Buying W.W. Greener: Tales from the Golden Age of Surplus

This video appears to be about the acquisition of W.W. Greener & Co. firearms, possibly through an unconventional or questionable transaction involving a "worthless check." The description also promotes firearm reference books and the creator's Patreon and Floatplane channels, as well as merchandise. Given the title, the focus is likely on historical or collectible firearms, and the story behind their purchase.

This video details the catastrophic manufacturing failures behind the Mamba pistol, primarily stemming from a severe lack of experience and coordination. Despite ambitious goals, the project was plagued by technical issues, poor quality control, and a disregard for basic engineering principles, leading to a high rate of non-functional firearms. The narrative highlights the critical importance of expertise in both design and production for successful firearm development.

This video delves into the legacy of Francis Bannerman, a pivotal figure in making historical firearms accessible to the public. It explores his business model, the significance of Bannerman's Island as a storage facility, and his impact on gun collecting, contrasting early practices with modern approaches. The narrative highlights how Bannerman's surplus operations democratized gun ownership and influenced subsequent surplus dealers.

This video provides an in-depth look at 100 French FR-F2 sniper rifles, brought in by Navy Arms. The presenter highlights unique findings such as early production examples with three-digit serial numbers and renumbered rifles. The video also covers the Scrome J8 optic, modern picatinny scope mounts for the FR-F2, and depot refurbishment markings, offering a valuable resource for firearm enthusiasts interested in this specific sniper rifle system and its history.

This review details the Greener MkII Light Harpoon Gun, a unique firearm featured in the movie Jaws. It highlights the gun's Martini action, .38 Special blank cartridge chambering, and marine-resistant construction. The video also covers its intended use for surface fishing, accuracy, and the complete kit contents, including specialized harpoon darts and line.

The Rhodesian Mamba, a 9mm pistol later produced by Navy Arms, faced significant reliability issues due to manufacturing challenges, particularly with cast stainless steel. Despite acceptable accuracy and ergonomics for a combat sidearm, its tendency for malfunctions like light primer strikes and extraction failures, coupled with a dangerous manual hammer drop for DA engagement, prevented commercial success. It was a theoretical contender for military trials but ultimately failed due to these shortcomings.

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.