W+F Bern P47 Experimental Gas-Delay Pistol

The Tarn was a 9mm experimental blowback pistol designed by Z. de Lubicz Bakanowski for British WWII trials. Manufactured by Swift Rifle Company, it featured a simple striker-fired action but suffered from poor workmanship, heavy recoil spring, and accuracy issues. Despite its similarities to the FN High Power in concept, its flaws led to its rejection, with only about 10 prototypes ever made.

This review delves into the unique Marius Berger manually-operated pistol from the 1880s. It highlights the innovative 'quintuple action' mechanism where a single trigger pull performs five distinct functions. The video also examines its Henry Rifle-style tube magazine system and distinctive ring trigger.

This review examines the White-Merrill Experimental Model 1911, a unique delayed blowback prototype that was never officially submitted for testing. Unlike the adopted Colt-Browning 1911, this design features a rotary hammer and a novel friction-based locking system. The pistol shares some aesthetic similarities with the earlier 1907 model but differs significantly in its internal mechanics and single-stack magazine configuration.

This video details the rare Knoble .45 ACP pistol, a participant in the 1907 US Army pistol trials. Despite its innovative short recoil toggle lock design, it was disqualified due to crude manufacturing, preventing any firing during trials. The pistol is notably larger than the Colt M1911 and features a difficult-to-load 8-round magazine.

This video delves into the rare Schwarzlose Model 1901, a prototype toggle-delayed blowback pistol. It highlights unique design features like a long striker tail for cocked indication and an unusual mainspring housed in the grip. The review also touches upon its patent history and the limited number of existing examples, contrasting it with Schwarzlose's other firearm designs.

This review details the Bergmann 1920s Experimental Military Trials Pistol, an updated iteration of the 1910 model by the Pieper factory. Key improvements include a 15-round magazine, a reshaped trigger guard, a relocated magazine catch, a wider hammer for easier cocking, and a simplified bolt disassembly system similar to the Mauser C96. Despite these enhancements, the design was largely obsolete by the mid-1920s.

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.