4K Review: Mateba 6 Unica semi-auto revolver

This is a redo of my shameful review of the Mateba 6 Unica from 5 years ago, this time in high-res 4K. These innovative revolvers have a unique semi-automatic mechanism that cocks the hammer for you. Are these really worth the $3000 (and more) they command at auction these days, or are they just a silly gimmick "answer to a question nobody asked" like I hear all too often?

[@gerry343]

Once you've seen the 6 o'clock barrel, you wonder why more manufacturers didn't think of it.

[@ElderSwamp]

Because italian genious was needed... 🇮🇹

[@nathanjones3429]

Yeah I wasn't that surprised to find out the same designer helped create the chiappa rhino.

[@longiusaescius2537]

@Nathan Jones huh

[@the_inquisitive_inquisitor]

I think a big part of it early on was that you use less steel with a 12 o'clock barrel. The Chiappa Rhino uses a lot of aluminum to save cost & weight, plus it has a rather complex hammer mechanism. Mostly, I think the 12 o'clock barrel is just a tradition at this point.

[@krazykyle393]

The high barrel is technically easier to sight in because it has less sight over bore space

[@RasputinReview]

It's the answer to the question "what's the coolest gun you could possibly make?"

[@srjohndeans5508]

Wildey in any caliber.

[@modakkagitplugga]

Fostech Origin 12 is a close second (with Luke's slugs and some purity seals it's basically an Bolter), with the fightlight raider following in third as the modern day mare's leg.

[@NXTangl]

No it's not. That would require it to be break-action, chamber explosive ammunition, and have an underslung single-barrel shotgun for breaching.

[@jdjeep98]

You misspelled "ugly"

[@someweeb3650]

What if you made it a bullpup with quickly replaceable cylinders tho

[@fablesguykol3025]

Screw anyone who disses this gun, this is a thing of beauty and awesomeness I need in my life.

[@Akhazmat907]

Agreed

[@Lleonharte]

who disses lol

[@muhammadnajmimurindo9723]

The semi automatic mechanism is a game changer for the revolver world !

[@tristanduff]

Italian guns are equal parts function and art.

[@braileveracruz]

This is the kinda revolver you’d see as a handcannon in destiny 2, and I love it.

[@vector6977]

That moment when a Colt Python is considered a common gun by its owner.

[@Chris-yy5pj]

lol i think a python is alot better

[@jpb1231000]

Yeah,,, That's as Close to a "Normal 357" he's got!!! The man has Korth's!!!

[@theranger2185]

Dude for real haha

[@jamesavery6671]

Its pretty common. Colt made the python for 50 years but everybody wants 2k plus for them because of all the movies and shows they are in.

[@godchi1dvonsteuben770]

Yeah... they are common bro... I've shot the Colt .357, and the Mateba... Mateba's way more fun, much cooler, way more comfortable. Python's a lil' more accurate at a high rate of fire...

[@thekingofcardboard]

7:25 yep it's Italian, dry firing it sound like snapping a handful of uncooked spagetti in half.

[@TRIIGGAVELLI]

I can assure you no real Italian is snapping spaghetti in half.

[@mrnickbig1]

ARGHHHH! I had one in .44 magnum, about 10 years ago. I can't believe they are thousands of dollars now! I sold mine for around $400. The Unica was also used in Firefly.

[@johnhardin2269]

I'll be damned! I never noticed. I remember some odd guns, but I just assumed they were nonworking props. Innovative guns like this are great in sci fi movies, but the next scene is some political theater run by a perv looking for any place he can hammer a wedge into the Constitution.

[@adrianfirewalker4183]

@@johnhardin2269 , sounds like the modern political scene in the US

[@jacobdiejude124]

mrnickbig1 dumbass

[@JustaThing]

Firefly introduced me too Mateba and I've wanted one sense (re watching it rn is why I'm looking up the gun again)

[@gourdguru]

@@JustaThing for me it was when i saw it in Ghost in the Shell as Togusa's Revolver. i'm not even a big "Gun Guy", but the minute i saw the Unica it just made an impact, like the first time a young kid sees a vintage Chevy Camaro or Corvette Stingray. it's like if Dirty Harry was Robocop, this would be his gun. honestly, if i could justify spending the cash on one, i don't care it's a museum piece you can't find parts for anymore, i'd make this my EDC in a shoulder holster. "you must be processing, 'did he fire 5 rounds, or 6'? you've got to file one query: 'Do i estimate the statistics are favorable?' Well, go ahead Punk-bot, MAKE MY REFRESH CYCLE."

