Neat Mystery SMG at the Range: an MP45A3? But not on YouTube.

This review of the Madsen Model 1945 submachine gun, presented by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons from the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, highlights its unique design and historical context. The firearm is noted for its quality construction, pistol-like reciprocating slide, and use of Suomi magazines. Despite its advanced features for the time, its complexity and cost led to commercial failure, making it an extremely rare collector's item.

Gearhead Guns is producing a Type 100 Nambu PCC recreation, with the first batch shipping around March. It's available in 9mm Parabellum with 9-inch or 16-inch barrel configurations for SBR compliance. Customization options include various metal and wood finishes, with optional bayonet lugs.

The HK UMP 45, designed as a successor to the MP5, was adopted by US law enforcement but later transitioned to M4 carbines. While it features a worse trigger and more recoil than the MP5, the UMP is still considered a quality firearm. This review covers its historical context, live-fire performance, and a final assessment.

This review of the Thompson M1A1 submachine gun highlights its role in WWII, technical specifications like its .45 ACP chambering and magazine types, and its features such as a side-charging handle and basic sights. The video includes a live-fire demonstration on a range with steel targets, where the firearm reportedly performed well. The assessment comes from an expert with high authority, knowledgeable in WWII history and firearm specifics.

The Schmeisser MP41 is a unique hybrid submachine gun, merging the MP40's upper receiver with the MP28's lower receiver and wooden stock. Unlike the full-auto-only MP40, the MP41 features a semi-automatic capability due to a specific disconnector track on its bolt. This design allows for more controlled fire, differentiating it from its predecessors.

This guide details the operation of the Thompson Model of 1921, focusing on its unique selector switches and the 50-round drum magazine. Expert Ian McCollum demonstrates the manual winding process for the drum, which uses a clock-style spring requiring 11 clicks for the 1921 model. The video also highlights the dual selector switches for safe/fire and semi-auto/full-auto modes, offering a glimpse into the internal firing cycle.

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.