We Tested Hitler's Weapons of World War Two

[@javiersp15]

So glad “This is Jonathan Ferguson, the Keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in the UK, which houses a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history.” got to use his emotional support STG-44.

[@aaronleverton4221]

One has to wonder when he will be honoured by HIs Majesty King Charles III as Sir Jonathon Ferguson, Keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the Royal Armouries, which house a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history.

[@nemilyk]

I chuckled seeing "Keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in the UK" listed correctly under his name at the start 😛

[@sweracoon7931]

I came here for this comment. I am glad to see proper respect is being paid to this scholar and gentleman.

[@RoyalArmouriesMuseum]

The reunion we were all waiting for 😍

[@IbrahimSean]

This was jonathon fergusson, keeper of firearms and artillery at the royal armouries, which house a collection of thousands of other dead peoples stuff

[@Narofox1]

I can't believe Jonathan Ferguson, the keeper of firearms and artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in the UK, which houses a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history, is such a good shot! 😮

[@ikwer111]

I don’t know if he is a good shot, hard to tell when the target is 5 meters away.

[@蔡林翰-v2m]

也是武器優秀吧，糟糕的武器你怎麼射都不會准

[@GK1976A]

I'm guessing you're being sarcastic. He looks like he's scared to death when firing the StG 44.

[@adcon00]

​@@蔡林翰-v2mThe Luger of the period was not a good weapon. The pistol had a tendency to go off just from being jostled if it had a round in the chamber. Killed a number of servicemen who thought they were taking home a prize that way.

[@nomadpi1]

Do you wonder how good he is with a lance and shield?

[@2.5productions]

HOLY HELL IT'S JONATHAN'S EMOTIONAL SUPPORT STG

[@sandgrownun66]

Hell awaits those who write in all caps.

[@VinnyUnion]

​@@sandgrownun66 That was back then. Nowadays it's cry emojis and skull emojis. Disgust of reference in form of example: "oh nah 😭 jonathan's sup gewehr is gone 💀" honestly it's sickening. I wish those that use it unironically excruciating pain of a unimaginable magnitude in the deepest part of hell. The thought of these people being the future essentially and perhaps using it as old hags is frightening..

[@commanderloose6391]

​@sandgrownun66 WAAAAA WAAAAAAAAH 😭 my estrogen is so high that I have the emotional responses of a woman waaaaa WAAAAH

[@gabriel-i4o4v]

@@sandgrownun66🤦🏻‍♂️

[@JinTeutonic]

​@@sandgrownun66😂

[@liamferreira8912]

That STG 44 is just heavenly to look at. It must be said it has quite impressive ergonomics for the first mass issued assault rifle. Hugo Schmeisser’s mind was a decade ahead of the rest in WW2

[@hikelfin5941]

Yeah you can really see why the soviets picked them up off the battlefield and sent them back to Moscow and designed the AK after them. Kind of the perfect starter Pokémon to build onto.

[@TheSundayShooter]

The Stg-44 was the first _assault rifle_ nominally and functionally. The machine rifles that came before it were not suitable for the role nor title

[@cheften2mk]

@@TheSundayShooterThey did not have intermediate cartridges like the Stg. And they did not enter mass service. They are more considered automatic rifles.

[@i_basl]

@hikelfin5941 a common misconception but the STG-44 and AK-47 share only visual similarities. i recommend Brandon Herrera’s video on it if you want more info. the AK-47 actually shares more similarities with the M1 Garand than the STG-44.

[@fourleaf7570]

@@i_basl M1 Rifle (Garand) + Remington Model 81 + Stg-44 = AK Simple as

[@craigplatel813]

Would like to see an fg-42 demonstrated if they have one.

[@macobuzi]

FG-42 is even rarer, only 10000 were produced.

[@garrybaldy327]

Leeds Armouries have a Mk.1 on display

[@neilwilson5785]

@@garrybaldy327 Go there if you can. it is HUGE, and has everything from pistols to war elephants, not kidding. And they do jousting in the summer.

[@bastiangugu4083]

I think Forgotten Weapons has a video where a replica of an FG-42 is fired.

[@kurtschlesinger8257]

There where not many made

[@MATTY-G-HULL]

I see Jonathan Ferguson, the keeper of firearms and artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in the UK, which houses a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history I press like

[@ImotekhtheStormlord-tx2it]

in my honest opinion. jonathan is one of the best ppl on yt now. he's one of us, a gamer who studied and got a job in probably the best work you can get as a gamer. he has 0 dramas, he doesnt flex with helping gamespot stay on YT algorithms (which he does, if not him the channel wouldve died and thats a fact)

[@Jebu911]

Yeah alltho gamespot was quite big in the past so its nice they could give a platform to Jonathan Ferguson, the keeper of firearms and artillery at the royal armouries museum in the UK, which houses a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history.

