Tour of Sport Systems Dittrich: Reproduction WWII German Rifles

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I recently had a chance to visit Sport Systeme Dittrich, a firm in Germany that manufactures high quality reproductions of German World War Two small arms. They were the manufacturers of the PTR-44 Sturmgewehr copies about 10 years ago, and they are now working with a US partner (DK Production Group) to import their guns into the US. The first one to be ready here was the BD-38 (copy of the MP38), and the StG-44 will be the next one coming...
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[@ForgottenWeapons]

You can find SSD's US offerings through their US partner, DK Production Group: www.dkproductiongroup.com/

[@lintonrentfro]

Great work on this one and thanks for the link. Their German site has no "English" button that I could find.

[@hecker2104]

Mate can you make video about becker m2 20mm cannon ?? I dont see any vid about it before

[@willysmb7514]

It looks like the BD44 will be in 8mm Kurtz... Will they offer a 308 version? I don't see that caliber being very available 🤔

[@AndrewAMartin]

@@willysmb7514 It might be better in 5.56 NATO or maybe in 7.62 x 39 -- it's supposed to be in an intermediate caliber...

[@ForgottenWeapons]

@willysmb7514 If you want one in a non-original caliber, the project for you to watch is the HMG Strumgewehr, now owned by PSA.

[@patginni5229]

The fact that you have enough credit and pull in the firearms industry that a company will empty their workshop and let you paw through their stuff is such a silent flex to everyone else in the guntubers community. Everyone else gets an escort in a running shop. You get free rein.

[@p_serdiuk]

I'm sure Brandon is on the same level, considering he himself runs a workshop.

[@Ocastia]

I assume this was filmed on the weekend, and someone was probably outside of view to make sure Ian doesn't take an stg44 for intense cuddling purposes.

[@drstrangelove4998]

Indeed 😂

[@Kar4ever3]

Vacation season in Europe. Factory prolly closed, and he got the CEO holding the camera. Europe and vacation, specially Northerm Europe, is quite anal. In the good way.

[@maxo.9928]

The rest of the guntubers border on being on lists.

[@highlandoutsider8148]

The way Ian is zipping about from room to room, box to box has some real kid in a toy shop vibes😅 "oh!oh! Mum come look at this one!"

[@christofincognito4530]

No Ian, we got STG44s at home.

[@matthewcoleman1919]

Even the freaking doors look extremely Teutonic and over-engineered. Let's never fight these guys again.

[@Gambitt1970]

Made me feel like he had broke in and was making this video as quickly as he could so he could get back out.

[@justanothergunnerd8128]

Ian doesn't look like this often - and when he does - it's an awesome video!!! Love his passion!

[@justanothergunnerd8128]

@@christofincognito4530 You speaking of the PTR44, wildly expensive transferable machine guns, or the non-existent PSA bastardization trash?

[@TomSedgman]

Ian has major “kid in the candy store” vibes in this video!

[@Brawler_1337]

He’s exercising much more restraint than the proverbial kid would.

[@sorenlilienthal1368]

Exactly my thoughts. Ian is living our dreams for us and is obviously having the time of his life, as well. 👏👍

[@alexanderdornenherz]

He got the golden Wonka ticket

[@Calum_S]

Imagine if it was French firearms.

[@chartreux1532]

As a German i'm always happy to see one of our Companies invite you in! More should do it Prost & Cheers from Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps

[@onpsxmember]

, .

[@ripvanwinkle2002]

the world is a safer place because Germany and the USA are friends. cheers from the USA

[@wes11bravo]

This is absolutely astounding. And yes, >$6000 is an order of magnitude out of my price range but honestly these are newly made museum pieces, functional industrial art. I mean, you guys would know better than I what an original StG44 is going for - not only is there that five figure price (guessing) but there's the added tax stamp nonsense, so these new ones aren't all that expensive comparatively.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Transferrable ones are going for 30-40k.

[@stonemanofgardnerville1162]

So your saying there is a chance........if i rob a bank ​@ForgottenWeapons

[@Purpmaster]

@@ForgottenWeapons add rare features/marking, condition and what accessories in included and it can go way over that. 😅 As you well know, but still had to say it lol.

[@justanothergunnerd8128]

@@ForgottenWeapons big time, hard swallow gulp on the transferable price... Yeah - I could technically afford that but damn that's a stretch - even for me in middle age and childless with no crazy debt. Glad I shot one full-auto in Vegas years ago - bucket list item scratched off! Anywho - yes - bring these on - I am all over one of the StG variants. Then I won't have to buy a PSA trash impersonation! Win win!

