Chinese Warlord Pistols: Shanghai Model 1900 Pistol-Carbine

Get in on the "Pistols of the Warlords" Kickstarter today!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
Not all of the handguns made in China during the Warlord Era were made one at a time by individual artisan gunsmiths. A few models were produced on proper Western-style production lines. Almost all of these production pistols were direct copies of the FN 1900 and Mauser C96, except for this fascinating exception: the Shanghai Arsenal Model 1900 Pistol-Carbine (a collector designation and not an original name - we don't know what the original designation was).
This pistol is essentially a hybrid of the two common Chinese copies. It uses the mechanical basis of the FN 1900, with that design's unique breechblock and striker mechanism, plus the recoil spring above the barrel and the .32 ACP chambering. This is blended with a grip slotted for a Mauser-type stock, a 10-round magazine, a 500m fully functional tangent rear sight, and an extended (5.5 inch) barrel. Several thousand of these were made by the Shanghai Arsenal between 1916 and 1921, just as the height of the Warlord Era was about to begin.
These guns were well made and reliable, and have legitimate serial numbers and dates. However, there were also small-scale knockoffs of this domestic Chinese design made, and we have one such example to look at today along with the originals!
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle 36270
Tucson, AZ 85740

[@kubrick1969]

Next RIA auction: Auctioneer: Here we have a legit and certified Mauser P08 owned by Himmler FW fellas: SHUT UP AND SHOW US THE WAUSERS

[@George_Doc]

BGPATHSSGKKGTMRRHOBGTMGSGTKG

[@MultiRokusho]

I think one of his walther pocket pistols was for sale on gunbroker for 74k

[@luisnunes2010]

@Fluesterwitz lol

[@ericstromberg9608]

@Fluesterwitz It would be stamped "WUGER", with a Colt logo.

[@twunt2000]

@Antonio Velázquez So you won't want the P08 then?

[@alexsoklakov7454]

500m sights on 32 ACP gun. Behold! One and true definition of word "optimistic".

[@kmech3rd]

Two words... Indirect fire 😆 Not very effective indirect fire, but nonetheless.

[@SlavicCelery]

@@kmech3rd Indirect fire? You mean a Darra Adam Khel wedding celebration?

[@kmech3rd]

@Rykiel Toh Maybe. Provided that kilometer is vertical and the target is on the ground.

[@Bacteriophagebs]

@Rykiel Toh Well, it CAN be. A kid in my city was killed by a 9mm fired from two miles away by some idiot shooting his Glock in the air for July 4th.

[@leonardusrakapradayan2253]

@@Bacteriophagebs was the guy arrested?

[@lbh002]

That "odd dog" is known in colloquial English as a foo dog, but is actually a traditional rendition of a Chinese guardian lion.

[@Craitash]

"Thomas, why did you buy large breed dog food?"

[@Pcm979]

@@Craitash I understood that reference.

[@mikepette4422]

i knew that :)

[@korbetthein3072]

@@Craitash That a Dresden Files reference?

[@thescatologistcopromancer3936]

My dumb racist father called them "Chinese shishi dogs"

[@yorick6035]

7:41 So even in the early 20th century they had problems with cats walking on keyboards?

[@ArneHerz]

That can even managed to type a Smiley face, that's pretty nice of it.

[@KennethDPedersen]

It’s just like a cassette tape, each copy generation gets worse

[@ferrisbueller9991]

You got me busting a gut Kenneth!

[@envoyend9149]

Man, even the Chinese knockoffs aren't safe from Chinese knockoffs.

[@johnsegertsons2143]

Man you gotta be ragged poor to have to buy a knock off ,of a knock off.

