S&W 1940 Light Rifles: Receiver Breakage is a Problem

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2018
  • / forgottenweapons
    Cool Forgotten Weapons merch! shop.bbtv.com/collections/forg...
    Designed in 1939 by S&W engineer Edward Pomeroy, the S&W Light Rifle is an extremely well manufactured but rather poorly thought out carbine. It is a 9mm Parabellum open-bolt, semiautomatic, blowback carbine feeding from 20-round magazines. It was tested by the US military at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, and rejected for a number of reasons, including not being in the US standard .45 ACP cartridge and not being full automatic. However, the British were in dire need of small arms, and S&W decided to pursue sales to the UK rather than redesign the gun to US taste.
    The UK ordered a large number, but upon putting the first guns through trials found them to be unsatisfactory. The 9x19mm loading used by the British was substantially hotter than what S&W had used in designing the weapon, and receiver endcaps were shearing off in as few as 1000 rounds under British testing. The British cancelled the order, and took delivery of S&W revolvers in lieu of a refund on their (sizable) down payment. At the end of the war, all but 5 of the 1,010 guns delivered were destroyed.
    In 1974, crates of leftover Light Rifles were discovered in the basement of S&W - 137 MkI types and 80 MkII types. These were sold as a batch to Bill Orr of GT Distributors, who then sold them on the commercial market. Orr also petitioned ATF to exempt the guns from NFA short-barreled rifle classification (the guns have 9.75” barrels), and was successful - so these transfer as ordinary rifles despite their short barrels.
    The difference between the MkI and MkII is the safety and the firing pin. The MkI has a lever safety which locks the bolt in the rearward position, and a floating firing pin with a lever actuator like a Beretta M38. The MkII has a rotary sleeve safety which locks the bolt either forward or rearward (a better system), and a fixed firing pin milled into the bolt face. Note that contrary to most literature, the MkII receiver was not strengthened to alleviate the durability problems found by British testing.
    If you enjoy Forgotten Weapons, check out its sister channel, InRangeTV! / inrangetvshow

ความคิดเห็น • 1.1K

  • @timtheskeptic1147
    @timtheskeptic1147 2 ปีที่แล้ว +335

    "And they go out to 400... yards?"
    Feet, yards, meters, whatever, S&W probably didn't know either.

    • @TheDiameter
      @TheDiameter ปีที่แล้ว +35

      They knew it shot farther than 400 inches or centimeters, so any standard measurement that exceeded 400 of those was a success.

    • @joshuahadams
      @joshuahadams ปีที่แล้ว +20

      400 fathons. They got a bit overconfident in their marksmanship.

  • @pablowentscobar
    @pablowentscobar 2 ปีที่แล้ว +245

    Yeah, I was really confused as to why a 9mm carbine would come with a .50 bmg box mag.

  • @MiamiMarkYT
    @MiamiMarkYT 3 ปีที่แล้ว +397

    I love how they made a Mk 2 and didn’t address any of the big problems that potential sellers have

    • @histhoryk2648
      @histhoryk2648 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      Sequels in a nutshell

    • @ukaszwalczak1154
      @ukaszwalczak1154 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      S&W everyone.

    • @AdamantLightLP
      @AdamantLightLP 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I mean, the mark 2 was made before they found out there was an issue with British ammo compatibility.

  • @kimrice394
    @kimrice394 4 ปีที่แล้ว +578

    When your machinists are 100x better than your engineers... you work at S&W.

    • @Patrick-857
      @Patrick-857 2 ปีที่แล้ว +48

      Exactly my own thoughts. The workmanship is top notch, but the design is completely nuts.

    • @borjesvensson8661
      @borjesvensson8661 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@0neDoomedSpaceMarine and that is a "bad" copy of the swedish submachinegun

    • @tbonepumper5623
      @tbonepumper5623 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@0neDoomedSpaceMarine until you get some brass stuck and have to take the whole piece of shit apart

    • @borjesvensson8661
      @borjesvensson8661 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@0neDoomedSpaceMarine. Not bad as in badly working but seemed to cheap out on the stock and sights at least compared to the original. Cheap would perhaps been a better wording than "bad" (i meant "bad" copy as in not a perfect copy and not a badly functioning piece of equipment)
      In any case it is not a s&w original design but a copy of the kpist m45 witch in its case is very much a simplified suomi smg mixed with a sten gun. Sights, Barrel, Replaceable barrel jacket (simplified) , magazines and trigger group (minus selector) from the Suomi. Bolt and metal tubing reciever, saftey (via the bergman smg) and the no frills attitude (no need for a wooden stock and the pistolgrip on the m 45 is one step above a metal wedge) from the sten gun. Add to that a simple but apparantly unusually stable folding tube stock and you have basically the kpist m45

    • @williamdiep2415
      @williamdiep2415 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      So eloquently put...

  • @snafuu
    @snafuu 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1369

    The psychology of designing a gun that no one really knows the purpose of is fascinating.

    • @ringowunderlich2241
      @ringowunderlich2241 5 ปีที่แล้ว +37

      Nothing special here. Just some greedy folks trying to prey on fools or desperates.

    • @bilibiliism
      @bilibiliism 5 ปีที่แล้ว +51

      To be fairl pistol calibre carbine was a popular thing, at time around and before world war one.

    • @flipdart
      @flipdart 5 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      the psychology of buying it more so.

    • @markreeter6227
      @markreeter6227 4 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      I expect this was envisioned as a civilian use rifle in case of invasion (Operation Sealion).

