H&K G3: The Very First Import (3/62)

/ forgottenweapons
We have all seen plenty of sporter CETME rifles and civilian HK-91s, but when the G3 was new to the Germany military, there was already an interest in bringing semiauto versions into the US. The Golden State Arms Corporation was the first to do so, with three batches of imports in 1962 (just 3 years after the G3 was adopted). The first of these came into the US in March, and was basically identical to the military G3 except with a two-position semiauto-only fire control pack.
Later imports had to be made more and more distinct from the military G3s, which leaves these 3/62 guns as the closest thing to the real G3 available to the non-NFA US shooter.
Video on the development of the roller-delayed blowback system:
• Last Ditch Innovation:...
/ forgottenweapons

[@Irondrone4]

I love seeing wood parts on post-WWII firearms. It gives them a neat, almost dieselpunk feel.

[@robofish759]

+Irondrone4 like an fn fal with wood stock and fore grip

[@CoIdHeat]

+Irondrone4 True. Together with some bad ass WW1 trenchcoat and german armor and an over the top looking gasmask you definitely would look very cool at conventions.

[@alexanderfo3886]

Maybe that's the reason why they put in in Fallout 3.

[@peterhamann5731]

I had one with wood parts at basic training in 1985, that was fancy!

[@koookeee]

@@peterhamann5731 One of the guys in my platoon had a wooden one with markings from 1963 even in 1993...

[@nikosliras8102]

The Greek army uses this rifle as there main battle rifle.And since going to the army for a couple of months is mandatory, I remember using super banged up rifles manufactured from the late 70's and early 80's for training...and they would work flawlessly. Any rare hiccups would be due to shitty bent magazines. And FYI, for unlocking the bolt place it backwards in the receiver and give it a nice tapped you are good to go.

[@rahbaralhaq]

So basically, Belgium is responsible for re-kick starting German small arms industry. Essentially what they were trying to prevent. I wonder how hard they kicked themselves after they realized that.

[@MrBioniclefan1]

yeah I know right.

[@CoIdHeat]

+Rik Raptor I found the explanation in the video hard to believe to be honest. "No, we won't give you the licence to build it in your own country because you know.. 2 invasions and stuff... but you're free to buy those weapons you need from us"

[@MERLK2]

+CoIdHeat Actually it was like that. FN AND the belgian government were quite firmly against that idea. Many european governments were against the idea of an armed germany, that was allowed to design and produce own armament. They had no problem with the idea of sellingl germany controlled, small numbers of weapons (partly out of economic reasons) - but licenced production was a no-go. You can imagine that this bite them in the ass after a while - because germany bought only around 100.000 FN FALs for the Bundeswehr in 1955, phased that rifle out of service in 1959 (sold em cheap to turkey)- and startet then to build (and later sell) 7 million of the G3. Not only did FN loose a customer, with the solid reputation HK got with the G3 and technically similar weapons like the MP5, it became one hell of an competitor. A competitor in which rise to importance FN played a quite important, but unintentional role, ironically.

[@VT-mw2zb]

Well, thing changed, you know. Like many of today's big name weapon system comes from Germany. H&K is one, Rheinmetall is the other. Basically, if you need a 120mm tank gun, just dial up Rheinmetall. You need some modern and reliable tanks and Russia is not friendly to you? How about a Leopard 2? German firearms were licensed to be produced all over the Middle East. And that's how you can see ISIS and other rebels in the region totting around G3 and MG3s around. There's a video of a GoPro footage recovered from a dead ISIS fighter. In there, they were using MG3. And then France was complaining that Germany, despite being the richest country in Europe, is contributing relatively paltry in terms of money and troops to NATO.

[@Nutellafuerst]

Xuan Vinh To if im not graveky mistaken, that MG3 does not come from licensed production. it has to be one of those that we gave the Kurds to fight the IS fuckers. Sad to see one of em fall into their dirty hands, even if only temporarily.

[@LoppanH]

I had a G3 when I was in the Swedish Army or like they called it a AK4 and I liked it. I remember the bolt head a little tricky to put together but not that hard.

[@AllanFolm]

There's a trick to it. Use the back end of the pistol grip to twist the bolt head into position - it fits into one of the grooves on the bottom.

[@AllanFolm]

@@spacejaga Mine was number 899996 - but I wasn't in the swedish army, but the Danish.

[@muttimannen]

Space JAGA the swedish home guard still use the AK4, nowdays with a red dot sight and a new stock. It has also made a comeback in the regular army as a DRM, where it is doing a great job! My money is on it being around for another 5-10 years, when the new standard rifle will (realisticly) will be distibruated on a large scale.

[@muttimannen]

Allan Folmersen thanks for the tip, will try it out next time! I usualy use a table corner or something else hard and depress the spring to ease the twist

[@atomnissen4251]

In my service time I used the gun strap wrapped around the bolt o get a grip on it.

