Reising Submachine Gun: Good Initiative, Bad Design

Published on April 5, 2017
Duration: 6:07

This video provides an expert-level overview of the H&R Reising Submachine Gun, detailing its design, historical adoption by the US Marine Corps during WWII, and its significant combat performance issues. The presenter, demonstrating deep knowledge of firearm history and design, explains the Reising's initial advantages and subsequent failures due to reliability problems, comparing it to the Thompson and discussing its various models (M50, M55, M60) and international adoption.

Quick Summary

The H&R Reising submachine gun, adopted by the US Marines in WWII for its lower cost, suffered from critical design flaws like rust-prone finishes and poor parts fitting, leading to combat unreliability. Variants included the M50, M55 (folding stock), and M60 (semi-auto for law enforcement).

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Failed Historical Firearms
  2. 00:26Reising SMG Features Overview
  3. 01:09Origin and Marine Corps Adoption
  4. 01:43Initial Advantages & Combat Flaws
  5. 02:27Design and Reliability Issues
  6. 03:07Marines Reject Reising SMG
  7. 03:30Reising Models: M50, M55, M60
  8. 04:10Other Adopters & Current Status
  9. 05:08Acknowledgments and Outro

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the main reasons the US Marine Corps adopted the Reising submachine gun?

The US Marine Corps adopted the H&R Reising submachine gun primarily due to its significantly lower cost compared to the Thompson submachine gun, making it a more budget-friendly option during the early stages of World War II.

What were the major design flaws of the Reising submachine gun?

The Reising suffered from several critical flaws, including a finish that rusted easily, a complicated operation with a difficult safety and magazine release, an awkward under-mounted charging handle, and poor parts fitting that led to non-interchangeable components, hindering field repairs.

Were there different models of the Reising submachine gun?

Yes, three main versions were produced: the M50 with a standard stock and barrel, the M55 featuring a wire folding stock, and the M60, which was a semi-automatic-only model with a longer barrel designed for law enforcement use to bypass NFA regulations.

Did the Reising submachine gun see use outside the US military?

Yes, despite its issues with the US Marines, the Reising submachine gun was adopted by law enforcement agencies within the US and was also exported to numerous countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Mexico, and the Soviet Union.

More General Videos You Might Like

More from TFB TV

View all →