Rogak P18 - A Cautionary Tale of Manufacturing

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มิ.ย. 2017
  • The Rogak P18 was a copy of the Steyr GB service pistol, with some disagreement over whether it was unlicensed or just unfortunately made. Les Rogak was a Steyr distributor in Illinois who managed to acquire a set of plans for the GB pistol, and put it into production before Steyr-made examples were available in the US. On paper, the gun seemed quite impressive - a stainless steel 18-shot gas-delayed military pistol in the late 1970s was something on the forefront of handgun development.
    Unfortunately, Rogak's manufacturing left a lot to be desired. Where the authentic Steyr GB was an excellent pistol (despite losing to the Glock in Austrian military trials and to the Beretta in American military trials), the Rogak copy was quite poorly made. The fit on the gas delay system was too loose to actually hold gas pressure, resulting in the Rogak acting as a simple blowback pistol. To compensate for this, Rogak added a sort of fiber buffer stack in the receiver to reduce the slide battering on the frame, and ground off the extractor claw to prevent the rapid slide opening from tearing cartridge rims off. Numerous burrs, casting defects, and fit problems plagued the guns, to the extent that Steyr actually filed a legal suit to stop their manufacture.
    It is commonly stated that about 2300 Rogaks were made, but I suspect the number is closer to just a thousand or so, with serial number ranges being manipulated to give the appearance of greater numbers. While I wold certainly not recommend any substantial amount of shooting with one, they make for a very interesting piece in a collection - guns of this quality are quite rare to find from US manufacturers!
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ความคิดเห็น • 1.2K

  • @Ethzed
    @Ethzed 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2565

    I like the idea that Steyr filed a lawsuit not because of the design theft but because it's just such an awful, awful gun.

    • @fuzzydunlop7928
      @fuzzydunlop7928 7 ปีที่แล้ว +225

      I wouldn't be surprised. At first they were probably in the mindset of, "Well, sure, some two-bit asshat is churning out garage-room abortions but we're going to have mil-contracts out the whazoo so who cares, right Hans?" When those contracts failed to materialize I'm sure they would have been less forgiving of said abortions.

    • @MrBioniclefan1
      @MrBioniclefan1 7 ปีที่แล้ว +73

      lmao my sun burn blisters look better than the Rogak P18 pistol

    • @petlahk4119
      @petlahk4119 7 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      +Fuzzy Dunlop You win the internet award for funniest TH-cam comment xD

    • @allewis4008
      @allewis4008 6 ปีที่แล้ว +77

      I love stainless steel, but this thing looked like it was milled in a highschool machine shop and got a 'C' grade. Good on Steyr for the lawsuit, pity it's beautiful handgun never caught on.

    • @kevondaye8125
      @kevondaye8125 6 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Or maybe thats why they didnt. They were like "Nobodys gonna buy this junk. Its not worth the money to sue them. Fuck it!"

  • @eddiespencer1
    @eddiespencer1 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2437

    It's interesting that RIA says this pistol is in poor condition when it's pretty much in the same condition it was when it left the factory, lol.

    • @vaclav_fejt
      @vaclav_fejt 7 ปีที่แล้ว +64

      Same thing. :-D

    • @ratagris21
      @ratagris21 7 ปีที่แล้ว +48

      More like good poor condition firearm code: GPC....hand select too.

    • @paulwhite959
      @paulwhite959 7 ปีที่แล้ว +117

      NiB, poor condition. Not a typo. man, this seems like a well done high school shop project not a professionally made gun

    • @no_idea8012
      @no_idea8012 5 ปีที่แล้ว +51

      More like "in the same condition it was when it left the *garage.* "

    • @draxxsklounst6595
      @draxxsklounst6595 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      If ford made guns....

  • @PlurimusPartum
    @PlurimusPartum 7 ปีที่แล้ว +797

    I feel a bit disappointed at not seeing STEYRS STEYRS STEYRS stamped on it somewhere.

    • @maciejpociecha6357
      @maciejpociecha6357 7 ปีที่แล้ว +39

      Almost Mediocre STRAYERS...

    • @bilibiliism
      @bilibiliism 7 ปีที่แล้ว +31

      Honestly speaking, rolex literally did the same thing to their watches -- rolex rolex rolex rolex rolex rolex all around the bazel, and louis vuitton and a lot of comapnies too

    • @notpulverman9660
      @notpulverman9660 6 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      bilibiliism china is copying practices of "quality" European manufacturers lol

    • @danielhyson6079
      @danielhyson6079 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I know right

    • @thesturm8686
      @thesturm8686 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      And not dated to the Victorian era or something

  • @TheRogueWolf
    @TheRogueWolf 7 ปีที่แล้ว +757

    I can't help but picture Rogak as a used-car salesman in a plaid jacket, trying to cajole people into buying "this quality replica of a fine Austrian firearm".

    • @hjorturerlend
      @hjorturerlend 7 ปีที่แล้ว +70

      Even the name screams stereotypical 80´s bullshitter in a pink shirt and white suit jacket...

    • @jediknight1294
      @jediknight1294 7 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      I was thinking used car salesman black and white check suit jacket or western shirt and big belt buckle but yeah

    • @truestory2990
      @truestory2990 6 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Haha, old Gil from The Simpsons immediately comes to mind.

    • @jeremiasastorga8399
      @jeremiasastorga8399 6 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Ole Gil would try to sell this gun to you.

    • @meeeplo
      @meeeplo 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      your comment made me chuckle

  • @moosemaimer
    @moosemaimer 7 ปีที่แล้ว +556

    I used to work in a steel casting facility that made mostly automotive and aerospace components, and these are the kinds of casting flaws things would have been rejected for.