[@ZGryphon]

Ian's auction previews have a sort of cumulative depression effect if you watch a bunch of them in a row. You start out going "Oh hey! Cool!" and finish up face-down on the couch, sobbing "So many beautiful things! I shall never possess them!" :)

[@leeharden4060]

Every time

[@doubleT84]

When you look at the G3, there are some elements, as Ian said, that seem to come directly from the StG-44. Butt stock goes off in a similar way, trigger group swings down. But the bolt works totally different, a bit similar to the MG42 (rollers). Then you get the MP5 were everything's the same except the butt stock has only two pins. So the trigger group is a little bit different but the trigger assembly is basically the same, the bolt is similar. Then you go forward to the G36 and you still find some parts of the design and definitely see the heritage. The trigger group is different, the bolt is different (and in some way, the idea behind it seems to come from the StG-44 again, though with a rotating lock. Instead of a quickly changeable trigger assembly you can easily exchange the whole grip with the assembly. And in the end you find a similar design in the UMP and MP7. So everytime there's similarity and updates and just by going from gun to gun you can go and follow the evolution.

[@larserikgill]

The Norwegian Armed Forces has used their own version of this rifle for nearly 50 years now (the AG3 -Automat Gevær 3) and its now replaced by the H&K 416 rifle. Here its a true love or hate relationship to the AG3 rifles. Very interesting gun.

[@kasperpedersen6571]

Was adopted by the Danish army in 1975 under the name M/75 and replaced by the Canadian munufactored m16 in 1995 called M/95 and the carabin called m/96

[@mortensandmoen5208]

Ja det var en god børsje for sin tid, og fortsatt er fortsatt god om med skikkelig dimensjon på ammunisjonen! 😁

[@avallach666]

ag-gym er hat

[@ceromago]

During my army days I used the G3. I liked it a lot. Reliable, simple, powerful and accurate. Thanks for sharing the history of it

[@alexanderfo3886]

7:07 After all, you're supposed to put these bolts in the two holes in the wooden stock as to not to loose them. That's how the Bundeswehr manuals taught it and how I learned it during my military service.

[@beedubs100]

Firs thing I noticed I wanted to cry. g3 fanboi :(

[@Mrgunsngear]

that thing is SWEET

[@macieyid]

The MP5/G3 rotating rear sight is the icing

[@AllanFolm]

IF you have accidentially let the bolt-head close with the bolt-carrier, you can insert the bolt assembly in reverse into the frame to unlock it. Also, when you reassemble the bolt, and have to rotate the bolt head into it's final position, the rear part of the trigger housing is shaped so you can use it as a tool. Just insert it into the groove in the bottom of the bolt head and turn it.

[@heikopanzlaff3789]

+Allan Folmersen nonsense ! It is totaly easy to unlock, must be - german military issue . RTFM

[@AllanFolm]

Heiko Panzlaff Not if you have cold and wet hands. Just put it back in the frame backwards.

[@omfghai2u]

I had no trouble unlocking it by simply pressing on the rollers and at the same time pulling on the bolt, even with freezing/wet hands.

[@stevendrick5739]

Allan Folmersen ... thanks . I was using a c-clamp to depress the roller springs to rotate the bolt head. Great tip....

[@matthiasstadelmeyer5924]

Bolt Head assembly with your Fingers was practised in the Bundeswehr for many hours, no Problem at all. For women it might be difficult.

[@asicdathens]

Most people in Greece learned to fire in the army with this weapon. Greek ones (made locally under license) have plastic instead of wooden parts. The stamped fonts are identical. While I was in the boot camp some people lost the selector switch during disassembly training.

[@erebostd]

Oh boy, the G3... I used this thing during my military service in Germany. What a big chunk of metal :D

[@AndyB12]

did you like it?

[@damiangrouse4564]

Did you see many malfunctions during your service time?

[@zlatkovujevic7348]

I used it too in service and I didnt like it much.

[@Wuchtamsel]

+surfinburdlax Most soldiers were happy when the G3 was replaced by the much more "comfortable" G36. Later in yugoslavia this joy suffered somewhat when they discovered that 5.56x45 ammo obviously hadn't sufficient stopping power against aggressive wild dogs and you sometimes had to pump a whole magazine into one of these beasts to kill it...

[@jegergladformad86]

+Hoyschel Silversteinberg Yes assigned to some camp duty sounds light.. =)

[@tacomancers12356789]

7:49 *German engineering intensifies*

[@Imissthefuhrer]

You can see the influence from the STG 44

[@Seanthefox]

Frank Stadelmann I was thinking the same thing

[@JosephAnthonyJosefius]

Frank Stadelmann it's a direct descendant of the STG 45 prototype.

[@Stargazer88]

see this being disassembled really brings back memories. I served with this rifle and we never had problems with the bounce back mechanism locking up the bolt. I never even knew it could do that until now. pushed the bolt and carrier together a bunch of times during disassembly drills as well, never had an issue with separating them.