    • @paullytle1904
      @paullytle1904 4 ปีที่แล้ว +36

      @@markreeter6227 or a give this to the home guard and take away their number 4s to give to the frontline troops

  • @yuriyromaniw6629
    @yuriyromaniw6629 5 ปีที่แล้ว +160

    That ejection tower is meant to confuse the enemy by making it look like you're firing rifle rounds with no recoil.

  • @RightInfinity
    @RightInfinity 5 ปีที่แล้ว +182

    It's got that 6 year old's "crayon war drawing" aesthetic about it.

  • @electronkaleidoscope5860
    @electronkaleidoscope5860 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2202

    It's goofy, impractical, has pointless crazy expensive features, and failed to pass a basic endurance test with the ammo used by the Nation is was being sold to.
    I love it.

    • @loddude5706
      @loddude5706 5 ปีที่แล้ว +100

      There is something deliciously eccentric about it all, as if an American engineer designed it to captivate his English counterpart by lampooning the laws of miss-placed physics.
      Somehow though, in the depths of wartime Britain, the irony may have been lost. Shame : )

    • @rgmolpus
      @rgmolpus 5 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      This makes the Ross Rifle look safe....

    • @Tridd666
      @Tridd666 5 ปีที่แล้ว +61

      so this is basically an early version of the L85

    • @ThetaReactor
      @ThetaReactor 5 ปีที่แล้ว +59

      Oh, if someone made a modern reproduction I'd snap it up in a second. It's charmingly shit.

    • @allewis4008
      @allewis4008 5 ปีที่แล้ว +44

      It's like S&W were intentionally making shit that wouldn't be as functional as US issue. Kind of like Soviets giving countries crap export versions of their tanks.

  • @Breakfast_and_Bullets
    @Breakfast_and_Bullets 5 ปีที่แล้ว +511

    Words to live by.
    "Because.... the.... you can't.... Eh.... Dudn't work."
    -Ian McCollum, 7:37

    • @ryanford2965
      @ryanford2965 3 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      Came to the comments to post this very thing, leaving with a like on Mr. First's comment instead. As per usual though, this community seems to be of one mind which at least is somewhat interesting

    • @KingdomOfApple
      @KingdomOfApple 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Fucking lol’d.

    • @magnusquercu9905
      @magnusquercu9905 3 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      You know it’s something “special” when it leaves Ian flummoxed.

    • @Breakfast_and_Bullets
      @Breakfast_and_Bullets 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@BlackMasterRoshi Of course.

    • @comanderjimmy4198
      @comanderjimmy4198 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@BlackMasterRoshi man this has to be something spicy that u made us wait this long

  • @Pocahonkers
    @Pocahonkers 5 ปีที่แล้ว +535

    From the side one could be fooled into thinking that this is in .30 Carbine or maybe even something larger...only to be bitterly disappointed to find out that that's just the goofiest, clumsiest magwell/ejection port ever designed.

    • @shawnr771
      @shawnr771 5 ปีที่แล้ว +33

      I was hoping it was in 30.06

    • @Isaac-ho8gh
      @Isaac-ho8gh 5 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      Same.. I thought it was a .30 carbine, I wonder why they designed a magazine that long for the 9mm.

    • @chuckfinley4292
      @chuckfinley4292 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      And of it WERE .30 Carbine or fuck even 9mm with a simple ejection port and mag it would be a super retro PCC that if I were a gun nut back then, I'd totally want

    • @joshcounahan4891
      @joshcounahan4891 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      When I heard "light rifle" and saw that mag well I thought, that is a tiny 30-06. The disappointment when he pulled that 9mm magazine out.

  • @357magdad
    @357magdad 5 ปีที่แล้ว +959

    The fluted barrel was designed as a secure hand grip for when the thing stops working and the soldier is forced to use it as a club!

    • @FakeSchrodingersCat
      @FakeSchrodingersCat 5 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      Oleum Camino They were firing 9mm semi auto they did not need a barrel that would require strengthening or expensive weight reduction techniques. Usually heavy fluted barrels like that is so that you get the benefits of heat distribution when using a fully automatic weapon. It's almost like they originally designed it to be fully auto but perhaps realized their receivers were crap and could not take the strain and just made the minimal change of making it semi only and hoped no one would notice.

    • @scottmcintyre2809
      @scottmcintyre2809 5 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      @@FakeSchrodingersCat That was pretty much my first thought when he showed how the trigger worked. You could convert it into full auto with a pair of pliers by snapping that disconnector finger off the trigger group.
      Seems like it would have been an easy gun to fix, extend teh end cap, maybe give it a pistol grip, snap off the disconnector and convert the tower into just a deflector to keep the brass from hitting you in the fingers and it would have been a decent SMG.

    • @andrewbroeker9819
      @andrewbroeker9819 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Plus it's great for keeping a long, thin-walled barrel from bending from forces other than shooting, such as dropping the gun.

    • @magnusquercu9905
      @magnusquercu9905 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      “When it stops working” you mean when it evolves to it’s 2nd form?

  • @florida5135
    @florida5135 5 ปีที่แล้ว +830

    Between the open bolt, and the fluted barrel, the platform entirely suggests the creator meant it to be a fully-auto firearm. My guess is that they hit some type of reliability snag in the full-auto version, so only marketed it as a semi-auto.

    • @alexanderstrickland9036
      @alexanderstrickland9036 5 ปีที่แล้ว +70

      Florida almost looks like the early ww1 aircraft rifles(and is pretty similar design wise). Maybe that was the intention, albeit 30 years too late

    • @HadToChangeMyName_YoutubeSucks
      @HadToChangeMyName_YoutubeSucks 5 ปีที่แล้ว +84

      Tend to agree. I suspect when the guns kept breaking into two peices after 5 or 6 magazines they decided it should be semi-auto and added that little finger.