[@top_banananaplays]

Shouting, "HALT!" loudly increases the a German weapon's power by 25% The more you know.

[@1979augistine]

And PAPERZS !

[@pete-ex7qt]

Mein Leben!

[@saurannuraliyev1695]

It's incredible to imagine that these arms were produced almost a century ago, what a quality

[@zamiryi]

indeed ! I have a modern reproduction of the MP40 and aside from nicer looking finish the function is pretty well identical with one from 80 years ago. I love shooting it and the choice of 9mm round still makes it very affordable to dump 300 rds at the range.

[@sebastiannerlich8806]

Ofc, its german - we always made good stuff, than china came to us😢

[@bangingbernie]

@@sebastiannerlich8806Wie wahr

[@AahFukIt]

Dane here, I grew up in Greenland and used a Mauser for hunting Caribou and Musk ox. You could find both US and German WW2 rifle up there. I had both but preffered the Mauser. Both easy to disassemble and clean.

[@gabriel-i4o4v]

@@zamiryithats not just a reproduction if its in a different caliber its a lookalike

[@cheften2mk]

One of the biggest limits to producing the Stg 44 was the ammo production, just as much as making the gun itself

[@moritzfauser1766]

The biggest Limit was the 44

[@adriannarobeson4758]

I have my eue on the replica STG44 by GSG. I eant the 9mm one instead of the 22 personally they should make thrm where they shoot 5.56 NATO like my AR-15.

[@macbrown99]

you might say supplies were.....short?

[@wyattpeterson6286]

That is one reason hitler ordered the guns production to be stopped (at first). Nazi germany's supply chain was already taking a hammering from allied bombing and he felt introducing a new cartridge and weapon would strain it further.

[@brandonmcmanis5528]

That ansHitler hated the thing. There's a reason it was the MP43, MP44 and STG44. Hitler canceled the development at least three times and they would change the name so he wouldn't find out.

[@wolfhausindustries]

I must express just how much I truly appreciate the cluttered appearance of storage chaos all around the indoor range y'all use. It almost looks as if you're just shooting in a garage or basement, and as someone that DIY'd a single car garage into a machine shop the whole setup just makes me feel right at home lol.

[@CharlieFoxtrot128]

Im pretty sure this range IS just the basement of the royal armories lmao

[@0ate5y]

​@@CharlieFoxtrot128 Can't do outside no more

[@0ate5y]

The council would probably go on

[@gabriel-i4o4v]

@@CharlieFoxtrot128🤦🏻‍♂️

[@gabriel-i4o4v]

@@0ate5y🤦🏻‍♂️

[@planemo191]

I could listen to Johnathan for decades. He is simply a master of his craft and a first class curator in his field. Just observing his drills is a masterclass in itself. Thank you.

[@Bobbymaccys]

POV: your boss didn’t get into art school.

[@faithrewarded7486]

Luke: "It's got a good legacy" Jonathan: *chokes* "ultimately" - His face was perfect.

[@BBC42618]

I've fired both the British Lee Enfield and a German K98 and I'll tell you from my own personal experience the K98 is the smoothest to load and shoot. Sure the Lee Enfield holds more ammunition but it's stripper clips are finicky to use fast. The K98 loads like butter and it's controls are more simple. I really like the safety and it feels lighter.

[@Chiller11]

The larger magazine capacity of the Lee Enfield is only an advantage for the first 10 rounds as each weapon is reloaded using 5 round charger clips. If issued a full caliber rifle I would have preferred a Garand for certain. If it had to be bolt action I might choose the Swedish M 1893 carbine in 6.5mm Swede. It is a Mauser shooting a more pleasant round than the 8 mm German bullet.

[@speedyspooley]

@@Chiller11 - I've owned a Garand, Mauser, and a Swiss Schmidt-Rubin in 6.5. Never shot an SMLE. Of the ones I've owned/shot...The Swiss would be my choice. (The K31 if I could choose any variant). It's just an absolutely pleasant rifle to shoot. I'm not a small person (5'11", 175 lbs) but the others kick like a mule...the Mauser being the worst offender. The Garand wasn't much "better" in terms of recoil.

[@woodsmanforlife1677]

@GarrisonNichols: I agree. I own both and used them on three continents. The K98 beats out even today's bolt action rifles.

[@copperlemon1]

@@speedyspooley Do you mean 7.5 for the Schmidt-Rubin?

[@speedyspooley]

@@copperlemon1 - Proably...it's been a while. Appreciate the correction.

[@SeizurePorygon]

Is that Jonathan’s Emotional Support Sturmgewehr?

