SIG's World War Two Semiauto Rifle: The Model U

[@michaelblacktree]

Apparently, the Swiss don't need copyrights or patents. Because anyone who tries to copy their stuff will give up out of frustration.

[@xmm-cf5eg]

I'd gladly go copy a SIG-550 then.

[@robertkubrick3738]

Not to mention, broke.

[@abominablecnutswain8206]

Robert Kubrick 'mountain Jews'

[@SirClicks.]

Michael this is halarious

[@LostShipMate]

Never heard of Astra? They make a great nock off of a SIG P220.

[@yyangcn]

As a mechanical engineer by training I can totally see the original designers were simply having too much fun competing to see who can make the poor machinist laugh and cry at the same time.

[@Psiberzerker]

Swiss Neutrality has an effect on the gun manufactory there. They're not going to get invaded any time this century, so the Machinists take their time. They're just never rushed into a cheap mass production weapon like the StEn. So, even in prototypes like this, they polish every surface inside, and out. You just don't sign up as a Machinist for SjG unless you enjoy work like this, and pride yourself on it. It's a cultural thing.

[@Psiberzerker]

What's funny is Americans buy a military surplus 1911, then take it to the gunsmith to get the trigger group polished. You just don't do that with a SiG. I mean you can, and the gunsmith will charge you for it, but there's literally nothing to polish in that trigger group, because it's already done at the factory. You can just spend that money buying a SiG.

[@ralphe5842]

As a engineer that started as a machinist I had fun explaining why to a new engineer there design would not work

[@Aaron-d6u]

Well, then you never will be a good mechanical….

[@AsbestosMuffins]

the germans use proof marks, the US uses imperials, and the swiss use complexity to keep people from copying their designs

[@twirlipofthemists3201]

Lol.

[@somberflight]

They have the enigmatic engineering ascension perk from Stellaris

[@jurgbangerter1023]

Switzerland used to make detonators for Allied and German in WW2, and they all knew when there was a Swiss Cross-bow sign on their detonator the mine or bomb would explode...

[@Chernochegger]

What guns other than French/Belgian weapons weren't in imperial measurements?

[@mikerotch3600]

"No one over engineers a rifle like the Germans!", the Swiss - "Hold my chocolate....."

[@Oblithian]

@Echoes do you often get weird amalgamated sentences composed of words from three different languages? I feel like that is how I would talk most of the time. I already do it to some extent only knowing bits of several languages.

[@DanielSanchez-ew1js]

The Swiss are just Germans on steroids.

[@jurgbangerter1023]

Swiss Machines are made the same HIGH Quality as the German ones..only much lighter and less complicated I can tell you from Food Producing Machines, nothing ever beat a SWISS MADE TRUCK ENGINE made by Saurer....even Henschel and Mercedes weren't simply as good...

[@Vladimirthetiny]

@@jurgbangerter1023We have a Saurer truck running on straight Jet A1, I can't remember the last time it had any maintainance 😂

[@datdude15]

They are very similar genetically just divided by an imaginary line

[@dundschannel]

With that amount of steel, the japanese could build two Yamato class battleships.

[@xmm-cf5eg]

Bismark the Rifle. Commonly confused with the Man and the boat at the bottom of the sea.

[@Tripp426]

With bayonets attached of course.

[@Esdeath_0001]

Lol

[@MsJoao101]

AND some fleet carriers...

[@doyouwanttogivemelekiss3097]

@@xmm-cf5egno. For two reasons: a) Because the swiss have no relationship with Bismarck. If it had to be named for a hero, then it could be Dufour, or Wille, or Winkelried. But: b) the swiss have little cult of personality, and therefore only americans call swiss rifles by their inventor's name - the Swiss just call it e.g. k31

[@mkms685]

Allies: "Why do Germans tend to overengineer things???" Swiss: "Hold my Toblerone".

[@christianmeeks4430]

The Krauts made the G11 just to try to upstage the Swiss.

[@spiritof78]

Why accomplish something with 10 parts when you can use 275 parts?

[@bleh8789]

What do you expect from watch makers?

[@user-bv7um1ds7y]

They are watch makers... At least it's exceptional quality

[@PostalPatriot556]

You shouldn't expect anything less than that from watch makers.

[@xmm-cf5eg]

"The German-Swiss Full Auto coo-coo Clock."

[@borismuller86]

The impressive thing is how reliable they still are.