    • @davidsachs4883
      @davidsachs4883 5 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      If the endurance test on semi-auto failed, imagine how quickly it would have failed on full auto

    • @florida5135
      @florida5135 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      And you have a point, David, but full auto with the lesser 9mm rounds it was designed for might have made it last ... 1000 rounds or so.

    • @MrAirpumpkin
      @MrAirpumpkin 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Maybe what failed was the magazine capacity? just think they get it all put together and suddenly realize that the 20 round stick isn't going to be enough and there's no way to fit a bigger mag

  • @Chevypotamus
    @Chevypotamus 5 ปีที่แล้ว +987

    I'll never forget the disappointment I felt when you removed the magazine on this in your original video of it.

    • @benbilbrey749
      @benbilbrey749 5 ปีที่แล้ว +174

      Cat I thought it was some kind of weird high capacity magazine, until he took out the *actual* magazine. I was so disappointed .

    • @whyjay9959
      @whyjay9959 5 ปีที่แล้ว +91

      I thought at first that it was in a rifle caliber and was confused by the short barrel; And then that the magazine had its spring behind the bullets for some reason.

    • @dareka9425
      @dareka9425 5 ปีที่แล้ว +64

      My brain was a bit confused by the miss-match of information: I see a big looking magazine but Ian keep saying 9mm. Then, he removed the actual magazine...

    • @elisorrells5314
      @elisorrells5314 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@dareka9425 I thought it was some kind of crazy high capacity magazine

  • @Tobascodagama
    @Tobascodagama 5 ปีที่แล้ว +150

    This is like the opposite of the Grease Gun as far as being a triumph of aesthetics over performance.

  • @DangerSandler
    @DangerSandler 5 ปีที่แล้ว +687

    Looks at the size of that "magazine" and then hears "9mm" 🤔🤔🤔

    • @alvaricoke41
      @alvaricoke41 4 ปีที่แล้ว +42

      @@darthspeaks6451 If you see it from afar it would look like a pipe with a huge box under it

    • @aidanolson142
      @aidanolson142 4 ปีที่แล้ว +116

      When he said "the US wanted it in 45" I figured he meant 45-70 government with a mag that size...

    • @rowdyzack5914
      @rowdyzack5914 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Very disappointing caliber

    • @InvidiousIgnoramus
      @InvidiousIgnoramus 3 ปีที่แล้ว +34

      _9x39 blocks your path_

    • @thomastowler6051
      @thomastowler6051 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      darthspeaks on hell of a battle rifle for ww2

  • @AlaskanQueenInExile
    @AlaskanQueenInExile 5 ปีที่แล้ว +274

    This entire video can just be summarized as "It's goofy."

    • @gastonbell108
      @gastonbell108 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      When the company that designed and built the gun will only sell it as a non-firing historical wallhanger (and is so afraid of it being used they glue a giant red placard to the stock), I'd argue the matter has advanced past goofy into "embarrassing". Lucky for me, having lived through the Clinton administration I know that S&W is incapable of being ashamed of anything it does.

  • @LostShipMate
    @LostShipMate 5 ปีที่แล้ว +155

    "Extremely Hazardous Do Not Load Or Fire"
    Yeah, thats not a bad sign for this gun.

    • @FlashHawk4
      @FlashHawk4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      "Don't even put bullets inside this gun" is a new one for me

  • @nighttrain1236
    @nighttrain1236 5 ปีที่แล้ว +199

    It's like the bastard love child of a Colt-Burgess rifle and an MP-40 with absolutely no upside.

    • @Emmelmpau
      @Emmelmpau 5 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Night Train123 That is...terrifyingly apt, good sir.

    • @roguetorino
      @roguetorino 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      It might make a better club

  • @thegoldencaulk2742
    @thegoldencaulk2742 5 ปีที่แล้ว +734

    This "carbine" is basically S&W writing the book on how NOT to make a submachine gun

    • @fab006
      @fab006 5 ปีที่แล้ว +47

      TheGoldenCaulk Including not making it a, you know, subMACHINE gun.

    • @cracklingvoice
      @cracklingvoice 5 ปีที่แล้ว +72

      They didn't even make a SMG. They made a pistol-caliber carbine. Ran right up to the threshold of making a submachine gun, stopped, and immediately punched themselves in the face.

    • @IceWolfLoki
      @IceWolfLoki 5 ปีที่แล้ว +34

      I'm guess that it was designed as a SMG but they kept breaking (just like the Brits found) so they made it semi-auto to "fix" the problem and it did until the Brits used a slightly more powerful round.

    • @john-paulsilke893
      @john-paulsilke893 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Change the spring and maybe file some weight off the bolt and I may be a fairly decent .380 PCC.

    • @unfortunately_fortunate2000
      @unfortunately_fortunate2000 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      LOL well obviously 'cause like, it isn't a GODDAMN SUBMACHINE GUN in the first place. its a semi automatic carbine. duhh

  • @Pcm979
    @Pcm979 5 ปีที่แล้ว +519

    Would dumping these things in the ocean have counted as upgrading them to Mark 3? It seems to be a notable product improvement.

    • @51WCDodge
      @51WCDodge 5 ปีที่แล้ว +33

      Davey Jones threw them back! Probably dumped in place called Hurd's Deep of the Channel Island of Alderney. That's were most of the nasties ended up following WW2.