[@quinnmclaughlin7537]

I knew that price bracket was coming, just because of the niche market, though for the price, I wish they'd at least put in a binary trigger

[@Ghatbkk]

The ghosts of the Eastern Front moaning in the tunnel as the 44 is fired.

[@gregoryfilin8040]

Underrated comment

[@justanothergunnerd8128]

best comment here - other than mine - LOL.

[@Juan_Doooh]

@@Ghatbkk I wouldn’t be surprised…

[@rambo8wradio]

Too soon..

[@MikeZona]

What is that supposed to mean​@@rambo8wradio

[@kksmith244]

When a gun company takes "forgotten weapons" as a challenge. Love it!

[@johnhans2929]

Workers showing up on Monday: who messed with my work station? ;-)

[@GigAnonymous]

An American messing up a gun factory in Germany? AGAIN?

[@yowie0889]

@@GigAnonymous Daylight raid.

[@taktikbegeistert8506]

Foreman at monday screming through the entire buidling "who to teutonic hell took the STG44 from the quality test samples table and blasted ammo trough it without filling out the forms for live fire test and ammo consumtion...again!

[@icecoldrugby]

He knows because one un-milled blank has moved a few centimeters

[@JC-XL]

German worker on Monday: Zis part waz 3 millimeters to ze right

[@slick3129]

Not only is he making vintage firearms but a lot (not all) of his machines are vintage as well. The quality of the work speaks for itself.

[@sinisatrlin840]

Germans say that one who has shiny new machines works for the bank. AXA and Okuma mills shown here are fairly modern machines. So are some other. Maho mills are oldie but goldie for prototyping and one of the kind parts and tools. Small Schaublin can crank out pins and other small round parts rather quickly. This is a nice shop, it can do many many demanding things.

[@ShimadaSharra]

They are not vintage. Its just the design. You can buy them from the manufacturer today in that look.

[@lordtomtom]

@@sinisatrlin840 we had AXA machines they where primitive (no ATC) but reliable and robust.

[@sinisatrlin840]

@@ShimadaSharra Maho does not exist any more, they are now part of DMG Mori Seiki, (DMG stands for Deckel, Maho and Gildmeister). Schaublin does not produce machines of old design any more. Those machines in this video are genuine machines of European design build 60s-90s, not Chinese clones. Chinese have clones of at least two Maho mills, but not MH900 shown here. As far as i know only Weiler and Kunzmann still produce conventional machines in Germany. There are many manufacturers of state of the art CNC machines in Germany, CH and France, also in rest of Europe. Only few manufacturers of conventional machines have remained. Since there is lately growth in need for those machines many refurbishment shops have emerged. You can now get many historical machines in as new condition with accuracy certificate, factory refurbished by maister craftsmen, but they cost a lot in most cases.

[@sinisatrlin840]

@@lordtomtom Never have heard of unreliable European metalworking machine. From Polish Avia, French Huron, Svedish Abene.....to Serbian Potisje. All good, especially ones made in largest numbers through central Europe. Machines that where build behind iron curtain like WMW, Rhula, TOS and others are also great, sometimes better than most.

[@MrBalcer]

5:54 i think that's supposed to be the US test gun where the took the top cover of a Mg42 and put it on the side of the Fg42. This would later become the M60

[@Tunkkis]

Correct.

[@ssupdude55]

That would be a neat and probably incredible expensive repro to have!!

[@ShowaEraGaijin]

Of course in 7.92X57mm... Or would they build it in 30'06? THAT would be a handful even in semi-auto.

[@ryanlang1548]

Thank you!!👊 Ian had me feeling some kind of way on that one🤦

[@jic1]

@@ShowaEraGaijin WWII era military .30-06 isn't that much different in power to WWII era military 8mm Mauser.

[@TheTequilaHut]

The Sign on the door at :10:25 says "Military Secutiry Area. Unauthorized entry prohibited. Carefull Fire arms in use." and Ian, not knowing german, just casualy strolling in "Lets see..."

[@GigAnonymous]

"This sign can't stop me because I can't read (german)!"

[@davefellhoelter1343]

"he knows!" German, all the Enemies lingo, and the French!

[@taktikbegeistert8506]

well, some of those signs are call it practicall jokes... i dont know if that is just in Germany, but well i doubt it, i had seen a sign on a major companys high voltage power supply...well hall-door "you may enter here, step inside by foot, get brought out after sweept on a showel. The Electrician" Translation is bad here the Original: "Natürlich kannst du hier rein gehen. Du kommst zu Fuß hinein und hinaus kommst du zusammengekehrt auf der Kehrschaufel. Der Betriebselektriker" Have a very nice day.

[@AGWittmann]

@@taktikbegeistert8506 Of course you can go in here. You come in on foot and come out swept up on the dustpan.