[@ManOnTheRange]

@@johnsegertsons2143 and what about knock off of a knock off of a knock off pistol??? :-D

[@johnsegertsons2143]

@@ManOnTheRange then you gotta be ragged poor and crazy. At a certain point it becomes a hand grenade more than a gun.lol

[@ManOnTheRange]

@@johnsegertsons2143 why??? having an oddity does not make you crazy ;-)

[@johnsegertsons2143]

@@ManOnTheRange ok

[@jukkab5352]

That gibberish is the Chinese equivalent of someone getting a Chinese tattoo that actually says soup as opposed to peace or whatever

[@brittakriep2938]

Years ago in a german newspaper readers could write funny events of their lives. One reader told , that when the first ,chinese' restaurants had been seen in Germany, he visited one with his girlfriend. The girlfriend painted some chinese letters/ signs on a paper, and at home she painted, much larger, this letters on a T-shirt. When the couple visited the chinese restaurant the next time, the owner and waiters smiled/ laughed. The chinese letters at the the breast part oft the T-shirt said: Fresh and tasty.

[@Lomi311]

Wind call for a .32 pistol at 500m: 38 target lengths left, 52 high. That should do it.

[@rezlogan4787]

Like shooting a curve ball!

[@lairdcummings9092]

Rainbows!

[@guntotingnerd8830]

You know you might be able to hit an enemy behind cover with that sort of hold

[@KR-hg8be]

@@guntotingnerd8830 this pistol is indirect fire artillery.

[@SimuLord]

"Impact." *bang* "Neutralized."

[@tacticalgreengecko7369]

This pistol is 100 years old and it looks like it was made 20 years ago absolutely amazing condition.

[@ShmoeBoe]

@asdrubale bisanzio its chambered in .32 ACP, I'm sure they were fine.

[@TheFanatical1]

Like many warlord pistols, one might surmise they were waved around a lot and not shot very often

[@lairdcummings9092]

Probably stuck in an armory somewhere and forgotten for 70 years.

[@demonprinces17]

Been in a box waiting to be used

[@tacticalgreengecko7369]

Am I the only one that kinda wants one of these? Like ya it would be better in 9mm and ya it's definitely not practical for anything. But I just kinda like it enough to where I'd buy one for 600. Seems like a fun plinker

[@yorick6035]

I supported you on kickstarter yesterday. Really hope you make the 2 million goal so you can (hopefully) come here to the Netherlands. Keep on being awesome Ian, gunfinger to you!

[@beartactical458]

Good on you mate... me too... Ian does a great job... Hopefully my brand new channel will be able to support Ian too, he does such an excellent job.

[@twilightparanormalresearch186]

He’s gun Jesus for a reason

[@twopoundertranslationteam6335]

In China, Shanghai Arsenal's large pistol-carbine version is called "Eight-inch Browning Pisol (八寸勃朗宁手枪)" while the standard copy is called "Six-inch Browning Pistol (六寸勃朗宁手枪)". Anyway, still a very educational video you've made!

[@TheDocPlatypus]

Wait how did you write that one week ago? Are you collabing with Ian? That's cool.

[@lairdcummings9092]

@@TheDocPlatypus Patreon early access.

[@wbybhx9939]

@@TheDocPlatypus actually they make chinese subtitle for Ian's video and upload them on chinese video site,I belive they also help Ian to find some data about chinese weapons

[@timallen6035]

Once again I learn about a pistol that I had never heard of before. That's why I like this channel.

[@tendymancommeth]

thats cause it was forgotten.

[@sidewinder666666]

One would hope that a poorly-made pistol in .32 ACP is less likely to blow up than a poorly-made one chambered for .45 ACP.

[@kubrick1969]

It seems to me that in the next RIA auction, chinese mistery pistols rise to one million dollars per piece. (If it's a Wauser, one trillion)

[@brittakriep2938]

In 1923 Inflation was so high in Germany, that we had 1 Milliarde ( for english speakers 1 billion) Mark paper money/ bills(?).

[@tarstakars]

Wasn't the "Wauser" Inspector Gadgets carry piece ?....

[@allangibson2408]

@@tacticalmattfoley Zimbabwean Dollars are close enough…

[@michaeltempsch5282]

@@brittakriep2938 Pffft, that's nothing!😀💨💸 Zimbabwe, not too many years ago, went to 100 trillion (billion/biljon in non-english, 100 000 000 000 000) bills/notes. When they gave up and converted to US$, the rate was 35 quadrillion to 1

[@brittakriep2938]

@@michaeltempsch5282 : I never heard this, terrible for the people there.

