Burgess 1878 Military Carbines: .45-70 Before Winchester

The Beretta M1918 is a rare Italian semi-automatic carbine from WWI, often mistaken for a submachine gun but firing only in semi-auto. It reuses parts from the 1915 Villar Perosa and operates from an open bolt with a delayed blowback system for safety. Chambered in 9mm Glisenti, it features a unique 25-round magazine and a trigger guard repurposed from a Vetterli rifle.

This review details the rare Sharps & Hankins 1862 Navy Carbine, a .52 caliber rimfire firearm produced for the US Navy. Key features include a unique sliding barrel action for loading, a spring-loaded extractor, and an innovative floating firing pin with a safety block. The carbine's design aimed to address corrosion with a factory-issued leather barrel cover, highlighting the ingenuity of Christian Sharps and Hankins.

This video compares the US Military M4 carbine with a high-end civilian AR-15, the ADM UIC MOD2. While the M4 is presented as a reliable, iconic 'workhorse' adhering to Mil-Spec standards, the ADM showcases modern advancements in ergonomics, materials, and controls. Live-fire testing reveals the ADM's superior shootability and flatter recoil impulse compared to the M4's more 'clunky' feel, likening the M4 to a classic muscle car and the ADM to a modern performance vehicle.

This expert-level review of the 1893 Lee-Metford Trials Carbine, presented by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons, details a rare pre-production prototype. The carbine showcases a blend of Lee-Metford and Martini features, highlighting design evolution and military trial requirements. Key observations include the absence of a safety, a reduced magazine capacity, and unique design elements that were later refined for the adopted Mark 1 version.

The G40k was a rare German experimental Mauser carbine from 1940, designed for specialty troops with a shortened 19.3-inch barrel. Only about two dozen were produced before the project was abandoned in favor of Czech designs. Key features include a drilled bolt knob for weight reduction and a unique nose cap design.

The Smith Carbine was a popular breech-loading firearm for Union cavalry during the Civil War, designed by Gilbert Smith and produced by multiple manufacturers. Its innovative India rubber cartridge provided effective breech sealing (obturation). Over 31,000 units were delivered, and many survive today due to post-war surplus sales.

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.