[@_CazaBobos]

"good luck shooting at a thousand meters with 1.8x magnification" Iron sights go up to 1500m

[@Oblithian]

He just doesn't know how good they make eyes in Switzerland.

[@XanthosAcanthus]

@@Oblithian i mean, you need good eyes to make intricate watches.

[@BryanJohnson4891]

TFW you’re at the Battle Of Mons and obliterate a German army group from 2km away using your SMLE in volley fire. There’s a legend about the “Archers of Mons”, basically the ghost of a 14th century English longbow man came down and told the general in charge not to call in artillery, and to ignore @_CazaBobos advice, and that firing an infantry rifle that’d been abused in eight different ways since 1899 was actually a good idea. On a serious note I wish volley fire was still a thing, I think it’s a good idea at least in my tiny brain. Infantry carry two rifles - one normal one, one volley fire rifle in a magnum cartridge. It’s more accurate than the current Russian artillery fire anyway. Just realised I’m responding to a five year old comment and I thought - in a hundred years someone could be watching this video and respond to me. Wish I could respond to comments left by the people at Mons :/

[@chp9493]

​@BryanJohnson4891 well almost a year later and yeah carrying a secondary gun for volley fire is retarded

[@Shilling_Larping_Services_LLC]

​@@BryanJohnson4891 Things like Grenade Launchers, Smol Mortars, Rifle Grenades (and Drones now) largely supersede that capability.

[@matthewlee1373]

The impeccable condition of the wood and the pristine machining brings tears to my eyes.

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

"Pretty Darn Swiss" would be a good name for a Switzerland-themed sitcom.

[@TTM-1999]

The entire show would just be an increasingly complex and extravagant opening theme song that started with a harmonica and ended in Bach's Chaconne in D with opera singers machining the credits into a new wall of steel every episode.

[@Oblithian]

Would it be like Due South only with a Swiss engineer in a German machine shop?

[@theflash9613]

@@Oblithian Thank you kindly for that comment

[@christianmeeks4430]

@@TTM-1999 you have won the internet.

[@CCW1911]

Staggering to think of the amount of machine time and hand work that went into building that rifle. Thanks for showing us this.

[@TazzeOptical]

the moment I clicked on this video I was thinking "oh boy I can't wait for Ian to disassemble it to see how massively overdone everything is"

[@PieterBreda]

TazzeOptical and you were right

[@Uranprojekt]

The safety can be understood by anybody in Switzerland and their neighbouring countries, as well as English speakers. English: safe - fire German: Sicher - Feuer French: sûr - feu Italian: sicuro - fuoco Good guy Switzerland, making a rifle most of Western Europe can use without getting confused by the safety.

[@aleramone23]

Spanish: Seguro/Fuego

[@xmm-cf5eg]

if I couldn't read the labeling on a gun I'd just test it on both settings, not that hard.

[@borismuller86]

That way you can sell them to both sides during WWII!

[@DokDo1995]

And dont forgett that most of the swiss people either speak italien, french or german...

[@VicariousReality7]

Or you could just.... you know.... stamp pictures of different amounts of bullets

[@Taistelukalkkuna]

"Hey Swiss, why make so complex guns?" "Because we can."

[@genoobtlp4424]

So they can safely stay in the attic for decades and there’s still no copy around...

[@sainterasmus4545]

That alternate optic is badass.

[@ericsteenbergen9470]

The Swiss must absolutely LOATHE field armorers. In turn, I am sure field armorers hare the Swiss.

[@fifthcolumn388]

There’s no field in Switzerland, it’s just a stroll to the factory from anywhere in the country.

[@Mrcaffinebean]

Swiss guns never disappoint in their complexity. Very cool gun!

[@DARisse-ji1yw]

Mrcaffinebean .... and it can tell time too !

[@kirkb0t]

their*

[@TakNuke]

It's not complex just well machined.

[@DokDo1995]

Well the Sig SG 550 isnt all that complex...Just a few simple parts and it just works no matter what you do...

[@darthsidious4894]

@@arya31ful It broke the engineers heart

[@timur5241]

Switzerland: We're not going to fight with anyone Also Switzerland: *has tons of guns in case of war*

[@stevendebettencourt7651]

Si vis pacem, para bellum

[@timur5241]

@@stevendebettencourt7651 ?

[@stevendebettencourt7651]

@@timur5241 famous Latin phrase. Translated, it means “If you seek peace, prepare for war.”