[@redram5150]

You know the build quality is poor when the grip has a picture of a Hi Point 100 years before they existed

[@cameronmccreary4758]

I love how Ian calls one gun the, "real gun," and so we wait until tomorrow when Ian fires it.

[@timothyboles6457]

Should we take out a life insurance policy now? Or wait?

[@ElTejon47901]

Now! Place your bets now!

[@danieleflorean7064]

those guns are IRL "find the ten differences" puzzles

[@brunoratto253]

I wouldn't call the Shanghai Arsenal one a copy: it's a high capacity, long barrel carabine variant. They took the basic design of the 1900 and made their own new gun. It is it's own thing while still being related to the FN 1900. The one with the dog/lion/thing on the grip is definitely a cheap knock-off though...

[@workingjoe898]

Anyway, we used knock-off guns to kick the western imperialists out of China once and for all.😜 And with the help of our knock-off weaponry, we became a pain in your ass, sorry🙄

[@2002carrillo]

@@workingjoe898 ehh I wouldn’t be talking shit your people are being oppressed to this day.

[@isaactoh7652]

One quick thing about the chinese characters, those are older traditional chinese characters that are no longer in use (except in Taiwan). They were replaced by the CCP with simplified chinese characters that were easier to read and write and are in use today in mainland china

[@RADkate]

fake Chinese for fake china, fitting

[@doranh6410]

@@RADkate Traditional Chinese characters can be a nightmare to write, simplification initiatives had already began in the Republican period

[@hendriktonisson2915]

@@doranh6410 Yes but RADkate is right about the Republic of China(Taiwan) being the real legitimate China and the communist dictatorship in mainland China being fake.

[@5anjuro]

Hong Kong still uses traditional script.

[@aerhyce1038]

@@doranh6410 This is something that people love to casually omit for some reason. The simplification process was started under the Republic and kept under the CCP because it was genuinely a good idea. Literacy rate at the time was something like 20%, some initiative like this was needed. Taiwan didn't continue this with their own people simply because they went from needing to educate hundreds of millions of people to something like five million, of which a good portion already knew how to read and write, so there was no further need of such a program for them. Also, Americans simplified English back in the day pretty much for the same reasons: everyone (including peasants) knowing how to read and write >>> fancy smancy words.

[@RaduB.]

A solid pair of safety glasses will be in order tomorrow on the range...

[@shawnr771]

I was thinking full face shield.

[@DGAlpha85]

Yeah... even with a factory made quality gun, we are talking about a gun that's around 100 years old plus has seen god-knows-what action/maintenance.

[@demonprinces17]

Full face, gloves

[@Broken_Yugo]

It's an all steel blowback 32 ACP pistol, I'd eat my hat if it frags. Most 32 ACP on the US market is kinda wimpy anyway.

[@shawnr771]

@@Broken_Yugo are you sure of 100 year old questionable metallurgy. SAAMI maximum average chamber pressure for . 32 ACP is 20,500 psi.

[@paulbarthol8372]

500 yards with 32 ACP out of a 5.5 inch barrel. Now that is optimism.

[@ericstromberg9608]

Just mount a scope on it!

[@jamesallred460]

Hell yeah perfect timing!!! Nothing like a brand new forgotten weapons vid first thing in the morning

[@fragleshnagle4256]

Hell yeah I watch one on the way to work every day

[@jamesallred460]

@@fragleshnagle4256 word! It's the best way to start the day!

[@atipton2660]

True lol I always watch it along with a ton of memes i get in my recommended page

[@5anjuro]

The markings on the second one seem rather Elbonian to me.

[@anthonyhayes1267]

I'm pretty sure it's canon that Elbonian officers acquired private purchase Chinese knock off pistols.

[@elijahaitaok8624]

@@anthonyhayes1267 Chinese knock-offs of Chinese knock-offs

[@unclejohnbulleit2671]

The lot of you obviously have been listening to the damned Kneebonian propaganda. NO Elbonian would carry a pistol with a foo dog on it. Our handguns are graced by the majestic "Wild Elbonian Mountain Pig" embossed on the handles. Besides, they remind us of our wives, which make us fight harder, because face it, who wants to go home to that? Besides, the Spaniards made plenty of knock offs of knock offs, so they are just as cheap, and if they cheat us we can get to them easier to kill them in revenge, or make them marry our daughters, who look like mom.....

