Lee Metford and Lee Enfield Carbines for the Cavalry

This review details the rare Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) Enfield Carbine, a modified Lee-Enfield rifle. Originally declared obsolete by the British military, these carbines were adapted for the RIC with significant stock and muzzle modifications to accept an 1888 pattern bayonet. The video highlights its unique bolt handle, safety mechanism, magazine cutoff, and tangent sights, along with identifying markings and its limited production numbers.

This review details the rare Latvian CLLE carbine, a unique variant of the Lee-Enfield. Originally full-length rifles, these were modified and supplied to Latvia, featuring a 21-inch barrel and specific handguard. Many examples bear Finnish Tikkakoski replacement barrels and British 'sold out of service' marks, highlighting their post-WWI service and eventual use by partisans.

The Lee Enfield No5 MkI, or 'Jungle Carbine', was developed from the No4 rifle to be lighter and shorter for jungle warfare. Modifications included significant lightening cuts on the receiver and bolt, a conical flash hider, and a rubber butt pad to manage recoil. Despite its innovative design, accuracy issues known as the 'wandering zero' led to its obsolescence, though it saw post-war service.

The SMLE MkIII* was a wartime simplification of the Lee-Enfield rifle, prioritizing faster production during WWI by removing features like windage-adjustable rear sights, volley sights, and the magazine cutoff. These changes reflected the realities of trench warfare, where long-range accuracy and single-shot loading became less critical. Even the Pattern 1907 bayonet saw simplification before the war began.

The No1 MkV SMLE represents a significant evolutionary step in British service rifles, featuring an improved aperture sight and a 'bulldog' snub-nose design. Produced in limited numbers (20,000) between 1922-1924, it incorporated lessons learned from WWI, particularly regarding sighting systems. While it retained the magazine cut-off and the No1 MkIII action, its trials at Bisley highlighted areas for improvement, directly influencing the development of the No1 MkVI and the iconic No4 rifle.

This review covers a 1942 Lithgow Australian SMLE Enfield rifle chambered in .303 British. The rifle is presented with its original 1907 pattern bayonet and features a smooth bolt action. The speaker, a collector, acquired the firearm for $650, highlighting its historical significance and condition.

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.