[@RelishForRenaissance]

None of ya'll looked at the picture on the left at 10:25 though, hu...

[@Getpojke]

Very cool, I imagine Ian had to keep himself calm wandering around that facility. Thank you to Sport System Dittrich for allowing us to see inside.

[@fabiogalletti8616]

Ian's inner engeneer is quaking. And I can understand.

[@roaringsteelmedia]

I give the Dittrich Sturmgewehr credit over the PSA model on the grounds that the Dittrich even exists. Also, I would trust the Dittrich to work.

[@lappynaytor4605]

German here a buddy in my shootingclub has one and it is pretty reliable with everything but s&b ammo

[@GigAnonymous]

On French forums the feedback on the older Dittrich guns are mixed. Magazines and springs issues - but that was a while back.

[@shoelessbandit1581]

I respect the psa clones as they've done a good job simplifying and making a user friendly product that'll presumably be accessible when it comes out but it really doesn't quite have the right look to it. The magazine is a polymer ar15 mag after all

[@Purpmaster]

Plus it doesn’t have that hideous lower to accommodate and AR trigger group making the gun look like a complete mess lol.

[@terryh8421]

@@GigAnonymous Agree with you, mine required some magazine tweaking, ok now, regards from UK.

[@deadmike2]

schön dass es dir gefallen hat

[@Carnophobe]

I know it would be a lot of work and no short video, but seeing the entire production process for a single gun, each part, start to finish, would be phenomenal.

[@adrianotero7963]

I second that request.....

[@ripvanwinkle2002]

YT says NO to "how to build a gun" videos which some clown would certainly flag that for...

[@AdamKadmon-cg5qs]

10:24 - "And, let's see..." he says as the camera flashes upon a decidedly authentic bit of Weimar decor.

[@prince-solomon]

Yeah it's fantastic, that pinup girl picture makes it an authentic workshop!

[@joshualoganhoi4]

"What'll it be pal?" "All."

[@scottwinfrey8250]

This is the comment I was looking for

[@shoofly529]

I saw what you did there..."I may close up early"

[@marceldarkbill1986]

"Rügenwalder? - Alle!"

[@dutch1479]

One of the things I appreciate the most about Ian and Forgotten Weapons in general is the ability to understand and convey the perspective of both the engineering and the manufacturing of the firearms involved. Many engineers cannot speak fabricator and many fabricators cannot speak engineer, when in reality the best engineers and fabricators can speak and understand each other's language. How many times have we heard an engineer say "Tell the shop to just make it!" and a machinist say "Tell the engineer to redesign this!"? Although I ended up walking the path of the fabricator, I spent a lot of time in the engineering world when I was in school. I quickly learned that an effective engineer needs some shop experience, and an effective machinist needs to keep an open mind to learning theory and principles that aren't always found on a blueprint. One of the biggest parts of my job now as a manager is acting as a liaison between our shop's workers and our customer's engineers. Communication is key, the best shops and engineering firms promote this above all else.

[@chrisfarr9494]

In New Zealand we had East German Police refurbished STG-44s , that sold as semi-autos at basically $1000 USD in the 1980's , the thing that stopped a lot of people was no ammo for them available , so it was a reloading only type deal to get ammo for them .

[@leonaluceid2388]

wow it is my fist time see Real Gun Workshop/Shop, Thanks Ian (FW) and Thanks SSD (Sport System Dittrich)

[@longshot7601]

Not a real machine shop but a German one. The Germans found a way to alter reality so that metal chips fall exactly the right place instead of flying all about.

[@GianmarioScotti]

I've been to a German machining workshop many times during my research days - I agree about the cleanliness.

[@longshot7601]

It is certainly not an American machine shop. There was only one pin up girl on the wall.

[@TechNinja_420]

two things i really want to see is one, what kind of modernisations occured on the new FG-42 version and two, what the designer thought while designed the new version.... and interview and breakdown of the system would be neat

[@Rrgr5]

That and the belt fed caught my attention, also, 7.92 Kurtz FG-42, which also is interesting... If I was the designer I would put the gas piston up and convert it to hammer firing, probably use the same hammer as the STG for the sake of simplicity.

[@Redmenace96]

Great idea! Like side by side, and the thoughts of the modern designer/builder.

[@mwb3984]

Ian was so excited he stumbled over his words, very rare occurrence! Got me excited and looked at DK website - going to be interesting when they post prices...thanks for a fascinating tour of a machine shop cleaner than my kitchen

[@propagandalf123]

On their German Page Dittrich posts prices

[@petermuller608]

The prices are posted but website is http only

[@tdhawk7284]

What is impressive is all the jigs they must have for all the stampings.