[@rong1924]

I really don't understand how these "artisans" can apparently manage to build a functioning gun yet have no idea what sights are supposed to do.

[@HCFyD]

I wonder if it has to do with how common point shooting was when it came to pistols especially when you consider the range of the .32acp. Didn't USGI 1911 manuals teach them to point shoot through the late 70's? They were most likely used as in close quarters self defense style shootings were you only use the front blade. But honestly, you can be great with hand tools while remaining ignorant of ballistics. Most people in the country had no prior experience with modern weapons, particularly those with rear sights, warlords and revolutionaries at the time recorded that they still had muskets still in their inventories. They were probably more interested in getting as many modern guns as possible and weren't as concerned with individual quality. Or maybe the maker knew the gun was so inaccurate you don't need a rear sight anyway

[@zendell37]

Honestly, you still see that today with Chinese copy manufacturing. Plus the Chinese word salad marketing and photoshopping. You don't have to know what it is or what it does to make it work well enough. At least for the price.

[@asteroidrules]

The understand how to make parts with hand tools, they don't have particular care for what those parts actually do. It's pretty common in bootleg products, you see a similar lack of understanding in guns, locks, and all sorts of mechanical devices coming out of places like India and Pakistan nowadays.

[@johnyricco1220]

The smith was probably someone who made sewing machines when he was hired to make guns by a businessman with no gun experience. These were most likely marketed to private citizens not warlord armies.

[@rong1924]

@@asteroidrules these are apparently firing weapons, a very difficult accomplishment. Chamber design, spring forces, component weights. These aren’t faithful copies so there must have been some degree of “engineering“ involved. Yet the effort only went as far as getting the action to cycle with no interest in the weapons utility. I wonder if this was intentional.

[@reddogsaws]

I liked how the Carver for moulds the had so little knowledge on the English language that he forgot to do the words in reversed in the mold

[@lairdcummings9092]

Or maybe just didn't care?

[@blacklion79]

Looks like lanyard staple was brazed on later, as grip panel looks melted around it.

[@sadams12345678]

"blazed" of "brazed"?

[@JamesJozef]

Engrish for brazed.

[@blacklion79]

@@sadams12345678 Brazed, of course, my bad (I'm not native speaker, sorry).

[@aidanfarnan4683]

Not often you see a video that ends with "Hopefully it won't blow up in my face"

[@SimuLord]

If it does, just put a thumb in it.

[@Uglydisease]

In chinese roulette, you point the gun away from you.

[@germaxicus6670]

@@problematic7993 nice!

[@d3faulted2]

Hypothetically i wonder if some of the people who made the copies of the copies purposefully didn't bother with filing in the rear notch sight so that the owner of the pistol could sight it in themselves and people just didn't. It would make sense that some guy in his little shop might not have access to a proper range or a significant amount of ammo to do so. Also hip firing and instinctive shooting was very much a thing in those days, perhaps proper sight pictures were seen by most to be unnecessary?

[@SuperFunkmachine]

But also there where massive ranges on many pistol sights, with C96's haveing a 1km setting in 9x19. Not that you can aim 9mm at that range even with a working an correctly ranged sight.

[@SgtKOnyx]

And especially when simply "being armed" is the whole reason the thing exists

[@user-og1ub6yq1d]

Thank you, Ian. I am so glad to see someone really made a good research on this uncommon topic.

[@the_rose_dragon6816]

I’d love to hear what these sounded like when fired, I’m imagining a cross between a C96 and the FN1900

[@Omniseed]

Probably sounds like the 1900, but slightly less crack to it

[@terry7907]

There is a video of him firing in a BUG match.

[@andreykuzmin4355]

In Star Wars, it still would be a warlords era pistol)

[@Joannes808]

Hey. Considering they made light tanks out of TIE fighters, these would be a godsend for anyone in that situation.

