Inside a One-of-a-Kind Prototype Submachine Gun with firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson

Published on July 16, 2025
Duration: 19:24

This review details the 'Sayer's SMG,' a unique prototype submachine gun from the Royal Armouries. It's a 'parts bin' build featuring Sterling SMG magazines and L1A1 SLR furniture. Notably, it employs a sophisticated gas-unlocked, roller-delayed blowback system, predating many modern designs, with a chamber-based gas piston.

Quick Summary

The Sayer's SMG is a unique prototype submachine gun from the Royal Armouries, built using Sterling SMG magazines and L1A1 SLR furniture. It features a sophisticated gas-unlocked, roller-delayed blowback action with a chamber-based gas piston, predating many modern designs.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to the Unknown Prototype
  2. 01:03Identifying Donor Parts: Sterling Mag & L1A1 Furniture
  3. 02:31Construction and Origin: Sayer's SMG from Interarms
  4. 04:35Internal Mechanics: Trigger and Hammer
  5. 06:00Gas Operation Discovery: Chamber-Based Piston
  6. 07:48Disassembly and Gas System Confirmation
  7. 09:21Roller-Locking Mechanism Explained
  8. 11:25Final Assessment: Sophisticated Testbed Design

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sayer's SMG?

The Sayer's SMG is a unique prototype submachine gun from the Royal Armouries' collection, designed by John Sayer likely in the 1980s. It's a 'parts bin' build featuring Sterling SMG magazines and L1A1 SLR furniture, with a sophisticated gas-unlocked, roller-delayed blowback action.

What makes the Sayer's SMG's operating system unique?

Its operating system is unique for a 9mm SMG as it's gas-operated using a chamber-based gas piston system, not traditional barrel ports. It also employs a roller-locking mechanism, similar to the German Gerat 06, for unlocking the bolt.

What components were used in the Sayer's SMG prototype?

The prototype utilizes a 34-round Sterling submachine gun magazine and furniture from a British L1A1 SLR, including the pistol grip and handguards. The receiver itself is crudely constructed from sheet metal plates bolted together.

When and where did the Sayer's SMG originate?

The Sayer's SMG was designed by John Sayer, a director at Interarms UK, likely in the 1980s. The specific prototype was received by the Royal Armouries from Interarms UK in 1996.

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