[@Sam21721]

I managed to handle and shoot one of their PTR44s from the early 2000s that was imported and it was a genuine work of art. The owner unfortunately passed away and it was sold at RIA for like 14-15K IIRC. I can't imagine how much one of their FG42s or STG44s would be nowadays because in all honesty these aren't replica firearms they're genuine works of machinist art.

[@JMark-zk5pj]

They look nice, but were junk. Bulged receivers and broken op rods, did not work out of the box.

[@Sam21721]

@@JMark-zk5pj that's not even remotely true, the only issues according to the owner had was the ejection port was cut incorrectly and lead to malfunctions. That was it.

[@JMark-zk5pj]

@@Sam21721 Bullshit, my friends for instance has a bulged bottom receiver from incorrect heat treating / lack of, after less than 1K rounds. He is not the only one. Also, many have had broken OP rods. Don't tell me this is not true, there were gun smiths advertising years ago their services to get these things working, some not even out of the box. The guy who runs the company in KY knows full well. I dont know who you think you are talking to.

[@JMark-zk5pj]

@@Sam21721 They are luck they are in Germany, I know of many that would love to do a class action on them, most likely too late now. Its no secret that the PTR's were junk out of the box. You have zero idea what you are talking about.

[@JMark-zk5pj]

@@Sam21721 Before you run your mouth more, go google PTR issues for a wake up call. Mags not working, bolts breaking after 400 rounds, and even more issues that I detailed. More On.

[@eliduncan4630]

My last job was managing the janitorial crew for the Bangor Maine GE power systems turbine factory. At one point I was told it was the cleanest one in the US. It was about half as clean as this shop. The machines and directly around them/ other workstations we weren't supposed to clean got a bit worse but everywhere else was similar until my CEO decided to keep my staff underpaid when wages went up and then tried to understaffed me when my best employees left after realizing even Dunkin donuts was paying a dollar more per hour

[@wills2140]

As the husband of a wife from Schenectady, I would say that sounds about like "modern management" practices at GE... Sorry for your experience. Good luck in your future.

[@eliduncan4630]

@@wills2140 GE was fine although I'm sure they tried for the cheapest contract possible it was the CEO of the company subcontracting the cleaning that screwed us. GE was a delight to deal with compared to him

[@8076A]

I am ecstatic that someone is doing what I always wished for, reproductions of older firearms. I'll take all of them good sir.

[@HorstMichel-mh7gv]

You will have into a surprise for the price to pay for one of them.

[@GhettoFabulous99]

@@HorstMichel-mh7gv how much for the STG-44 clone? Is it offered in .223/5.56?

[@oliver5230]

@@GhettoFabulous99 $6500 and no they are all 8mm Kurz

[@sicsempertyrannis4613]

Problem is this is in Germany for Domestic and Regional Markets… SSD rarely imports kits or full guns into the US. Unless this is solely for the US buyer then it’s not likely to make it here within the next couple years.

[@jic1]

@@sicsempertyrannis4613 It said in the video that they started a partnership in the US specifically to import and sell their guns.

[@davesimmons8640]

I'm glad you got out of there before Herr Ditrrich arrived! (You were rushing around like you weren't supposed to be in there, but I know it was simply your excitement.) Great video!

[@SG550-xo1oo]

I think this is one of the MOST INTERESTING FW-VIDEOS EVER !!!

[@marcusbelli1663]

Would love to see more of these in the future!

[@andyloebrown8250]

A very clean shop. Nice.

[@GrumpyGenXGramps]

SANTA’S WORKSHOP?? He IS real!!

[@dzikijohnny]

More Like Grampus.

[@ElitePraetorianGuard]

DK is taking pre-orders for their StG-44 repro, but they want $6200 for it. I want one, but I don't have that kind of spare cash. 😞

[@Tunkkis]

Almost every video about these old oddball guns has dozens of people commenting "They should reproduce this now", without realizing that the pricetag would be exactly like this, if not even higher.

[@wastedangelematis]

Just buying the frame without the internals should provide $$ support & be affordable to have

[@XanthosAcanthus]

Dude, just stop getting Starbucks. You’ll have enough in like a month. /s

[@ElitePraetorianGuard]

​@@XanthosAcanthus I know you're being sarcastic, but I definitely have some creature comforts I could discontinue to save money. I probably will start setting aside money for one of these rifles. The StG-44 is one of my all time favorite rifles throughout history. Also, I hate coffee. It is bitter and gross. 😛

[@gilde915]

Is it realy that expensive...if you look at the prices of high quality mass produced guns and compare it to manufactured high quality reproductions, not mass produced with alot more man hours going into them?

