Adventures in Surplus: A WW1 & Weimar Police Kar98a Carbine

This video showcases the historical Mauser C96 pistol, also known as the 'Broomhandle', in a live-fire demonstration. The test focuses on its performance against steel plates, highlighting the 7.63x25mm caliber's effectiveness and the firearm's cycling capabilities. The demonstration emphasizes the C96's accuracy and handling characteristics, offering insights into its historical military application.

This video provides a fun comparison between two classic American rifles: the Springfield 1903 and the Krag-Jorgensen 1898. Both firearms are highlighted as enjoyable to shoot, with a note on their rear sights being set at a minimum of 200 yards, which explains the shooting high. The video is presented for entertainment purposes.

This video compares the penetration capabilities of a WWI-era Mauser C96 in 7.63x25mm Mauser against a modern Glock 19X in 9mm Luger. Both firearms were tested against sheet metal and blocks of cheddar cheese. Surprisingly, both calibers demonstrated similar penetration depths in the cheese, with the 9mm slightly outperforming the 7.63x25mm in the sheet metal test.

This review covers the Springfield 1903A3, specifically a Smith-Corona variant, highlighting its Mauser-derived action and robust safety features like dual forward locking lugs and a third safety lug. The video demonstrates its precision with aperture sights and smooth operation during live fire at 440 yards. It also details practical aspects such as the butt plate storage and the magazine cutoff for single-shot use.

The Marlin Model 1917 is a licensed copy of the Colt Model 1895/1914, itself an evolution of the original Colt 'Potato Digger'. It features a unique gas-operated system using a swinging lever mechanism, distinct from typical gas pistons. This lever, when activated by gas tapped from the barrel, cycles the action, earning the 'Potato Digger' nickname due to its violent movement potentially digging into the ground.

The Mauser FSK-16 (Flieger Selbstlader Karabiner 1916) was a rare German WWI semi-automatic rifle designed for aircraft crews, evolving from Paul Mauser's earlier designs. It utilized an inertial-operated flapper locking system and a 25-round magazine. Despite its innovative design for aviation, it was too fragile and expensive for trench warfare and saw limited use before being largely scrapped post-war, making it exceptionally rare today.

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.