Duration: 08:42
Dealing in firearms internationally is a trade scrutinized pretty closely by governments, and its practitioners can often end up acting as agents for government priorities, and also victims of said priorities changing. Val Forgett of Navy Arms grew up with his father doing exactly this sort of thing. Today we have some interesting anecdotes about guns going into Cuba and Lebanon, among others...
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Duration: 50:21
I had a chance to spend some time on the USS New Jersey, today docked in Camden NJ as a public museum ship. Today we are looking at the main armament of the ship, the absolutely massive Mk7 16-inch guns. These are the largest guns ever used by the United States Navy, and they are really very complex systems requiring dozens of men each to operate. We are going to start at the very bottom of the ship and explore how the guns are loaded, aimed, and fired, going all the way up to the spotting Director 15 stories high on the very top of the vessel.
Many thanks to the awesome staff of the New Jersey for their hospitality and to World of Warships for making the visit possible! Check out their YouTube channel for excellent coverage of all sorts of cool details of the ship:
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Duration: 08:54
Of the five companies that made 1911 pistols during World War Two, Union Switch & Signal was the last to be awarded a contract and the smallest mass production producer. A subsidiary of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company, US&S produced a variety of ordnance material during the war (and during World War One as well). They received a contract for 200,000 M1911A1 pistols on May 5, 1942, which was subsequently reduced to 30,000 in March 1943 and then upped to 55,000 in June 1943. Those 55,000 pistols were delivered between January and October 1943 and had an excellent reputation for quality.
Union Switch & Signal actually only produced eleven parts for the 1911 plus frames, with the balance of the components subcontracted (mostly to Yawman Metal Products of Rochester NY). Their serial number block was 1041405 - 1096404.
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Duration: 29:21
Since I continue to get a lot of questions about reproductions, I figured I'd devote today's video to looking at different elements that go into producing a reproduction firearms. Why some work out and some don't.
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Duration: 19:13
The AS (Special Assault rifle) Val was one of two dedicated silenced rifles developed in Russia in the 1980s. The Val was intended for assault use with full auto firing, while the VSS (Special Sniper Rifle) Vintorez used the same action and suppressor, but had a thumbhole stock and was intended as a specialized sniper's rifle. Both were chambered for the 9x39mm round, which came out at subsonic velocities to ensure very quiet operation. Both designs also included a selector switch.
The example I am looking at today is a military-issued AS Val of the original early pattern.. The modernized version of the rifle replaced the smooth top cover and AK-style receiver side rail with a picatinny railed top cover, as well as revising the handguard design.
Internally, the VSS and AS are very different from the Kalashnikov design. They use a linear hammer much like a vz58, and a six-lug rotating bolt. The gas system is a long-stroke piston, and the barrel has four rows of ports just a few inches in front of the chamber. The suppressor consists of an initial expansion chamber filled by the barrel ports and then a series of five very simple baffles.
Doctrinally, these rifles were intended to replace the use of suppressors and subsonic 7.62x39mm on standard AKM rifles, although only for special operations sort of troops (not standard Army recon). While very quiet and effective, they are liable to overheat quickly under sustained fire, and were not deemed appropriate for uses where they might be drawn into a conventional infantry battle. Instead, they went to groups like special police and intervention teams who were basically intended to deploy, shoot a couple bad guys in a blockaded building, and then return to base. By today, they have been generally replaced by newer designs, but like so much else, they have both appeared in the fighting in Ukraine.
Many thanks to the IRCGN (Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale) for allowing me access to film this very rare rifle for you!
PBS-1 AK Silencer: https://www.floatplane.com/post/AE912eHJQj
Civilian semiauto VSS-M Vintorez: https://www.floatplane.com/post/YU7Sd57tcp
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Duration: 08:43
The current Russian service pistol is the PYa, or MP-443 "Grach", and it is (or was) made for civilian sales as the Baikal MP-446C "Viking". The gun was adopted by the Russian Federation to replace the PM Makarov in 2003, although it took many years to actually get into production and widespread issue.
Mechanically, this is a pretty basic and unexciting pistol - although military pistols really should not be exciting pieces. A standard service sidearm really just needs to function reliably, and the PYa design appears to do that just fine. In military service it's chambered for a high-pressure 7N21 9x19mm cartridge, while the civilian version here has a lighter barrel and slide and it only rated for standard 9x19 Parabellum.
Many thanks to the Royal Armouries for allowing me to film and disassemble this pistol for you! The NFC collection there - perhaps the best military small arms collection in Western Europe - is available by appointment to researchers:
https://royalarmouries.org/research/national-firearms-centre/
You can browse the various Armouries collections online here:
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Duration: 34:29
I had a chance to spend some time on the USS New Jersey, today docked in Camden NJ as a public museum ship. Today we are going to go through all of the weapons systems on the New Jersey, starting from the humble .50-caliber M2 machine guns and going up to the massive 16" Mk7 guns in the three-gun turrets. The New Jersey was refitted several times, adding and removing different weapon systems for deployments from World War Two to Desert Storm, so not all of these guns were in place simultaneously - but they are all part of the story of the ship.