[@rayb9053]

Ian, your enthusiasm is so infectious! It absolutely made my day 😊

[@recoilrob324]

Wow....the muzzle flash in the darkened shooting tunnel was impressive!! Shows the need for a good flash hider even with intermediate cartridges.

[@wills2140]

Yep, this is so true. A good flash suppressor and / or "compensator" can really help ease use of a weapon - just ask Cutts '(;

[@christopherw.9841]

Saturday morning episode of Ian. Gotta love it

[@dannythehonestgamer6051]

Ian: Gives the STG-44 copy bedroom eyes. Stg-44 copy: I need an adult.

[@claywurzlow8487]

This one of my all time "Favorite" videos from you. Appreciate it !

[@richardturk7162]

STG 44 has been a bucket list gun for me for a very long time. I got to shoot one that a WWII GI brought back at the Knob Creek machine gun shoot back in the mid 90s. Loved the gun.

[@MravacKid]

So neat to get a glimpse behind the scene :)

[@itsapittie]

I'm really glad someone is doing this. I'm really sad that I almost certainly won't be able to afford any of them.

[@mikepj67]

It’s nice to know they exist

[@propagandalf123]

If you are able to save 50$ a month, thats 600$/Year. So depending on the model in 5-10 years you can buy it.

[@Deepwang84]

​@@propagandalf123They will go up in price

[@propagandalf123]

@@Deepwang84 probably. I am not in the US, so I could buy them anytime, if only the German Government allowed me to. Sadly I have to get a hunter's licence first which takes half a year at least, If I don't want to spend around 4k on a special course, and then about 2k for a special safe and then I need a hunting ground, which also costs several hundreds to a few thousand per year. As a sport shooter, I would need to join a shooters club and attend training every week for a whole year and then I could only get those guns that are allowed to be shot in my shooting clubs discipline catalogue, which excludes a lot of guns.

[@olerothemberg3869]

@@propagandalf123 you dont have to attend to weekly training. To get the permit you have to train once a month or 18 times in a year, and when you are enjoying shooting that should really be the hurdle. Otherwise whats even the point having a gun like this when you dont enjoy the sport ^^. Finding a club where you can shoot these guns can be kinda hard, most only shoot air rifles and .22lr. The one near me where you can shoot ordanonce rifles is always completly full and it's very hard to find a slot where you can shoot. Living in the east can make it even harder since sport shooting was forbidden in the DDR there arent many clubs. I highly doubt that you can have any of this guns as a hunter. The mp's caliber is far to small, and i highly doubt that 8mm kurz is a viable hunting round neither

[@s.b.4681]

Ian, as always, you manage to find THE most interesting of historical items, and kudos to those guns being brought back to life.

[@user-ws5zu8jt8c]

Thanks so much, Ian! The machine shop tour was awesome!

[@Tam0de]

Seeing ian in that setting is like seeing a child allowed to roam free inside a candy factory without any adults in sight 😂

[@billmccrackin8825]

The vises are so awesome!

[@justinjones9042]

I enjoyed you showing where all the magic takes place , I have a background in manufacturing and enjoy seeing the firearm side , I concour that is the cleanest machine shop I have ever seen. I love it. 😊

[@TheClaytong]

Thank you so much for creating the consistently highest quality videos of it's kind in the world.

[@chicorodriguez3964]

Nice shop reminds me of mine half the machines are dinosaurs and half are newer but sometimes the older machines are better running and better built than new ones

[@bruceinoz8002]

Yep! Nothing quite like a vintage Bridgeport J series Mill with all the fruit, in action in the hands of a good operator. Or a Pratt and Whitney dual-gang deep hole drilling rig purring away. Machinist pron!

[@hanktorrance6855]

Absolutely beautiful, with craftsmanship to match

[@robertszallavarysullivan9570]

Incredible workmanship and attention to detail. Thank you, for sharing with us.

[@matteolaborg]

I really liked this video, it's like Ian snuck into the factory over the weekend and just poked around for a couple of hours!

[@AlexLee-dc2vb]

"if you know, you know" WAS THAT AN M60 PROTOTYPE CLONE???? I know it was based on a FG-42 blended with an MG42

[@Del_S]

Really does look a lot like the T44 prototype version to me as well....

[@innerlight7018]

I always knew, seeing his enthusiasm, there's a little german inside of Ian. 😁

[@ashvasquez3416]

I love videos like this i love to nerd out on the actual construction of guns how they are machined and hpw they work that was one of the maon reasons i fell in love with your earlyer videos breaking guns down and explaining everything love to see morelike this bit more in depth

[@stevenveltrie1868]

Great tour !!