[@lufknuht5960]

Both this & the Rhino look like they should have a built-in laser above the barrel, very close to the barrel so there is little parallax in the aim.

[@ap1s2k78]

Luf knuht that would be super badass.

[@ChrisShepley]

Both designed by same guy, so similarities are not incedental.

[@zerrodefex]

Looks like it, but that metal above the barrel is what gives it the nice balance. My Rhino 60DS has both a top and bottom rail for accessories.

[@mariocassina90]

Mateba was a pasta kneading machines producer before starting making guns...just in Italy....

[@jacobmelanson3210]

As delicious as the are deadly. That should be their slogan.

[@hombreg1]

+Jacob Melanson that sounds like a mafia assassination, poisoned pasta company.

[@stevemadison8431]

hombreg1 bh

[@simonepiselli1004]

Northern Italy got gunsmithing in their tradition, no surprise there are enthusiasts that wanted to build their own gun factory, especially a pasta factory owner (very rich guy)

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

And Glock made curtain rods and whatnot.

[@TheYankeeMarshal]

Please feel free to send me this gun when you get bored with it.

[@corpsie666]

I'm calling dibs on your Rhino if he does

[@adeutchman]

I also enjoy your channel. And your rants actually make sense. Keep up the good fight.

[@thats_my_comment]

TheYankeeMarshal so what was the idea of the cylinder releasing the hammer at the bottom of the cylinder just and unusual design unique any particular reason

[@tristanberke8759]

recoil goes straight back into your arm, rather than upwards like with most revolvers which causes muzzle flip. a 2" rhino recoils less than a 4 inch smith or ruger.

[@lucasblanchard47]

TheYankeeMarshal sounds like never to me lol

[@godchi1dvonsteuben770]

The beaver tail is to compliment the 6 o'clock bore in reducing muzzle flip. The whole gun is genius...

[@michaelbarrett1914]

if you break your grips they can be repaired to look original but be rock solid. As a professional Carpenter and long time woodworker I would be glad to give you advise if 5his ever happens to you!

[@Bruciando]

Or you could just take them off, use them as a master to make a mold, & make replacements at will from Bondo... :-)

[@WelLRoundeDSquarE]

if you ever break a part, contact me and i will gladly custom machine any parts you need. Any gunsmith with any talent could hand make you parts. I'm just a machinist, albeit a very gifted one.

[@daa3417]

You and Ian, men after my own heart. Thanks for showing us stuff that I'd likely never see otherwise.

[@Tsniper2009]

+Da A and if they ever collab... that would be the day.

[@007bondson1]

dude you are on a different realm of gun collecting, and it kicks ass

[@Lowlandlord]

The .380 Mateba is actually stupidly rare apparently.

[@nirvana613]

I'm so happy that his channel exists, these firearms are so special and unique that it really is a shame that more people can't shoot/review them. Absolutely love your videos and the history that goes along with these amazing guns !

[@scottgindroz1474]

The Japanese anime Ghost in the shell has one of its main characters a detective carrying one.

[@Sgt_Glory]

Another character even wonders why he's carrying an outdated revolver. He tells him he wouldn't understand, it just fits him. I'd probably say the same if I owned one of these beauties.

[@scottgindroz1474]

I didn't think anyone else noticed this except me. Good to know someone else knows it too.

[@bhimatamaindrana6104]

one of its character on Ghost in The Shell, actually carrying two mateba, the 6 unica & 2006M

[@McStebb]

+AEigner I think it's symbolic. He says a traditional, out dated firearm "fits him" because Togusa himself is traditional (family man) and out-dated (being the only member of the team that doesn't have a fully cybernetic body. just a cyber brain.)

