developed by Mauser in the early 1900s. It features a delayed blowback action, a departure from their earlier straight blowback designs, to better handle the 9mm Luger cartridge. Approximately 200 units were produced, primarily for testing, with some potentially sold in Brazil. The pistol exhibits unique operational controls, such as a slide that requires a magazine insertion to open unless a specific button is pressed.

This video showcases the Browning Baby, a historical .25 ACP pistol from WWII. It details the unboxing, loading process with Remington ammunition, and range practice, highlighting its compact size and historical significance as a collector's item. The demonstration emphasizes safe handling and accuracy with this vintage firearm.

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.