Want to see inside an FG42?

[Ian]

I just put up a video on the internal workings of the German FG42 paratroop rifle - really a pretty ingenious design (which, yes, was screwed up and turned into the M60).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdaUPUZXdSM

You can see the whole Forgotten Weapons page on the FG42 here: http://www.forgottenweapons.com/german-ww2-rifles/german-fg-42/

 

[Sam1911]

Is there anything you do that isn't incredibly cool?

 

[CmpsdNoMore]

I've never seen much on the FG-42. It's another piece of amazing engineering from the germans!

 

[Kahuna5]

That is one awesome looking rifle even if it is not functional

 

[Ian]

Lots of stuff, Sam, but I have the option to not publicize it.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

Another great video as always, Ian. Very interesting stuff.

 

[Sam1911]

Lots of stuff, Sam, but I have the option to not publicize it.

Well, if you'd post some of it -- maybe just a quick vid of you walking through a fancy restaurant with toilet paper stuck to your shoe...just midly embarassing, nothing too bad -- it would help out the rest of us with jealousy issues!

 

[Robert]

it would help out the rest of us with jealousy issues!

Indeed.

Ian, do you need an assistant? I am surly, not really house broken and eat a fair amount. But I look good shooting old machine guns...

 

[Parabellum9095]

Watched and commented on the video as soon as it hit my YouTube feed. The FG-42 is a real piece of work. The way that the sear interacts with the piston rather than with a hammer like in most other rifles is ingenious, and the option to switch between closed and open bolt firing modes is pretty cool as well.

I know that there was some company that was trying to make and market replicas of the FG-42 in .308. If that ever gets off the ground I'll own one in a heartbeat.

 

[Ian]

If you want to know about my inadequacies, ask Justin about my bullseye pistol scores...and know that they haven't gotten any better since we left school. If turns out that fiddling with old guns doesn't actually translate into shooting skills.

And hey, if you want to get your name out there, I'm always happy to publish guest posts...

Parabellum - Yep, I'm pretty confident that the semiauto FG42s will not be vaporware. Keep an eye on my blog, and I suspect you'll be able to see one in action once they're ready for market.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Really interesting and well designed if a tad complex--like most German things.

 

[PercyShelley]

Seems substantially similar to the Lewis Gun, just with a whole lot of metal removed.

I had always read that these things fired from an open bolt for FA and a closed bolt for semi. Looks like they actually fired from an open bolt for FA and from a less open bolt for semi.