[@user-lz5kn1ch2t]

The G3 is a CETME C manufactured in Germany under a Spanish license. In fact, until the 1980s, the initials CETME were stamped on them. The same thing also happened with the FN.

[@limol5375]

"So does this rifle have an ak-like paddle mag release or an ar-style button?" H&K: "yes"

[@Papperlapappmaul]

Once again I have to draw my hat to you, Ian. The pronunciation of "Heckler und Koch" was spot on! I know that "ch" sound is particularly hard to pronounce for native english speakers but you managed it. You are really doing some amazing work on this channel (and on InRangeTV of course). Do you think you will ever be able to do a video on the H&K G11? So far there are only a few commercial-style videos of it from the time it was developed and they don't really go into detail. I can't think of anyone more qualified to examine and explain the mechanics of that rifle than you. Greetings from Germany

[@Omar-li5db]

I doubt there are any remaining pieces in good shape around.

[@bastifantasti82]

@@Omar-li5db And you don't find the caseless ammunition. I had one ones and the solid propellant was crumbling over time.

[@allain98productions]

He did a video about the G11, very interesting. It's a shame the forgetting of that rifle.

[@FakeAssHandsomeMcGee_]

It was tricky for me as well. I used to call them "Heckler and Cock" lol.

Ouch, my fingers still remember the pain doing speed drill disassembly/reassembly of the AK4 as it was known in Sweden. Re attaching the bolt head a couple of dozen times HURTS. That f*!ng spring...

[@jacobhaagerup7816]

@Beautiful Greece We had them in the Royal Danish Army too. The way we used to do it was by turning the bolt carrier the other way around and ramming it into the receiver, so the bolt would move forward. NCOs used to take a very dim view on this practice as it would potentially damage both the rollers and the receiver, but naturally we didn't care at all.

[@VoodooMcVee]

When I was in the Bundeswehr in 2001, we were amongst the last recruits who were issued the G3, the batch after us got the G36. The gun I got first was in a really bad shape so I got a new one. It was actually factory new, still sealed in an oil-filled plastic bag with a stamped production year of 1968... And it was the only gun in the whole company that still had the black finish on the metal, rich green plastic parts and readable letters painted on. In addition it was also the only gun that was reliably accurate at 300m range. I really liked shooting the thing, carrying it around - not so much :D

[@hi_im_elli]

Cool!

[@wulfematrax1702]

Man he was NOT kidding about the obnoxious time trying to depress the antibounce spring in the bolt... learned the hard way lmao

[@tiprunner]

I used this in the danish army in 1998/99. They came in use after the Garant and is now replaced by the Colt Canada C7A1. I was in the artillery and we where some the last to get the new Colt, they had startet shifting to that in 1995.

[@rpleym]

Used the norwegian AG3 plenty, both during my army service, and also in the norwegian youth national guard. In the youth national guard we had semi auto guns, but I beleive that the only difference on our semi autos was the fire selector. The trigger group and everything else was supposedly the same. There were some guys who claimed to have fired them in full auto using a borrowed selector. Also, we always had to disassemble the bolt assembly for cleaning, which you seem to skip :) Our guns were stamped between 68 and 72 I believe (this was in 99), and there was at least one case at that time regarding worn out/ failing firing pin spring. Basically when the spring failed, the firing pin could be jammed in a protruded position, so that when you slam the bolt closed, you essentially fire whatever you have in your magasine in uncontrolled full auto. I remember all the guns were inspected with regard to this problem.

[@ScharfeMesser]

When i was in the german military, we had a trick to solve the problem you talked about at min 11. We simply inserted the bolt group backwards into the gun and gave a little smack. The bolt head came forward again and the rolls where free. :-)

[@nehcrum]

When you disassemble, there are two holes in the buttstock for the push pins, so when you remove them, you can insert them into those holes so that you won't lose them.

[@brianindiana9375]

Lol, just joined the Greek army, the corporals gave us a tutorial on how to disassemble the bolt carrier, except they started off by jamming the bolt backwards, took them 20 mins of trying to pull the oily thing apart before they continued their demonstration

[@Macabri_2k10]

Good old G3, i still used and shot a version of this during my mandatory military training in Germany. After that they were phased out and replaced by the G36

[@warth09]

Always put the push pins in the holes in the stock as you disassembly. then they dont disapear.

[@SONOFAZOMBIE2025]

diaper?

[@warth09]

Yours?

[@SONOFAZOMBIE2025]

warth09 lost it years ago

[@csmaster65]

+warth09 I also hear that you should put them in away from you depending on how you carry it. If you are right handed, you would push the pins in from the left side of the gun.

[@warth09]

+csmaster65 Yes, correct. The germans thinks things trough when they design something.

[@HanFyren]

Would like to add that those holes at the back of the stock is for the two pins you have to remove for a basic field strip. So you can clean and oil it in the woods without losing any of the pins.

