This is really a mystery rifle, or half of a mystery rifle. It is part of the collection at Springfield Armory National Historic Site, but its exact provenance from World War Two is not recorded. It is catalogued as a Knorr Bremse product, which is plausible but there is no specific marking on the rifle to confirm that. Photos have existed online for a while, and it is widely regarded as an FG42 prototype because of its short length and side-mounted 7.92x57mm size magazine. However, Knorr Bremse was not ons of the companies that participated in the FG-42 program. So is it perhaps a late-war concept to replace the FG? Or something else entirely? We just really don’t know, but I thought it was worth filming the gun to show the elements that are not visible in the online photos.
Thanks to the Springfield Armory National Historic Site for giving me access to this truly unique specimen from their reference collection to film for you! Don’t miss the chance to visit the museum there if you have a day free in Springfield, Massachusetts:
https://www.nps.gov/spar/index.htm
I’m guessing that it’s a “tool-room” example, basically a handbuilt prototype intended just to determine of the thing would actually work.
The roller-locking system, if in fact that’s what it is, sounds more like something Mauser or Rheinmetall would come up with, as in the MG 42.
The pattern of the grips suggests more early war than late. As does they’re being made of wood.
I’m thinking this might be an early Mauser prototype around late 1940 to early 1941. One that barely got off the drawing board.
clear ether
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Just imagine digging through the conex out back of the Colt tool room for a weekend and all you could find. Knorr is so much more than quality soups, btw.