Rare Guns you've never heard of

Simple History
22 Feb 202337:11
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script delves into the fascinating world of rare firearms from World War II, showcasing unique and lesser-known weapons that played a significant role in the conflict. It highlights the Type 100, a rare Japanese submachine gun; the U.S.-made UD M42, designed for covert operations; the FG42, a German paratrooper rifle; the French MAS-38, known for its durability; and the British DeLisle carbine, used for silent operations. The script also touches on the Calibri mini pistol, the smallest commercially available semi-automatic pistol, and describes improvised weapons like the Stinger machine gun and the Austrian Hell Regal 1915. Additionally, it covers last-ditch weapons developed by the Axis powers towards the end of the war and the Soviet APS underwater rifle and SPP-1 pistol. The narrative concludes with the Fedorov Avtomat, an early 20th-century automatic rifle that was ahead of its time.

Takeaways
  • 🔫 **Type 100 Submachine Gun**: The rarest Japanese-made submachine gun, developed late and produced in limited quantities with unique features like a bayonet lug and bipod in some versions.
  • 📈 **UD M42 Submachine Gun**: A lesser-known US weapon designed for underground activities in Nazi-occupied Europe, chambered for 9mm Parabellum rounds, and featured a quick reload system.
  • 🚼 **FG42 Paratrooper Rifle**: A German weapon that combined features of an assault rifle and light machine gun, influencing future designs like the American M60 machine gun.
  • ❌ **MAS-38 Submachine Gun**: A French weapon that was ahead of its time but produced too late and in insufficient numbers, known for its durability and lack of unnecessary features.
  • 🔪 **DeLisle Carbine**: A suppressed British carbine used by Commando units and Special Operations Executive, known for its near-silent operation and integrated suppressor.
  • 🕊️ **Caliber Mini Pistol**: The smallest commercially available centerfire semi-automatic pistol, marketed as a lady's self-defense weapon, with limited stopping power.
  • 📉 **Last-Ditch Axis Weapons**: As resources dwindled, the Japanese and German forces developed simplified and crude firearms like the MP3008 and Volkssturmgewehr VG-15.
  • 🔥 **Einstand 46 Flamethrower**: A single-shot, lightweight, portable flamethrower used by the German military towards the end of WWII, known for its simplicity and disposability.
  • 🌊 **APS Underwater Rifle**: Developed by the Soviet Union for use by frogmen, featuring a smooth bore barrel and long, narrow rounds for effective underwater fire.
  • 🔧 **Stinger Machine Gun**: An improvised weapon by US Marines, created by modifying the M2 machine gun for increased portability and rate of fire, used in the Pacific theater.
  • ⏳ **Fedorov Avtomat**: One of the first selective-fire rifles, adopted in 1916 by the Russian Army, and used throughout various conflicts, including being reintroduced during the Winter War.
Q & A
  • What was unique about the Japanese Type 100 submachine gun?

    -The Type 100 was unique as it was the only submachine gun produced by Japan in significant quantity during World War II. Despite being less effective and prone to jamming, it featured odd characteristics like a tangent rear sight, a bayonet lug, and even a bipod in some versions. A variant, the Type 140, was designed for paratroopers with a foldable buttstock, and the Type 144 was a simplified and more reliable model with a higher rate of fire.

  • Why was the U.S.-made UD M42 submachine gun designed?

    -The UD M42 was designed by the High Standard Manufacturing Company for commercial use, but it caught the attention of the United Defense Supply Corporation, which was associated with the U.S. Secret Service. They intended to use the weapon for underground activities overseas, particularly for resistance operations in Nazi-occupied Europe.

  • What was special about the German FG-42 paratrooper rifle?

    -The FG-42 was a groundbreaking design that combined features of an assault rifle and a light machine gun. It was intended for use as an assault rifle and was chambered in the powerful 7.92mm cartridge. The rifle had a slope pistol grip, a large buttstock, and a bipod, making it lighter than the standard Army G41 semi-automatic rifle. Its design influenced future weapons like the American M60 machine gun.

  • Why was the French MAS-38 submachine gun considered rare during World War II?

    -The MAS-38 was considered rare due to its late start in production and the fact that less than 2,000 units were produced by the beginning of the war in 1940. Its production was further limited after the German Army captured the MAS factory, and its use was restricted mainly to France due to its unique chambering.

  • How did the British DeLisle carbine achieve near-silent operation?

    -The DeLisle carbine achieved near-silent operation through its integrated 15-inch long suppressor, which was an invention of its designer, William Godfrey DeLisle. It was a suppressed firearm that produced no muzzle flash and was completely silent at a distance of 50 yards or 46 meters.

  • What was the Calibri mini pistol known for?

