Turkish Orman/Berthier Carbine at the Range

This video details a rare modification of a Berthier cavalry carbine to accept an 18-20 round Chauchat (CSRG) magazine. Expert Ian McCollum explains the historical context for WWI aircraft crews and survival scenarios. The modification involved significant structural changes, including the stock, magazine well, trigger guard, and receiver, to integrate the single-stack semi-circular magazine. Due to its complexity and rarity, only four such examples are known to exist.

This guide details the process of diagnosing and fixing ejection failures in a M1915 Chauchat, specifically addressing a weak extractor. It covers the repair steps and subsequent range testing to confirm functionality, drawing on the expertise demonstrated by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons. The process emphasizes careful disassembly, part replacement, and thorough testing to ensure reliable operation, especially for historical firearms undergoing reactivation.

This entry details the Modele 1890 Berthier Cavalry Carbine, a French military rifle designed by André Berthier. It highlights its development as a carbine successor to the Gras, its use of the Mannlicher-style clip system, and its production history. The guide provides a basic overview of bolt disassembly, emphasizing the need for careful handling and safety. Expert insights from Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons are included, noting the carbine's historical context and technical specifications.

This guide details the disassembly and reassembly of the rare .22LR Berthier Trainer, a conversion used by the French National Police. It covers removing the bolt and trigger group, and inspecting components. The video highlights the unique modifications made to adapt the original Berthier action for .22LR training use.

This guide details the process of testing a Berthier rifle modified to accept an 18-round Chauchat magazine, as demonstrated by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons. It covers loading, insertion, live-fire testing, and analysis of common malfunctions encountered due to the 8mm Lebel cartridge's taper and rimmed design in a box magazine configuration. The project highlights a fascinating historical curiosity but notes its practical unreliability.

This guide details several ingenious field gunsmithing modifications performed on Berthier rifles imported from Ethiopia, as presented by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons. These adaptations address the scarcity of original clips by creating internal clips, converting the rifle to a Mauser-like configuration, implementing external feed lips, and even adapting it to accept Lee-Enfield magazines. The video highlights the resourcefulness of Ethiopian gunsmiths in maintaining firearms in operational condition.

This guide details the specific technique for separating two MAS-36 rifles that have been inadvertently locked together by their bayonets. It outlines the historical context of this issue, the modification made to the bayonet to resolve it, and the step-by-step procedure for disengagement. The technique requires precise alignment and the use of a pointed tool to access the internal release mechanism, as demonstrated by firearms expert Ian McCollum.

This guide details the loading and firing procedure for the M134 Minigun, as explained by Ian McCollum. It covers manual indexing of the barrel cluster, feeding the ammunition belt, engaging controls, and firing. The guide also touches upon the weapon's spin-down inertia and the function of modern clutch systems. Expert instruction from a recognized firearms historian highlights the technical aspects of operating this powerful weapon system.

This guide details the operational features of the H&K G11 K2, a prototype assault rifle known for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt. It covers the selector settings, magazine capacity, integrated optics, and the internal action designed for recoil management during high-rate-of-fire bursts. Expert insights from Ian McCollum highlight the historical context and technical innovations of this advanced firearm.

This guide details the operation of the German L.Gr.W.36 50mm light mortar, as demonstrated by expert Ian McCollum. It covers assembly, leveling procedures, ammunition handling, and live fire execution, emphasizing the difficulty in visually tracking the projectile. The instruction highlights the importance of proper setup for accuracy.