    • @michaelrogers1036
      @michaelrogers1036 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Toss them in the channel like they did the savage made sub guns.

    • @xmm-cf5eg
      @xmm-cf5eg 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      give them to Californians

    • @gcart7675
      @gcart7675 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      7.62 x39mm californian Government*

    • @chrissheppard5068
      @chrissheppard5068 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Mark 3 SEAL version.

  • @ZacharySkan
    @ZacharySkan 2 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    *sees what looks like a giant magazine in the gun*
    "oh yes!"
    *ian takes tiny magazine out*
    ":/"

  • @stonehaven
    @stonehaven 5 ปีที่แล้ว +128

    The Pontiac Aztek of firearms.

    • @mazkact
      @mazkact 5 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Walter White does not approve.

    • @tarmaque
      @tarmaque 5 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      My Uncle had an Aztek, and quite aside from its weirdo styling he quite liked it. Unlike this "light rifle" it actually performed the duties to which it was designed adequately.

    • @krpajda
      @krpajda 5 ปีที่แล้ว +35

      Aztek is ugly and practical. This thing is almost pretty but damn useless

    • @philllax1719
      @philllax1719 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Paint it mint green and I'll buy one

    • @cernunnos8917
      @cernunnos8917 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      More like the Ford Pinto

  • @OddballSherman
    @OddballSherman 5 ปีที่แล้ว +275

    It's amazing that a company with so much experience of firearms design should come up with something like this and think, "Oh yeah, the military are definitely going to accept this!"
    Also, easiest full auto conversion ever?

    • @daveidpliskin5026
      @daveidpliskin5026 5 ปีที่แล้ว +43

      honestly after seeing a couple videos on open bolt semi autos i can see why with the rules being what they are the ATF gets a bit antsy about them being sold commercially

    • @Blei1986
      @Blei1986 5 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      mfw i realized (even before ian said it) that the bolt needed more space and a stronger spring to bypass braking :-)
      mfw i instantly realized how to turn it pretty easy into fullauto :-)
      mfw, german noguns forever :-(((((

    • @jackmcgowan5848
      @jackmcgowan5848 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      At that point not much expeirence at all with semi automatic fire arms (let alone rifles) s&w even today is pretty much still known for revolvers but back then that was pretty much it and a semiautomatic rifle is very different from a revolver, for context remington makes an absolute garbage pos handgun but amazing and well built rifles and shotguns. As for full auto really? After this video? It wouldn't make it very long but yes very easy but not really any easier than an AK or something in any case semi-full all you need to do is remove what ever catches the firing mechanism on the way back but doing that you also run the risk in many cases of making the gun so it won't stop until the mag is empty it seems like this would be the case here and probably why instead of doing a full auto conversion and going back the US they just took it to the brits

    • @cognitivedisability9864
      @cognitivedisability9864 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      hey the british used the sten

    • @ArcturusOTE
      @ArcturusOTE 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@cognitivedisability9864 At least it's a decent to average smg, the LR is a pipe bomb

  • @marcusborderlands6177
    @marcusborderlands6177 5 ปีที่แล้ว +181

    It's not catastrophic failure, it's a feature.

    • @rayyanali4471
      @rayyanali4471 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Like they would scatter it all over the battlefield and trick the Germans into using them.

    • @fasuto8656
      @fasuto8656 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @They Live! Again. except it actually doesn't lol

    • @macbethmeyer1592
      @macbethmeyer1592 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Todd..

  • @PrinceSilvermane
    @PrinceSilvermane 5 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    I lost it right near the beginning when I saw the sign that says "Extremely hazardous do not load or fire" and knew this was gonna be a good gun.

  • @whyjay9959
    @whyjay9959 5 ปีที่แล้ว +89

    Funny how a gun with so much steel on it turned out to be too weak.

    • @Dell-ol6hb
      @Dell-ol6hb 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      True literally 10 lbs and the damn thing is still fragile

  • @kevinoverduin3989
    @kevinoverduin3989 5 ปีที่แล้ว +29

    This is the real version of the guns i used to draw as a kid.

  • @invictusprima4437
    @invictusprima4437 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2347

    I guess the British and my sexual preferences have something in common, we’re desperate but not that desperate

    • @BigFrakkinOgre
      @BigFrakkinOgre 5 ปีที่แล้ว +62

      Invictus Prima Underrated comment

    • @calanon534
      @calanon534 5 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      +500

    • @CFABN267
      @CFABN267 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Omg lmao 😆😆😆

    • @gunner678
      @gunner678 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Lol! Good one!

    • @Procket12
      @Procket12 5 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      Try the Russians, they're ALWAYS that desperate.

  • @baneofbanes
    @baneofbanes 5 ปีที่แล้ว +80

    Removing that magazine hurt me.

  • @marsproductions1
    @marsproductions1 5 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Here we see how far Ian has grown. Before he used to only be able to look at guns with a camcorder and give a brief overview. But now he has his own table, camera mount, microphone system, and high quality production.

  • @GR46404
    @GR46404 5 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    The Bergmann MP 18 had been around since 1918. The Bergman MP 28 had been around since 1928. Why on earth did S&W bother with this turkey? Those guns were easier to make (ESTONIA made an MP 18 copy) and actually worked. S&W was re-inventing the wheel, and turning it into a triangle in the process. Thanks for this excellent video which shows how hard good design is.

    • @mattwalters6834
      @mattwalters6834 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      “Triangle in the process” 😂

  • @philips.5563
    @philips.5563 5 ปีที่แล้ว +40

    I would love to see those warning labels as sticker merch.

