Mauser M90 DA: Not Mauser and Not a High Power

This video delves into the Mauser M80SA, revealing its surprising Hungarian origin and its direct lineage to the Browning High Power. The description highlights Mauser's struggles in the late 1980s, leading them to partner with FEG of Hungary. FEG, already licensed to produce High Power copies, manufactured the M80 for Mauser from 1990-1995. The video notes the omission of the magazine safety and discusses the limited production run and the gun's poor sales, attributing it to an outdated design and the diminished value of the Mauser branding at the time.

Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons provides an expert look at the Hungarian K1 'Kucher' light submachine gun. Developed by József Kucher, it was adopted in 1951 and chambered in 7.62x25mm Tokarev. The K1 features a simple blowback, open-bolt action, an under-folding stock, and an integrated muzzle brake. McCollum demonstrates its field stripping, highlighting its basic internal mechanics and comparing it to other contemporary designs.

The Frommer Stop was a compact Hungarian semi-automatic pistol designed by Rudolf Frommer and produced by FEG. It utilized a complex long recoil operating system, chambered in proprietary cartridges like 7.65x17mm and 9x17mm. Despite its innovative design and significant WWI production, it was known for difficult field stripping and a sensitive action.

This review showcases the Hungarian FEG SA 85M, a semi-automatic AKM variant chambered in 7.62x39mm. The video demonstrates its functionality, including loading and chambering a round, and features live-fire testing at an outdoor range. Visuals highlight the rifle's markings, ammunition, and target impacts, with slow-motion footage capturing the action's mechanics.

The Hungarian SA-85S, a sporterized AKM variant by FEG, was designed for US import compliance after the 1989 ban. It features a thumbhole stock and unthreaded muzzle to circumvent restrictions. Approximately 24,500 were imported before the 1994 ban, which specifically targeted the SA-85M model. The rifle retains standard AK internals, making its sporter features easily reversible.

The AK-63F, Hungary's final military Kalashnikov, was developed to replace the AMD-65, returning to a more traditional AKM pattern for cost-effectiveness. Key features include wooden furniture, a slant muzzle brake, and unique venting. Later models utilized precision casting for improved manufacturing efficiency. These rifles have seen significant export and use in modern conflicts.

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.