[@forexed8948]

Yes

[@gabriel-i4o4v]

@@forexed8948🤦🏻‍♂️

[@forexed8948]

@@gabriel-i4o4v kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIemgmeVotOsqtU

[@forexed8948]

@@gabriel-i4o4v he suffered seeing it so horribly cursed in call of duty

[@gabriel-i4o4v]

@@forexed8948 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@managementconsulting5505]

Fun fact: the MP44 assault rifle got this label MP (Machinenpistol, German for SMG) because Hitler didn't believe in the assault rifle concept, contrary to his generals. So they relabeled it as a new model of SMG to have him accept the commission. Thus, the weapon kept its deviated label. Hitler was a WW1 veteran and to him, what mattered was a rifle shooting a heavy bullet over a long distance.

[@MeanBeanComedy]

It's so interesting to see what the oldheads are willing to change on and what they're not.

[@sthrich635]

To be fair, before the term "assault rifle" was made, if one gives a StG44 to a soldier of interwar period, he would most likely identify it and used it as a SMG anyway given its size, magazine and weight - Lighter than a MG, larger magazine than a rifle but with shorter range, but still more powerful than pistol -> in 1918 that was the MP 18. And the first designation was Maschine-karbiner or Mkb 42, it was changed under Hitler's insistence, as it confused the troop of whether it was a short range or long range weapon, or an LMG instead. The best usage of StG44 was for assault purpose, for assault troops who normally wielded Maschinepistole, so the MP designation immediately tell unit commander how to distribute the StG44 - to fully equip an assault squad that was trained in assault tactics, armed with grenades, not instead given one per squad like MG42, nor a replacement for a basic Kar98k for some random basic soldiers.

[@thomasgangl8990]

Hitler took part in combat in WW I only once in Flanders in fall of 1914. After that he served as a messenger for his batalion's staff throughout the remainder of the war. He never again fought in the trenches. All stories telling us otherwise are made up by himself and taken directly from "Mein Kampf".

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

@@sthrich635 StG is nearly a metre long and 5kg. The rifle is huge.

[@gkauto1959]

Hitler wasnt getting into firefights with his Mauser against brit troops, he was delivering messages, so he probably only had a Luger on him if anything..... he wasnt against the new rifle just because it was new but didnt trust the thing to work under field conditions. Now you know!

[@carlbrown9082]

My favourite historic firearm, the STG/MP44. I wish I had this guy's job, working with such historic weapons.

[@ianspy1]

Love that casio calculator watch from Jonathan :D

[@MarkARhodie]

He's a Back to the Future fan.

[@ianspy1]

@@MarkARhodie ahhh ! That's why :D I recently got my first gshock, and have been loving it!

[@stuartmcloughlin]

Can you imagine being a German soldier in WWII and getting your hands on an STG-44? It must have been like getting hold of a laser gun in science fiction films.

[@adcon00]

Would have needed something for comfort when the Red Army was (rightfully) bearing down on you.

[@benreinstepp7979]

​@@adcon00"rightfully" pffft 🤣

[@zebra1327]

I do like the fact that you talk about the fact that a lot of weaponry was produced by POWs, something we should never forget

[@CharlieFoxtrot128]

Ye. Germany would take weapons factories when they invaded countries and force them to produce their weapons for the germans

[@MeanBeanComedy]

​@@CharlieFoxtrot128Would they make the same weapons they were making, or would they have to switch all the machinery over?

[@JohnGenericName]

​​@@MeanBeanComedy It mostly depends on the tools available. For example, the Czech vz. 27 was Czech-designed, but it was used by Germany after the occupation of Czechia. Since they had all the equipment ready to make that pistol, it was easier to just keep making that rather than shipping in a bunch of machines to convert the factory to make a P34. This was the case for a lot of pistols, rifles, etc. There are certainly cases of a Czech made K98 rifle too, it just depends on logistics. It's similar to non-weapons factories. Belt buckles are going to work pretty much the same everywhere, fabric factories for uniforms, canneries for food, etc. If it makes more sense to not convert a factory, they usually didn't convert the factory.

[@robertdacquisto6871]

It is interesting to think about. Some of these weapons owned by collectors could have been made by a POW or forced laborer or something, that's crazy.

[@hans-1940]

If a small country like Germany is forced to wage war against the entire world, it probably has no choice but to use all its resources.

[@RockGuitarist1]

I scooped up a 1943 P38 at a gun show for $700 years ago and I just couldn't help putting a few rounds through it. Pretty heavy compared to modern handguns but the handling is so nice. They made some awesome weapons.

[@dobridjordje]

I don't get why they didn't shoot the P38S as well, though pretty heavy, it's about 800 grams.

[@dobridjordje]

Luger is heavier actually and 1911 is a brick compared to it lol

[@RichelieuUnlimited]

In terms of firepower German squads most of the time had the advantage due to their machine guns, which was their primary means of putting lead downrange, so the fact that the rest of the squad was ‚only‘ armed with a repeating rifle doesn’t matter quite that much, as their primary job was supplying the MG with ammunition.

[@jimjolly4560]

Just as, in the British army, the Bren was the central weapon of the section- every soldier carrying two Bren magazines.