[@bristleback3614]

Girl : "i bet he's thinking about another women" Me : (imagining myself walking through a room full with antique weapon and admiring its beauty)

[@theayeguy5226]

If they want to expand their katalog of Teutonic goodness, an MP28 (ummm, "BD28") would be *so* awesome...

[@georged9234]

Great tour!

[@marcofguzman3075]

Absolutely fantastic thank you very much for the tour 😀 😊

[@Arendvdvenk]

Fan of his work, been meaning to order a repro from him for a long time. Hope he picks up the G43 one of these days.

[@PsychopathicV2]

Shit man. Depending on the price it might just be cheaper to buy an original. I saw one for sale for $3000 a few weeks back. If I wasn’t already $4000 in the hole from buying rifles I would’ve bought it.

[@Arendvdvenk]

@@PsychopathicV2 its expensive yes (hence the years of holding off) but I only hear great things about his work.

[@georgewhitworth9742]

@@PsychopathicV2Idk, originals are pretty finicky and prone to shearing op rods. Having a repro might be better to have in terms of shootability and parts.

[@PsychopathicV2]

@@georgewhitworth9742 Depends when it was made. Late war production yeah avoid those like the plague. 43 and to a point 44 should be fine if maintained properly.

[@Jdaminbf4]

The g43 is on Dks website listed as the K43

[@TheAlexagius]

I do wonder if that ATF BS surrounding open bolts will last given the SCOTUS case around Chevron deference, after all its a not banned in law, rather by ATF policy.

[@josephmckinney9660]

Same with “once a machine gun, always a machine gun”.

[@bitfreakazoid]

Technically open bolt semi-autos are actually not illegal. They can be legally made right now. They just can't be "easily converted" to full-auto.

[@TheAlexagius]

@@bitfreakazoid "They just can't be "easily converted" to full-auto." - And that's the rub, what is "easily converted"? Its up to ATF, and thats exactly what the overturning of Chevron deference would effect.

[@Kriss_L]

We need the unconstitutional NFA, and GCA, to go away. That would solve many problems.

[@Seany1616]

An Excellent Comment.

[@Chopper731]

We are so lucky to have Ian. Thank you for helping keep the history of these firearms alive.

[@allanbador7316]

Great episode . Thx Ian

[@SpartanONegative]

It looks like a very clean machine shop. Iv done metal fabrication with robotics and hydraulic breaks. Im also a ammunition feed systems specialist. You never want a gun to jam or run out of ammo 😎⚡

[@DSS-jj2cw]

Wow! Amazing reproductions! I will buy them all and get a second mortgage!

[@kentcruz2602]

That is so cool that someone would tackle the monumental challenges of so finely reproducing a single model but amazing at the scope of doing it for so many different models. Thanks for showing us. Looking forward to watching you use them at a match when available.

[@stephenrickstrew7237]

Good Day ..I Really enjoy your show.. as always .. but I have a question about the m1941 Johnson and its sharp recoil .. has anyone shot it with a bayonet to see the effects of the mass on the recoil .. I figured this would be the place to ask .. Thanks to all …!

[@Sgront]

typical german workplace, lol - always clean up your workplace........greetings from Germany, funny to see your enthusiasm going through the stations ! 😆

[@wolverine8658]

Indeed as I learned it during my apprenticship, our Instructors where checking the workshop and machines everyday befor we were alloud the leave and later when I was responsible for the workshop and the younger apprecntices I did the same to ensure they learn to keep everything clean.

[@jongrossardt7542]

For the U.S. enthusiasts, DK has had tables set up at the annual Show of Shows in Louisville, KY for the past several years (in February) where you can buy parts and see some of their goods. Very nice people and informative.

[@Eulemunin]

Yes the cleanness of that shop is impressive. I wish the shop I worked in was that clean.

[@zeroxception]

10:24 typical machine shop decoration

[@canadagoof]

Not in North America anymore 😅

[@orcwordlaugh1360]

If they're making full auto STG44's but "not for the civilian market", then who are they making them for? Surely militaries aren't buying them?

[@maximilianmustermann5763]

Gun dealers and gun smiths in Germany can acquire full-auto licenses, and they usually just do it for their own amusement. He can certainly sell a couple dozen to those people.

[@davem2369]

Movie prop house would also find uses for a good few full auto Stg44s etc. obviously they'd do work on them for blanks but having a platoons worth of guns in the safe for rental would be useful

[@no1DdC]

@@davem2369 I don't think movie production companies need more than one or two hero guns of each type that can actually shoot blanks these days. Even those are increasingly less common now, for safety reasons alone. No director would equip an entire squad's worth of actors and extras with functioning blank firing firearms anymore. It just doesn't make any sense.