[@tillmannfischer]

Actually the wood stocks didn't have that feature in the same way, that's what these two large holes in the sling attachment are for. When H&K switched to polymer stocks, they also integrated the sling attachment. This of course removed the pin holes, which were moved to the back of the stock. Interestingly the pin-hole feature is present on pretty much all H&K rifles, up and including to any version of the G36 and newer rifles. Pretty weird that almost no other weapon has gone for the same approach...

[@ZeroSuitSamo]

It's cool seeing a familiar rifle in one of these videos. Some advice to anyone who compressed the bolt/bolt carrier like I did with my Cetme once and couldn't get them apart. I put the bolt into the upper backwards so that the rollers make contact with the frame and gave it a good smack. I might have been pressing in the lever at the time, but I don't quite remember. got them apart without damaging anything. I really enjoyed this one. I had always wondered about why there was no paddle mag release.

[@LarS1963]

Not much is lost with it being semi-auto. The thing is a beast firing full-auto. I still remember them from my time in the Danish army, back in the early eighties.

[@stuborn-complaining-german]

The original military service Bundeswehr G3 never had that padle magazine release, only the push button. HK introduced that primarily for the American market... Disassembly in the Bundeswehr always included also taking off the bolt head by twisting it ~45° also releasing the locking (delaying...) piece and the firing pin and spring. We had to do that, show the firing pin, and reassemble it, blindfolded under time pressure... We also got scolded if we didn't put those pins in their holes in the buttstock 😅

[@PUNCHYOURFACEreal]

That is probably the cleanest G3 bolt group I've ever seen

[@jackfrost884]

Excellent video as always. It weird how much I have learned about firearms over the past six months. So glad to have found this channel, it really ignited my interest with the hobby!

[@migueltraviesa2987]

In Spain, the CETME has a nickname: “chopo” ( “black poplar “) because it was the nickname given to the old Mauser rifle ( I suppose due to its wood) and the soldiers reuse that nickname for the CETME

[@alexanderwagner2851]

Hmm... during my time in the mandatory service as a "Bundeswehr Soldat" we did go one step further on the disassembly of the bolt. the goal were 90 seconds until "Schlagbolzen frei! (firing pin free!)" (with eyes closed/blindfolded). But my "personal gun" during the "basic military service" was build somewhere in the 50'th and therefore something like 20 years older than me. (We did not touch the fire control group. We only removed the trigger group)

[@Kevinegan1]

My brother had a KF 41 back in the 70,s and I fired it, broke it down & cleaned it, many times. Getting one is on my bucket list, right under restoring my '69 Firebird. I grew up with guns. At 5 years old I was taking down, cleaning, and reassembling German P04s.

[@JohnLeePedimore]

Great video Ian. If you go to a channel called "Bundeswehr" they just posted (2-19)an old H&K factory video from 1970 showing the production of the G3 in action.It's all in German though.

[@Ruhrpottpatriot]

+JohnLeePedimore If you ask enough, they could make an English version. They did so with multiple other videos.

[@Exodon2020]

It's the actual YT channel of the German Armed Forces BTW. Since military draft was abolished some years ago (probably returning though as the world is going to shit) the Bundeswehr suddenly had to actively endorse signing up for the army instead of just drafting the recruits they needed and offered the best of them to sign up as regular soldiers.

[@jaroslawkaminski8921]

Everytime I see this rifle it brings back memories. I used to carry that rifle in the German Army for 4 years...But without the wooden finish and with the 2nd generation magazine style, that magazin in this video is the original old one. And yes, that one is absolutely original Bundeswehr G3 :)

[@Liam-B]

I'm left handed and can understand why people trash talk G3's. I love the G3. Recoil is totally over exaggerated by some people, but that recoil is also easy to tame with a heavy buffer and/or a recoil pad.

[@docsinclair4097]

Aah, the memories... we still had some of the "wooden" G3s in Service back in '93, when duty called me to Service. NVA soldiers called the G3 "Donnerstock" or "thunderstick" cause it's a very light gun Shooting a high power caliber. When we were Training in the Grafenwoehr Training fields, one day some US soldiers were with us who wanted to try out our G3. Long Story short, one of the guys ended up with a black eye because he didn't take the fierce recoil into account and in case you don't firmly press the buttstock against your shoulder, that humpback behind the rear sight hits your eye socket pretty hard. Btw: the first two Pins from the buttstock can be stored in the two holes in the buttstock, ment for disassembly in the field.

[@martinlatvian5538]

In the first year of military service in Latvia I did use the one made by Sweden AK4. It has "Husqvarna" markings "H" but some of the rifles had bolts with "HK" markings. It is incredibly powerful and precise rifle. The penetration power of it is serious. I love this rifle. It just goes trough brick walls like trough butter.

[@aldi404]

I like the wood parts. When I was in the Bundeswehr those were all plastic.