  • @RyTrapp0
    @RyTrapp0 5 ปีที่แล้ว +77

    From the "first time seeing it, no idea about the functionality at all" perspective, I really REALLY want this. It's so uniquely thin, slender, dare I say petite even, and, that barrel!
    But I'll be damned if there isn't one decision on this firearm that makes a bit of sense. This isn't even hyperbole, LITERALLY the various design choices just don't make any sense at all.
    This *HAD* to be a lightweight SMG/auto-carbine design that just failed to come to fruition as intended in reality, insurmountable barriers that prevented this from being a real functional automatic carbine, then, say, they have too much invested in this design and want to try to get some kind of return on R&D, so they offer it as some goofy ass open bolt semi-auto carbine.

  • @hekkenschutz
    @hekkenschutz 5 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    Smith and Wesson couldn't design a strong 9mm open bolt carbine?
    That's just sad...

  • @alexanderstrickland9036
    @alexanderstrickland9036 5 ปีที่แล้ว +390

    Is it just me or does this look very Italian?

    • @alexanderstrickland9036
      @alexanderstrickland9036 5 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Ed Nash looks to me like they were patent dodging. I have no idea what patents a detachable mag that is 'lugged' onto the receiver would infringe on
      Or maybe they based it off of some ww1 pilot rifle they used at the start of the war to shoot at eachother in scout planes.
      The magwell is the strangest thing about this to me. Other than that it's just a sub par open bolt pipegun

    • @Status1985Quo
      @Status1985Quo 5 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      It looks like the guns I used to draw when I was 5 years old.

    • @alexanderstrickland9036
      @alexanderstrickland9036 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Judson Joist girls built like a Breda lmg. Mmmm mmmm

    • @BirdRaiserE
      @BirdRaiserE 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Looks more like Astra tried to make a rifle version of their 400

    • @gunner678
      @gunner678 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yes, good point...like an early SMG also oddly enough, when ian stripped it, with that fluted barrel and the damn tower on the side, it sort of looks like the Roman 'fascisti' republic reed bundle and axe head...italian indeed, to the very core!

  • @nicolatesla9429
    @nicolatesla9429 5 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    7:37 "Because, it...you can't..y- dunnt work"
    Great technical terminology Ian! Reminds me of "Rifle no worky" with the Remington EtronX video from a while back! xD

  • @robashton8606
    @robashton8606 5 ปีที่แล้ว +51

    The Mk1 Sten never looked so good as it does when considering the prospect of being sent into combat with one of these abortions.

    • @EchoLeague2
      @EchoLeague2 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Fr imagine laying there hidden with this rifle as your only protection as you watch your comrades be finished off by German shocktroopers armed with stg44s and MG42s

  • @joshuaradick5679
    @joshuaradick5679 5 ปีที่แล้ว +162

    I guess that the term “light rifle” was a bit of a misnomer.

    • @felixh2786
      @felixh2786 5 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Heavy PCC would have been more apt.

    • @MrDmitriRavenoff
      @MrDmitriRavenoff 5 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      Light bullet. Heavy rifle.

    • @ace5566
      @ace5566 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Mr. Dmitri Ravenoff What is worse is that the "light" bullet has much less range and penetration compared to lighter rifle bullets (a 5.56 x 45 mm NATO rifle bullet has a typical weight of 62 grains but a 9 x 19 mm Parabellum pistol bullet has a typical weight of 115 grains).

    • @bongobrandy6297
      @bongobrandy6297 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It may be a reference to the 9mm pistol cartridge used in a rifle. Or, SW had an excellent marketinng department.

    • @tomwebb3081
      @tomwebb3081 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      I dunno, it seemed happy to shed its own mass so maybe it's true..?

  • @twirlipofthemists3201
    @twirlipofthemists3201 5 ปีที่แล้ว +132

    Looks like a .30-06 SMG.

    • @mikemarion19
      @mikemarion19 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Twirlip Of The Mists unfortunately it’s a 9mm 😂

    • @shanesizemore3654
      @shanesizemore3654 5 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      That's what I thought it was when I clicked on the video

    • @mikemarion19
      @mikemarion19 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Shane Sizemore same

    • @51WCDodge
      @51WCDodge 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Goes to show, size isn't everything.

    • @Isaac-ho8gh
      @Isaac-ho8gh 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I thought it was a .30 carbine rifle lol and submachine guns fire pistol cartridges haha

  • @Fredo63200
    @Fredo63200 5 ปีที่แล้ว +161

    1:00 is what you came for.

    • @kemaltanvardarl1834
      @kemaltanvardarl1834 5 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      I just keep clicking that 1 minute mark and I think I could do this forever, this is so good

    • @Nerfornothin111
      @Nerfornothin111 5 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      This is great! I love it!

    • @sirzack0002
      @sirzack0002 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      We need an hour loop

    • @LJVolkov21
      @LJVolkov21 5 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Ian is Gun Jesus. That's that. Humor, knowledge, insight, detail, all in one. Nobody else can do it the way he does.

    • @iLLeag7e
      @iLLeag7e 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Hahaha

  • @jacobeberhardt1649
    @jacobeberhardt1649 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    The consistency in your videos over the years is remarkable.

  • @spudgunn8695
    @spudgunn8695 5 ปีที่แล้ว +59

    Standard practice at US arms manufacturers in 1940. If you've designed a pup, try flogging it to the Brits!

    • @itsconnorstime
      @itsconnorstime 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Spud Gunn when Ernst Heinkel was told his He 112 had lost to the Bf 109, he was told to flog it off to Romania, Hungary, Turkey and Japan.

