SC Robinson Confederate Sharps Carbine

This video provides an expert review of the Colt 1860 Army revolver, highlighting its historical significance as a successful military contract firearm that served Union troops during the Civil War. The review details its open-top design, aesthetic appeal, and compares it to contemporary models like the Remington 1858, emphasizing its unique features and legacy in firearm evolution.

This video segment from "American Rifleman Television" focuses on the Gallager carbine, a lesser-known but historically significant firearm used by Union cavalry during the American Civil War. It details the carbine's design as a .52-caliber single-shot breechloader, its innovative but flawed extraction mechanism, and its evolution with the addition of an extractor and ability to fire metallic cartridges. The video also mentions its use by the French Empire during the Franco-Prussian War, highlighting its intermediate position between muzzleloaders and fully self-contained metallic cartridge arms.

This review details the rare Confederate Columbus Armory Carbine, a single-shot muzzle-loading percussion rifle. It highlights John Gray's manufacturing venture in Columbus, Georgia, and the challenges faced by Confederate ordnance procurement. The carbine features brass furniture and specific markings, including an inspector's stamp, offering insights into Civil War-era firearm production and its limitations.

The 1863 Maynard Carbine, a second-generation breech-loader, offered significant advantages over muzzle-loading rifles during the Civil War. Its robust .50 caliber brass cartridges were reloadable in the field, and its breech-loading mechanism provided a superior gas seal compared to contemporaries like the Sharps. The fixed barrel design contributed to its notable accuracy, making it a favored weapon for sharpshooters.

This review of the 1853 Enfield Rifle Musket, a .58 caliber percussion long arm, highlights its critical role in the American Civil War. The video details its English origin, typical markings like 'Tower' and '25 25', and historical context comparing it to the Springfield. Demonstrations cover loading procedures with black powder and Minie balls, shooting characteristics including its tendency to print high, and historical procurement by Confederate agents.

This review details the Kerr revolver, an English-made firearm significant to Confederate arms procurement during the US Civil War. Approximately 9,000 Kerr revolvers, primarily in .44 caliber, were supplied by the London Armoury Company. The design by James Kerr is noted for its reliability, durability, and unique features like rear cylinder removal and fouling protection.

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.