Final Prices: RIA December 2018 (#75)

The Type 13 Manchurian Mauser, or Liao Type 13, is a unique bolt-action rifle with WWI origins, developed by Steyr in Austria to improve the Gewehr 98. Post-WWI, Steyr partnered with Manchuria's Zhang Zuolin to produce it at the Mukden Arsenal around 1924. Key improvements include a dust cover and shroud for the cocking piece, though experimental detachable magazines were too costly. This rifle features distinct markings and a split serial number on the bolt handle, with design elements possibly influenced by the Japanese Type 38 Arisaka.

This YouTube video features an interview with Bin Shih, focusing on the pivotal bolt-action rifles that formed the core of Chinese infantry during World War 2. The discussion specifically highlights the Hanyang rifle, the Manchurian Mauser, and the Chiang Kai-Shek rifle, also known as the Type 24. This content delves into historical firearms that played a crucial role in the conflict between China and Japan.

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.