Ross MkI: Canada's First Battle Rifle

This "I Have This Old Gun" segment from American Rifleman Television explores the history and evolution of the Canadian Ross Rifle, specifically the Mk III model. The video details Canada's desire for its own distinct military equipment in the early 20th century, leading to the development of the Ross straight-pull bolt-action rifle. It highlights inventor Sir Charles Ross's character, early design flaws, and improvements made by the Mk III. The segment also discusses the rifle's challenges during trench warfare in World War I due to mud, ultimately leading to its replacement by the Lee-Enfield SMLE. The video concludes by noting the rifle's eventual retirement from Canadian service.

The Huot Automatic Rifle, a Canadian WWI prototype, converted the Ross straight-pull rifle into a machine gun. It featured a unique 25-round ratchet-driven drum magazine and a gas-operated system. A barrel shroud used muzzle blast to create a cooling airflow, allowing for a lighter barrel. Despite its innovative design, it was not adopted, with the British military favoring the Lewis gun.

This video focuses on the rare Ross 1912 Cadet rifle, a .22 rimfire training firearm introduced in 1912. It discusses its history as a smaller variant of the military Ross rifles, its single-shot straight-pull action with an unusual locking bolt, and its limited production run ending in 1917. The description highlights its rarity today and provides links to reference books, Patreon, Floatplane, and merchandise.

The Canadian C1A1 variant of the FN FAL was adopted in the mid-1950s and was the first country to produce the rifle. Key modifications include a semi-auto only configuration, an inch pattern conversion, a winter trigger guard for glove use, a stripper clip guide for faster reloads, and ergonomic enhancements like a wider magazine release and folding charging handle.

The Ross Mk III rifle, Canada's primary WWI infantry arm, featured a straight-pull bolt action and was chambered in .303 British. Despite its accuracy potential, it suffered from extraction failures, particularly with British ammunition, leading to its withdrawal from front-line service in 1916. The Mk IIIB variant, adopted by Britain, simplified the rear sight.

The Ross MkII (Model 1905) rifle evolved significantly from the Mark I, featuring a beefed-up receiver and primary extraction via a cam track and angled bolt lug. It saw numerous variations (1-star to 5-star), with the 2-star model being a unique, longer-barreled variant possibly intended for commercial use. Approximately 124,000 short-barreled Ross MkII rifles were produced, with some 3-star models sold to the US for WWI training.

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.