    • @caolila123
      @caolila123 7 ปีที่แล้ว +53

      It's really reassuring to hear, that "quality" like that gets rejected for cars and planes : )

    • @RedWurm
      @RedWurm 7 ปีที่แล้ว +62

      Well of course, you wouldn't want a badly made car, that could be dangerous. Guns, on the other hand...

    • @caolila123
      @caolila123 7 ปีที่แล้ว +47

      A badly made gun can hurt one or two people at once, no doubt about that and it's a crappy move by the factory, I totally agree. This is something that shouldn't happen,
      but
      a) a badly made car or plane can hurt a lot more people at once
      b) cars and planes are much more complex and (not an expert, so I'm assuming) all the important parts may not be as accessible or visible as on a gun.
      c) You can and will (also not an expert, so I'm assuming) take a gun apart and take a closer look at it sooner or later, but I'm not so sure in regards to cars or planes (better chances with planes I guess, since they tend to do maintenance before each flight).
      So in my opinion a shoddy gun is "better" than a shoddy car or plane.

    • @farmerboy916
      @farmerboy916 7 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      moosemaimer Do you think the guy was casting them in his garage/ by hand, or just had the shittiest casting outfit in the US doing it for him?

    • @DJDocsVideos
      @DJDocsVideos 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Can we get Trump one?

  • @leximatic
    @leximatic 4 ปีที่แล้ว +65

    There was a guy in Illinois to see
    Who wanted to copy the Steyr GB
    But this man called Rogak
    Made it simple blowback
    And in the end had to pay the fee

    • @shaider1982
      @shaider1982 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Nice gun limerick. Rogac sounds like a Power Rangers villain.

  • @Guysm1l3y
    @Guysm1l3y 7 ปีที่แล้ว +547

    Wow, nothing like a pistol that looks like it is being held together with drywall screws.

    • @D8W2P4
      @D8W2P4 4 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      Rather funny that simpler slotted screws (which they don't even try using for common screws anymore since they're so shit) are considered "more professional" than Phillips.

    • @cheshire4856
      @cheshire4856 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      What do you mean "looks like"?

    • @Iskremfrpupy
      @Iskremfrpupy 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@D8W2P4 that's what I thought, Beretta uses a standard screw.

    • @bstrachan8527
      @bstrachan8527 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@D8W2P4 I totally agree with you. Slotted screws are a relic. Or shit, if you prefer.

    • @ZGryphon
      @ZGryphon 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@D8W2P4 It's less about the slot pattern than the heads in this case. I mean, those are _clearly_ not finish screws, Philips or otherwise. :)

  • @Badatname
    @Badatname 7 ปีที่แล้ว +799

    When your manufacturing makes late war German manufacturing look good you probably shouldn't make a firearm.

    • @jasondoe2596
      @jasondoe2596 7 ปีที่แล้ว +105

      Joseph Bean, well, at least German last-ditch firearms were safe to shoot - this cast-iron POS though...

    • @SuperFunkmachine
      @SuperFunkmachine 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Was we hope test fired at factory.

    • @Oldbmwr100rs
      @Oldbmwr100rs 7 ปีที่แล้ว +91

      It makes last ditch Japanese firearms look good!

    • @IonoTheFanatics
      @IonoTheFanatics 7 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      their firearms are actually pretty good, Ian have covered a fair number of them here and they were... frankly surprisingly good, i didn't even know they had an excellent LMG until Ian made a video on it's parts.
      but their last ditch firearms... those... will give ppl nightmares... the kind where the weapon is likely a bigger danger to the user than the target.

    • @ToreDL87
      @ToreDL87 7 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Actually the Japanese last ditch rifles can still take 3-5 times the critical pressure of ANY contempary weapons of the time, so no go there :)

  • @notpulverman9660
    @notpulverman9660 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1575

    Ian made this with a file and some sandpaper; he is currently laughing at everyone who believed his storytelling.

    • @Schregger
      @Schregger 6 ปีที่แล้ว +76

      In that case, Im not sure if I would or should be impressed or disappointed in Ian... Impressed by what he would do for a joke, and disappointed that he would do a better job.

    • @MustangGT4
      @MustangGT4 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Lols

    • @Furzkampfbomber
      @Furzkampfbomber 5 ปีที่แล้ว +39

      @ War Zone
      There is a region between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Khyber Pass, whose inhabitants are specialised in making all kinds of counterfeit guns, from revolvers over rifles to AKs, including counterfeit ammo, of course.
      The quality varies from "piss poor" to "could be out of a factory", but the amazing thing is that even the high quality weapons are pretty much made with files and sandpaper.

    • @thesturm8686
      @thesturm8686 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      He should do it for an April Fools special

    • @FtwNil
      @FtwNil 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@Furzkampfbomber that's exactly why the "Anarchist's Cookbook" is banned. It doesn't take as much as people think to create all kinds of things. Not just deadly intentioned items.

  • @parker2121
    @parker2121 7 ปีที่แล้ว +52

    Personally I think the Rogak is a rare example of absolute genius. You could make these in the comfort of your own bedroom. That's luxury right there.

  • @MelvinWillikers
    @MelvinWillikers 7 ปีที่แล้ว +543

    Are you positive they had schematics of the GB and not just Polaroids?

    • @mrbluesky2050
      @mrbluesky2050 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      now that's FUNNY !

    • @ken481959
      @ken481959 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It looks more like a case of hemorrhoids.