[@daftdudeOG]

ghost in the shell and battlefield 4 brought me here, i agree with Togusa

[@BrassicaRappa]

Thanks for the videos! It's such a bummer that there doesn't seem to be enough of a market to keep cool stuff like this going.

[@joshuaurbany6468]

battlefield 4 really went all out with weird ass dlc pistols

[@daftdudeOG]

Joshua Urbany agreed

[@needsanewname414]

They had the short barrel on it though, should have given it a longer barrel and made it bigger in the players hand, that would have made it awesome

[@Sentient6ix]

Joshua Urbany shoulda made it the .454 Cassul instead of the .357

[@crispyboy4735]

Collin McKinley i like the rhino revolver

[@needsanewname414]

It just looks realy tiny in the players hand tho.

[@joshparnow9044]

I think you sold me on this! Such a beautiful gun and design! Thanks for showing it off. I had only seen one of these a couple times in my life and now I need one...

[@spazzypengin]

I dunno if you noticed but it looks like someone replaced your Glock 17 with a dummy Glock.

[@LifeSizePotato]

Don't know what you're talking about, that Glock is my SHTF gun.

[@flinchfu]

spazzypengin Yeah, looks like a rubber self-defense trainer or something. Still functions for size comparison though.

[@hailtothe_rooster1572]

Name one glock not carried by a dummy

[@HuhWhydough]

It basically functions the same

[@OlOleander]

Looks gorgeous! Thanks for taking another look at this mechanically fascinating gun.

[@iqbalroskolnikov1391]

Very well done. I like the reviews by the actual collectors of unique weapons. Collecting them (as a small tie enthusiast myself I know) costs a lots of compromises where you spend on you hobby rather than many other things out there. Keep up the good work and I hope you can find the 454 Casul as well.

[@OmegaTacoz]

i never thought i would find that one of my most favorite revolver design would be real. thank you for this information

[@Cheezwizzz]

Beautiful gun! Love the design and concept! Thx for sharing

[@Valdyr_Hrafn]

This is now my favourite gun, and I never even liked guns that much! I'm so happy to have learned about this.

[@MaximilianoAedo]

Togusa is one of my favorite characters of the Ghost in the Shell franchise, largely because of this revolver.

[@RobinTheBot]

I've been looking for this revolver review for *MONTHS!* And youtube finally figured it out.

[@marcmaddock9980]

Im from England and have only ever had a passing interest in guns, mainly due to our very strict laws. That said I find your videos very interesting. Keep up the good work mate.

[@gmanbeavis]

The Rhinos are hideous, but there is some mechanical splendor about the Mateba that has some inquisitive appeal. Cool video!

[@tuck234]

Fitty% TACTICAL may disagree. lol

[@Chris-yy5pj]

i like the rhino

[@gorillaump5869]

Your bike is uglier...

[@colinmoriarty]

i'll trade you a kidney

[@marcusarchuleta722]

Haha

[@MrSukiflash]

Just fininished watching your video and thoroughly enjoy it.Your knowedge of these beautifully made weapons is completely accurate and I learned a lot.I use to be in the gun business here in the US years ago and shot in all forms of competition.When I saw that beautiful 22 target pistol at the end of this video I just grinned and grinned.Of all the exotic 22 competition guns that I shot it was by FAR my favorite.I subscribed and I am looking forward to more of your videos.Thank You

[@Xyb3rTeCh]

Great thumbs up for using 4K! I really like the details! Fricken amazing!

[@ajopasoij9d00]

Ghost in the shell!

[@n0oo7]

Vash the stampede's gun as well.

[@ShitfuckMuhGee]

Nope, Vash's gun is a fictional design, different from the Mateba. it was the AGL Arms .45 Long Colt

[@algierssolja]

Of course its fictional it turns his whole arm into a WMD....that said there are a lot of similarities. Obviously an inspiration.

[@MarlowQAI]

Vash's gun always reminded me of a Dan Wesson PPC

[@lovecraftcat]

GITS revolver is also a fictional gun, a fusion of 2 mateba designs/

[@swanseamale47]

These remind me of the "Blade runner" pistol from the first film.

