Small Arms History of the Falkland Islands Defense Force

The Falkland Islands Defense Force (FIDF) opted for the Steyr AUG over the British L85A1 due to the latter's documented reliability and durability issues. The FIDF's AUGs feature a unique 3-position selector, including a progressive full-auto trigger mode. This procurement decision highlights the FIDF's independent evaluation of military hardware.

This video details the Romanian Model 1879 Martini-Henry rifle and carbine, adopted after the Russo-Turkish War. Romania contracted with Witten and later Steyr for production, using the superior .45 Gatling caliber. The rifle's mechanical operation is similar to the British Mark II, featuring a falling block action. While serving as Romania's primary rifle until 1893, it was relegated to secondary roles and saw limited use in WWI due to ammunition issues.

This lecture by N.R. Jenzen-Jones, Editor of Armax: The Journal of Contemporary Arms, explores the significant but often overlooked industrialization in Afghanistan during the late 19th century under Abdur Rahman Khan, the 'Iron Emir'. The focus is on the mass production of the Martini-Henry rifle at the Kabul Arsenal, an achievement made possible by British and British Indian expertise. Beyond firearms, the arsenal also produced machine-minted coinage, cartridges, and introduced technologies like steam engines, electricity, and railways to Afghanistan. The lecture delves into the broad range of outputs and the individuals behind these advancements.

This "I Have This Old Gun" segment from American Rifleman Television, aired in 2019, delves into the historical significance of the Martini-Henry rifle. It explores its role as the primary firearm for British infantrymen during the late 19th century, highlighting its breech-loading mechanism and historical context. The video aims to educate viewers on this classic military rifle.

This video clarifies the distinction between a firearm's operating system and its locking system. The locking system ensures the breech is sealed during firing, while the operating system cycles the action. Examples like the Martini-Henry illustrate this, with its falling block as the lock and lever as the operator. Different firearms can share operating styles but have distinct locking mechanisms, such as rotating versus tilting bolts.

This video examines a unique Khyber Pass-made pistol based on the Martini-Henry action, chambered in .303 British. It highlights the crude but detailed craftsmanship, including copied British markings and decorative stamping on the octagonal barrel. The pistol exhibits historical inaccuracies, such as an incorrect date and backward stampings, showcasing the distinct manufacturing style of the region.

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.