[@brendanmatelan2129]

Definitely need a video of British Weapons of WW2. Feel like they often get looked at less, but they played a significant role in the War.

[@pagancrew]

More terrible weapons puns please, complete with Jonathan's reactions. Great and informative video, thanks Luke & History Hit!

[@justandy333]

Good to see Johnathon loves a good dad joke 😂

[@NKKBerlin]

My father was in the Bundeswehr from 1958 to 1966. At least in the late 1950s up until the Cuban Missile Crisis, the MP40 was used by some guards. A semi-automatic version of the MP40 was used by the police and the German Federal Border Guard at least until the early 1970s. For example, by the police forces during the attack at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.

[@Vootekk0815]

Und heute? Rennen die Cops mit ner MP5 durch die Gegend. Die MP5 ist überhaupt nicht schlecht, aber auch alt. Im Verhältnis sogar um einiges älter.

[@micemb2570]

I have to agree with Luke, I fired the Lee Enfield and the K98 together and found the K98 had quite a lot more kick but both were great fun too shoot. Love the video, always fascinating to watch

[@michaeltelson9798]

My father had a Wehrmacht issued Walther P38. It did have the eagle stamp on it.

[@IbindaMaerchenprinz]

The stg 44 is the grandfather of all assault rifles today!!!

[@RubyMarkLindMilly]

The Luger is such a beautiful piece of engineering if it looks right .....

[@aviatorengineer3491]

It really is incredible how much the STG established the baseline for the next near century or so of firearms design.

[@zillsburyy1]

P08 passed the mud test

[@jabonorte]

Lugers and STG44 are more clickbaity than more common weapons. Disappointing that P38 is mentioned but not shown, when it outnumbered the Luger, and Gewehr 43 would have been nice for comparison

[@rdrrr]

The P38 also had a lot more influence on future handgun designs. It pioneered the DA/SA handgun concept; the CZ-75, Beretta 92, Sig P226 etc. all owe their existence to the P38. The Beretta 92 is by far the most direct descendant; it's essentially the ultimate evolution of the P38.

[@Ratzo123ify]

I mean ultimately this is showbiz, gotta show the stuff that'll get peoples' attention.

[@rdrrr]

@@Ratzo123ify The StG-44 is also important as it's the first true assault rifle, and it was mass produced and saw combat. I see no issue giving it a spot here.

[@chuckschillingvideos]

Oh, and....the Germans doctrine of primarily using bolt rifles in their infantry units is completely dependent for its effectiveness on a much higher issuance of GPMG's than in other armies of the time. They were able to obtain massive volumes of fire with the MG-38 and (later) with the MG-42 that it was not needed from their rifle-equipped soldiers.

[@infledermaus]

I really like these videos. Getting to see these iconic weapons from WWII is a dream.

[@ABCKorpi]

Two little fun facts about the Luger: Switzerland was actually the first country to accept it into service in 1900. And it is funny how you describe it as bending kind of like a knee because in german it is called a "Kniehebel" literally: knee lever.

[@octaviolove]

Germans sure knows how to build quality stuff

[@VentureHolly]

Confirmation bias

[@zanychelly]

The Sturmgewehr came in way too late in the war, but you can see from where Kalishinikov took his design from…

[@RosewoodActual]

other than a long stroke piston the AK shares nothing with the Sturmgewehr, Kalashnikov even said the M1 Garand was part of the inspiration behind the AK. 7.62x39 was created in ‘43, months before the Soviets got their hands on the Sturmgewehr so even the cartridge of the AK predates the STG.

[@blegh277]

@@RosewoodActual it shares ergonomics and user interface philosophy, but yes mechanically it doesnt share much with the stg

[@АндрійМатвєєв-е2у]

hopefully. AK and STG only have an external similarity. However, the mechanisms and system are much more similar to the M16 system. The AK system is much more simple and cheap, which is why it is so popular

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

@@blegh277 M16 has the "UI" and ergonomics of StG.

[@timtheskeptic1147]

Yes and no. They have similar profiles, but what first generation assault rifle didn't? The insulated full length handgaurd on the M16 is a luxury most people overlook. The STG had no such feature. I've fired one and (aside from costing 300 bucks for one full magazine) that gun will burn you if you grip it anywhere forward of the magazine.