[@Lethyss]

+aldi404 The wood looks really nice. We still use the plastic ones in the Home Guard in my country, lol.

[@AntiqueMeme]

+hurstolds841 Moron!

[@KickF]

Norway adapted this rifle i late 1960´s, and Kongsberg Defence Systems produced something like a quarter million of these on license to the Norwegian Army in just a few years. This firearm is now been replaced with HK416, and a few special in US army may know ( You know who you are ) this firearm first hand.

[@RalpGalland]

+KickF Only in the army and the cowboys in the guards have the HK416. Out of 48.000 Home Guardsmen, only about 2.000 have the HK416. Wich means, the the majority of norwegian soldiers tasked with defending the country has the AG3.

[@BumblingBushcraft]

On compressing the bolt head. It is very simplyt and straight forward to pull the bolt head out again. Just push the rollers on the bolt in with your thumb and index finger, wich is easily done, and it will snap out again.

[@thomasmangum3647]

I have me a hk G3 with similar build number.. I got as a demilitarized rifle kit.. and I love it

[@dexm2010]

Thank you for posting this video--some people I've spoken to have refused to believe that one of these actually exist. This is what I call my "Grail" gun. Truly marvelous and a beautiful rifle!

[@pLAST3RdISAST3R]

Yeah, I had a semi-auto CETME .308 Sporter which was amazing and looked just like a Black G3. White S for Sicher, und Red F for Feuer. Loved that thing! Glad to know much more about it finally!!

[@AllanFolm]

If you accidentianlly push the bolt head back against the bolt carrier, the easiest way to reset it is to insert the bolt in the receiver backwards. Then the rollers will push against the wedge and open the bolt head.

[@TonyMcDark]

If the bolt gets stuck on that position , you can twist it to disassemble it ( 4 pieces really easy and simple ) and twist it back together OR what i used to do and hundreds more people are doing , you take the bolt group , flip it other way around and you smack your palm on the tube against the receiver ( where you pulled it from ). Bassically it knocks the bolt back into its original position , downside , your hand may hurt! Other than that , this kind of metal will not bend or twist under these kind of forces so it is a safe way of correcting a failed reassembly ( which most bolt problems occur ). Beautifull gun , very well made , slow rate of fire in full-auto ( if you can call that ) very accurate. Only hate and love thing on this gun is the weight , it weighs 5.5kg ( 12 pounds ) with magazine loaded and bayonet attached but at the same time it keeps the recoil down!!

[@Forodir]

was surprised he didn´t want to do that, They way we stripped the G3 in the German army was such like this would happened a lot, and it is super easy to put it back into the extended position (and necessary, otherwise you cant fit the bolt into the receiver). So actually nearly a few million people did that on regular basis over the 50 years this weapon was in service. Funny that now we are speaking about the third weapon in the German Army which i have to learn and master, I learned as a draftee on Ge than now G36 and then we will see what the year 2019 brings. Boy i am getting old will

[@jkjrkarmia514]

I like to point out to people in the 1980s action movies where you see a full auto MP5 being used and telling them "Hey look that mP5 was imported a semi hk94, the barrel was cut down and a sear job was done, You can tell because factory full auto guns have the 3 lugs on the end of the muzzle and the lower receiver has the stamped steel semi auto trigger pack as opposed to the 3 position navy lower..." that's some obscure shit you learn from reading shotgun news since I was 10;)

[@666baerchen]

Wow, took me back to 1999 when I was issued one of the last H6K G3 as my service gun. No wood furniture though - just green plastic. The FCM looks about the same and the roler block too. Man those things allways got dirty. Shame you did not take it off. I can't remember exactly, but there was some swisting to a specific anlge involved. Can't remember the anti-bounce sping though. Neither on the G3 nor the MP5. Good video as always.

[@longboi8540]

as a cheap CETME owner, I'm super jealous. that gun is SLICK. super clean, fit and finish is outstanding.

[@rocobalboa1826]

Es exactamente igual que un CETME. es su hijo

[@johannesdolch]

"Oh no, Belgium doesn't want to sell us weapons, whatever shall we do."

[@mart_en]

You obviously did understand the situation. Belgium really wanted to keep selling Germany their weapons ! The point you are missing is, that Germany wanted to produce those guns on their own ...

[@clothar23]

The only thing I like about the G3 is when that stoppage happens it is heavy enough to be used quite well as a melee implement.

[@FOXeye95]

Also adapted for Portuguese Army, we still use those in current year! Great weapon, really great weapon but it's kinda getting old (duh) and the 20 mag is kinda of a downer instead of 30 like most rifles these days

[@FOXeye95]

Carlos Saraiva Nem por isso, existe G3 do mesmo calibre com 30 balas e mesmo assim na tropa só metemos 18 pra evitar ficar uma presa na camara por alguma razao

[@FOXeye95]

Carlos Saraiva Entre ter menos peso e ter mais muniçao, prefiro ter mais muniçao. Se consigo carregar 5 kilos mais umas gramas nao me vai incomodar

[@FOXeye95]

Carlos Saraiva Hmm mais imaginemos a seguinte situação. 3 carregadores de 20 = 60 2 carregadores de 30 = 60 menos um carregador a levar conosco, menos um que o estado gasta. Sim tenho plena noção que foi feita a pensar tiro a tiro, coitado do pobre que tenta fazer fogo efetivo com ela no modo automático.