Many thanks to the awesome staff of the New Jersey for their hospitality and to World of Warships for making the visit possible!
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Duration: 07:19
The MAT 54 SB is a variation of the MAT 49/54, which was in turn the police model of the French MAT 49 submachine gun. Chambered for 9x19mm Parabellum, it uses MAT 49 magazines and most MAT-49 parts. However, the trigger mechanism has been changed to be semiautomatic only, and a fixed wooden stock fitted along with the standard short barrel. Only a very small number of these were made, probably less than 100. They were used by civilian companies like banks and cash transit companies that needed armed guards.
Many thanks to the French National Forensic Police Department for allowing me access to film this prototype example for you!
MAT 49/54 Police SMG:
Gevarm D4 SMG:
Duration: 09:25
Join me and Dirty Dozen Expeditions for a week of diving in Truk Lagoon in December 2027:
I am very excited to announce a trip to Truk Lagoon in December 2027 for a week of diving on the best collection of World War Two wrecks anywhere in the world. I have treated up with Dirty Dozen Expeditions to make this happen, and we are going to have an amazing time. The wrecks in Truk include both military and merchant ships as well as aircraft, and we will also have an option add-on day exploring the ruins on one of the islands used for the Japanese naval base.
The dives are suitable for all levels of diving experience, with the minimum requirement being Advanced Open Water and Nitrox certifications. Technical and rebreather divers are welcome, and our liveaboard (the MV Odyssey) is fully equipped to support tech divers. There are only 13 open spaces, and the price is significantly discounted until October 1, so head over and sign up to join me for a once-in-a-lifetime trip!
Livestream Q&A with Aron Arngrimsson (our expedition leader) will be 9am AZ / 12 noon Eastern / 1600 GMT on July 7!
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Duration: 17:34
Developed in the late 1980s by machinist Robert Pauza, the P50 is a .50 BMG semiauto rifle that was introduced in 1990. It uses a short-stroke gas piston and tilting bolt closely copied (and scaled up) from the SVT-40 Tokarev. It has a single-stack, 5-round magazine, and a clever retained-but-freefloated bipod design.
The rifle was featured in the film Robocop 2, but this failed to give it the commercial success that I'm sure Pauza hoped for. Production numbers are unclear, but definitely less than 100 and probably less than 50. It went through three separate iterations, first made by Pauza Specialties in Baytown TX. It then moved to Freshour Manufacturing in Texas City TX, and lastly returned in the mid 20-teens through MG Arms of Spring TX. It is unclear if the second and third iterations actually involved any production beyond a few prototypes.
Thanks to Brandon Herrera for giving me access to this example to film for you! If you want to see some really good footage of it shooting, check out his video here:
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Duration: 11:17
The Model 52 is a purpose-built target pistol that Smith & Wesson built on the Model 39 frame. It is chambered for a very specific flush-loaded 148gr .38 Special wadcutter loading, to be used in bullseye pistol competition. It was first introduced in 1961 as a double action pistol, and replaced by the single-action-only Model 52-1 in 1963. It remained in production until 1993, with a few internal improvements in 1970 making it the 52-2. Ultimately, the production tooling wore to the point of needing major refurbishment which wasn't worth the cost. The style of 3-gun bullseye pistol competition that the Model 52 was designed for was no longer popular, and so S&W chose to drop the gun form production.
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Duration: 19:22
The DeLisle Commando Carbine is one of the coolest special operation weapons of the Second World War - an SMLE rebuilt in .45ACP with a ginormous suppressor. It fed form slightly modified 1911 magazines, and thanks to .45ACP being subsonic in its normal loading, it is incredibly quiet. Because the gun is relatively easy to make (being based on a readily available receiver), one-off and limited-run reproductions have been around for a while, but always hard to find.
US Armament has begun making a serial-production new DeLisle, and they send me one on loan to film. It is very, VERY quiet, and runs more smoothly and reliably than I expected, as the originals have a reputation for being finicky. The reproduction elements are quite good, although not quite perfect in the details (like the muzzle assembly, sights, and handguard). However, I believe the price is quite high for the product.
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Duration: 10:37
Today we are back with Val Forgett and another story about the history of Navy Arms. When his father was making reproduction sidelock percussion guns, he wanted to prove that they were still viable hunting arms. So he took a pair of .58 caliber rifles (one single and one side-by-side) to Africa for a series of safaris to hunt the "Big 5". And, having loaded the guns to the same muzzle energy as a .416 Rigby, he did just that.
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Duration: 13:57
The FN MAG is one of those guns that is so durable and well designed that it continues to be one of the best options in its field despite being nearly 70 years old. To meet the demand for mounting larger and heavier optics, particularly night-time clip on sorts, FN developed a long rail kit. This sounds like a pretty straight-forward thing, but adding lots of extra optics to the top cover has a number of second-order issues. To solve them all, the kit includes a strengthened hinge mechanism, overtravel stop, articulated barrel handle, and adjustable-length buttstock. The stock by itself is called the FN MAG Tactical, with the rest of the kit coming as a package. It is able to mount to any existing MAG, including all models of US M240 and British L7/GPMG.
