Massachusetts Arms Maynard-Primed Belt Revolver

The Greene Carbine, patented in 1854, was a complex breech-loading firearm intended for cavalry use. Despite its advanced Maynard tape primer system and unique loading mechanism, both the US and British militaries found it too complex and unreliable. The British contract for 2,000 units, destined for the Cape Mounted Rifles, ultimately failed due to cartridge development issues, leading to most units being scrapped.

The Wesson & Leavitt Revolving Rifle, a rare 19th-century firearm, faced limited production due to a Colt patent infringement lawsuit. This led to design changes like manual indexing and a Maynard tape primer, making it less desirable. Practical design flaws, such as the cylinder gap and potential for chain fire, necessitated holding the rifle carefully to avoid injury.

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.