[@ferrma81]

I remember; an old work colleague once told me that he used to have a P08. (It must have been in the 70s) At the time he was working as a foreman in an industrial company on the night shift. There was not much going on during the night shift and only a small workforce. He then went into the warehouse with a phone book and thought to himself, I'll try it out secretly. What he didn't know was that the P08 shot very low. He noticed it when the light suddenly went out after the first shot. Unfortunately he had put the phone book on a main power cable for the warehouse. Explain that to your boss

[@agagqbq]

correction for the price of the STG44, it was not cheaper than the K98, its successor, the STG45 would be STG44 price 70 RM K98 price 55 RM STG45 price 45 RM The STG45 was further developed into the G3 which was used by the Bundeswehr until 1990, also the MP5 looks very familiar in design. People always compare the STG44 to the AK47, look how similar the STG44 and the G3 look, theyre almost identical)

[@noisyboy87]

Please follow this series up with a Red Army, Italian and Japanese comparison please 🙏

[@SatelliteYL]

The Sturmgewehr is so terrifying. Thinking about how much damage a company of experienced, hardened Landsers could inflict with 98ks and grenades, then imagining if each and every one of them has Sturmgewehrs. It’s incredible the Wehrmacht could get to the gates of Moscow with 98ks alone

[@simonsimons9320]

If you call the StG 44 too late, you should add the FG42 in your comparison. There was a fully automatic AR in service!

[@kurtschlesinger8257]

i ask the german paras about fg42 they said they never seen one

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

FG use full power rifle cartridge so it it a BR. It's different consept. Ideally close to StG but different enough not to be true AR even if chambered to 8mm Kurz.

[@brealistic3542]

German ww2 companies were built around the light/heavy MG. The single shot rifles the regular soldier used was fine for the purpose of protecting the mgs flanks.This is why the Germans had such fine dual purpose light/Heavy mgs. Their hi rate of fire was great in offense and defense.

[@zoiders]

No they were terrible for anything but fighting in defence. Someone has to carry all that ammunition and guess what? Jerry forgot to build enough trucks.

[@peterblum613]

Exactly. Under German tactical doctrine, the awesome MG machine gun was the squad’s firepower, and squad members were there to support it. Personal firearms were not very important; members were essentially ammunition carriers and grenade throwers. American doctrine was the opposite- the squad had a relatively poor machine gun, the BAR, and each squad member had an excellent personal rifle. Historians seem to believe that German doctrine was more effective.

[@juanzulu1318]

​@@peterblum613yes, this was their doctrine. But this is no argument for not inventing and distributing automatic rifles.

[@AudieHolland]

Some more explanation why sheet metal was better to use in the manufacturing process of small arms would be nice for newcomers. Before they started using stamped sheet metal, rifles and submachine guns were made out of a solid block of steel that would be milled ('carved') into shape. The downside of using the old milling process: more waste of scarce resources, guns being much heavier. When using stamped sheet metal, waste was reduced very much and the resulting firearm was much lighter.

[@mortenjohansen4120]

My father was equipped with Mauser and Schmeisser when he did his service in the Norwegian army in 1950. I was equipped with a Luger when I did service as medic in the same armey in 1980.

[@MrSloika]

'Spoiled for choice.' That's what Germany's problem was. No real standardized designs, too many chefs with too many fingers in the pie. The Russians picked a few designs and stuck with them. Like Stalin said, 'Quantity has a quality of its own.'

[@copperlemon1]

The Soviets were innovating and experimenting throughout the course of the war in arms and armaments, and switched production a few times. A few examples would be the PM> DS>SG machine guns, the PPD>PPSh>PPS SMGs, the USV>ZiS-3 field guns, and the M-10>D-1 howitzers. That they successfully managed switching production as many times as they did was remarkable. In the German case, production in the Reich proper was fairly unified and most of the major changes were in the direction of increased efficiency. In other territories, the decision to continue production of foreign arms caused problems, but the costs and time associated with retooling had to be weighed against the immediate, constant need for more guns. A handful of vz. 33 or wz. 29 on hand meant that troops in the rear and allied forces could be adequately equipped, freeing up standard rifles for the front.

[@jonathancathey2334]

I owned a P-08 Luger 9mm pistol for years. Built in 1940. An absolute great pistol for its time. Unfortunately my car broke down, and I needed money for the repairs. So I sold it.

[@Sailorcat98]

NEIN NEIN das panzerwagen can never breakdown Soldat

[@consciouscaveman6418]

I'm sorry for your loss my man

[@jonathancathey2334]

@@consciouscaveman6418 I also owned a International Harvester M1 Garand rifle. The rifle was Korean War vintage. Less than 15,000 rifles were made by International Harvester, and most of those rifles. Ended up in the hands of our allies. Like Turkey. Yet again I needed money, so I sold the rifle.

[@consciouscaveman6418]

@@jonathancathey2334 Better to of love and lost. Heartbreaking but needs must. Where do you live lad? I live in Ireland so we can only legally own .22 rifles or shotguns but the laws are very strict.

[@jonathancathey2334]

@@consciouscaveman6418 I live in central Minnesota. Hunting for game as large as moose is common up north. Minnesota also has hunting season for black bears, duck, geese, and the most popular deer. In Minnesota you can hunt with bow and arrow, black powder firearms, pistol, shotguns, and rifles. Plus if you are interested, lots of fresh water fishing. Walleye fish is the absolute best in the area. Yes people do ice fishing.( Where people go out onto a frozen lake. Bore a hole in the ice, and use ice fishing rod to fish. Yes lots of people make or buy a ice fishing house. A small shack you use while ice fishing. Keeps you out of the cold and wind. Plus then you also have a place to store your beer/alcohol.)