    -The Calibri mini pistol was known for being the smallest commercially available centerfire cartridge semi-automatic pistol made in history. It was designed by an Austrian watchmaker and was marketed as a lady's self-defense weapon due to its compact size, which allowed it to fit in a handbag.

  • Why was the German MP3008 submachine gun produced in a limited quantity?

    -The MP3008 was produced in a limited quantity of about 10,000 units due to the waning days of World War II when resources were scarce. It was a simplified version of the British Sten gun, adapted by the Germans for ease of manufacturing and use by auxiliary troops and foreign allies.

  • What was the Volkssturmgewehr (VG-15) designed to accomplish?

    -The Volkssturmgewehr (VG-15), or people's assault rifle, was designed to provide extra firepower to the Volkssturm, a German home guard militia composed of poorly trained and ill-equipped conscripts. It was a last-ditch weapon meant to serve as a stop gap between the Allies and the collapse of the Third Reich.

  • What was the Einstossflasche 46 (one-shot flamethrower) used for?

    -The Einstossflasche 46 was a lightweight, portable, single-shot flamethrower used by the German Army during World War II. It was a simple metal container filled with fuel that, when triggered, would project a single burst of flame for less than a second to an effective range of about 30 yards. It was used as a quick, disposable weapon for front-line soldiers.

  • How did the Japanese Type 99 Arisaka bolt-action rifle evolve by the end of World War II?

    -By the end of World War II, the Japanese Type 99 Arisaka rifle was stripped down to its core components to save on production time and material. The late war version had a stationary rear sight without adjustments, a crude unfinished metal bolt, and omitted unnecessary metal pieces. The wooden components were also simplified, with the handguard covering only half the barrel and the removal of the finger groove under the rear sights.

  • What was the purpose of the National Defense rifle issued to the Japanese Home Guard?

    -The National Defense rifle was issued to members of the Japanese Home Guard as a simplified and crude weapon due to the shortage of more advanced firearms. It was designed to be manufactured quickly and in large numbers by various workshops across the country, with basic designs provided by the government and finished works varying between workshops.

Outlines
00:00
🔫 Top 5 Rare Guns of World War II

This paragraph introduces the topic of rare guns developed during World War II, highlighting the unprecedented production of various weapons and the emergence of iconic infantry weapons. It also mentions lesser-known firearms that were produced in limited quantities, making them rare and less recognized by the general public. The Type 100, a rare Japanese submachine gun, and the U.S.-made UD M42 are detailed, with descriptions of their features, production history, and use in warfare.

05:01
🥇 Groundbreaking and Rare Firearms of WWII

The FG42, a German paratrooper rifle, is discussed as a high-quality weapon with a mix of assault rifle and light machine gun features. Its influence on future weapon designs and its limited production of 7,000 units are noted. The French MAS 38 submachine gun, known for its durability and compact design, had a production of less than 2,000 units due to its late start and complex manufacturing process. The DeLisle carbine, a suppressed British weapon, had a production run of around 130 units and was used by commando units and special operatives.

10:02
🛠️ Last-Ditch Weapons of WWII

The German MP3008 submachine gun, an adaptation of the British Sten gun, was produced in about 10,000 units and used by auxiliary troops and foreign allies. The Volkssturmgewehr, a rushed and impractical German semi-automatic rifle, was created for the home guard. The Einstasflammenwerfer, a single-shot, lightweight flamethrower, was used by German paratroopers and the Volkssturm. The Japanese Arisaka Type 99 and National Defense rifles were simplified versions of their original designs, produced in response to resource scarcity.