[@MrMolotov888]

This really is an interesting topic, thanks for bringing it up I've always loved these kind of rare and mysterious things

[@beartactical458]

Myself, together with the other channels I have will always support you mate... Thank you.

[@doomer_to_boomer2402]

I went in on the kickstarter a couple of days ago (hello payday) - I was fascinated by the first video I saw you do on a collection of "Chinese mystery pistols"; really happy to see you take this to the next level, and add to our history and culture in a way that will live on beyond any of us. Best wishes from the UK!

[@protahgonist]

Interesting timing to release this one. Remember May 35th.

[@SlavicCelery]

"Artisanal Production Chinese pistols" - a delicious word soup there.

[@gaminggaming6845]

WOAH just in time! always cheers me up when i see a good wauser vid

[@ZombieWilfred]

I did not expect to want one of the guns from this series 😆. Not surprised it's one of Ian's favorites, though, it's a sold idea and execution. I like the cutouts in the bottom of the slide, too.

[@Seele2015au]

3:52 The Chinese characters molded into the grip says "made in the 10th year of the Republic", not "made for the Republic (of China) in the 10th year".

[@philmerrifield1163]

That pistol needs a good clean dude, always a pleasure to watch your videos. I always learn something new. Keep up the great work 😁

[@darjfag4539]

Woah I remember this pistol from when you reviewed a bunch of Chinese mystery pistol years back

[@lairdcummings9092]

Again, the era's excessively optimistic sights, but a legit, high-quality bit of work, and I'm sure with a stock, it would be effective out to 150 meters or so - not at all shabby. I wonder if the long-range on the sights were an advertising gimmick?

[@lairdcummings9092]

@@0neDoomedSpaceMarine not a lot. By that point, you'd be mortaring the shots in. Probably still useful, but only *just.* Edit: Chuck Hawks has a chart showing an arc of +2.9 inches @ 50 yards, and -5.4 inches @ 100 yards, so you get the idea... Rainbow. Edit 2: Hornady charts show ~ 254 meters per second @ 100m. That's just under 790fps @ 100m, down from about 945fps at the muzzle. Pretty aenemic by 100 meters, so 150 meters is a *LONG* stretch.

[@andersbendsen5931]

You, sir, are pure quality. 👍🏾

[@shinget]

"deadly accurate out to 100 metres! beyond that - who knows what you'll hit?"

[@mickleblade]

@@shinget hitting the ground is a certainty, just where?

[@lairdcummings9092]

@@0neDoomedSpaceMarine by the time it gets out another 50m, it will be. 130ft-lbf @ 100 yards is already pretty weak. At 150m, we're talking maybe 90ft-lbf, which is flat minimum.

[@nishbrown]

Sorry I didn't get those shots off. I was busy reading my gun.

[@dcspooky6903]

Good luck on the match Ian. Hope all with the pistol 🤞

[@scottbruns2907]

As an idea for a future episode, you might take a look at the PKO 45 manufactured by Heizer Defense. They are more well known for their pocket AK or pocket AR derringers, but the PKO 45 is a modern interpretation of the old Browning design, as done by an aircraft engineering company. Like Kel-Tec, they use a construction method of clam shell construction of mirror image sides of the gun bolted together, but they use aircraft grade metal components instead of plastic. Overall an interesting solution.

[@tobbsdasock]

I’m a big fan of the melted-off corner of the grip panel at 3:20 -ish to fit in a lanyard loop.

[@happyhaunter_5546]

Earliest I've ever been because for some reason we're off work today. Thanks Ian.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian .

[@rocknepoovey4381]

This video was a moment of beauty for me.

[@allanpowell7208]

I can see by the look on his face that Ian is totally geeked out on this subject.

[@ericstromberg9608]

I can dig it. It's a pretty arcane area of small arms history.

[@allanpowell7208]

@@ericstromberg9608 It's great that Ian can dig all this interesting stuff up for us.