    • @spudgunn8695
      @spudgunn8695 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@itsconnorstime Eh, what? Ernst Heinkel was a USA arms manufacturer? Well paint me purple and call me a republicrat!
      And here's me thinking he was a German!

    • @neutronalchemist3241
      @neutronalchemist3241 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      The Reggiane Re.2000, that lost the competition to the macchi C.200 and Fiat G.55 in Italy, was sold to Hungary, Sweden and United Kingdom (the contract with the Brits was blocked by the Ministry only due to the onset of the war).

    • @spudgunn8695
      @spudgunn8695 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@neutronalchemist3241 sorry, mate, still don't see what that has to do with US arms manufacturers in 1940!

  • @atx5thfj
    @atx5thfj 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Some early G T Distributors history. I still have a few of the crates they were found in laying around. Jim Orr

  • @bladudemovies
    @bladudemovies 5 ปีที่แล้ว +71

    It’s exactly as stupid as it looks.

    • @USMValor-jc5xu
      @USMValor-jc5xu 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      My first thought was: "Okay, how in the hell are you supposed to handle this thing?".

    • @Feeshyenjoyer
      @Feeshyenjoyer 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      U.S.M. Valor it’s simple, you don’t

    • @piratekingthaszar7912
      @piratekingthaszar7912 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@USMValor-jc5xu easy. Firmly grasp the rifle by the stock and the magwell. Then proceed to throw the rifle into the nearest commercial trash compactor.

  • @RaDeus87
    @RaDeus87 5 ปีที่แล้ว +212

    I have no idea what S&W was thinking/smoking... what aspect of this gun is a good idea, I just dont see it.

    • @wierdalien1
      @wierdalien1 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Well in effect its an M1. A bad one, but thats what it is

    • @RaDeus87
      @RaDeus87 5 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      @@wierdalien1 its worst in every aspect; weight, range, sights, handling, cost, durability, locktime and aesthetics.

    • @wierdalien1
      @wierdalien1 5 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      @@RaDeus87 yeah the semi auto open bolt is a bit weird. I quite like how it looks

    • @alexsmirnof
      @alexsmirnof 5 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      They are just nicely made and have quality looks, all polished and well finished. But they don't look like guns from 1940 at all, they are so 1920...

    • @Echin0idea
      @Echin0idea 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      The trigger mechanism is pretty neat I guess? That's all I got.

  • @davidgutierrez8297
    @davidgutierrez8297 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Am I the only one here that actually likes the look of this rifle. I like the simplistic design, smooth curvature and bare metal appearance.

  • @skullfracture2
    @skullfracture2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    It’s amazing how well it’s made and how poorly it’s designed.

  • @gavinhudson5251
    @gavinhudson5251 5 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Idiosyncratic, but well machined and finished. I like the Bakelite stock as well, the whole weapon has an Art-Deco look to it.

  • @srspower
    @srspower 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    It's so elegant and beautifully made for a sten type subgun. Almost like an ornament like it was made for a steampunk type movie. In full auto it would be very cool.

  • @EchosTackyTiki
    @EchosTackyTiki 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Nobody:
    Absolutely nobody:
    Smith & Wesson: HEY GUYS! Look what I made!!

  • @fratercontenduntocculta8161
    @fratercontenduntocculta8161 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The barrel fluting is one of those rare design touches that proves the maker loves his product.

  • @robertswartz3010
    @robertswartz3010 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Using this gun--even the reloding process--seems like it's from those impossible mobile ads or the impossible quiz.

  • @zacharymurphy2099
    @zacharymurphy2099 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I feel like just a couple of "small" changes and this could be a perfectly fine weapon. Things like simplifying the barrel, replacing the tower with a traditional mag lockup and ejection port, full auto only, and adding a little bolt travel room with strengthened spring.

  • @dan27052
    @dan27052 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    At 1 min mark where Ian says “ehhhh” that’s my new text message alert!

  • @davidreeding9176
    @davidreeding9176 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Watching that magazine come out of the tower broke my brain for a bit

  • @Iriefame
    @Iriefame 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    I really respect the fact that you started making more in-depth and longer videos.

  • @NotOneOfUs
    @NotOneOfUs 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    "But Why?", The Gun.

  • @Hemimike426
    @Hemimike426 5 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    SMLE No.1 Mk. III: - "The bloody hell is wrong with him? Is he alright?"
    M1 Garand: -"Oh, him? He's on the spectrum."

  • @Q_7169
    @Q_7169 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Been waiting for a more in depth video of this ever since the original. Awesome stuff.

  • @jicksaw765
    @jicksaw765 5 ปีที่แล้ว +55

    I knew the British were desperate, but not this desperate.

    • @MundaneAxiom
      @MundaneAxiom 5 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      Apparently hey weren't, you have to make a real stinker for your client to ask for a refund on the eve of a potential nazi invasion

    • @KTo288
      @KTo288 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Any gun would have been better than a pike made from a bayonet welded to some piping, which for a time was what we were reduced to.

    • @alexanderstrickland9036
      @alexanderstrickland9036 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Look at the sten haha. A simplified mp18 made of tubing and round stock. Can always be worse(not that the sten was 'bad', just brutally simple)

    • @ace5566
      @ace5566 5 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Alexander Strickland At least the Sten submachine gun is workable compared to the S&W light rifle.