[@montimuros2837]

+Carlos Saraiva Saúdos dende Galiza! Nós tivemos os CETME C en servizo moitos anos :)

[@FOXeye95]

champimuros CETME são ligeiramente diferentes e na realidade piores porque são ainda mais antigas que as HK G3 O melhor design "cópia" até agora da G3 é a PTR91F

[@jeremyj.5687]

My favourite Battle Rifle ever. The later polymer A3/A4's are pure beauties. My dad (old enough to be my grandpa, actually) had one until a few years ago when someone snitched and he had it taken away from him. It has since been my dream to own an A3 or A4... Wonder whether German gun laws will ever allow me to.

[@oogenshire]

best way to get the bolt back into forward position when you accidently drop it back into the locked position is to put it into the reciever backwards and push it in, it will reset the bolt into the unlocked position. pull back out and turn it around (to correct orientation and re install into reciever for assembly

[@HughesEnterprises]

I saw some ads for these in the 1963 and 1964 issues of American Rifleman. They were three times more expensive than any other advertised rifle, I believe about $350.

[@mruler360]

+Abe From an So it's not a title II item but it's certainly expensive enough to be one.

[@gophop]

+Abe From an Anything that kept value since then would've been an equally good investment. Inflation works across the board.

[@HughesEnterprises]

+gophop I'm always trying to figure out the weirdo guns of today that will be the $30k guns of the year 2066. The Boberg pistols fit that bill. Too bad I can't afford the investment. :)

[@doubleT84]

So beautiful with the wood parts.

[@lavrentivs9891]

Half way through the video I suddenly asked myself why I was watching the disassembly, after all, I've used the Swedish version in the Home Guard for over a decade and cleaned it god knows how many times already =)

[@nehcrum]

+Lavrentivs Heh, yeah. And then I was greatly surprised when he wasn't going to disassemble the bolt. Because my strongest memories of assembly and disassembly of the AK4 (H&K G3 in swedish variant) is to push down that damn spring to get the bolt back onto the bolt carrier.....something that we did every time after shooting with it.

[@1973Grejluder]

I get so many flashbacks from my time in the Danish homeguard.

[@smogdanoff7053]

Väldigt kul att man tagit tillbaka AK4 som vapen i försvaret(syftar ej på HV)

[@DjAboo1]

PTR industries makes a fantastic version of this rifle. They use refurbished CETME tooling if I'm not mistaken. I have one as the state I live in doesn't allow the real thing. It is identical, with a few improvements, and will take original HK. Best part is they cost a fraction of what an HK will run. Extremely reliable system that is used around the world.

[@QWOP_Expert]

Wow, the bolt on this thing looks like it's in amazingly good shape, and it's stamped with 2/62 as well. Amazing.

[@VernKlukas]

+QWOP Expert I see 4/62 on the bolt, not 2/62

[@QWOP_Expert]

+Vernon Klukas I thought it might have been 3/62 at first actually, but I checked the images at the auction house and it is 2/62. jamesdjulia.com/wp-content/uploads/images/auctions/391/images/lrg/50249a1x7.jpg Amazing shape either way.

[@JMartinni]

+Vernon Klukas The bolt is marked 2/62, the carrier is marked 4/62.

[@briandianas1919]

beautiful I have a ptr91 with some h&k furniture love delayed roller blowback

[@paulschab8152]

I just bought a PTR 91. I love it. I have put a lot of HK parts on it. Yes, it's a little on the hefty side, but I have gotten used to it. Love the cold war look with OD green stock and wide forearm. I love the way the mags look too.

[@andywindes4968]

When I bought an HK41 a long time ago, there was no one to warn me about taking care not to pop out those roller locks when disassembling the rifle. So of course I did it. I think I pulled my hair out that day trying to pop them back into place. A tough lesson, but one I only had to learn once.

[@Ze_N00B]

I just watched a documentary on how these are made. Hundreds of parts, quality assurance with precise measurement tools and precise woman hands.

[@pernorway]

7,62x51standard NATO. Norwegian standard defence rifle up to about 2007. AG3 were licenseproduced by Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk 1967-74 and 253 497 were made (population in Norway 4 million back then).

[@IMarcaI]

G3 will always have a special place for me, it was the first military grade rifle that i fired and learned to field strip.

[@sankan1299]

I used that rifle when I first joined the Swedish Army and it’s still my favourite. Our current standard is the AK5C though.

