Stamm-Saurer Model 1907: A New Swiss Straight-Pull Bolt Action Rifle

This YouTube video from C&Rsenal's "Primer" series features Professor Gruffudd delivering a detailed, multimedia lecture on the Swiss Karabiner 31. The content delves into the historical development, functional aspects, and includes live-fire demonstrations of this historic firearm. The description also highlights channels and resources for supplemental reading and ammunition data, suggesting a thorough and educational approach to the subject matter. Support options for the channel are also provided.

This review delves into the Swiss K31, highlighting its historical development as a shorter, more accurate rifle than its predecessors. It clarifies common misconceptions about its design lineage and details significant mechanical upgrades like a shortened bolt and forward-locking lugs. The video demonstrates the unique straight-pull action, detachable magazine, and provides a thorough guide to field stripping and reassembly, concluding with impressive accuracy potential.

The Stamm-Zeller 1902 was an early attempt at a semi-automatic rifle developed by Hans Stamm and Zeller & Cie, converting a straight-pull action to gas operation. Despite high-quality Swiss manufacturing and innovative features like a unique safety/re-cocking lever, it was rejected by military trials. Only a handful of prototypes were produced, making it a rare piece of early semi-automatic firearm development.

The Swiss ZfK-55 sniper rifle, adopted in 1955, was a purpose-built precision rifle based on the K31 action. It features significant mechanical upgrades including a heavy barrel, muzzle brake, semi-pistol grip, and an integrated bipod. A unique 15-degree clockwise rotation of the action allows for stripper clip use with a center-mounted scope, a 3.5x Kern optic being standard. Despite its quality, the rifle's 13.5 lb weight and non-locking bipod present some drawbacks.

The WF-51 was a Swiss intermediate-cartridge rifle developed by Adolf Furrer at Waffenfabrik Bern, inspired by the German FG-42. It featured a unique tipping bolt mechanism and was chambered in 7.5x38mm, with 35 units produced for trials. Although it did not enter service, its development influenced later Swiss firearms before the adoption of the SIG Stgw 57.

This review delves into the rare Swiss Schmidt Rubin M1900 Short Rifle and M1905 Cavalry Carbine. It highlights the evolution of the Schmidt Rubin action, moving locking lugs to the receiver's middle for a shorter, more efficient design. The M1900 was for support troops, while the M1905 lacked a bayonet lug, suited for cavalry.

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.