[@managementconsulting5505]

Will you enlarge the sample of German WW2 firearms in your testing? Would love to see you test the FG42 for example, designed for paratroopers. Also, would be interesting to see the ERMA EMP, a first generation SMG, though production ended in 1938.

[@user-tn1vc1xz5d]

When he nods to someone off camera before loading, its the Range Safety Officer 😊

[@nicholasgallo3599]

While there is debate over if the 9mm or 45 is better honestly I’d say if they weren’t good bullets, they wouldn’t be as popular as they are with militaries, civilians, and law enforcement for the past 100+ years

[@CharlieFoxtrot128]

Someone who finally uses their brains. I hate when people say something that is used all around the world and has been used all around the world for a long time is bad

[@johnnybacklund153]

I got the chance to shoot some WWII era weapons a few years ago in Czechia, Walther p38, Kar98k, Mosin Nagant, Tommy gun and the PPSh. Man, shotting the Kar98k and the Mosin Nagant back to back, the difference between them, the Kar98k was lovely, easy to use and felt well built. The Mosin Nagant had a much higher kick to it and felt a lot more flimsy in parts, sure this could be due to age difference but it was very fitting that the German weapons felt very well engineered while the Soviet ones felt more mass produced basically

[@cyberleaderandy1]

Johnathan is such a lucky bugger 😊

[@Crytica.]

Not just lucky, it's also years and years of studying and reading/keeping up with the latest news.

[@onenote6619]

The P08 also has a reputation for dirt getting into the action, if I remember correctly (because the whole top of the gun opens up with every round fired).

[@patgray5402]

I own 1911s and a Luger. I love American firearms but I must say I prefer the Luger over the 1911A1 configuration

[@NerfAutist]

I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen Jonathan firing a firearm, I feel too many emotions right now to articulate

[@xxkamehouse]

That STG is beautiful 😍

[@RainbowQueen23]

I think it's crazy how much gun safety we practice today compared to WW2 not saying there wasn't gun safety

[@michaelmclaughlin7328]

Check out the WW2 German regulations regarding firearms, they were extremely safety conscious.

[@hairydogstail]

The STG44 (MP44) was the first place Eugene Stoner and Jim Sullivan first saw constant recoil..That is why it is so controllable on full auto....

[@indigohammer5732]

And the fact that it weighs a ton.

[@hairydogstail]

@@indigohammer5732 The fact it used constant recoil, which means the carrier never makes contact with the back of the receiver but is always under spring tension with out bottoming out.. Read a book lol..

[@michaelwarenycia7588]

​@@hairydogstailso that's what constant recoil means. Learned something!

[@indigohammer5732]

Fascinating. It still weighs a ton stankwain.

[@hairydogstail]

@@indigohammer5732 So does the milled AK and it is not very controllable..Constant recoil..

[@vinnybag-o-donuts4362]

Did anyone else see Jonathans awesome calculator watch??? ❤ you my friend are amazing! Keep up the great work

[@darkhorse3535]

2:38 the Luger was originally not called the P08, it was only called that when it was adopted by the Reichswehr Heer in 1908. It was originally released for sale in 1898.

[@454FatJack]

Reichswehr is post WW democratic Germany. Imperial Germany and it’s kingdom’s Universal Army pistol 1908, navy 1904, longer barrel and 100-200m back sight.❤

[@454FatJack]

Swiss etc other countries orig mod’s ; m/20 7,65mm is 🇫🇮Army model m/23🤓

[@darkhorse3535]

@@454FatJack yep, glad to see another fan of Lugers

[@calebbforballin]

Yeah, reliability isn’t really a concern with the M1 as it’s so reliable it’s pedantic to even bring that up. Also, the biggest difference with bolt guns versus self loading is fire superiority. Fire and manoeuvre tactics were the core of WW2 infantry doctrine and the m1 gave the American squad far more capability to suppress the enemy. Having a self loading rifle was a massive force multiplier for the infantry squad being able to rapid fire on the move easier and having the ability to fire much faster gave American GIs a distinct advantage. Many people often think “it shoots faster so it kills more enemies quicker” no the reason for the move to self loading semiautomatic rifles and later select fire assault rifles was for fire superiority not necessarily lethality but the ability to suppress your opposing force more effectively and thus out manoeuvre them. The greater lethality due to rate of fire is less of a factor as visual contact between individual soldiers where single combat can occur is relatively rare they’re just shooting in the general direction in most cases.

[@markkringle9144]

Would you want to go up against a company or Battalion armed with MP44? With your M1? Plus they have MG42s? Nightmare.