15:03
🔫 Unique and Uncommon Firearms

The Calibri mini pistol, designed by an Austrian watchmaker, was the smallest commercially available centerfire semi-automatic pistol with limited accuracy and power. The APS underwater assault rifle and SPP1 underwater pistol were developed for the Soviet Union's frogmen, with the SPP1 being a multi-barreled smooth bore pistol effective underwater. The Stinger, an improvised machine gun by U.S. Marines, was created from the M2 aircraft gun for increased portability and rate of fire. The Hell Regal 1915, an Austro-Hungarian prototype submachine gun, was water-cooled and had a high rate of fire but development ceased after 1915. Lastly, the Fedorov Avtomat, an early 20th-century automatic rifle, was ahead of its time but hindered by historical events.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Submachine Guns
Submachine guns are lightweight, magazine-fed firearms that use a pistol cartridge and are designed for close-quarters combat. In the video, submachine guns like the Type 100 and M42 are discussed as rare weapons from World War II. The Type 100 was the only submachine gun produced in significant quantity by the Japanese, while the M42 was a lesser-known US-made submachine gun used for underground activities.
💡Infantry Weapons
Infantry weapons are the firearms and other combat implements used by soldiers in an army. The video highlights the development and production of various infantry weapons during World War II, such as the MP40, Thompson, and other legendary guns that were produced on a massive scale.
💡Rarity
Rarity refers to the state of being uncommon or unusual. In the context of the video, it describes the scarcity of certain weapons produced during World War II. For example, the FG-42 was produced in a very limited quantity, making it a rare weapon in the German arsenal.
💡Type 100 Submachine Gun
The Type 100 submachine gun was a weapon developed by the Imperial Japanese forces. It was unique for its time and is highlighted in the video for its rarity and odd features, such as a tangent rear sight, bayonet lug, and a bipod in some versions. It was produced in two models, the Type 140 and Type 144, with the latter being a simplified and more reliable version.
💡UD M42
The UD M42 was a submachine gun designed by the High Standard Manufacturing Company for commercial use but was later adapted for potential use by the U.S. Secret Service for underground activities during World War II. The video describes its unique features, such as being chambered for 9mm Parabellum rounds and having a double 25-round box magazine for quick reloads.
💡FG-42
The FG-42, or Fallschirmjäger 42, was a German paratrooper rifle developed during World War II. It was a combination of an assault rifle and a light machine gun, capable of both single-shot and automatic fire. The video mentions its groundbreaking design and its influence on future weapons, despite being produced in a limited quantity of only 7,000 units.
💡MAZ-38
The MAZ-38 was a French submachine gun that was ahead of its time but was produced too late in the war to have a significant impact. It was known for its quality construction and lack of unnecessary features. The video notes that it was used by Italian partisans, including one who allegedly participated in the execution of Benito Mussolini.
💡DeLisle Carbine
The DeLisle Carbine was a suppressed firearm developed by William Godfrey DeLisle during World War II for use by British Commando units. It was known for its near-silent operation, making it ideal for covert operations. The video describes its unique features, including an integrated suppressor and the use of .45 ACP caliber rounds.
💡Caliber Mini Pistol
The Caliber Mini Pistol, also known as the Calibri, was a small semi-automatic pistol designed by Austrian watchmaker Franz von Laub as a lady's self-defense weapon. It was the smallest commercially available centerfire cartridge pistol ever made, with a caliber of 2.7 millimeters. The video notes its limited effectiveness beyond killing rodents and its use as a novelty item.
💡Last-Ditch Weapons
Last-ditch weapons refer to firearms that were hastily designed and produced during the latter stages of World War II when resources were scarce. The video discusses examples like the MP3008 and the Volkssturmgewehr, which were simple and crude but allowed the Axis powers to continue arming their forces under desperate circumstances.
💡APS Underwater Rifle
The APS underwater rifle was a unique firearm developed by the Soviet Union during the 1970s for use by frogmen. It was designed to fire specialized long, needle-like projectiles underwater, with a reduced effective range when used on the surface. The video highlights its role in giving Soviet frogmen the ability to engage enemy forces effectively underwater.
Highlights

World War II saw an unprecedented development and production of weapons, including tanks, artillery, and infantry weapons.

The Type 100 was the rarest Japanese-made submachine gun and the only one produced in significant quantity by Japan.

The Type 100 had unique features like a tangent rear sight, bayonet lug, and a bipod in some versions.

The Type 144, a simplified and more reliable version of the Type 100, had a higher rate of fire at 800 rounds per minute.

The UD M42 was a high-quality, US-made submachine gun designed for underground activities in Nazi-occupied Europe.

The FG-42 was a groundbreaking German design that influenced future weapons like the American M60 machine gun.

The MAS-38 was a French submachine gun that was ahead of its time but produced in limited quantities due to the war.

The DeLisle carbine was a suppressed British weapon used by Commando units and known for its near-silent operation.

The Calibri is the smallest commercially available centerfire cartridge semi-automatic pistol in history.

The MP3008 was a German submachine gun produced during the final years of World War II due to resource scarcity.

The Volkssturmgewehr (VG-15) was a last-ditch weapon created for the German Home Guard during the war's final stages.

The Einstas Flementhefer was a single-shot, disposable flamethrower used by the German military towards the end of World War II.

The Arisaka Type 99 was a Japanese bolt-action rifle that was simplified towards the end of the war due to resource constraints.

The National Defense rifle was a simplified Japanese rifle issued to Home Guard troops in anticipation of an Allied invasion.

The APS underwater assault rifle and SPP-1 underwater pistol were developed for the Soviet Navy's frogmen in the 1970s.

The Stinger was an improvised weapon created by US Marines during World War II for rapid fire support in offensive operations.

The Hell Regal 1915 was an Austro-Hungarian prototype submachine gun that was water-cooled and had a high rate of fire.

The Fedorov Avtomat was an early 20th-century Russian select-fire rifle that was ahead of its time and considered an ancestor of the assault rifle.

Transcripts
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