[@user-hi1kt5wr6g]

I was so interested in this firearm because I figured it was one of the earliest examples of a pistol caliber carbine now that they’re so prevalent today but once you said the caliber, all I could think of was what a well-made, beautiful firearm for a crappy cartridge

[@ChristianWDegn]

Thanks Ian!

[@ultratorrent]

To get a shot of the sight picture easily, you can drop a blank piece of paper in front of the muzzle, illuminate it very well, and lock out exposure on your camera to be as small an aperture as possible to extend the depth of field to both front and rear sights. Also back the camera up and zoom in to make it a bit easier on the optics still.

[@johnalvarez908]

That wall behind you is beautiful. Create craftsmanship

[@HanJia879]

This one is surprisingly good looking...Never considered 1900 good looking before

[@overlybroadcast3952]

Just pledged for the Purple kickstarter edition book. I legitimately can't wait.

[@alexbarnett8541]

I love the cargo cult styling with that random string of letters.

[@CenlaSelfDefenseConcepts]

Imagine if they would have gone the Eibar pluss ultra route and gave it a double stack mag?

[@KR-hg8be]

A select fire carbine with a drum mag.

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

500 meter tangent sights on a 32 acp. Those Chinese folks were optimistic, to say the least! Great video. Take Care and be safe, John

[@reddogsaws]

Love to see a run and gun comparison between this and and other semiautomatic pistols of the time and the control can be a comparable service revolver of the era

[@noneed4me2n7]

Didn’t know about the Kickstarter for the book. Later I’ll throw some in as you’ve brought me up to date in the last few years and I’m using your vids as reference material for a No4 MK 1/2 FTRed in 55 originally manufactured in late 43 I think and I got it from a Big 5 in 96 after I got home from the army, that’s going to the gunsmith this Thursday to be assembled to the wartime (T) sniper model. Not going for perfect copy as this will be a legacy rifle for my family. I didn’t know a ting about it when I got it, there was a older really clean and cheaper SMLE but it was missing the magazine for some reason and I didn’t want a Mauser or Mosin Nagante at the time which there were several of. After researching and seeing what’s come out since I really scored. All matching and no broken bits. All wood finish is still fresh (don’t think it was ever reissued after it was put into the FTR program at Fazerkerly factory), all blueing is mostly intact to the point I’m not having it done at all. The barrel is pristine and a 5 groove, thought it might be a 6 but no. I bought an NOS magazine as a spare and a set of NOS soft case, sling, three bayonet types for it, and the repro scope cheek rest plus the repro storage tin for it. Can’t wait to take it out shoot one it’s scoped.

[@LordEvan5]

Just waiting this morning for a post

[@enzowarren9832]

pretty cool to see a captive spring/rod assembly from way back

[@sickjawa]

Love the word salad markings on the knockoff.

[@ihcfn]

Woohoo we actually get to see Ian shoot one!

[@LupusRex_1891]

That’s an interesting design

[@kriegguardsman9117]

Best way to start the morning

[@TurfSurf]

Love it, it kind of reminded me of Keltec PMR30.

[@mtx1212]

Wow, true relics...

[@imonit1177]

This is the way I imagine Arthur Morgan's FN 1899 looks in RDR2 when you extend the barrel.

[@spakentruth]

Long boah

[@imonit1177]

@@spakentruth Actually more like this. Which is funny because the Saint Dennis gun smith is Chinese.kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmm3Z6V8lMidb68

[@spakentruth]

@@imonit1177 smol long boah

[@Chiller01]

Now that’s an interesting background. So the FN 1900 is the original Alien.

[@samovil490]

ah yes, ERHNS, my favorite gun manufacturer, not to forget my favorite gun, the BSGYKTKAF.

[@jakublulek3261]

The arsenal-made one is actually pretty cool. Unusual idea but they pulled it off.

[@jeffreyabelson7171]

Those are good looking guns

[@dougler500]

The second one with the dog looks like the old elementary school worksheet that's a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy from 15 years ago.

[@SlavicCelery]

Not going to lie, that is seriously one of the few designs that I think could be tooled up for modern repro. Even with a poly lower.