[@dougthealligator]

Realistically, wartime production of both of the German firearms by the time both were available was pretty subpar and they were generally intended to be disposable. I’d take a company or battalion of M1s and M1919s.

[@spinnetti]

I got to fire some of these. The luger and the Kar really have some kick! What amazed me was how easy the mp40 was to fire.

[@Creationeer]

The Kar98 was the first rifle I ever fired. I was 8 years old in Turkey and some locals were firing some shots off at targets they set up. They beckoned me and my parents over, showed me how it works and let me fire a few rounds off. Didn't hit a thing except dirt and sky but we all had a good laugh at my expense :)

[@TimothyDevinney]

I had one of the Mausers that I used as a hunting rifle when I was a teenager. it was a real conversation piece. But was limited w/o a scope.

[@vexguine]

Where is the German Shepherd? THAT is a weapon for shure. With additional fluffiness :)

[@axelk4921]

at the start : I'm a little disappointed...... The Wehrmacht didn't officially use the "Luger", but high-ranking officers used their inherited private weapons from their fathers or, if they had already served in the WWI, the old weapons after a new firing test, because of the age of the weapon. That was the "Walther" and they were never named that, the correct names would be P08 and P38. The weapons are named after the year they were put into service or when they were approved for them.

[@alexandercowlishaw]

Love the little nod to the other guy everytime Jonathan Ferguson, the Keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in the UK, which houses a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history, picks up a weapon. WHO IS HE?

[@geoland09]

Curious fact: in 1950 the Argentine Army became interested in the STG-44, commissioning its study to eventually incorporate it as a regulatory rifle, so cloned prototypes called C.A.M 1 (Carabina Automática Mediana 1 ) were manufactured in the Dirección General de Fabricaciones Miitares of the FMAP ´´DM´´ Fabrica Militar de Armas Portables Domingo Matheu Rosario Province of Santa Fe and a very rare and obsolete experimental Kurtz 7.92x33 cartridge produced by FM at the Fábrica Militar de San Lorenzo, Province of Santa Fe. Finally, after years of evaluation and despite favorable approval, the FN FAL 7.62 was chosen. A surviving CAM-1 can be seen in the Buenos Aires Weapons Museum.

[@leesaunders1930]

Man I'm so ready for this.

[@jebbroham1776]

With the exception of the MP40, MG42, and Stg 44, German weapons were hand crafted. This meant that they took longer to produce but were better quality than Allied mass produced weapons.

[@terenceminto4650]

Having fired the STG-44 the only problem it has it get very hot to hold unless you have gloves on.

[@horstb1984]

keeps your hand warm in russias winter

[@MeanBeanComedy]

I'd watch a movie of Jonathan trapped in the Armoury during a Zombie Apocalypse.

[@thelastminuteman7513]

So glad I got to see Jonathan Ferguson, the Keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in the UK, which houses a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history, actually fire some guns this time.

[@nobodyisbest]

Funnily enough, most German soldiers were quite content with the Kar-98. In the Wehrmacht infantry squad, the emphasis was on the squad machine gun instead of the individual rifleman.

[@quentinmichel7581]

StG-44 & MP-40: "Let's take it to the range..." While standing IN THE. RANGE. 😂

[@sonatine3266]

American and German guns are simply the best in the world.

[@robertwalker7454]

I'm just surprised that The Walther P38, isn't in this.

[@MutsuKazuma]

depending on the distance a pistol round isn't man stopping with one shop anyway, doesn't really matter if it is 45 or 9mm, so more ammo is generally a better choice, no one ever said " I wish I had less ammo in that fight"

[@eksbocks9438]

25:15 The Kalashnikov and STG are not really the same. The receivers, bolt carrier, and recoil springs are different. If anything, the STG is more closely related to the Gerät 06 and the HK-G3. While the Kalashnikov follows a similar manufacturing concept to the PPS-43. Except with a Garand-style rotating bolt.

[@hairydogstail]

The AK used the same layout as STG44, but used a rotating bolt and trigger of the M1 Garand..

[@badideagenerator2315]

​@@hairydogstail the layout of any assault rifle is essentially just giving a gun the ergonomics of a submachine gun, and the stock and sights of a rifle. its fairly easy to figure out that these aspects of both weapons would be preferable for one designed to function as a compromise between both. so it's no surprise that the STG 44 and the AK 47 are similar shapes.

[@hairydogstail]

@@badideagenerator2315 No, the STG was the first to incorporate the layout..It was not fairly easy to figure out as the US stuck with a traditional rifle layout with the M1 carbine, BAR, etc..The carrier/long stroke piston above the barrel, pistol grip, 30 round magazine/location, raised sights attached to the barrel were all copied from the STG44..Hind sight is always easier lol..