    • @danielpalmer1791
      @danielpalmer1791 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      They were desperate, they put WW1 weapons like the ross and p1917 back into service, along with non-standard foreign weapons, and even ordered something like a quarter of a million pikes, but yeah, when you're weapon is as likely to injure the operator as the enemy...

  • @michaelogden5958
    @michaelogden5958 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    2 grains difference? As you say, in a 9X19, that's huge! Another interesting video! Thanks!

  • @anthonyb5564
    @anthonyb5564 5 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    Did anyone else think this was a .30-06 rifle at first?

    • @Isaac-ho8gh
      @Isaac-ho8gh 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Not me, I thought it were in .30 carbine before I realised this gun is older than the cartridge.

    • @anthonyb5564
      @anthonyb5564 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@Isaac-ho8gh yeah, you would never guess 9mm. At least I wouldn't have lol

    • @Isaac-ho8gh
      @Isaac-ho8gh 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah true.

  • @b19931228
    @b19931228 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Looks like a tube gun made by plumber. But it is actually more complicated than you might think, unnecessarily.

  • @JerryEricsson
    @JerryEricsson 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I love the looks of that rifle, very smooth, sleek, and pretty. Wish they worked, they would indeed be fun to plink with.

  • @Otokichi786
    @Otokichi786 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Smith & Wesson Light Rifles: The Brewster Buffalo of "military rifles."

    • @georgewhitworth9742
      @georgewhitworth9742 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      'eck, the Finns made the Buffalo work. I doubt they would've had done anything to this...."rifle"

  • @BV-fr8bf
    @BV-fr8bf 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The biggest magazine I have ever scene for a 9mm or 45 ACP.

  • @T4nkcommander
    @T4nkcommander 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    As much as I appreciate your videos Ian, I especially appreciate your video descriptions

  • @kyleshuler2929
    @kyleshuler2929 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    *Pistol caliber carbine that weighs 9Lbs.*
    Smith and Wesson: "ah yes, the light rifle."

  • @sidsimon5963
    @sidsimon5963 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    The perfect personal protection weapon for the Elbonian Secret Service.

  • @Francis5795
    @Francis5795 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    So basically a carbine, but S&W we're afraid that it was the name "carbine" that would make it unpopular, so they named it a "light rifle"? Like that would be any better...

  • @Jinnzzo99
    @Jinnzzo99 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    As always, I love Your video! And I'm amazed again by Your Understanding of everything. True knowledge!

  • @J.DeLaPoer
    @J.DeLaPoer 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    It may be poorly designed trash, but it does have really nice aesthetics with that classic stock, nice blueing and fluted barrel.

  • @qaz120120
    @qaz120120 5 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Imagine having to choose between this bad boy or a mp40..

  • @brotherpanda3626
    @brotherpanda3626 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    this seriously looks like a child drew this weapon in those massive battle drawings they made while in class.

  • @semibreve
    @semibreve 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I've never been more excited than when I saw the size of the magazine in the thumbnail.
    I've never been more disappointed than when you took the actual magazine out.

  • @Survivalist-nw8dz
    @Survivalist-nw8dz 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    IMO these are some if the best looking rifles I've seen. If someone could reproduce it and keep the main look while improving the overall design I would snatch one up in a heart beat.

    • @neutronalchemist3241
      @neutronalchemist3241 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Imagine them done at the time in .30 Carbine, actually functioning and with the silly ejection tube shortened. They would have been serious contenders.

  • @danepatterson8107
    @danepatterson8107 5 ปีที่แล้ว +49

    Seems like a lot of esoteric over-engineering that missed many critical combat requirements. Sounds very Italian in that regard

    • @oliviersavard8676
      @oliviersavard8676 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      This actually makes sense, I'd see this being built by Italians

    • @zacharyrollick6169
      @zacharyrollick6169 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Meanwhile, in this same timeframe, Beretta is building some kickass SMGs.

  • @harisadrian1964
    @harisadrian1964 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Goofy shiny pistol cal carbine that has length as a Garrand.
    Actually Ian has said goofy hundred times in this vid alone, make it is a record!

  • @nathanbanks7091
    @nathanbanks7091 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is why I love Ian's channel. Weird guns like this. Truly a forgotten weapon. With a bit of refinement and a recoil buffer, this would have made a decent smg.

  • @alyssatipton5080
    @alyssatipton5080 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I’m convinced that this was someone’s “F U Guys, it’s my last day” design

  • @AakeTraak
    @AakeTraak 5 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    S&W please stick to revolvers...

    • @PureCountryof91
      @PureCountryof91 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Eh. Big blue makes some great stuff now. The ar10/15s, their hi-power based stuff, .22s, theyre know well for the 686 and others but its not all they do well

  • @Ksportin
    @Ksportin 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    What i find noteworthy was the british weren't so desperate for guns as to demand S&W fix the guns but instead just demanded their money back. If S&W tried they probably could have reinforced the guns and made them cheaper and probably within months. The fact the british wanted their money back then settled for revolvers rather than waiting for a proper improvement. Wonder if once they got their hands on them they had second thoughts and used the failure in the endurance tests to try to get away from them.

    • @SuperFunkmachine
      @SuperFunkmachine 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      If they had worked then we of brought more until STEN production was up and running.

    • @kevinoliver3083
      @kevinoliver3083 ปีที่แล้ว

      The Army were never interested in the Light Rifle. They were bought for the Royal Navy, who wanted a handy carbine for boarding actions (instead of a SMLE).
      They were a stopgap until the Lanchester SMG was available.