    • @ZGryphon
      @ZGryphon 4 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      "It looks like someone described the real thing to the designer over the phone," as one of the guys on the old _Top Gear_ once said about a Chinese knockoff of the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

    • @Quicksilver_Cookie
      @Quicksilver_Cookie 4 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      I have a feeling they were actually trying to avoid an inevitable lawsuit by introducing these design changes. I don't know, really. Or they simply didn't have the manufacturing capacity to reproduce some of the elements in the original design, so they have replaced them with inferior substitutes.

    • @shala_shashka
      @shala_shashka 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@bmstylee ive got my bets on a vague drawing on a coffee stained napkin

  • @azkrouzreimertz9784
    @azkrouzreimertz9784 7 ปีที่แล้ว +751

    ive seen Khyber pass pistols with better quality than this

    • @dndboy13
      @dndboy13 7 ปีที่แล้ว +64

      "Babour you didnt make a bad Steyr knockoff did you'

    • @gordonlawrence3537
      @gordonlawrence3537 7 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      I don't think I have ever seen a pistol that bad that is supposedly mass production.

    • @TheZinmo
      @TheZinmo 7 ปีที่แล้ว +68

      Not really Khyber pass, more like one of those chinese mystery pistols from the 1930s.

    • @SuperFunkmachine
      @SuperFunkmachine 7 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      I've seen home-made guns with better fit then this.

    • @nehcrum
      @nehcrum 7 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      There are some home-made guns that are really nice, so you can't really discount something just because it's home-made. It all comes down to who that guy is that made it.
      And vice versa, just because it's made by a (semi-) legit manufacturing company doesn't guarantee quality.

  • @christopherconard2831
    @christopherconard2831 7 ปีที่แล้ว +76

    During disassembly I kept expecting *clunk* "Shit! I broke it."

  • @AtholAnderson
    @AtholAnderson 7 ปีที่แล้ว +105

    'Rogak' sounds like the name one would find on a Khyber/Chinese Mystery Ruger knock-off.

  • @vis35ak
    @vis35ak 7 ปีที่แล้ว +201

    I'm suprised that Ian did not mention the irony that this gun was made in Morton Grove, Illinois, the first town in America to outlaw the ownership of handguns by citizens.

    • @thesturm8686
      @thesturm8686 4 ปีที่แล้ว +37

      Coincidence?
      I think not

    • @kpadmirer
      @kpadmirer 4 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      That law has since been repealed.

    • @sillylittleowlguy2392
      @sillylittleowlguy2392 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      kpadmirer good.

    • @greyshadow9498
      @greyshadow9498 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Mmm, I do like a gun I have to point at myself to tear down. Makes me feel alive.

    • @johnmcclain3887
      @johnmcclain3887 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I left Illinois in 1976 because of that gun control law. I used to work adjacent to Morton Grove back in the seventies.

  • @funx24X7
    @funx24X7 7 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    Videos about counterfeit/copycat guns are my favorite part about this channel. It's fascinating to see how engineers with varying degrees of technical understanding and manufacturing capability attempt to recreate weapons.

  • @Michael_Smith-Red_No.5
    @Michael_Smith-Red_No.5 7 ปีที่แล้ว +128

    The Rogak doesn't seem like something safe to fire, to be honest. I'd love to see some more about the Steyr GB, though. That thing is beautiful.

    • @MichaelPoage666
      @MichaelPoage666 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      I know, I was looking at that thinking, "We chose the Beretta over this? Austria chose the Glock!?" I mean, I get it, Glocks are clearly a big deal, but they aren't exactly nice looking.

    • @Mickeplutt
      @Mickeplutt 2 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Steyr GB is beautiful, grip is perfect, shoots really well, easy to strip and theres 18 cartridges in the magazine. Best pistol in the world, in my opinion. Rogak is just a piece of crap!

    • @darrengarcia4937
      @darrengarcia4937 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@MichaelPoage666 price.

    • @sakamoto2467
      @sakamoto2467 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      ​@@MichaelPoage666i have read that the gas brake system tends to make the GB heat up to point of discomfort after about 50 or so rounds. Similar to the HK P7. I dont own either so i cannot confirm myself. HK did add a plastic trigger guard shield to their p7 mid 1980s.

  • @2Stonefly
    @2Stonefly 4 ปีที่แล้ว +55

    Khyber Pass gunsmiths are saying, "Wow, what a piece of crap."

    • @davidbowman2716
      @davidbowman2716 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      LOL!

    • @JonathanSicoli
      @JonathanSicoli ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I have nothing but respect for Khyber Pass gunsmiths.

    • @minhducnguyen9276
      @minhducnguyen9276 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ​@@JonathanSicoli They are constrained by the aesthetic but sometimes it's what makes their guns special. Like they can make ak style semi automatic shotguns but because people there prefer Krinkov look so they made it looks like the AKs.

  • @jimmcclure2126
    @jimmcclure2126 7 ปีที่แล้ว +48

    Rogak was made in Morton Grove IL, the Chicago suburb that simply outlawed firearms. I drove past the factory on a summer job daily.

    • @Spetulhu
      @Spetulhu 6 ปีที่แล้ว +32

      Are you sure this isn't the reason they outlawed handguns?

  • @ringowunderlich2241
    @ringowunderlich2241 7 ปีที่แล้ว +385

    Rogak sounds like a shifty dwarf from dragon age.

    • @davidbowman6689
      @davidbowman6689 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Rogak sounds like Klingon to me.

    • @cydonianmystery5193
      @cydonianmystery5193 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Rogak is Sandal's evil brother. You never see him with Sandal because he's always behind you.