[@timur5241]

@@stevendebettencourt7651 ah, well, that makes sense

[@MrKa_Rate]

Swiss rifles are always interesting in their design and complexity. I like the side-mounted persicope sight.

[@hugebartlett1884]

They probably assume that their guns will never need any attention. Built to perfection, therefore never likely to break down.

[@lordbertox4056]

​@@hugebartlett1884 and if they do the factory is like 30mins by train

[@foobar201]

This looks hilariously overcomplicated, but if you're only building a handful of prototypes this type of part is relatively easy to manufacture on a mill (proviced you have a retired watchmaker operating it). Notice how everything has nice square sides so you can clamp it in a normal vise. If they were to go to mass production they would have streamlined the design for the manufacturing methods of the time, meaning a ton of jigs and specialized contour cutters.

[@robertkubrick3738]

Would that be before or after they went bankrupt? Or would they use slave labor machinists?

[@gregoryfilin8040]

All true, but most nations would not bankrupt themselves on polishing, varnishing and serializing their wood, as well as tolerancing to the extreme every part. That's seen as madness.

[@Davidious]

I don't think I've personally seen a modern rifle that comes close to that in terms of machining finish and fit.. absolutely beautiful.

[@phileas007]

Awesome. First SIG video where Ian actually pronounces "Neuhausen" correctly. Kudos to you!

[@Oblithian]

I know nothing, I see nothing.

[@fukumarkzuckerburg]

I'm torn between admiration for the Swiss machining skills, and horror over the sheer, unnecessary complexity of the weapon.

[@speedman69420]

i love its complexity because i love overengineered stuff

[@acklan3]

I am not sure which is more impressive, the SiG series of weapons or your in depth knowledge on the subject. Nicely done.

[@ΜιχάληςΝικολάκης-τ4λ]

Probably the Definition of " simplicity ? Never heard of her "

[@Shiruvan]

Very Swiss, much machining, wow

[@Statusinator]

It's not as funny when the grammar actually works

[@Shiruvan]

at least for me it actually makes it funnier because it's not necessarily imitating a meme :6

[@con6lex]

Were there any unfinished surfaces? Pretty amazing work.

[@mysss29]

Yeah, it's like the meme slides smoothly into my brain instead of grating against the grammar-processing parts. xD

[@MichaPorola]

Russian: 5 parts? Gun is too complicated! Swiss: what's wrong with 50 parts?

[@stillbruch2009]

Your channel always has top-notch content to offer. This video is no different. Greetings from Switzerland.

[@EarthenDam]

Usually prototypes are not very refined outside of the parts they are trying to test the functioning of, SIG decides makes them worthy of being a museum piece :)

[@ExUSSailor]

When you've never actually fought a war, you have the luxury of making your service weapons unnecessarily complex.

[@mootpointjones8488]

Anon Nymous The Swiss have fought in lots of wars. Brush up on your history.

[@DiggingForFacts]

*When you never have to equip more than a hundred thousand people, you have the luxury of making your service weapons to a high standard of quality. 'Dun fixed that fer ya

[@kutter_ttl6786]

They fought in quite s few wars but the last time was back in 1847. After that long any thoughts of cost savings seems to disappear when designing war equipment.

[@jojosk8r]

Well I mean our STG90s (better known in the outside world as SG550s) aren't all that complicated... And they're the standard service weapon, using a long stroke gas system, the gas piston being held to the bolt by the charging handle... The one thing about them is that the main spring gets really gunky after many shots fired because it's directly onto the gas piston and pulls the bolt forward on rearming rather being at the back and pushing like on an AK-style rifle

[@borismuller86]

DiggingForFacts during WWII they had close to a million soldiers mobilised.

[@Lazarus7000]

What an impressive piece this is! You can see why the Swiss have such a reputation for machinery, and to think that this is a prototype, which is normally lacking anywhere from a little polish to full-up features you'd normally expect. Also how forward-thinking the idea of "give everybody an optic" is, I really like how it's optional to use, so you can use whichever is better for a situation. A bit silly that the optic adjusts to 1,000 and the irons out to 1,500, though I'd bet they likely used an off-the-shelf sight; it's easy to forget that thing's a prototype.

[@candidmoe8741]

S(eguro) and F(uego) also works in Spanish!

[@MrSam1er]

And probably Italian too, wich is the third out of 4 swiss national languages

[@CaptainGrief66]

Samuel Pasche Yeah, it does. Sicura (Safety) Fuoco (Fire)

[@Skyliner04s]

yes, not a coincident though. all these languages are latin based.

