Schouboe Model 1916: The Final Attempt

This video explores the Schouboe Prototype .45 Pistols, notably those that competed in the 1907 US Army pistol trials. Designed by Jens Schouboe, also known for the Madsen machine gun, these pistols featured a simple blowback design chambered in .45 caliber. They utilized a unique, lightweight, high-velocity cartridge (63 grains at 1600fps) which led to their rejection by the Army, who favored the .45 ACP cartridge. The video highlights the pistols' remarkably simple disassembly. Two examples are shown: a standard version with metal grips and a fancy gold-inlaid model intended for the President of Uruguay.

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.