[@GigAnonymous]

If I know anything about gunsmiths in general, and German gunsmiths in particular - they're not doing *anything* for the civilian market. They are making guns because they WANT to, and maybe they'll sell some to pay the bills. So why not make them cat. A in the first place? I mean after all they can...

[@HenryHardinge-c3j]

You can buy them as a collector in Switzerland. Despite the misinformation

[@villainousmaximus8775]

The fact you tried going full auto, shows how authentic the rifle looks and how often you’ve had the chance to fire full auto. Great pieces to see, thanks for all you do to bring us such fantastic content.

[@mascasa7502]

Very cool! Thanks for the tour. Can't wait to see the BD-44s come to the US.

[@Ruhrpottpatriot]

I still got a few copies of the registration documents for Dittrich's registration of their StG44 reproduction on my disk drive from back when they they first applied for a registration. Always wanted to buy one, but they were too expensive for me back then.

[@seculartapes]

Was that an integrally suppressed MP-38 on that table? I’m very interested in seeing some of the oddball stuff they’re making.

[@JordanFlayer]

yes it was

[@juvofirme]

its for silence, silly

[@saschapulkowski4413]

Rarely do I watch a video 3 times over. But as a gun loving machinist and Forgotten Weapons fan, I had to divide my attention. Thank you Ian!👌

[@s4n714g000]

I've never seen how guns are made so it's really interesting to see the shop with the tools and the parts in different stages.

[@randyhavard6084]

Probably better quality than war time production

[@michaelleibrock967]

No! Metalworking in germany is only perfect or scrap metal. Today or 100 Years ago at any circumstances.

[@randyhavard6084]

@@michaelleibrock967 what? Germany is like any other country when it comes to manufacturing. Good stuff, bad stuff and everything in between

[@michaelleibrock967]

@@randyhavard6084 It's very easy to understand. You manufacture within the specified tolerances whether it is the barrel or a small screw. Everything has a standard and a certain quality. The same applies to all machines and tools with which the parts are processed. No part will be installed if it does not meet the quality specifications. This always creates the same perfection today as it did back then. There is nothing between perfect and crap. And last but not least, the machine you work on must always be clean according to a certain standard.

[@randyhavard6084]

@@michaelleibrock967you may not have access to milling machines, lathes, or presses but you can do a little research and when you do you'll realize it's not magic that you dream of a number and the machine just spits out a part. Material, tooling, speed, quality control, and assembly very wildly depending on the needs of the customer and manufacturer

[@randyhavard6084]

@@michaelleibrock967 if you need examples to help you understand, all you have to do is look at rifles and Small arms produced by any country before world war II during the first couple years of the war and the last couple years of the war and that might help you understand how time and resource strain affects the quality of a product?

[@robertfelty7290]

If the STG40 Is being sold for $6,200 they don't plan on making very many. Therefore one of two things will happen. First they will go belly up or secondly they will come down out of the clouds and sell them at a significantly reduced price.

[@CliffMcAulay-wt3nk]

Thank you for the fascinating tour. What a neat workshop, and I mean 'neat' in the tidy and Germanic sense.

[@jerrymtanking]

AWESOME, great vid dude. Cheers

[@saintpaulsnail]

I wonder if the reproduction magazines are compatible with the corresponding historical arms.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Yes, they are.

[@wes11bravo]

​@@ForgottenWeapons it seems to me that manufacturing a reliable magazine would be one of the most difficult aspects to get right in the manufacture of any rifle - add to that the relentless adherence to historic accuracy and the entire project is even more impressive.

[@hummerskickass]

I’ve spoken with them a couple of times, every single one of their magazines are exact copies of the originals and are completely interchangeable. It’s the same way with all their guns, a considerable amount of the components from the modern production rifles can be used as replacement parts for originals. Even though they haven’t had the complete guns available here yet they’ve had parts for various models listed on their website and available for sale for years just for that reason.

[@no1DdC]

@@wes11bravo I wonder if they knowingly include engineering/manufacturing flaws for authenticity.

[@sgtbuckwheat]

I can hear Brandon Herrera's bank account crying right now.

[@canadagoof]

It's not in .50, so he won't care

[@GigAnonymous]

@@canadagoof STG50 and FG50 when?

[@canadagoof]

@@GigAnonymous Never, because the Germans aren't retarded.

[@petergrose-jones9187]

This is awesome. He's building what so many people want. I bet it's a dream come true for you Ian.

[@markyoung2981]

Very interesting information, thank you for sharing this with us.

[@Meerschwein]

Most of the SSD guns are not available to sport shooters in Germany. Our law only allows hunters to own the cool replicas.