    • @sneakysnake7695
      @sneakysnake7695 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @War Zone it's glitchy as hell but rewarding and fun to grind through

    • @Lenn869
      @Lenn869 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      or an ugly bionicle

    • @mantha6912
      @mantha6912 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Sounds like discount Rogal Dorn

  • @demonstructie
    @demonstructie 6 ปีที่แล้ว +57

    "It looks like it was done... Honestly, I... Want to say a Dremel?" 😂😂😂

  • @Taistelukalkkuna
    @Taistelukalkkuna 7 ปีที่แล้ว +181

    Somehow I get the creepy feeling, that Rogak slide would end up embedded to shooters forehead.

    • @vaclav_fejt
      @vaclav_fejt 7 ปีที่แล้ว +36

      The next level of piercing jewellery.

    • @jediknight1294
      @jediknight1294 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Nah I'm thinking it would shatter. It's Beretta 92s that hit shooters with slides.

    • @reonthornton685
      @reonthornton685 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeah, they fixed it in later 92 versions like the FS, but it was down to cracks in the slide.

    • @agoogleaccount857
      @agoogleaccount857 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I think the slide cap might blow off and go flying

  • @BooDoug187
    @BooDoug187 7 ปีที่แล้ว +108

    The Rogak up close looks like a fake gun, like something you find in a prop department of Asylum Films or something.

  • @RockandrollNegro
    @RockandrollNegro 6 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    My father had one of these when I was a kid, so I've always been kind of fascinated with it. (He sold it for around 50 bucks and felt like he got a damn good deal for that price.) Near as I can tell, there were three 'production' (using that term loosely) runs, with the second being the largest. The first run (2xxx) series were ~200, the 6xxx series anywhere from 400 to 800, and the final run (12xxx) less than 200. So, altogether there were anywhere between 900-1200 of these made, with 1,000 being a fairly safe estimate.
    The 120,000 serial numbers were known as the 'best' in terms of reliability but were usually the worst looking, with machining marks and tool dings apparent. From what I understand, Rogak had less than 30 days to clear out of town, so he and his family hand-assembled the remaining parts he had laying around in his kitchen and were able to create another hundred or two hundred pistols that they sold to a wholesaler for about $10 per gun. The remaining machinery and spare parts were sold as scrap metal.
    Rogak was a pretty inventive guy. I think he intentionally wanted to create a unique, well-made pistol that could serve the law enforcement and military markets, but he wasn't a very good businessman. His lack of financial acumen lead to cost-cutting in nearly every step of the manufacturing process, and he had the political naivety to set up a gun foundry in the city that would later become infamous for being the first town in the US to ban all handguns.

  • @tisFrancesfault
    @tisFrancesfault 7 ปีที่แล้ว +289

    Good lord, I mean if you made this in your shed then fair play, but as a Pistol made for commercial production and sale, its rather embarrassing.

    • @DFX2KX
      @DFX2KX 7 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      I dunno, I've seen shed guns of far higher quality.

    • @notpulverman9660
      @notpulverman9660 6 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      John Browning designed from an attic pretty much.
      So add 15% bonus embarrassment.

    • @carll.freemanjr.9867
      @carll.freemanjr.9867 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I can actually say Rogak is officially worse than Taurus....

    • @EpicTomaHawk45
      @EpicTomaHawk45 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@carll.freemanjr.9867 i dont know about taurus pistols, but taurus revolvers are high quality, atleast the ones i have seen, i live in uruguay, 4 km away from brazil. Also side note, brazilian police is equiped with the taurus 92 , that one had a part made of plastic, but it was interchangeable with a beretta metal one, i dont remember wich one was.

    • @davidbowman6689
      @davidbowman6689 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Arthur Morgan 😂 LOL!

  • @Mack7830
    @Mack7830 7 ปีที่แล้ว +114

    The one dislike was Les Rogak

  • @brianartillery
    @brianartillery 6 ปีที่แล้ว +89

    That matt-finish Steyr is a beautiful looking handgun. The Rogak just looks like a cheap and nasty toy.

  • @SquareoftheyearFM
    @SquareoftheyearFM 7 ปีที่แล้ว +194

    I get the feeling it went like this:
    Ian wanted to say "This gun is junk"
    Rock Island wanted "Say something positive so people want this thing"
    What actually happened "This thing is junk but you should buy it anyway"

    • @SquareoftheyearFM
      @SquareoftheyearFM 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Dellacondan when did the internet get so serious?!

    • @filianablanxart8305
      @filianablanxart8305 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      This was the Original Wondernine .

    • @FoxtrotFleet
      @FoxtrotFleet ปีที่แล้ว

      @@filianablanxart8305 Heckler & Koch VP-70, with a polymer frame and 18 round magazine too.

  • @JenniferinIllinois
    @JenniferinIllinois 7 ปีที่แล้ว +49

    SO the European Steyr has the standard magazine release we're used to while the American Rogak has a European release. WHAT???
    I think Steyr 'leaked' a copy of the plans from one of the early prototypes and that's what Rogak made. LOL!!!!
    Funny that Rogak was based in Morton Grove, IL, known for being, the first city in the US to ban handguns.
    Phillips head screws. OMG!!!!!!
    -Jen

    • @TK8866275
      @TK8866275 7 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      They knew what kind of mutant chickens they're making, so by that ban they tried to make sure they'll never come home to roost?

    • @sillylittleowlguy2392
      @sillylittleowlguy2392 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      This comment was a roller coaster on crack

    • @ArcturusOTE
      @ArcturusOTE 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      According to a commenter above, the Rogak P18 was based off an early version of the GB, named the Pi18

  • @GreatgoatonFire
    @GreatgoatonFire 7 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    By the end of this video I expected this gun to covered Brevet stamps like a Chinese Mystery Gun that Ian has looked at in the past.