  • @streamylc
    @streamylc 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    "tinkle down" X-D i love it.... never knew one could make "tinkle"sound so fitting/proper 8-)

  • @IncredibleMD
    @IncredibleMD ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I think the idea behind the tower is to give you a place to hold the thing, as the magazine is right where you'd wanna put your hand, and since it ejects downward, if you gave it a mag-well grip, it'd just shoot cases into the web of your thumb.

  • @lucky43113
    @lucky43113 5 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Seems like a few extra threads and a deeper end cap would have sold the issue of the bolt slamming into the cap and causing the failure

    • @mfree80286
      @mfree80286 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      A better solution, and I didn't catch enough of a view on both caps to see if there was a difference, would be to move the cross-pin hole on the end cap so the forces end up transferred to the outer shell rather than all putting tension on the inner receiver tube.
      OH! Also, the Mk1 receiver steps out ahead of the section that fits in the outer tube... if that section interfaces before all the tolerance stacking/play is taken up for the end cap, then the impact on the cap stretches the end of the inner receiver tube. On the Mk2, that step is milled off and the inner receiver tube appears to be free to slide all the way back into the outer tube, which means the cap would always "strike" or push against the outer tube and not 'pull' on the threaded section.

    • @lucky43113
      @lucky43113 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      extra threads to extend the space between the bolt at the cap

    • @mfree80286
      @mfree80286 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Unless the root problem is resolved, and extra threads don't do that, then you still have a stress riser at the edge of the turned down section for the threads. That's likely why the outside thicker portion for the MkII has been removed, to avoid it butting against the outer tube and allowing the bolt forces to put tension on that cap. Without that thick part on the receiver, the receiver would be free to move back into the outer shell as far as necessary to get the cap into full contact with the rear.

    • @TheWolfsnack
      @TheWolfsnack 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      indeed...that whole part would have to be made thicker.....which there was room for.

    • @zendell37
      @zendell37 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      If the inner section allowed for a broad end of the end cap, instead of the small lobe to take the cross pin, the the end cap could be extended and a buffer material could be put into that cavity and still all held together by the cross pin. Without knowing the exact dimensions and design, the grip section could be bored out easily if there were clearance.

  • @EchosTackyTiki
    @EchosTackyTiki 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    After rewatching this a few times I have come to the conclusion that it could very easily be converted to full auto. I believe that I and everyone else who knows this are now on a watch list. You're welcome guys.

  • @ogpu1
    @ogpu1 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Really interesting review. Thank you Ian

  • @codymoncrief8478
    @codymoncrief8478 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That firing pin lever works similarly to one on a thomson machine gun. Theoretically, when the lever hits a surface on the receiver, it thrusts the firing pin forward about 2 times the speed of the bolt. It also prevents out if battery fire. They likely deemed it unnecessary for function, as the doubled speed is substituted with double the impact force.

  • @karlthebarbarian9875
    @karlthebarbarian9875 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    So it's essentially a semi-automatic, unreliable and heavy equivalent of the Swedish m/45 SMG....
    Brilliant.

  • @larryjohnson150
    @larryjohnson150 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Why the fluted barrel? If you dumped every round you had out of this thing all as fast as you could even a pencil barrel would barely be warm to the touch...

    • @51WCDodge
      @51WCDodge 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      What we in Britiain would call Go Faster stripes. Coach lines painted on a heap vehicle to make it look sexy.

  • @rawovunlapin8201
    @rawovunlapin8201 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    "You have no actual physical access because it- you can't- it doesn't work."

  • @metallampman
    @metallampman 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Always a good job Ian..

  • @AlexandruNicolin
    @AlexandruNicolin 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Amazingly bad weapon even for its time. If I remember correctly the M1 Carbine, which is like 1/2 of the weight and has a stronger cartridge was being trialed at about the same time.

  • @ZeroSuitSamo
    @ZeroSuitSamo 5 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    Why would they go out of their way to make it semi-auto if they were going to try and sell it to the military? Removing one part would make it full auto only. Did they know it was too weak to be able to do that? It just seems like with a few small tweaks this could have been a far more passable military rifle.

    • @davidsachs4883
      @davidsachs4883 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      If it failed an endurance test on semiauto, think how much quicker it would have failed on full auto

    • @ZeroSuitSamo
      @ZeroSuitSamo 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@davidsachs4883 no what I mean is, why did they design it that way in the first place when they were going to try and sell it to the military? Yeah if they designed it as a semi-auto and then took the disconnecter out, I'm sure it would fail real quick.

    • @hectorcorona9536
      @hectorcorona9536 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      My thoughts after watching this video is that this was going to be a totally different gun that, maybe a competition gun or some other niche application, and then someone had the idea of making a light rifle out of the same molds and stampings. the gun is aesthetically gorgeous, like they spent a lot of money in design and tooling of non funcional aspects of the gun, and i don't think that would be approved by any serious gun manufacturer even by 1930s standards

  • @nicholasricardo8443
    @nicholasricardo8443 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have an english thesis to write but this video deserves a second viewing beforehand

  • @leotam3372
    @leotam3372 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    This thing makes a sten look like a design masterpiece

  • @tomwebb3081
    @tomwebb3081 5 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    Finally! A weapon with which you can end your opponent rightly!

  • @travishabursky4362
    @travishabursky4362 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Gun Jesus and Tank Jesus need to do a collaborative video on some armored vehicle mounted destructive device.

  • @JustaYeomanBowman
    @JustaYeomanBowman 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    And the spirit of these design choices lives on in the Remington R51

  • @nickferries2777
    @nickferries2777 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    When he explained the casing ejection port it was the first time I’ve ever heard him just say ‘doesn’t work’