[@MilkyKilky]

Wayne Clarke I was thinking the same thing.

[@aaronquak2139]

The "LAPD 2019 Blaster" was actually the receiver and bolt of a Steyr Mannlicher .222 Model SL bolt action rifle mated to bits of a revolver!

[@hfrendal5374]

What a wonderful gun, I never had the chance to look at it before. Thank you very much.

[@Stiftoad]

I'm here from Zach's gun rants, this revolver has been living in my head rent free for months.

[@tonycarpaccio9550]

I remember seeing this years ago on Ghost in the Shell, beautiful looking especially the .44.

[@tonyorob]

those three guns are the coolest revolvers if ever seen

[@user-ox4bv3it4i]

Agree it looks future cowboy style

[@SnipeU696]

Thank you for sharing. Ive loved these revolver since I found out about them in my youth.

[@MPGunther1]

Beautiful work of art and you did an excellent explaination of the firearm. Thank you

[@IIApollyonII]

I loved this gun in Battlefield 4 before and after the revolver buff. So great to see a video about the real life gun.

[@Ryarios]

The under barrel is a cool concept. Just keep your thumb from your support hand away from the flash gap...

[@Fudmottin]

You have absolutely the best / coolest pistol collection on all of KZbin.

[@MajorArtillary]

Ever since I saw Forgotten Weapons do a review on a one off, handmade auto revolver, I've had an obsession with recoil operated revolvers. I'll have to keep an eye out for one of these in .357.

[@internetexplorer8588]

is your Glock sick?

[@22tcm34]

Internet Explorer hahahahahahaha

[@SuperSuperdude88]

Lmfao ahaha

[@SHADOWBEAR82763]

It does look a bit pale and gray... lol.

[@timokkhan9020]

Looks very safe to me

[@fenrirunshackled4319]

Probably shoots the best out of any glock.

[@irregularguy6465]

i really hope this comes back into production. it's my dream pistol but i doubt i'll be able to find or afford one in my life if it stays a collector's type, especially the .454 casull version.

[@landobando4206]

Loving The 4k Quality !! Keep it coming

[@kevinshafty7874]

Man you have one heck of a collection, thanks for sharing.

[@KneightRiduh]

...but does it take Glock mags?

[@Z1269]

Clipazine

[@truedarklander]

yES

[@ghoulishgoober3122]

KneightRiduh Nah but it takes 100 round drum mags

[@83rickyspanish51]

Does it come in 300 Blackout?

[@xxxxxx5868]

Is this a gun community meme?

[@mxxkxxg]

I'm glad to see you're redoing some of your reviews in 4K. I have to admit though I always got a good chuckle that you had such an impressive collection with a $25 camera. With so many excellent firearms what's your daily carry? I'm sure it's nothing obscure or too weird, I'm just curious. Also I've heard you mention in a few videos "rabbit hairs" do you raise rabbits or something?

[@ploppyploppy6554]

Mike Smith rabbit hairs are scratches .

[@adrianfirewalker4183]

I've been around guns all my life, and have rabbits. I thought the same thing

[@charleshmansfield5786]

This guy is most knowledgeable and easy to listen to.

[@reproshenkaMV]

very cool gun. when i saw it on looper and later in another video. glad to see the design concept still in use today

[@lungcanc3r666]

We have one in 44 rem mag at the shop. Its a beautiful gun.

[@C-M-E]

Like many novel firearms, I had the chance to snag a .357 model a number of years ago for $700. I didn't but really regret it! I wouldn't sell it today even if I did have one as the engineering of these are what always attracted me. They are iconic in my mind and plain cool. Thanks for sharing these, and I'll have to dig around what else is in your collection.

[@SirSpinalColumn]

Man I’m glad you said they were snap caps. I’ll was losing my mind when you demonstrated the recocking mechanism with what looked like a live round in the camber...

[@jackgreenstalk777]

Awesome video!! Amazing collection 👍👍

[@ast453000]

The cheapest way to get "stares at the range" is to wear your Hillary Clinton tee shirt.

[@Nik-ff3tu]

Nah, most wouldn't care cuz they're there to shoot, not to gawk at people like some sheltered kid at an airport...

