German U-Boat Line-Thrower Rifle Conversions

This Brownells Tech Tip features Caleb's personal project: transforming an old CZ Brno Mauser military rifle into a custom .35 Whelen hunting rifle. The video details the entire build process, including installing a Shilen barrel, fitting a Richard's Microfit stock, utilizing Talley rings and bases, and performing modifications to the bottom metal and bolt handle. It also touches on trigger guard reshaping and potential iron sight installation, offering a behind-the-scenes look at DIY gunsmithing and custom rifle creation for Mauser enthusiasts.

This video examines a rare Luger pistol constructed with Mauser replacement parts. Notably, these replacement parts are typically marked with factory codes like S/42, 42 Code, and BYF, rather than serial numbers. The specific Luger featured in the video uniquely displays all three of these maker codes on a single firearm. The video also promotes the Legacy Collectibles Patreon, their podcast 'Flak & Fubar', and their Instagram page.

The K98k, Germany's primary WWII rifle, fires the 8mm Mauser cartridge and uses 5-round stripper clips. Its three-position safety is crucial for operation: vertical allows cycling, right locks the action, and left is fire. The rifle features a front post and a rear ladder sight adjustable up to 2 kilometers.

This "From the Vault" video from Brownells features Steve and Keith at Rock Island Auction House showcasing a highly customized Mauser 98 sporter rifle with a significant historical connection. The rifle was a Christmas gift in 1940 from Hermann Göring, commander of the Nazi Luftwaffe, to Franz Gürtner, the Third Reich's Minister of Justice. Despite its association with controversial figures, the Mauser is presented as a remarkable example of gunsmithing artistry, boasting features like a detachable scope, color case-hardened receiver, double-set triggers, express sights, a full-length barrel rib, a drilling-style safety, lever-released floorplate, engraved bolt handle, horn grip cap, and a popup cheekpiece. It's also a takedown rifle for easy transport. The video touches on the rifle's journey from Germany to Illinois and the brief ownership by Gürtner before his death in 1941.

This video demonstrates how to remove the stripper clip boss from a Mauser action using common hand tools and a rotary tool. The process is presented by Larry Potterfield, CEO and Founder of MidwayUSA, as a straightforward gunsmithing task. Removing the boss allows for the installation of commercial scope bases and improves the aesthetic of military Mauser actions. The tutorial is suitable for individuals looking to modify their Mauser rifles for better scope mounting options and a cleaner appearance.

This unique German sporting rifle combines a 7x57 Mauser barrel with an underbarrel .22 LR breech, operated by a separate bolt and cocking lever. It features a Mauser 98 action and a 4x Zeiss scope on double claw mounts. The design allows hunters to engage both medium and small game with a single, versatile 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.