[@calvinbrodhead6199]

Can't wait to get enough saved up to get this book! Really excited, thank you very much for your content. Have you ever done books on the Colt 1911 or the Colt Single Action Army? I don't make much money but I love good literature and learning thank you

[@TheRevoltingMan]

Best wall ever! You should do a video it’

[@gunmasterdude]

Ian see Guardiian lion on the grip : O D D D O G.

[@ketchman8299]

That is a back up gun match I will be watching.

[@Cpl4th]

Pledged for the signed Kickstart edition!

[@comiketiger]

Love it! God bless all here.

[@eaglemasterdan]

Would optimistic even be the correct word to use when trying to make a hit with a .32 auto at 500 yards?

[@luisnunes2010]

Glad if it makes 500 at all is more like it. 😕

[@redcat9436]

If it goes up it has to come down and hit something.

[@thesmallestminorityisthein4045]

Well, if one fires enough rounds.... ;)

[@trentrubenacker9718]

If someone emptied a mag at me in the street at the distance and the rounds impacted all around me in am 18 meter pattern, I'd probably notice and go inside, which is something.

[@danielburgess7785]

Someone trusts mid to early 20th century Chinese engineering more than I do.

[@lairdcummings9092]

The Chinese, even back then, were entirely capable of solid engineering - *IF* it was important to someone who mattered. The problem was that while the ability existed, it was regionally VERY expensive, compared to what the economy could support. So, where the economy could support it (rare spots), the know-how was there. Where the economy *couldn't* support it (most everywhere else!), you had to make do with second or third (or worse!) best.

[@masahige2344]

@@lairdcummings9092 Exactly. It annoys me a little that, for all the wonderful coverage Ian is giving to this oft-neglected area, people still don't get that "varied quality" isn't some euphemism. There were plenty of good things produced at this time. Hanyang, Nanjing, Jiangnian, Gongxian, Fengtian, Taiyuan, Taku... Republican and major warlord arsenals produced high-quality arms.

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

It actually looks good. Mean as hell, too.

[@markarellano6899]

I love the cover of your book! I wish I had the money to contribute to yer Kickstarter. 😔

[@Dushmann_]

God I LOVE automatic pistols from the turn of the century

[@richardjones748]

The little dog on the copy is called a "foo dog." Literally, it is 石獅--shíshī--meaning "stone lion."

[@captainjayc9217]

That was made in exactly 100 years ago. What a coincidence!

[@leppeppel]

"Artisanal production" what a delightful euphemism.

[@HCFyD]

Artisanal in the hand made sense, not the 'art' sense marketers have redefined it as. The few factories they had couldn't keep up with demand and a majority of manufacturing would still be by craftsmen's hands for decades.

[@BalrogSonOfNelgar]

Now I'm really excited for my book. Mystery copies of Chinese copies

[@JessZomb]

Please be safe with the new pistol. While it is exciting to see one in action, some extra due diligence may be needed.

[@naricky8408]

I think the pistol is base on prototype German Langenhan pistol not the original FN1900,because the profile of the pistol doesn't look like the scale up FN1900. Also The original prototype Langenhan pistol has a shoulder stock similar to Luger board stock.There is one German auction website show picture of prototype Langenhan pistol www.hermann-historica.de/en/auctions/lot/id/15249 Unfortunately the stock is a reproduction not the authentic one.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Hermann Historica was mistaken - that was not made by Langenhan; it is one of these Chinese pistols.

[@naricky8408]

@@ForgottenWeapons Interesting,Thanks for correcting me.

[@ScumfuckMcDoucheface]

*YOU'RE a clever little pistol.*

[@danwolf307]

I wonder what John Browning would think of that crooked ass rear sight notch not to mention overall fit and finish?

[@midsequence1234]

Ian I bought your book! But,, I, CAN'T,, WAIT!!!!!!!!!! I need it now man 😂

[@Insanabiliter_In_Linea]

7:35 Damn, didn't know the Eldritch horrors made firearms.

[@davidbrennan660]

Ian is going to run these pieces? It was nice knowing this channel... Ian will however return after rolling back the stone.

[@yamahaxt2503]

Nice

[@10lauset]

Cheers