[@paullytle246]

Zeke Elmore eh who commits acts of terrorism

[@UsserError]

Thank you for that haha!

[@waveemann8857]

Imagine enjoying a hobby or inanimate object without having to bring politics into it because you're not that boring and shallow of a person.

[@paullytle246]

Billthazar planned parenthood bombers Dylan roof

[@jaytonhawkins2872]

This and the Rhino were also featured in Battlefield 4

[@Chris-yy5pj]

Jayton Hawkins the sights on the unica were so bad they were like tritium yellow it was nasty

[@jaytonhawkins2872]

dat boi I personally prefer the Mini RDS but I didn't mind the night sights that came with it

[@needsanewname414]

Jayton Hawkins mini rds > delta rds

[@SimoTheSergal]

Jayton Hawkins and the s&w 40

[@anonymousli4204]

My lady likes to be naked when I hold her. I couldn't bear the thought of somebody putting clothes on their revolver. They really don't need anything in that game. Or at least I found the iron sights to be satisfactory. I mean it's not like it's the G36 iron sights with the circle that has everything else blocked out around it. Or the AR variants that always have the front post present even though it's very easy to remove it. I think the M60 would have to be one of the worst offenders in my honest opinion

[@Nick-A1]

Thanks Zach for leading me down this rabbit hole

[@Fugettaboutit]

Seems like a very nicely crafted piece.

[@sergeantbigmac]

Talk about a gun that answered a question no one was asking... I was wondering what happened to you. Your videos are unique and have a certain unmatched quality. Not to mention your selection of firearms lol! You talk nonchalantly about guns that most people save for years just to buy one of. I appreciate the effort for the highest quality video (literally). But I can barely handle 1080p with my internet and set-up LOL. I always run everything on 720 because I dont see a huge difference and 480 if anyone else is using the internet. Again I appreciate the effort.

[@JeffReeves]

Nice avatar. I take it you are a fan of The Thing from 1982?

[@HotaruZoku]

"A question no one asked". Like antibiotics, electricity, gunpowder, gasoline, video games......literally hundreds of world altering concepts brought to us by creative minds who didn't wait for a market demand to invent?

[@XxMeatShakexX]

Yes nobody ever asked "I want to stop dying from disease"

[@HotaruZoku]

@@XxMeatShakexX No one ever said "Please liquefy bread mold and inject me with it."

[@XxMeatShakexX]

@@HotaruZoku But they totally expressed the desire attached to it.

[@HotaruZoku]

@@XxMeatShakexX Humanity "expressed the desire" to read after dark without the hazard of candle light in wooden homes, but no one asked Edison to make the electric lightbulb .

[@XxMeatShakexX]

@@HotaruZoku You're being incredibly literal lmao. Enjoy sitting at a stop sign staring because it never changes text to "okay go now"

[@stanviers8792]

Wow, this is the Concorde of revolvers, what a piece of art. I bet shes a sweet shooter. Im truly impressed. Thanks

[@semibreve]

Great video, thanks for sharing your beautiful guns

[@Crylhound]

I watched the original video a few days ago and subbed. Now lets watch the redo shall we. Btw. I first saw this pistol in "Ghost in the shell" in the late 90s.

[@22freedom33]

+Crylhound The one used in Ghost in The Shell is the 2006m 1:49 not the Unica 6 since they came out closer to the release of the movie.

[@TheBigOne0305]

+22freedom33 IIRC Togusa's revolver wasn't exactly either one, but a fictionalized model incorporating elements from both.

[@Crylhound]

TheBigOne0305 Yepp, I think so, too

[@FranKirara]

+TheBigOne0305 In the 1995 movie and S.A.C anime, Togusa's Mateba is a Unica 6 frame (which doesn't 'cover' the cylinder) with a 2006M front-end and hammer. In the Innocence movie it's a 2006M lookalike. They are DA/SA in both cases.

[@randyfurness2415]

Taking gun collection to a unprecedented level 😀

[@bsavoie9840]

Really great video. Fascinating gun. My first exposure to it was it being used in Ghost in the shell. For a long time I wasn't even sure it was real or made up for the show!