[@fien111]

Except German

[@Ruhrpottpatriot]

Yes, but "sicher" derives from "siher" which derives from "sihur" (Germany had three major vowel changes from old to new high German) and that in term derives from Proto-Germanic "sikuraz" which is the term the latin word "securus" is also derived from.

[@thenowhere4882]

Ian "extravagantly manufactured" McCollum

[@theodoreroosevelt3143]

one of the weapons found in Battlefield V files. i'm 95% sure they take inspirations for rare guns mostly from you Ian

[@franciscoschwarz6451]

😄😄😄

[@Snordix]

Beefy, elegant , wooden stock; semi auto rifles such as this are some of the most beautiful guns around.

[@ladam836]

Those milling and metal finish are just soo nice..

[@mrkeogh]

3:20 The scope reticle is based on the machinists face when the SIG engineers showed him the drawings for this rifle.

[@AsbestosMuffins]

and the guide rod is connected to the...tappet piston, the tappet piston's connected to the...op rod. the op rod's connected to the...bolt head...

[@andreaslaroi8956]

I thought of that as well.

[@DiscoBiki]

cheers for not putting ads halfway through your vids dude.

[@yappojilla]

the Swiss really gave the Czechs a run for their money on machining extravagance here

[@ZucchiniSlayer]

Recently acquired a pair of k31s from an RIA auction, and its got me in a swiss frenzy. Thanks for the great vids.

[@Zethos11513]

It's guns like these that really make me appreciate the simple design of the AK

[@lucianene7741]

The receiver of the AK is a simple tin box with a few holes. It doesn't have to withstand high mechanical stress thanks to the rotating bolt locking.

[@Mewtwoisabeast]

god i love wood furnished guns

[@jarettrivas8356]

I've heard they're less dangerous than black, non-organic furniture.

[@rjonzen34]

Us K31 guys are drooling over that magazine 😩

[@nicholascecil6733]

The operating rod and gas system reminded me immediately of my M1A

[@Gideonthestargazer]

And my inner Swiss ancestors cry with great joy and happiness! All of the sudden I have the urge to eat cheese and chocolate. Awesome video! Thank you for showing this. Keep up the great work.

[@davidgaither5468]

Holy dang that is one well put together rifle. Swiss don't mess around with quality.

[@razorback6111]

More complex than Optimus Prime. Its so absurd and simultaneously beautiful. I love it. I want one just to feel how buttery smooth the action must be. Swiss machinists are wizards. And the scope is hilarious.

[@lordhong4558]

Always being surprised by those swiss guns. Beside, isn't it quiet a beautiful master piece to disassemble? Every parts in this gun looks so well done.

[@MidnightdoesWoT]

i swear the designers at sig mustve made a drunken bet to see who could design the most complicatedly simple rifle.

[@FloofyKusus]

Local pub is just across the street. True story.

[@hekkenschutz]

Gas tapped long stroke The Swiss just can't do einfach

[@willroland7153]

Those watch makers sure can make a pretty fire arm!

[@TinyWhorse]

I'd say that the "J" in "Industrie" derives from the "I" back then being written like a J - with this small hook at the end. The J had a loop like a "g". That's at least how it is in South German script calligraphy.

[@ianfinrir8724]

Kinda like how "S" used to look like "F" in English?

[@pennsylvaniafellow4409]

A beautiful rifle and a fine example of the Swiss expertise in machining. Although it is easy to see why it was never adopted with how complex this is.

[@krassertyp9087]

That thing looks awesome

[@KorbinX]

Very interesting rifle. Thank you for taking a look at this Ian ^-^

[@ditto1958]

The machining in that rifle is beautiful.

[@selvacin]

That action looks sooo buttery smooth

[@giacomodeluca7043]

As a machinist I'm impressed about the machining work on this

[@longshotkdb]

what an excellent looking rifle. looks beautifully finished.

[@framusburns-hagstromiii808]

That is one cool rifle! Such beautiful machining and so Rube Goldberg in it's design. It exhudes quality and impracticality all at the same time. I want one!👍😁

[@Dimetropteryx]

That's some beautiful craftsmanship.

[@duskstrike]

forgotten weapons sometimes feels like a dating app for firearms. going from "so cool I need one" to "I don't have a chance at one" is a fun experience

[@GiaZera]

This is an amazing rifle. Don't the Swiss ever think of how utterly impossible it is to do a field strip and repair of guns like this, though? 😂

[@kamirostorino9416]

swiss rifles do not break. at least not on the battlefield. if they ever break it is while soldier already returned to base

[@tedarcher9120]

This thing masterfully combines drawbacks of long stroke and short stroke gas operated rifles!

