Slow Motion: Roth Steyr 1907

The Beretta M1918 is a rare Italian semi-automatic carbine from WWI, often mistaken for a submachine gun but firing only in semi-auto. It reuses parts from the 1915 Villar Perosa and operates from an open bolt with a delayed blowback system for safety. Chambered in 9mm Glisenti, it features a unique 25-round magazine and a trigger guard repurposed from a Vetterli rifle.

This video from Legacy Collectibles provides an expert look at the rare French RSC Model 1917 rifle, one of the first WWI battle rifles produced in significant quantities. The presenter, an experienced firearms instructor, details its historical context and production numbers, noting its limited popularity with soldiers due to its weight and maintenance requirements. The shorter Model 1918 variant is also briefly mentioned.

The Steyr M1912/16 Repetierpistole is an extremely rare, full-auto variant of the standard M12 pistol, developed for the Austro-Hungarian military during WWI. It features a 16-round fixed magazine, a high cyclic rate of 1200 RPM, and was designed to be used with a shoulder stock. Production was limited to 200 units, with very few surviving today, making authentic examples highly sought after and fakes common.

This review delves into the Fliegerselbstlader Karabiner 1915 (FSK 1915), a WWI German self-loading carbine designed for aviators. It highlights the rifle's substantial weight (9.6 lbs) and length (47.5 inches), its unique 30-round drum magazine requiring hand-fitting, and a distinctive two-stage progressive trigger. The sights are noted for fast acquisition rather than precision, and recoil is surprisingly mild.

This review delves into the Lewis Machine Gun, a historically significant WWI firearm designed by Isaac Newton Lewis. It highlights the gun's unique features, such as its distinctive pan magazine and innovative 'clock-spring' recoil mechanism, and its surprising presence in modern pop culture. The video also touches on its design origins and variations in caliber, including the featured .30-06 U.S. Navy model.

This video compares the WWI-era Gewehr 98 and the WWII-era Karabiner 98k, both chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser. It demonstrates loading with stripper clips and highlights differences in handling and recoil due to the G98's longer barrel (29.1 inches) versus the K98k's carbine length (23.6 inches). The Mauser bolt-action system is shown to be smooth and reliable on both.

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.