[@triggerfist903]

I totally need one of these. It looks so cool and the concept is neat to.

[@joshglover2370]

My favorite gun in Watchdogs! One of the best 360 games ever made! 😃

[@moonrunner8791]

revolver ocelot should've rocked this instead!

[@BigBoss_670]

But it's not the greatest gun ever created.

[@kparker1145]

"6 shots. More than enough to kill anything that moves!"

[@calebhurst2529]

The tornado has to have been based off of the mateba

[@AlexVanChezlaw]

The tornado is based on thr mateba 2006m

[@rod4309]

I've had a gun crush on the Mateba MTR-8 for a while now. Just love that look!

[@SolutreanSpear]

Never enough Mateba thanks for the video! You have excellent taste in firearms

[@scribejackhammar]

To me, it allows a faster fire rate while being rather accurate. Double actions have heavy triggerpull and long travel, which can throw off your aim.

[@Charming_Prism]

What a magnificent revolver.

[@thats_my_comment]

Charming_Prism absolutely a unique revolver the slide with the grip underneath the cylinder bottom side firing pin just everything about it unique

[@hatfield4805]

never knew these guns existed. love the vids man.. subbing.

[@nyuki187]

fantastic review, video, and channel. wish you all the best, subbed.

[@vindicatorg8392]

Sick gun!

[@oromoto]

This is a cool one.

[@ShiniSaba]

The long barrel with the shroud looks so damn good

[@jnieto237]

Super cool video. Thank you for the education.

[@Astilath]

"Its my ass on the line out there. Use the Zastava!"

[@mikesweeney5244]

Love this.Makes my MK VII .44 mag desert eagle look normal.

[@thats_my_comment]

Mike Sweeney agree you read my mind I thought the same thing

[@1946jeeplover]

Great review

[@masqueman01]

Wow. Never knew about this, just the rhino. Cool video. Thanks

[@holster7361]

I'm so proud of myself because I just unlocked this gun in BF4

[@nirapsingh9773]

I use this as my secondary in warface

[@treyvonburg2441]

I wasn't expecting that at all. That was really interesting, would love to shoot one.

[@LazyGrayF0x]

This is coolest piece I ever seen! So cool!

[@MajinGouki]

this gun is that of "give them hell mallone" movie

[@joeyazzz]

you got to get 25 kills with it to unlock the desert eagle

[@Trollo_Swaggins]

I could see a hybrid between this and the dardick feed system being very effective

[@gospyro]

Very cool, would love to have one! I just picked up a Chiappa Rhino.

[@TheRedeye6]

No, see, the question was "Do you know what would be totally badass?" This is the answer.

[@MarkArandjus]

Almost looks like something for 'retiring' replicants :P

[@Mildcat743]

Something cool about the special barrel wrench for the non-comped barrels is that it looks like the rod in the center is plastic so you dont screw up the crown of the bore.

[@_mr.j_]

I honestly wasn’t convinced at how badass this gun is until I saw that semi automatic function

[@Ezekiel903]

looks absolutely gorgeous, the carbine also! the semi auto function, absolutely amazing! i would by both model

[@CoolGuyAtlas]

"One of the disadvantages of a revolver over a pistol is that a revolver is double action only which effects accuracy and speed" "A revolver that automatically cocks the hammer after firing? Talk about a solution to a non-existent problem!"

[@asoftdickler9539]

CoolGuyAtlas it will never jam semi will

[@alexandersimpson3638]

Doesn’t firing at the 6 O’Clock position greatly reduce recoil in an upward direction? The advantage being you can quickly recover your site.

[@EthanThomson]

having the barrel at the 6 o'clock puts the recoil force more in line with your arm, which reduces the lever action that comes from having the recoil energy further from your arm (written at like 1am so sorry if that made no sense)

[@hoangvuification]

video in 4k huh? /watch in 360p/

[@sigurd3580]

Came here from BF4, called the Unica 6 ingame, favorite revolver i've used in the game. Would love to own one of these seems like an awesome firearm in the real world.

[@iroquoisplissken3583]

That carbine version looks awesome, I’d love to see one