  • @OvertravelX
    @OvertravelX 7 ปีที่แล้ว +364

    Ahh, the ol' Chinese design philosophy: Take a successful existing design, copy with quality shortcuts to minimize cost.

    • @foobar201
      @foobar201 7 ปีที่แล้ว +98

      And before buyers wisen up to it, change the company name and produce bicycles instead.

    • @1ohtaf1
      @1ohtaf1 7 ปีที่แล้ว +55

      Surprisingly similar to American manufacturing philosophy.

    • @ratagris21
      @ratagris21 7 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      Yes, its called Remington....and they got sued too over triggers on a nickel fix that they let go.

    • @ThePandoraGuy
      @ThePandoraGuy 7 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      Chinese design philosphy is, take something others made and build upon it without given a fuck about copyright, therefore getting somewhere.

    • @bigb00m
      @bigb00m 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Also known as the Freedom group Method

  • @314299
    @314299 7 ปีที่แล้ว +160

    The Phillips headed screws on the grips is a "special" touch. I seem to recall an article by a notable writer of the day deriding these pistols for being a piece of junk.

    • @Gungeek
      @Gungeek 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      This thing makes my NP-20 look more awesome ;)

    • @JunkCCCP
      @JunkCCCP 6 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Angelo DeLuca because they look unaesthetic and instantly bring wood screws to your mind and not firearms.

    • @waynegoldpig2220
      @waynegoldpig2220 6 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      With the correct driver, Phillips screws are FAR superior to slot screws.

    • @NM-wd7kx
      @NM-wd7kx 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      as a Briton, I beg to differ.

    • @pfarnsworth84
      @pfarnsworth84 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Not that it helps the pistol much, but those actually look like Pozidrive screws, which are less prone to "torqueing-out" and stripping the heads.

  • @reignick1133
    @reignick1133 7 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    When your Steyr GB knock off makes a Hi-Point Look like High Art, one might want take time to pause and reflect upon the "quality control" of the manufacturer.

    • @drumyogi9281
      @drumyogi9281 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      reignick1133 So true. As much trash as we fling at Hi-Point for being low quality, at least none of us feel scared to shoot them. You couldn't pay me to shoot this thing. It looks as dangerous to the operator as it is to the target.

    • @reignick1133
      @reignick1133 7 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      I am guilty of knocking Hi Point but at the end of the day I know that anyone whom buys a Hi Point will at the least have a functional firearm which is safe and will put a bullet into a target reliably well.
      Might be Big Might be heavy Might be ugly & low capacity but it works and it gives a person whom would not normally have the means to attain it a good way for them to defend themselves and their loved ones.
      This thing much like the Remington R51 if not more towards the "ring of fire" guns of the 80's / early 90's just seem like a slapped together deathtrap of a pistol which is more dangerous to the user than any external threat.

    • @a.h.504
      @a.h.504 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi points get such a bad rap but there's plenty of evidence out there that they are reliable AND cheap. Two things that rarely go together.

  • @gutfinski
    @gutfinski 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    It took me many years to eventually “buy in” to the concept of molded or cast parts. This video has sent me back to my 1950’s mindset.

    • @winnon992
      @winnon992 ปีที่แล้ว

      Bill Ruger’s guns were all invested casting. Ruger still makes them.

  • @hamboneneurosis995
    @hamboneneurosis995 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I watched this in the hospital the day after my first son was born. I will never forget it

  • @thelaughinghyenas7962
    @thelaughinghyenas7962 7 ปีที่แล้ว +50

    It looks like a gun made by the side very much losing a war, scrimping on everything.

    • @normtrooper4392
      @normtrooper4392 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I'd rather be thrown in the last ditch than use this gun

    • @jakedeforus6779
      @jakedeforus6779 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Emilio Singh I might even take a high point

    • @ZGryphon
      @ZGryphon 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@jakedeforus6779 1945-made Type 94 Nambu.

    • @TragicTester034
      @TragicTester034 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@jakedeforus6779 how about a Hi-Point Carbine

  • @jgedutis
    @jgedutis 7 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    The Rogak must be a popular gun with the 14 year old sicarios in El Salvador and Guatemala.

  • @ComputingCactus
    @ComputingCactus 7 ปีที่แล้ว +47

    Oh my God those screws on the rogak grips.

    • @arktikat0083
      @arktikat0083 7 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      Cactus looks like they totally forgot it and just pick it from Home Depot in the last minute

    • @smitz001
      @smitz001 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It looks like those random screws from the junk drawer from my kitchen.

  • @JohnnyUtah488
    @JohnnyUtah488 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I think Rogak was actually an underappreciated genius in simplifying the design. No fussy tight-tolerance gas system, no extractor, no fancy-pants milling and polishing. Just a Dremel tool and a dream!

  • @dndboy13
    @dndboy13 7 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    " with some disagreement over whether it was unlicensed or just unfortunately made."
    ...or: made, unfortunately. whichever

    • @dndboy13
      @dndboy13 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      a copy of a pistol that had an action based on a last ditch rifle, with machining quality to match

  • @Not_Sure_81
    @Not_Sure_81 5 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    The very meaning of the saying - "Good from afar but far from good"

  • @taylorwest6986
    @taylorwest6986 5 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    For an extreme contrast in quality, and as a palate cleanser, watch his video of the Korth PRS next.

  • @jacksoncz8536
    @jacksoncz8536 7 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I have had the great pleasure of shooting a Steyr GB, it was a great shooting weapon. Definately do not shoot lead bullets, has to be sent back to Steyr to be cleaned. I did not do that lol another friend did.