[@badideagenerator2315]

@@hairydogstail the m1 carbine and BAR aren't assault rifles. 30 round magazines and pistol grips are common features of submachine guns. sights attached to the barrel were the default on all guns so raising them above the gas piston is the most obvious solution to getting a good sight picture. and the AK 47's gas piston assembly is based on the m1 garand.

[@hairydogstail]

@@badideagenerator2315 No rifle had that layout before the STG44..And the gas system was taken directly from the STG44..The Garand has the piston on the bottom of the barrel with the action rod on the side.. The cam groove for the bolt and fire control group were taken from the Garand..

[@sirfrancis9619]

I need to correct you here......In WW2 the Brits were using the Lee Enfield No4 which did have a peep sight not the open style sights of the No3 of WW1 fame or indeed K98. The peep sight which is placed behind the breech is regarded as the more accurate and superior of the two.

[@stevenchan3822]

Germany definitely have the coolest weapons in WW2

[@7ecno546]

Malcolm “This is Jonathan Ferguson, the Keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in the UK, which houses a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history.” In The Middle.

[@jmp.t28b99]

At 28:12 Please tell me that LUKE is not pointing that STG44 at Jonathan's face. I hope that it is an optical illusion caused by camera angle ! Otherwise, good review of these fine German weapons.

[@MattMurphyMusicTeacher]

agreed

[@sailorhms]

I kinda cringed at that bit as well.

[@CharlieFoxtrot128]

I think it’s just the camera angle. Looks like it’s just over Jonathon’s shoulder and a little bit past his head

[@DankNoodles420]

psh idiot

[@applefresh7]

Just felt uneasy watching that.. 😢

[@HrLBolle]

With the Luger I think it should have been mentioned that there was a dedicated Artillery variant, recognizable by its long barrel, detachable shoulder stock and drum magazine, that could be considered as a thought predecessor to the Bergmann & Schmeisser MP18, which in itself is a predecessor to the MP 38/40.

[@MGood-ij1hi]

Surprising fact about the STG-44 is that very few American infantrymen would use captured examples when given the chance because it was almost twice the weight of an M1 carbine yet fired a cartridge that had only slightly more power than an M1 carbine cartridge ; and anyway 7.92x33 ammo was hard to get even for the German soldiers. When the M2 carbine with full auto capability became available the STG -44 didn't make sense , though admittedly it was more badass looking.

[@michaelwarenycia7588]

You're forgetting the better accuracy and range of the STG...pointed bullets, slightly more power, etc.

[@brealistic3542]

The Germans used the light/heavy machine gun as their primary weapon. The other soldiers were there to protect its flank. On a offensive operation it was used as suppressive fire and the German infantry used hand grenades Submachine guns and bolt action rifles after artillery and morters and tanks softened up the enemy.

[@ashemedai]

10:35 That last Luger round jumping up ... and bouncing on his head...

[@CharlieFoxtrot128]

It’s very common for the Luger to eject hot brass right into your hair or down your shirt.

[@0tteru]

My dad has a luger and shooting it always spooked me a little because every once in a while a shell will land onto your head (or if you're really unlucky down your shirt) and thwap you or burn you. Those shells dropping hit a lot harder than you think they would!!

[@stujo718]

Love these videos. Cold War weapons fired would be awesome.

[@atcubaking1]

Oh my god its Jonathan Ferguson, the Keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the Royal Armouries Museuem in the UK, which houses a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history

[@hans-1940]

The best machine gun of the Second World War, the german MG42, would also have fit very well in the video.

[@morganfender7855]

Currently set up with a whisky sour on my balcony after at night in Cyprus 😂 couldn't think of a better end to a night 👍

[@richardhenry5015]

Hi Johanthan enjoyed your enthusiasm and knowledge from the retired keeper of firearms at the South African National Museum of Military History in Johannesburg.

[@LaneLibra]

Was that just the camera or did he fully flag that guys head and chest for like 15 seconds with the Stg 44?

[@Methazar]

It does look like that a few times lol

[@Ndiver81]

Not to mention he handed the weapon over to him without checking to see if it was empty first.

[@igorbarbosa4044]

Like Jonathan Ferguson, the keeper of firearms and artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in the UK, which houses a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history, as a German soldier in WW2, I would choose the stg 44, if I had the opportunity and ammo supply.

[@F4M3Resistance]

I see History Hit and Jonathan Ferguson, the keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in the UK, which houses a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history again I watch again.

[@carlstewart9289]

I had a Walther P38 in South Africa in the 80's. As an added feature, if you removed the magazine and racked the slide back, you could use it to open beer bottles.

[@Michael-q9g5e]

It's nice to see these classic pistols. I'm from England, which has been totally disarmed. I put that down to a government which doesn't trust its own people. Even something that looks like a gun can land you in prison. Totally crazy.

[@denialdesign]

Great vid, always interesting to see these things actually fired. BTW you misspelled "manUfacturer".