ZB47: A Truly Weird Czech SMG

The CBJ-MS is a modernized Swedish submachine gun designed by Bertil Johansson, aiming for rugged durability over polymer PDW fragility. It features a unique muzzle sleeve for bipods, a forward grip with magazine storage, and a progressive trigger. The design draws inspiration from the Swedish K for reliability and utilizes a telescoping bolt similar to the Uzi, allowing for a compact receiver made from stamped stainless steel.

This review of the Madsen Model 1945 submachine gun, presented by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons from the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, highlights its unique design and historical context. The firearm is noted for its quality construction, pistol-like reciprocating slide, and use of Suomi magazines. Despite its advanced features for the time, its complexity and cost led to commercial failure, making it an extremely rare collector's item.

The Schmeisser MP41 is a unique hybrid submachine gun, merging the MP40's upper receiver with the MP28's lower receiver and wooden stock. Unlike the full-auto-only MP40, the MP41 features a semi-automatic capability due to a specific disconnector track on its bolt. This design allows for more controlled fire, differentiating it from its predecessors.

Gearhead Guns is producing a Type 100 Nambu PCC recreation, with the first batch shipping around March. It's available in 9mm Parabellum with 9-inch or 16-inch barrel configurations for SBR compliance. Customization options include various metal and wood finishes, with optional bayonet lugs.

Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons provides an expert look at the Hungarian K1 'Kucher' light submachine gun. Developed by József Kucher, it was adopted in 1951 and chambered in 7.62x25mm Tokarev. The K1 features a simple blowback, open-bolt action, an under-folding stock, and an integrated muzzle brake. McCollum demonstrates its field stripping, highlighting its basic internal mechanics and comparing it to other contemporary designs.

This review of the Hungarian K1 Kucher light submachine gun highlights its economical and efficient, albeit aesthetically challenging, design. The firearm utilizes a simple blowback, open bolt action and features a PPSh-style safety mechanism with a distinct semi-auto selector. Notably, its magazine shares similarities with the PPS-43 Sudayev but has unique catch designs, and the ejector is integrated into the sheet metal magazine well.

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.