  • @RedMcCloud
    @RedMcCloud 7 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I love how you can buy these new in box, untouched, for about $200.

  • @LionofCaliban
    @LionofCaliban 7 ปีที่แล้ว +47

    I want to buy this. I really do. Strikes me as everything wrong to do in machining, making a handgun.
    Also because it just doesn't ever shouldn't be fired.
    That GB on the other hand, damned that looks really good.

    • @vaclav_fejt
      @vaclav_fejt 7 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Remember that Vietnamese STRAIGHT BLOWBACK copy of the 1911?

    • @LionofCaliban
      @LionofCaliban 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Vaguely.
      What about it?

    • @vaclav_fejt
      @vaclav_fejt 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Did you buy it? :-D

  • @P0LYPRO
    @P0LYPRO 6 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    reminds me of what you'd see made with hand files in a shack somewhere in vietnam

  • @BrianOrangehouse
    @BrianOrangehouse 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Your insights into the mechanical operation and manufacturing techniques make your channel unique! Great video.

  • @dannydagerous
    @dannydagerous 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    You are a joy to listen to . I’m not even super into guns but you’re so informative , well spoken , and obviously “love your work”! Thank you

  • @eVVigilance
    @eVVigilance 7 ปีที่แล้ว +45

    Just like a Chinese Mystery pistol.
    Ian, bid on it and run it in a 2 gun match.
    Use the Ladies' Home Companion as the long gun.

    • @vaclav_fejt
      @vaclav_fejt 7 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      For a Three Gun, add a Cobray Terminator. Or that High Standard shotgun.

    • @TonyNewJersey1
      @TonyNewJersey1 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Please no, I fear it would blow off his fingers...

  • @moregarythanminge2518
    @moregarythanminge2518 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Always impressed by your videos and the level of detail you get into. Extremely thorough examination of temporal context and influence on the macro timeline and the micro timeline of the fire arm itself. Keep up the fantastic work!

  • @therugburnz
    @therugburnz 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I love this episode. I watched it many times.
    Thanx Ian

  • @WJS774
    @WJS774 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I like the last phrase from the description box; "guns of this quality are quite rare to find from US manufacturers!" indeed!

  • @joansummers873
    @joansummers873 7 ปีที่แล้ว +546

    Ian, do a video on the HK G11. You haven't covered ceaseless ammunition in a while.
    Get this comment to the top!

    • @Kurt-Wehde
      @Kurt-Wehde 7 ปีที่แล้ว +141

      Never-ending ammunition? I didn't know HK invented that! I think you mean caseless :D

    • @jono3952
      @jono3952 7 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      Ah the old caseless ammunition problem. How do we maximize power and bullet mass without cooking the gun? You'd almost need to go the Mass Effect route and use nano-diamond heatsinks. That'd be an expensive gun...

    • @dopedepo
      @dopedepo 7 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      For everything H&K G11 and its devolopment related, you practically have to visit the Wehrtschnische Studiensammlung des BAAINBw in Koblenz, Germany. There are several of the G11 prototypes on display there, even some partially dissasembled.

    • @jono3952
      @jono3952 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Good idea, but I worry about case integrity. Not battlefield ideal getting crushed cartridges in your magazine. How thick would you have to make the walls, and the binding material would have to be something that would burn up quickly and completely without leaving any residue. I'm thinking like Zig-Zag rolling papers... :P

    • @joansummers873
      @joansummers873 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Kurt Wehde lmao, autocorrect strikes again!

  • @EchosTackyTiki
    @EchosTackyTiki 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    This gun is of about the best quality that one can expect from something coming out of the Wile E. Coyote School of Gunsmithing. This, my friends, is the WECSOG Premium™ Line.

  • @special_kitty7195
    @special_kitty7195 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I've been watching these videos everyday. I really enjoy the history and the manufacturing story's.

  • @coverfrequency2305
    @coverfrequency2305 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    These are wonderful lessons of gunsmithing and collections of history.

  • @jonathandalton2921
    @jonathandalton2921 7 ปีที่แล้ว +56

    better guns have been made in war time Rhodesia

    • @jonathandalton2921
      @jonathandalton2921 7 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanna_77 , i meant that but yeah the mamba was barely steps above shite

  • @Tracks777
    @Tracks777 7 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Keep it up! Looking forward for more videos from you, don't stop!

  • @londonjolly9174
    @londonjolly9174 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Oh man, I just rewatched a bunch of Lifesizedpotato's videos, including the GB. What timing!

  • @galildog
    @galildog 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Mike and Morrie owned L.E.S. at 3640 W. Dempster. Skokie ,IL. I was Friends and also did a lot of Business with them. They had brought in Imported the complete F.N.F.A.L. Rifle System and the Mag 58 Belt feed and the C.A.L. 5.56. RIFLE ALSO. Besides the F.N. Hi -Power for military and Law Enforcement.From the early 70's thru 1982 Till they went out of business When Mikes Dad passed away with Cancer.
    They also owned the Manville guns which was a gas launcher gun made in the 30's, Which a copy was made for 'Dog Of War" movie with Chris Walken. Know the full history of These. And they never went anyplace. And was one of the downfalls of a very Successful class three Machinegun business. Mike is Now Retired. Was glad to see this posted here.There story of the FAL importation is far more interesting, A new one in box sold recently for $500 Dollars.A sad ending to something I was involved with for many years with them.
    The F.A.L. rifle was the winner.The P-18 A Dream that became a downfall nightmare.

