Wait, Go Back! The SMLE MkIII* Wartime Simplification

This video provides an expert review of the Stevens Model 520-30 shotgun, detailing its controversial history, including its role in WWI trench warfare and the international ban attempt during the Hague Convention. The speaker, demonstrating high authority, analyzes its technical design, slam-fire capability, and effectiveness in close-quarters combat, contrasting it with other historical firearms.

The Beretta M1918 is a rare Italian semiautomatic carbine from WWI, often mistaken for a submachine gun. It evolved from the Villar Perosa, utilizing a 'parts bin' approach with Carcano and Vetterli components for economical production. This open-bolt, delayed blowback carbine features a unique top-mounted 25-round magazine and offset sights, chambered in 9mm Glisenti loaded to 9mm Parabellum specs.

The Marlin Model 1917 is a licensed copy of the Colt Model 1895/1914, itself an evolution of the original Colt 'Potato Digger'. It features a unique gas-operated system using a swinging lever mechanism, distinct from typical gas pistons. This lever, when activated by gas tapped from the barrel, cycles the action, earning the 'Potato Digger' nickname due to its violent movement potentially digging into the ground.

The MP-18,I is recognized as the first submachine gun to see combat, developed by Germany in late 1915 for trench clearing. It features a simple open-bolt, blowback-operated mechanism with full-auto fire only, lacking a disconnector. The design includes a Trommel magazine with a sleeve to prevent over-insertion, and early models bear distinct markings like 'M.P. 18,I.' and the year of manufacture.

The SMLE Mk III, adopted in 1907, was the iconic British rifle of WWI, featuring a fixed charger bridge for improved reliability and strengthened rear sights with precise adjustments. Early Mk IIIs were calibrated for Mark VI ammunition, later updated for the faster Mark VII 'HV' rounds by modifying the rear sight. The Pattern 1907 bayonet, a longer design inspired by the Japanese Type 30, was adopted concurrently to compensate for the rifle's shorter length.

This review details the rare Latvian CLLE carbine, a unique variant of the Lee-Enfield. Originally full-length rifles, these were modified and supplied to Latvia, featuring a 21-inch barrel and specific handguard. Many examples bear Finnish Tikkakoski replacement barrels and British 'sold out of service' marks, highlighting their post-WWI service and eventual use by partisans.

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.