[@kacekace3676]

First time i took mina apart i pulled the cocking handle hard and the whole assembly flew out and when it landed it caused it to lock. I had no idea why i couldnt put it back together. It sat far awhile in pieces

[@edwardparsons5085]

Great to see these weapons appreciated and assessed carefully bravo

[@michaelibey6700]

That's a RARE gun, I've never seen one. I remember in the 1960's a company in Chicago by the name of MARS imported a bunch of CETME's into the states. They were about 219.00 and I was a teenager with no money. I did manage to get a brand new FN-49 for 85 dollars, nice shooting gun.

[@garysherwood2501]

I've had a couple Cetme's,but the MAR's import G3 is the one I've always wanted. Awesome guns.

[@bloodydavid]

even if they are replaced by the HK G36, german soldiers in service in afghanistan used to replace their G 36 with updated G3s because of the stronger caliber

[@VulpeRenard]

I think the paddle release is pretty necessary. The button release is not nearly as responsive as it is on an AR-15, you have to really jam that thing in and yank the magazine. On an AR, the button presses smoothly and the mag falls out on its own 9 times out of 10. With the paddle release, it was just an intuitive motion that came with pulling the magazine downward and it had more mechanical advantage as well, being a lever and all.

[@money50863]

my ptrs magazines drop free...

[@8digitPDX]

If for some reason the bolt locks on the bolt carrier, you just stick the whole thing in the receiver backward, smack it, and it will unlock.

[@jasonskinner1555]

I've built several and never knew that thanks for that info!

[@omfghai2u]

Or just press on the rollers at the same time as you pull on the bolt.

[@8digitPDX]

Øyvind Heggstad That's not likely to work unless the spring in that anti-bounce device is pretty worn out. That trick works on the Mp5, but the spring is much much stronger on the G3.

[@Xirque666]

+8digitPDX You are aware that Øyvind Heggstad probably had the G3, r more exactly the Kongsberg licened AG3, as a service weapon, as I did, and knows whart he is talking about?? It is also dissapointing that Ian here did not dissenble the bolt7 fireingpin and bolthead and showed you how to assembly it back again, because it is of importance to know the assemply to securilt clen the gun. It is not hard, as Øyvind Heggstad here can tell you but it has a tecnique.

[@heno02]

Yeah, I've fired a lot of (A)G3's in my time and I thought about the same thing. If you want to clean that thing properly you really need to unlatch the bolthead as a lot of powder gunk gets stuck in there.

[@yiannish1627]

I served with the good old A3 and A4s with polymer stocks. My own was a G3. Couldn't stand the heavy ol thing but it's definitely grown on me, missing it, definitely don't miss pulling it apart haha especially when you get to the fiddly barrel onwards !!

[@Totaldane]

Tip: if you happen to close the gap between the bolt head and the carrier, just put the entire bolt into the receiver backwards. Push it, and the rollers will separate the lock again.

[@123Pucki-Soey-Birds]

looks much nicer than the green black version i shot in german army in the 80's

[@bretthompson3865]

My understanding is that negotiations not only broke down with FN, but the managing director all but threw the Germans off the premises. Understandable, considering the history...

[@MERLK2]

+Bret Thompson Aye ... and so they lost access to a big market, and helped to strenghten a then fledgling competitor. Ah germany, in case of getting annoyed allways fond to find a way to subtle say F*** you right back. Well, if invasion is not an option anymore ;)

[@agissamarakis2685]

Greek Fantaros Trick: Say you accidentaly drop the bolt and the rollers pop out, just shove it in the receiver backwards and give it a good slam.

[@tonydeaton2890]

Ian, it's entirely ok to bad mouth as long as what you're saying is true. You're an honest guy. That's why most of us listen to you. Keep it up dude.

[@bogomir67]

My G3 in the service (86-94) was my age: '67 vintage. Still worked great.

[@keithweiss7899]

I have one of the second generation G3 rifles and an Israeli heavy barrel FAL. I’m puzzled why Ian doesn’t like the G3. The FAL is slightly more accurate. However the G3 has one of the best scope mounting systems ever made. You can take my Hensoldt scope off an on and it returns to zero. The FAL doesn’t have any good scope mount system at all! Putting a scope on it is akin to putting one on the SKS carbine. It sucks! Additionally I can use hot or mild loaded ammo in my HK without doing any changes. My FAL has to have the gas system adjusted for the type of ammo used. My HK-91 has never jammed in over 40 years of use. I’ve taken Mule Deer in Wyoming with it many times. My FAL has jammed many times in the 25 years I’ve had it. I like both rifles, however the HK is the best overall. And btw, despite rumors to the contrary, the fluted brass is totally reloadable! I’ve reloaded the hottest loaded brass over 7 times with no problems.

[@vicinetwork321]

G3 is love, G3 is life

[@JayfromTerra]

How often I cleaned a G3. Did you know that in in '90 the main wear of guns in the Bundeswehr came from cleaning! Oh and the rifles where usually about 10 years older than the soldiers and you had to aim somewhere far away of our assigned target. I was just a little bit to old for the serving with the new G36.

