Bern Prototype Carbine: Intermediate Cartridges in the 1920s

The LMG-25, Switzerland's first modern light machine gun, features a unique toggle-locking system developed by Adolf Furrer. Chambered in 7.5x55mm Swiss, it offers select-fire capability and a 30-round magazine compatible with the Stgw 57. A notable feature is the Advanced Primer Ignition (API) system, which reduces felt recoil and rate of fire by igniting the primer while parts are still moving forward.

The WF-51 was a Swiss intermediate-cartridge rifle developed by Adolf Furrer at Waffenfabrik Bern, inspired by the German FG-42. It featured a unique tipping bolt mechanism and was chambered in 7.5x38mm, with 35 units produced for trials. Although it did not enter service, its development influenced later Swiss firearms before the adoption of the SIG Stgw 57.

The 8x33mm Kurz is identified as the most optimized primary infantry rifle cartridge of WW2, offering a balance of terminal effect and manageable recoil. This intermediate cartridge influenced post-war designs like the 7.62x39mm. The US would have benefited most from adopting a lighter, lower-recoil round like the 7.35mm Carcano for the M1 Garand, enabling faster follow-up shots.

The Swiss Tankbuchse 41 (Tb 41) is an extremely rare 24mm semiautomatic antitank rifle developed by Waffenfabrik Bern. Featuring Adolf Furrer's signature toggle-lock action and short recoil operation, it fired a 24x138mm round capable of penetrating 36mm of armor at 500 meters. Originally intended for tanks, it also saw infantry, boat, and fortress deployment, with approximately 3,600 units produced.

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.