Civil War Gwyn & Campbell Carbines (aka Cosmopolitan, Union, & Grapevine)

This video provides an in-depth look at the Gallagher carbine, a Civil War-era breach-loading firearm. It details its design, operation, and historical context, highlighting its initial use of percussion caps and later conversion to metallic cartridges. The review notes its limitations, such as the lack of an extractor and a forearm, but acknowledges its place in Civil War firearm history.

This video provides an in-depth look at the Lindner Civil War carbine, a breechloading firearm from the early 1860s. It details the unique loading mechanism, which involves tipping up the breech to insert a paper cartridge, and discusses its historical context as a transitional technology between muzzleloaders and metallic cartridges. The video also touches upon the carbine's limited adoption by the U.S. government and its subsequent sale in Europe.

This video provides an in-depth review of the Tallassee Carbine, a rare Confederate small arm from the Civil War. Ian McCollum details its historical context, design features, and production challenges, highlighting its significance as a last-ditch effort by the Confederacy. The review emphasizes the carbine's unique captive ramrod and its limited production numbers, making surviving examples highly collectible.

This guide details the operation of the Sharps & Hankins 1862 Navy Carbine, a unique firearm from the Civil War era. It covers the sliding barrel breech-loading mechanism, cartridge insertion, and safety features. The video, presented by Ian McCollum, highlights the carbine's historical context, production numbers, and distinctive leather barrel cover designed for naval use.

This guide details the specific technique for separating two MAS-36 rifles that have been inadvertently locked together by their bayonets. It outlines the historical context of this issue, the modification made to the bayonet to resolve it, and the step-by-step procedure for disengagement. The technique requires precise alignment and the use of a pointed tool to access the internal release mechanism, as demonstrated by firearms expert Ian McCollum.

This guide details the loading and firing procedure for the M134 Minigun, as explained by Ian McCollum. It covers manual indexing of the barrel cluster, feeding the ammunition belt, engaging controls, and firing. The guide also touches upon the weapon's spin-down inertia and the function of modern clutch systems. Expert instruction from a recognized firearms historian highlights the technical aspects of operating this powerful weapon system.

This guide details the operational features of the H&K G11 K2, a prototype assault rifle known for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt. It covers the selector settings, magazine capacity, integrated optics, and the internal action designed for recoil management during high-rate-of-fire bursts. Expert insights from Ian McCollum highlight the historical context and technical innovations of this advanced firearm.

This guide details the operation of the German L.Gr.W.36 50mm light mortar, as demonstrated by expert Ian McCollum. It covers assembly, leveling procedures, ammunition handling, and live fire execution, emphasizing the difficulty in visually tracking the projectile. The instruction highlights the importance of proper setup for accuracy.