[@innerlight7018]

Und das ist schon ziemlich verrückt, da die meisten Jäger nie auf den Gedanken kämen damit zu jagen. Ich schätze wenn unser hiesiger Forstoberaufseher einen Jäger damit auf dem Ansitz sehen würde bekäme er vor Wut einen Herzkasper. 😁

[@propagandalf123]

​@@innerlight7018Mache bald meinen Jagdschein und werde mir ein Halbauto MG42 holen, einfach weil ich es dann darf.

[@MrEnginerd]

They actually are available to sports shooters in germany. Just google BKA BD43 and you will find documentation by the BKA, officially approving its use for sports shooters. Likewise for the BD38. You are restricted to 10 round magazines, though.

[@no1DdC]

@@MrEnginerd Thanks for dropping some actual knowledge.

[@OhBoy235]

@@no1DdC there used to be a time where guns like these where banned, we had something similar to the assault weapons ban over here, guns that where used in war or look like military weapons like the AK or AR15 where essentially banned until 2005 i think. now a few years ago we got a ban on rifle magazines larger then 10 and pistol magazines larger then 20, if you own an AR in 9mm that takes glock magazines all your glock magazines now turn into rifle magazines and are restricted to 10 rounds, but if you only own a glock and not the 9mm AR then you are allowed to have 20 round glock magazines again. A lot of people are now getting a hunters license because the law is a lot more lenient on hunters, however there are allready calls to limmit new people getting those by politicians and NGOs here in germany.

[@FlextaMcSignalz]

Pretty exorbitant prices to boot, but hope to see these guys flourish in the US market and see those prices drop to a bit more reasonable state in the years to come.

[@no1DdC]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but since these are limited production runs, they won't ever drop in price. Companies like SSD only make small batches of one particular type (or obscure sub-variant) and then move on to another interesting project. Limited and ultimately fixed supply, increased demand over time. You do the math.

[@starcoloneldunadansonoft501]

Don't hold your breath.

[@JT66613]

I remember finding them years ago and even emailed about when they'll be able to start importing these. They replied that they were working on it and I'm damn happy they're succeeding in this, I've been wanting to order their stuff for easily 10 years now!

[@johnschofield9496]

What an incredible opportunity, marvelous ! Thanks. Ian !

[@schweinehund3497]

basiert

[@twinkdeathoftheuniverse]

basiert auf was

[@TheOz91]

I wonder who is buying full auto reproduction Stg 44. I can think of people with machine gun licenses (like there are ranges that specialize in sort of thing) and the film industry (though this point is tenuous at best since movie guns would be blank-firing guns). I can't think of any modern military or law enforcement that would want an Stg 44 unless they are time travelers.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

I think the full auto ones are made largely because Dittrich wants them himself. Wouldn't you, if you were in his position?

[@maximilianmustermann5763]

@@ForgottenWeapons He probably also has friends in the gun business, gun smiths and gun dealers, who can acquire full auto licences. The owner of my favorite gun shop recently got his full-auto license, and I don't think he intends selling any full-auto guns. He just wanted one for himself.

[@TheOz91]

@@ForgottenWeapons Oh if I'm allowed to make full auto guns, I definitely would, at least for the fun factor as well as research purposes. Personally, I don't "believe" in full auto outside of machine guns (as in things like the M240, FN Minimi, etc.) though it would be interesting to see how full auto is handled by different rifle designs--we can see how a lot of full auto select fire rifles seem to be an ad hoc addition to "enhance" its capability. The Sturmgewehr is definitely one designed for automatic fire, though I wonder if there are German reports about its effectiveness in full auto (since the idea was to find the sweet spot between the power of a rifle cartridge but the handiness of a submachine gun.)

[@johnanon6938]

Seriously cool behind-the-scenes kind of access, its so cool that I swear Ian is a bit giddy. Sometimes you get what you pay for and Ian said these are seriously high quality.

[@edmorden]

Fantastic, thank you Ian!!!!

[@Mia-elf1]

DK is taking pre-orders for their StG-44 repro, but they want $6200 for it. I want one, but I don't have that kind of spare cash. .

[@Deepwang84]

Where

[@g54b95]

ASSBOT STOLE A COMMENT

[@g54b95]

@@Deepwang84 you replied to an assbot. channel links to a porn site.

[@WorldCupWillie]

5:18 I'm imagining an alternative history video game where WW2 continued till the 21st century. The Germans are using those and the Americans are using Ohio Ordnance HCARs

[@kuukeli]

Great video once again

[@davidbowman2716]

Lovely video ❤

[@mirekkusibab2741]

As a Pole I'm starting worrying🤣