  • @ComradeCody
    @ComradeCody 7 ปีที่แล้ว +82

    Jesus christ here i thought our wartime production rifles and pistols were bad, this would have someone sent to siberia

    • @EattinThurs61
      @EattinThurs61 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Ah, you are the Russian bear. "It's better to be hugged by the Russian bear than to be clawed by the German Eagle" as neighbours of Russia once said. Some russian wartime weapons where crude but worked.

  • @RedFathom
    @RedFathom 7 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Would love to see a side by side comparison of them firing in slow motion.

  • @gionncaomhinmorpheagh4791
    @gionncaomhinmorpheagh4791 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    That was a very interesting and informative video, as usual in your excellent series. I've watched loads of your stuff and I must say that I've never, ever been disappointed and I've always learned something completely new.
    MsG

  • @jakeb.7997
    @jakeb.7997 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    I absolutely love the Steyr GB. Definitely one of my new favorite pistols :3

  • @RuSeK195
    @RuSeK195 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    this reminds me of that vietnamese 1911 copy you covered a while ago

  • @Gungeek
    @Gungeek 7 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    oh look the new Remington :)

  • @zJoriz
    @zJoriz 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    I actially searched your video db for a review of a Steyr GB, and now I got it. By accident, more or less, but still: thanks!

  • @sniperblast
    @sniperblast 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Always something new to learn from Ian, I had no idea a straight blowback could extract without an extractor.

  • @ProudToBeNoob
    @ProudToBeNoob 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    The Steyr GB may have been inspired by the Gustloff VG 1-5, but it seems the Rogak P18 was made like one.

    • @thesturm8686
      @thesturm8686 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Heck, a VG would work better

  • @bungalobill7941
    @bungalobill7941 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Rogak sounds like a low level star wars villain

  • @sidneywhite749
    @sidneywhite749 ปีที่แล้ว

    I always watch you videos, very interesting content. You and Paul are my go to videos.

  • @BeefaloBart
    @BeefaloBart 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    I always had a secret love of the GB, I like the looks and style of it.

  • @rasmusalmqvist5960
    @rasmusalmqvist5960 7 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    I'm sure the seller appreciates the publicity. 😃

    • @nehcrum
      @nehcrum 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I'm quite sure he does. see my other posts.

  • @Kusanagi808
    @Kusanagi808 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I still remember the gun magazines for the L.E.S. P-18..."Give it your best shot...19 times!" (Superimposed on a target with 19 bullet holes in it.) I wonder how often a full magazine could actually be fired without a malfunction. ;-)
    Also, I owned a Steyr GB for several years in the mid-80's. It was a very fine pistol, although a heavy beast considering it was a 9mm. I often wish I had kept it, just because you don't see them very often.

    • @Kusanagi808
      @Kusanagi808 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      That was supposed to read "I still remember the advertisements in the gun magazines"...

  • @bsuper63
    @bsuper63 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Well done Ian..!

  • @thegoldencaulk2742
    @thegoldencaulk2742 7 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    Morton Grove: First in service, first in safety.
    Those are both lies.

  • @ZGryphon
    @ZGryphon 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I particularly love the drywall screws on the grips. That's a quality touch.
    DID YOU KNOW: The good folk of Morton Grove were so embarrassed by this pistol, they banned handguns in their town.
    (Well, OK, it probably wasn't because of the P18. They did have a handgun ban, though.)

  • @amdg2023
    @amdg2023 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    I don't know what's more interesting? The guns or Ians presentations. He's good.

  • @OlOleander
    @OlOleander 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    At the end of this video I really just find myself wanting a GB because it seems so well-designed by comparison.

  • @DonJohn87_YT
    @DonJohn87_YT 7 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Man that thing is nasty

  • @danak8863
    @danak8863 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Steyr: "We've got this nailed!"
    Gaston Glock: Lol

  • @timfoley3189
    @timfoley3189 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    That is the finest garage built gun I've ever seen.

  • @shananagans5
    @shananagans5 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video. Very interesting bit of firearms history there.

  • @Sakuxxx1x
    @Sakuxxx1x 7 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    It would be a nice gun, when someone would tell me he made it alone by himself in his garage. =)

  • @LordRaa
    @LordRaa 7 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    This may be a prime example of "Friday Afternoon Labour"

    • @Akm72
      @Akm72 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Except five days a week...

    • @LordRaa
      @LordRaa 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I've seen work like that happen.

    • @jackandersen1262
      @jackandersen1262 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      For Friday Afternoon Labor, you just have to look at the SA80 series.

  • @bokachoy
    @bokachoy 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good vid, the Rogak is a real piece of work I remember seeing an article on it and it did not really go into much detail. I was very glad to see some mention of the GB what a great gun that one is. I had one for years I sold it when the Assault weapons bill showed up in my state and it just held too many rounds. But its a great gun and really really accurate. I hope someday to find another one maybe I can block the mag to 15 rounds. Anyway good video I like these kinds of pistols good job.

  • @JerryEricsson
    @JerryEricsson 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I recall this gun, when it first came out, I drooled over the magazine capacity, and in Stainless Steel even, wow that was the gun I wanted on my hip. Thankfully I never ordered one, I had an ffL at the time, however my paycheck was a bit short, and by the time it got around to buying another hand gun, the desire for a stainless was still there, but I had changed my mind about the 9 mm and went with a .45 ACP instead, purchasing an AMT Hardballer, nice gun but it too suffered a bit from lack of finishing. The main problem I had would have been an easy fix today, but back then I was not trained, when I took her out to the range to zero her in, (She had a set of sights right off an S&W Model 19 in appearance!) I found that about every third shot, the firing pin came out the back, what was happening was the sight elevation screw was too long, and the firing pin would stick forward, then the retainer would come out an when the slide slammed forward, the firing pin would bounce loose, and come flying out the back of the gun. Now days I would have I would have simply filed the screw down a tit and put in into the gun, I am sure she would be good to go, however I was still new to the gun world, so I traded her off on a target M1911A1 with an UGLY chrome top, a huge rib holding fully adjustable sight system, this added so much weight that the recoil was extremely slow. she took every thing I could feed her so the work on the frame and feed ramp was very good. This gun was heavy though, and I eventually traded her for something else.

