High Standard T3 Prototype: An American Blowback

This video showcases the W+F Bern P47 pistol prototype, a rare firearm developed for Swiss service pistol trials in the late 1940s. It highlights the P47's unique delayed blowback system, enabling its compact size, and its all-steel Swiss quality construction. The prototype ultimately lost out to the Sig P210 in the trials.

This video from Rock Island Auction Co. showcases a highly rare Mauser 1912/14 prototype pistol. The gunsmiths, Keith and Steve, detail its features, highlighting how it scaled up the Model 1910 and 1914 platform to fire the 9mm Parabellum cartridge. Key design elements discussed include the unique slide lock mechanism requiring a button depress and the heel-mounted magazine release. The pistol is described as a pre-WWI firearm with excellent craftsmanship. Its limited production and competition from other service pistols are cited as reasons for its lack of widespread adoption. Only 8 or 9 are believed to have been imported into the US.

This video provides an in-depth look at a rare prototype Webley 1910 pistol, a 9mm semi-automatic firearm developed for military and police use. The presenter, Ian from Forgotten Weapons, details its short recoil operation with a unique dropping barrel mechanism, its hammer-fired action, and its testing by the London Metropolitan Police. The pistol fired a 130-grain bullet at approximately 1,040 feet per second, indicating a significant cartridge for its time.

This video provides an in-depth look at a rare Gustaf pistol, believed to be a prototype. The presenter details its historical context, linking it to Fritz Sle and the use of slave labor during the Nazi era. Technical aspects are compared to Walther PP/PPK and Mauser 38H, with a focus on its unique large safety lever and disassembly process. The pistol's rarity and historical significance are emphasized.

This video provides an expert review of the final prices achieved at the James D. Julia Spring 2017 firearms auction, presented by Ian McCollum. It details the sale prices of numerous rare and collectible firearms, including the American 180, various Enfield variants, and high-value sniper rifles, offering insights into their market performance and provenance.

This video examines the rare and unusual Bjorgum pistol, a Norwegian prototype developed by artist Niels Bjorgum. Despite significant funding and attempts to gain military adoption, the pistol suffered from numerous design flaws, poor reliability, and questionable safety features, ultimately leading to its rejection. The presenter details the pistol's unique rotating barrel mechanism, sheet metal construction, and the inventor's background.

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.