1908 Japanese Hino Komura Pistol

This expert guide, presented by C&Rsenal, details the key production differences between pre-war and late-war Japanese Nanbu Type 14 pistols. It highlights changes in the trigger guard, magazine retention, magazine design, cocking piece, rear sight, and overall manufacturing quality, offering insights valuable for collectors and firearm enthusiasts.

This review details the Nambu Type 14 pistol, a significant Japanese WWII firearm. It covers loading the 8-round magazine with 8mm Nambu cartridges, chambering a round, and engaging the manual safety. The demonstration includes live-fire at an outdoor range, highlighting the pistol's last-round bolt hold open feature.

The Belgian Bayard 1908 is a compact, blowback-operated pocket pistol chambered in .32 ACP. It features a lightweight slide pull and a beavertail grip to prevent slide bite, despite its small size making a full grip difficult. While its sights are basic and the trigger is described as mushy with a long reset, recoil is well-managed due to its design.

The 8mm Hamada Type 2 pistol, a WWII Japanese military firearm, was a redesign of an earlier .32 caliber model to standardize ammunition. Despite a reported manufacturing of 1,500 units, only 17 unfinished examples are known to survive, with theories suggesting loss in China, transport sinking, or destruction by bombing raids. Its design features a simple blowback action, striker firing, and a unique rotary dovetail barrel attachment.

This video provides an in-depth analysis of the Schwarzlose 1908 pistol's unique blow-forward operating system using high-speed footage up to 3500fps. It details the mechanical timing, showing how the slide remains closed until the bullet exits the barrel, followed by case ejection. The feeding cycle is also observed, highlighting the reliability of this unusual mechanism.

This video from C&Rsenal's Primer series, hosted by Professor Gruffudd, offers a detailed, multimedia lecture on the historic Japanese "Nanbu" Type 14 pistol. The episode delves into the firearm's development, function, and includes live fire demonstrations. Supplemental materials and resources for further reading on Japanese military firearms are provided. The video also features support links for the channel, including Patreon, SubscribeStar, and merchandise. Collaborations with Ballistol USA, Ammunition data from DrakeGmbH, and animations by Bruno are acknowledged.

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.