  • @Cptjubjub
    @Cptjubjub 7 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Hey Ian,
    The Steyr GB seems to be a superior pistol to the Beretta from your description of accuracy. Also just from looking at it seems more simple for a soldier to look after too (Cant comment on it against the Glock as I've never handled one personally).
    So my question is could you elaborate on why it lost its trials in Austria and the US? I'd love to find out why.
    Keep up the good work love your videos.

    • @chuckjorris7952
      @chuckjorris7952 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It lost because 1 of the 72 requirements that the army demanded wasn't accomplished by the GB. It was superior in nearly every way to the beretta, at the same cost...

    • @chuckjorris7952
      @chuckjorris7952 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      In Austria it was also the best of all pistols tested, but the Glock was cheaper...

    • @gretah3969
      @gretah3969 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      ELJOCKEL Was one of the requirements a locked breach? The US Army loves to set arbitrary requirements like that that prevent perfectly viable weapons from competing.

    • @JackalRelated
      @JackalRelated 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Sean Heihn From what I heard the Steyr GB suffered from "reliability issues".

    • @ferdinandhumperdinck165
      @ferdinandhumperdinck165 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@JackalRelated How can a Pistot this simple suffer from Reliability issues?
      Unless you load wrong Ammo, I cant think of a way to make it have trouble....

  • @BL-wh2ux
    @BL-wh2ux 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This thing's design style and deviations from the real-deal are VERY reminiscent of those jungle 1911 knockoffs (among others) of the Vietnam War era.
    Same design "theory" if that makes sense. I wonder if the makers learned from the jungle engineers..

  • @SiegeHearts
    @SiegeHearts 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    The Steyr is quite beautiful and elegantly designed.

  • @ShawarmaFarmer
    @ShawarmaFarmer 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The Steyr GB. One of Paul Harrells most featured sidearms. That was the first place where I heard about the GB. Really interesting design.

  • @cloud819
    @cloud819 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    What is the likelihood the it is a knock off of pretrials version of the Styer? Are their any known pretrails examples to compare against?
    This pistol seems to have a few design features from the pistol generation before.

    • @nehcrum
      @nehcrum 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Extremely unlikely, since the "changes" makes no sense from an earlier design.
      Why remove the extractor? Or rather, why add it in later? What modern military pistol doesn't have an extractor and can't extract unfired cartridges?
      And the buffer stack that is there to essentially replace the non-functioning gas-delay mechanism of the original?
      And it's not like the Steyr GB has an advanced new system that has never been seen before, as Ian points out, that system was developed for a late WWII rifle.

  • @mihjq
    @mihjq 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    No one has finished watching yet, but I see 46 likes.

    • @realmenshoot3085
      @realmenshoot3085 7 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      Michal K It's a Forgotten Weapons video, we click like and THEN click play. :)

    • @nehcrum
      @nehcrum 7 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Saves time.

    • @ShiceSquad
      @ShiceSquad 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Good plan but I think TH-cam metrics notices when you do that and doesn't like it so much.

  • @homeFall1
    @homeFall1 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Very interesting, thanks for sharing

  • @hanktorrance6855
    @hanktorrance6855 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The quality difference is apparent even from a distance, when it's side by side with the "real thing". It might not be a "Chinese mystery pistol" but Ian's "Khyber Pass" is hilariously accurate!

    • @hungryburger1170
      @hungryburger1170 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      that's an insult to the Khyber Pass

  • @ToastyMozart
    @ToastyMozart 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Jeez, that manufacturing quality looks worse than the gas BB pistol I picked up a while ago.

  • @jackmcslay
    @jackmcslay 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Is there a particular reason for service pistols not to use philips screws?

    • @ToastyMozart
      @ToastyMozart 7 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Jack Mcslay I'd assume it's because the heads are harder to strip on flatheads, or because it's easier to find something to improvise a screwdriver with.

    • @arktikat0083
      @arktikat0083 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      ToastyMozart Maybe another reason is a flathead is easier to turn without a proper screwdriver, so for military use that could be an advantage, and I also remember in the early days screw supposed be hand made by gunsmith, so flathead also easier to make and looks better on a high end firearm, British shotgun makers still using this method today.

    • @vaclav_fejt
      @vaclav_fejt 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Philips (also Allen, Pozidriv, Torx...) are better in terms of torque and durability, however they do require special screwdriver heads.

    • @SuperFunkmachine
      @SuperFunkmachine 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Generally there viewed as cheap and a lack of forethought.

    • @EattinThurs61
      @EattinThurs61 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      You need a special screwdriver. My Italian army surplus folding knife has a flat screwdriver, probably for the soldiers rifle/weapon, that is usuable without opening the knife. Gave one to a hunter friend...

  • @laretus
    @laretus 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    O' Gun Jesus, we thank you for this boon

  • @mrgbig6237
    @mrgbig6237 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    The title is perfect. I've used this video as a cautionary tale for a number of new machinists that thought they knew how guns should be made.

  • @USALibertarian
    @USALibertarian 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    The Rogak has a decocker. Point it at your crotch and fire! Decocked.