Reising Submachine Gun: Good Initiative, Bad Design

Published on April 5, 2017
Duration: 6:07

This video provides an expert-level overview of the Reising Submachine Gun, detailing its historical adoption by the US Marine Corps during WWII and its subsequent failure due to significant design and reliability issues. The presenter, demonstrating deep knowledge of historical firearms, highlights specific flaws like poor finishing, complicated operation, and parts interchangeability problems, contrasting them with its initial cost advantage over the Thompson. The discussion covers different Reising models and its eventual use by law enforcement and international forces, concluding with its status as a collector's item.

Quick Summary

The Reising Submachine Gun was adopted by the US Marine Corps during WWII due to its lower cost compared to the Thompson. However, it suffered from significant design flaws, including a tendency to rust, complicated operation, and poor parts fitting, leading to widespread unreliability and rejection by troops in combat.

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

Why was the Reising Submachine Gun adopted by the US Marine Corps?

The Reising SMG was adopted by the US Marine Corps primarily due to its significantly lower cost, being approximately 25% cheaper than the Thompson submachine gun. This budget-driven decision led to the procurement of thousands of units during the early stages of World War II.

What were the main design and reliability issues of the Reising SMG?

Key issues included a finish that rusted easily, a complicated safety and magazine release, an awkward under-mounted charging handle, and limited magazine capacity (15-20 rounds). Poor parts fitting also resulted in non-interchangeable components, hindering field repairs.

Did the Reising Submachine Gun perform well in combat?

No, the Reising SMG generally performed poorly in combat. Despite initial perceived advantages, its reliability issues, particularly in harsh environments like Guadalcanal, led to widespread dissatisfaction and rejection by Marines, who often preferred other weapon systems.

What are the different models of the Reising Submachine Gun?

The primary models were the M50, featuring a short barrel and large compensator; the M55, distinguished by its wire folding stock; and the M60, a semi-automatic-only version with a longer barrel designed for law enforcement and civilian markets to avoid NFA regulations.

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