Uniquely Ethiopian Shortened Lebel Rifles

This video examines WWI rifle mud covers, focusing on French 'couvre-culasse' and German Weissenberger designs for the Lebel, Berthier, and Gewehr 98 rifles. It details their development to combat trench mud, technical specifications, attachment methods, and historical context regarding production and effectiveness. The French used simple sheet metal covers, while German designs evolved to complex metal shrouds. Both faced production and material challenges, limiting their widespread impact.

This video details the evolution of French military repeating rifles, starting with the single-shot Gras 1874 and progressing through early repeating designs like the Kropatschek and Mle 1885. It highlights the French Navy's early adoption of repeaters and the Army's initial resistance due to cost and tactical concerns. The development culminates with the revolutionary Lebel 1886, spurred by the advent of smokeless powder and political pressure, though it was quickly surpassed by later designs.

This video delves into the evolution of French rifle ammunition, specifically the 8mm Lebel and 7.5mm French cartridges. It details the 8mm Lebel's development from the 11mm Gras, its various bullet types (round-nose, Balle D, Balle N), and safety features for tube magazines. The transition to the modern 7.5x54mm French cartridge post-WWI is also covered, highlighting design changes for safety and performance.

This video presents a literature review of English-language books on French military firearms. The presenter discusses several books covering various French arms, including rifles, pistols, and machine guns, from historical periods up to the mid-20th century. He notes the limited availability of comprehensive references, particularly for bolt-action rifles like the Lebel and Berthier, and mentions he is working on a book to fill that gap. Specific books highlighted include "French Military Arms" by James Hicks, "Proud Promise" on French semi-automatic rifles, "Honour Bound" on the Chauchat machine rifle, "The Last Bolt Gun" on the MAS-36, "The French 1935 Pistols," and "Military Handguns of France."

Verney-Carron, a historic French manufacturer, has revived the 'Lebel' name for a new line of AR-pattern rifles. The lineup includes a 5.56 AR-15, an AR-10 in 7.62 and .260 Remington, and a 9mm PCC. While primarily for the French commercial market, these rifles have seen military sales, including deployments in Ukraine, but are not currently exported to the US.

This interview with Uli Wiegand of InterOrdnance details a massive import of surplus firearms from Africa, a project spanning eight years. The collection includes historical rifles like Mausers, Enfields, VZ 52s, and MAS 49/56s, many in original, matching condition. Wiegand highlights the 'treasure hunting' aspect of identifying rare variations and discusses the primitive storage conditions encountered. The firearms are being distributed through Classic Arms and InterOrdnance's website.

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.