[@Solidsnake0208]

I’ve never been a fan of wood furniture, but that’s one nicely made gun

[@alimanski7941]

That machining is gorgeous

[@richfairclough123]

This is just beautiful.... a real work of mechanised art

[@TheWandOfOrcus]

Gorgeous. Just Gorgeous.

[@nc_classics_9610]

Lazerrus Laslonin Should be on Inrange Pornhun channel

[@eklypse13]

That thing is awesome! thanks for sharing with us

[@phillycheesetake]

Christ, that has to be one of the most beautiful guns internally.

[@AngelSamael]

I heard you like screws so I some locking screws to screw in your screws so they don't come unscrewed.

[@ivanmonahhov2314]

The machining time for this ...

[@JamesIII]

.....is meaningless

[@paullytle1904]

Very accurately measured on a swiss clock

[@alanvonify]

I would love to give this a go, complex enough to be simple. Definitely unique.

[@hanktorrance6855]

Complex but,WOW, what beautiful machine work!

[@lostblades71]

They say about "chemistry' between actors in movies...I can feel this stuff going NUCLEAR every time Ian gets around rare Swiss guns.

[@paulroberts8946]

It looks quite a handsome piece of kit

[@marks_sparks1]

What no beer barrel charging handle ? SiG heresy

[@JerryEricsson]

Man those Swiss fellows sure knew how to design rifles! There are guns that say COMBAT when you look at them, others say HUNTING when you look at them, there ugly guns, and plain guns, and guns that are works of art. I believe this gun falls in the latter category, a gun that will make the viewer weep because he know he can NEVER attain it! Thanks for letting me drool over this fine piece of craft work from an earlier time when building a firearm was an art, and not a duty.

[@garygallant5390]

Very beautiful machining

[@bamabuckeye5489]

This rifle is so cool. I wish I had the funds to get my hands on one somehow. :)

[@Hansengineering]

There are so many parts on this that SCREAM K31. It's like your first drafts of code, where you've C&Ped vast swathes of code for another project and haven't done any optimization yet.

[@MrPanzerDragoon]

This is such a beautiful rifle

[@mytmousemalibu]

Incredible rifle! Boy, Swiss machining, blued steel and straw'ed parts make me randy! Not the least bit ashamed either! I love these atrociously complex guns with exquisitely executed machining and fit and finish! This is SiG's artisans showing off and bravo to them!

[@interweebs7408]

Great to see an classic SiG weapon! Remembers me of the M1 Garand and M14.

[@interweebs7408]

Except that it's more complex and cool.

[@johnnygeorgopoulos4072]

Man, that's a gorgeous rifle.

[@fbisurveillancevan6939]

Hi, that is not a J it's just how german speaking countries wrote the I at the time. The J would have an additional horizontal stroke at the top. The intention was to make it easier to distinguish the I from the small L.

[@johnpope515]

A locking screw for the screw it's like a swiss watch lovely

[@jessb91106]

Beautiful rifle.

[@Ahandleofrum]

That operating rod is a piece of modern art.

[@CarlosRodriguez-dd4sb]

The gas block securing devices is a bit like wearing suspenders and a belt and holding your pants up with your hands. I don't think those pants (gas block) will move ;)

[@Kowanza]

ooh, it's a beauty

[@Purpmaster]

Swiss guns are always in such good condition. Even their prototype’s are minty! 😂

[@nyctreeman]

I just had a vision of Julie Andrews singing "The hills are alive with the sound of music" as she fires this weapon repeatedly :D

[@Duckiputz]

capital I in technical markings was normally replaced with a J to avoid confusion with dashes, lower-case L and ones.

[@arjanwerren6631]

Not in this case. The letterchange even occured on Citynames, i belive n the 60ties. Quite common to see the J here in Switzwerland on old Trains, Buildings, signs etc.

[@michaelhatfield3430]

Swiss weapons are such works of art. I would love to own this rifle.

[@daveh777]

That op-rod is huge. Like the Cadillac of Op-rods.

[@DL-ij7tf]

The internals of that rifle are like looking through a kaleidoscope of machined metal beauty.

[@Antigonus.]

I came at 6:53

[@mikfraser3822]

Greetings from Neuhausen near the Rheinfall :)