Light MGs
USMC Johnson LMG at the Range
The Johnson LMG was adopted by the US Marine Corps for specialist units like Paramarines and Raiders, and saw use in some of the fiercest island campaign of the Pacific (in addition to use in […]
Machine Guns
Accessories
Forgotten Web Gear: Johnson LMG Magazine Backpack
While the Johnson LMG was issued in limited quantities throughout World War Two, notably to Marine Raiders, Paramarines, and the 1st Special Service Force, the US never issued web gear made for its uniquely-sized magazines. […]
Submachine Guns
Late-Production Degtyarev PPD 34/38 at the Range
A crash program to produce the PPD 34/38 after the initial battles of the Winter War, even as the improved PPD 40 was being rapidly developed. These are very rare gun today, and we have […]
Submachine Guns
The Soviet Union Adopts an SMG: Degtyarev’s PPD-34/38
The Soviet Union adopted its first submachine gun in 1935 after trials of some 14 different design in 1932/33. The winner of the trials was Vasily Degtyarev, once of the Soviet Union’s most prolific firearms […]
Light MGs
Colt Model 621: An Attempt at an AR-Style Export SAW
During the 1970s and 1980s, Colt wanted to sell not just standard M16 rifle and CAR-15 carbines to foreign military customers, but also wanted to supply support weapons. They put together the Model 621, aka […]
Prototype
MAC Model 1947 Prototype SMGs
Today’s video – and many others – have been made possible in part by my friend Shéhérazade (Shazzi) Samimi-Hoflack. She is a real estate agent in Paris who specializes in working with English-speakers, and she […]
Prototype
The CZ-2000 as a 9mm SMG Prototype
There have been several examples of the AK being used as the basis for a pistol-caliber SMG or PDW. The Russians made the Vityaz, the Hungarians made the KGPF-9…and the Czechs actually made a version […]
Aircraft MGs
Lahti’s Last Machine Gun: The L33/39 Antiaircraft Gun
In response to a Finnish military need for a machine gun better than the old Maxim for aerial and anti-aircraft use, Aimo Lahti developed the L33 machine gun from the basis of the Lahti-Saloranta design. […]
Submachine Guns
FNAB 43: From WW2 Italy to Algerian Independence
Designed and manufactured by Fabbrica Nazionale d’Armi di Brescia (National Arms Factory of Brescia) in northern Italy, for use by the RSI and German military forces (as well as some partisan units). They were produced […]
Light MGs
The Czech Unicorn LMG: A Squad Support CZ-2000
The CZ-2000 project in the Czech Republic (derived from the Lada developed in the late years of Czechoslovakia) envisioned a full suite of infantry arms, much like the AK as used by other countries. There […]