Firearms secret projects

[T. A. Gardner]

After WW2, plenty of .303 Enfields were "sporterized" with ornate stocks to make them into gentlemens' hunting rifles.

I actually own one of those.

 

[ArtosStark]

I actually own one of those.

My dad has three in various states that he tells me I get when he can’t shoot anymore.

 

[Christopher Wang]

This postcard of German motorcycle troops depicts a drawing of an MG08/18 with an MG34 style barrel shroud and muzzle brake:

Unlike the water-cooled MG08/15, the air-cooled MG08/18 was not used by the German military during the Weimar era. It is claimed that the MG08/18 barrel jacket served as the basis for the MG34 barrel shroud (McCollum, 2023).

Is there any evidence of the MG08/18 being updated between the First and Second World Wars? For example, has there been any attempts to fit an MG13 or MG34 bipod under the MG08/18's muzzle?

 

[Ravinoff]

This postcard of German motorcycle troops depicts a drawing of an MG08/18 with an MG34 style barrel shroud and muzzle brake:

Unlike the water-cooled MG08/15, the air-cooled MG08/18 was not used by the German military during the Weimar era. It is claimed that the MG08/18 barrel jacket served as the basis for the MG34 barrel shroud (McCollum, 2023).

Is there any evidence of the MG08/18 being updated between the First and Second World Wars? For example, has there been any attempts to fit an MG13 or MG34 bipod under the MG08/18's muzzle?

I think that might just be a poorly-drawn MG13, they apparently did have a rear bipod mount.

 

[Christopher Wang]

Kalashnikov has released a video which finally reveals how its RPL-20 belt-fed LMG is reloaded:

 

[cluttonfred]

That's wild, but it didn't meet one of the important parts of the Light Rifle requirement: weight.

I don't quite understand why you'd say that. The original Garand design with the top-mounted magazine was slightly lighter and definitely simpler than the Winchester design actually adopted as the M1 Carbine.

Light Rifle carbine designed by John Garand

This prototype carbine was designed by John Garand and entered into the Light Rifle trial by Springfield Armory.

www.forgottenweapons.com

 

[Scott Kenny]

I don't quite understand why you'd say that. The original Garand design with the top-mounted magazine was slightly lighter and definitely simpler than the Winchester design actually adopted as the M1 Carbine.

Light Rifle carbine designed by John Garand

This prototype carbine was designed by John Garand and entered into the Light Rifle trial by Springfield Armory.

www.forgottenweapons.com

Then I misunderstood. I read it as an M1 Garand but with a detachable box magazine, which means a good 9.5lbs of weight. Not a Light Rifle design at 5.5lbs.

 

[cluttonfred]

Then I misunderstood. I read it as an M1 Garand but with a detachable box magazine, which means a good 9.5lbs of weight. Not a Light Rifle design at 5.5lbs.

No, it was a .30 carbine light rifle (a PDW before that term existed) designed by John C. Garand of Springfield Armory, the same man who designed the .30-06 M1 rifle that we know by his name.