[@Nik111333]

Haltepunkt meines ersten G3 war: 7,oben,links. Ich bekam ein anderes.. ;-) Point of Aim for my first G3 in military service was 7,up, left. I get a another one. ;-)

[@robertszallavarysullivan9570]

Excellent presentation!

[@sithompson74]

Absolutely love the G3 series of rifles. Got 2 variants and I'd take these over my AR15 Bushmaster any day

[@knutdergroe9757]

Simon Thompson, Till you need to carry a G3/H&K91, Oh and don't forget 7, 20 round mags loaded of course....... I have owned two of them. Carried them, and carried M16's in the Marine Corps. Go for a good hump with it, then you can talk shit.

[@MonasteryOfSilence]

I served with G3A3 in the army, i found it heavy when loaded,it also accepts a bayonet in the front and bipod,i cant even imagine how heavy it will be with the wooden parts instead of polymer. Hell it was bulky and it kicked like a bitch but it was a reliable and solid gun really easy to disassemble and clean as shown, locking the bolt was a pain in the ass but you had to be reckless to lock it so not much of a problem,one more thing the button for mag removal was too stiff ,it was kinda hard to remove the mag just by pressing the button cause the mag was stiff as well ,it required some serious power,the paddle on the other hand was a blessing as you removed the mag with one easy move

[@57AO]

The G3 was tested and later adopted into the Swedish army in 1964, it was produced under license by 3 different factories in Sweden, the Swedish name is AK4 it is the short name for Automatkarbin 4.

[@SABjork]

Built right the first time, no reason to improve upon a solid design. Very nuanced differences over time but no change to the function. Thank you for the expose. Well done.

[@RobertsGuns]

I had this in the military, we did part the bolt from the carrier for cleaning. It was a pain to reassemble the first times.

[@GreekPiranha]

g3a3s and a4s are in service in the greek army in the full auto configuration and in semi auto just with different hand guard and butt stock. i have shot with it many times and taken it apart to clean it more times than i would like to admit and i can reassure you that disassembling the bolt can be a pain in the ass at first! nice video! edit: they were chambered in 7.62x51 standard NATO cartridge

[@lordanglachel]

All West German G1's found their way into Turkish Army in early 1960's and they are still in use within the boot camps. They are excessively metallic (handguards etc) compared to Belgian FN FALs. They are bent and worn and show some aging here and there but maintained very well despite their age.

[@thenauter2492]

This is a really known rifle in Norway. Because the Norwegian army use them. In Norway we called them AG3 and they have been issued to Norwegian soldiers since mid of 1960s. And got phased out with HK416 about 10 years ago.

[@s.guttmann6625]

So were the Finnish the only Vikings no using the g-3? What were they using?

[@7t2z28]

Fun fact, if you accidentally lock the bolt head in the battery position, you simply rotate it slightly so the catch is off the lip of the head and pull out to unlock it.

[@jan-peterbrodersen3302]

I got into the German Military January 1987 and the G3 was the standard weapon. Even after changing to the HK G36 I was always preferring the G3. I prefer the .308 to the .223 any time.

[@hi_im_elli]

Why

[@jan-peterbrodersen3302]

@@hi_im_elli First of all the power of the greater cartridge. Second the more robust optics of the G3. If you have to jump to the ground to take cover the optics of the G36 are easily damaged or misaligned you cannot fix it in the field. In a combat situation I want a robust rifle that is easy to fix with a powerful caliber.

[@hi_im_elli]

@@jan-peterbrodersen3302 i get that a robust rifle has a lot of advantages, but the cartridge? Isnt .223 superior? It causes more damage, has higher penetration, is lighter, faster, softer recoil etc pp

[@hi_im_elli]

@@jan-peterbrodersen3302 i mean, i luckily never had to use it so ur probably smarter but idk

[@diazinth]

@@hi_im_elli Recoil wasn't really much of an issue with some training the way I remember it, but black "eyed" newbies was a thing. I don't know much about 5.56x45mm (vs 7.62x51mm), but we (using G3) were taught that we shouldn't regard a car, a tree or a house wall as cover. That said, I haven't tried any other AR.

[@TheNord06]

In Turkey, G3 is general issue rifle in military and Turkish military is in a low intensity warfare against AK-47 using separatist groups. Turkey also uses conscription so full-auto most of the time out of question. Fighting occurs in 2000 meter mountains, high flow rivers between them, etc. So what happens? G3 universally hated in Turkey. You can't control bursts as a conscript, so you can't get suppression fire easily, gun has severe reliability issues in these environments and even if you get it to work, your opponent hides in caves and crevises so you can't get accurate shots with the iron sights. G3, as a serial built general issue rifle is a good rifle, but it isn't enough for low intensity guerilla fighting.