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Duration: 08:59
The Aimpoint CS is an optic designed specifically for the Swedish Home Guard, which wanted a red dot that was extremely durable and also capable of being left on for 10 years on a single battery. This was a very challenging requirement, and Aimpoint considered two paths to meet it. One was a pulsed LED to reduce actual "on" time of the dot, but this did not prove successful. The other was a traditional red dot, with improved design and power circuitry to allow an extended battery life. The new system was integrated into Aimpoint's other optics (including the US M68CCO contract).
Along with the improved electronics, the CS used a large (approximately AA size) 3.7V battery hard-wired into the case. Per Swedish request, the battery was not user serviceable, and the optics are returned to Aimpoint for battery replacement every 10 years (they are on their third such cycle now). It also includes a set of hard rubber backup sights on top and a small length of picatinny rail that was never really used (it was intended for accessories like laser modules).
The Aimpoint CS was developed in 2001, adopted in 2002, and deliveries of about 60,000 total began in 2003. It was used on Home Guard AK4 rifles, and also on AK5s. They were not sold on the commercial market, and are very scarce in the US.
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Duration: 13:04
Isotta Fraschini was an Italian firm in Cavaria best known for making luxury automobiles before World War Two. It entered the arms industry during the war. It made mostly heavy weapons like aircraft cannons, and not small arms, but the chief designer Albertini began working on a submachine gun in 1943. It eventually went into production in late 1944 and early 1945, but only in very small numbers - estimates are 250-500 guns total. These included two distinct models; one using MP40 magazines (as seen here) and one using Beretta 38 magazines.
The most distinctive and interesting element of the Albertini design is the extremely simple construction. It is not just a stamped sheet metal gun, but rather one that can be built almost entirely with a press break and basic punch instead of requiring stamping dies. The parts are riveted together instead of welded, further reducing already-simple production methods.
Thanks to Beretta for giving me access to this example from there reference museum to show to film for you!
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Duration: 21:48
During World War One France used the Lewis gun as a flexible aircraft armament, and it was replaced by the Darne in 1922. This was an adoption of convenience, and by 1926 the Chatellerault Arsenal was working on adapting the new Mel 1924 light machine gun for aircraft use. Initial efforts were directed at a wing-mounted model with a high rate of fire and a large (300 rounds) drum magazine. This led in turn to a "turret" model for use in manned flexible mounts.
This gun was designated the Mle 1934 T, and used in several different mounts. Today we are looking at one in the Type 29 mount. It is a sheet metal carriage to enclose the gun, providing a spring counterbalance system for easy maneuvering of the gun and a mount for an early collimator sight.
Video on how collimating sight work:
https://www.floatplane.com/post/xsnaLO29W6
Darne Model 1926 aircraft MG:
https://www.floatplane.com/post/WUDtCCnfdq
Many thanks to the French National Forensic Police Department for allowing me access to film this very cool rig for you!
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Duration: 18:52
Grayman and Company double breasted convertible jacket for rifle plates:
Use code FORGOTTENWEAPONS for 10% off.
Lynx Brutality is one of the premiere two-gun physical shooting matches in the world, held annually in Slovenia by Polenar Tactical. This year I chose to run the match in a Grayman and Company suit made specifically to conceal rifle plates - and to fit properly without the plates as well, for a universal practicality. However, "Armored" division requires a number of other elements of infantry-type kit that I did not carry, so I was in Open division instead. I used a Laugo Remus pistol and a Troy CAR-15 (specifically, GAU-5/A/A) carbine as my pistol and rifle.
Unfortunately, something happened to my rifle zero during the second stage - I will figure out exactly what happened once the rifle gets back to me in a few weeks. Anyway, one perseveres, and I had a really good time regardless. One of the best things about matches like Lynx and Finnish Brutality is the camaraderie; we shoot these events to challenge ourselves against the course and not to beat our fellow competitors, and the atmosphere is fantastically congenial.
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Duration: 22:35
Grayman and Company double breasted convertible jacket for rifle plates:
Use code FORGOTTENWEAPONS for 10% off.
Lynx Brutality is one of the premiere two-gun physical shooting matches in the world, held annually in Slovenia by Polenar Tactical. This year I chose to run the match in a Grayman and Company suit made specifically to conceal rifle plates - and to fit properly without the plates as well, for a universal practicality. However, "Armored" division requires a number of other elements of infantry-type kit that I did not carry, so I was in Open division instead. I used a Laugo Remus pistol and a Troy CAR-15 (specifically, GAU-5/A/A) carbine as my pistol and rifle.
Unfortunately, something happened to my rifle zero during the second stage - I will figure out exactly what happened once the rifle gets back to me in a few weeks. Anyway, one perseveres, and I had a really good time regardless. One of the best things about matches like Lynx and Finnish Brutality is the camaraderie; we shoot these events to challenge ourselves against the course and not to beat our fellow competitors, and the atmosphere is fantastically congenial.
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Duration: 03:53
Full ARKA video with discussion and disassembly:
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