Finally Proven! The Purpose of the Luftwaffe Drilling

[@chrism4008]

The fact that that switch also flips the back sight up is a remarkable detail, I freakin love that! Pretty incredible that the cellophane wrap is still intact like that too, so cool!

[@Eralen00]

I don't think that's original cellophane, it wouldn't be wrapped up like that for the soldiers I don't think. That's probably something someone just added after the fact to preserve them so they don't get dirty or wet or damaged. I'm not an expert on these things but the only reason I say that is because of the mismatch; the paper boxes seem used and worn while the cellophane is pristine. It wouldn't have aged like that naturally

[@chrism4008]

@@Eralen00 maybe, idk. Im sure if it is original it isn't very airtight, thus allowing air in to effect the paper. Idk, id be curious as to what these experts from Legacy think about it

[@martinschofield4895]

There's a museum near me with a captured Panther, on the outside one of the cargo chains is the original - hammer forged links, all drawn out by an expert, probably took dozens of hours. When the Brits sent it back to England for training they replaced the missing cargo chain by twisting a bit of bailing wire. Both were equally effective at keeping a gas can attached to the tank.

[@robertkenny7490]

Bovingdon tank museum

[@rfarevalo]

What waste of resources. I have seen at least 50 other expensive and labor intensive examples on common German military hardware.

[@martinschofield4895]

@@robertkenny7490 Bovington is magnificent, but this one is in the US

[@headhunter1945]

​@@rfarevalo Imagine losing some cargo that was way more expensive than a simple chain just because some grunt tossed a single molotov at your tank and you were cheap. On the other hand, that blacksmith who makes chains? You could have him making flails of war for your knights to attack enemy tanks with, right?

[@FreeRangeHuman4083]

@@headhunter1945 the issue is manufacturing time for the fasteners and where the metal resources could be better put to use. You want the tank as well built as it needs to be and no better which is why the soviets only built the t-34 to last a few months. Also, important cargo was seldom kept on the outside of a tank

[@WardenWolf]

It was far more common for pilots flying in the desert to ditch instead of bailing out, as sand was quite a bit more forgiving to crash land on.

[@commoncriminal923]

that is until you flip

[@george2113]

The Berbers, not so much

[@samrodian919]

@@george2113 that's what the drilling was for! Bang a few off at long range, then wait till you see the whites of their eyes, then give 'em both barrels! Job done!

[@george2113]

@@samrodian919 I hope you are correct, however in many places it's wise to save a bullet for yourself, as Mr Kipling suggests. When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, and the women come out to cut up what remains, jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains and go ...

[@XMarkxyz]

I would like to add to this that pilots were and are trained to always try when possible to save the plane so if they still had control they would try to find a spot flat enough to land and as long as you are not flying on top of a forest you'll probably find it, also landing inside a plane is safer than going out with a parachute considering it is not that easy to jump out at high speed and you risk to hit the tail of the aircraft and on top of that those emergency parachutes have very approximative control so you don't have much of a say on where you land

[@ottopartz1]

Goering was an extremely extravagant guy, it really shouldn't surprise anyone that he would insist on going overboard when buying survival rifles for his boys!

[@Urziel99]

Germany took pride in over engineering things. I'm not surprised they would go overboard on a shotgun.

[@BF-I-II-V-V-III-VII]

@@Urziel99 the british got a couple of german tank in ww2 and those tank were the definition of over engineering. A good exemple was the chain that holded the retention pin of a machine gun. The welded chain was perfectly crafted, it probably took a couple of hours to make. The british used twisted wire chain that took at most 15 min to build. Both chain are equally good at doing the job but the british one were cheaper and simpler to make...

[@Assdafflabaff]

@@BF-I-II-V-V-III-VII Yeah and you can see the results of that cheap and lazy mindset today in modern Britain. That country is going to absolute shit. If Germany had won instead we'd be living in a much nicer world.

[@selimatalay4865]

Goering was definition of grandiose narcisist.His every decision served him self

[@ottopartz1]

@@selimatalay4865 he always seemed like the Nazi Liberace to me.

[@Chiller01]

The case hardening looks extraordinary on that gun.

[@TheDecoyDude]

This is one of the coolest stories in my opinion. I think the weapon perfectly fits Goering’s bigger than life personality. Is it impractical and overly ornate? Absolutely! I think it demonstrates how he was: both out of touch with normal folk and riddled with corruption perfectly.

[@commoncriminal923]

yh an mp40 would probably have been 10x more efficient or a luger carbine but who knows. (we do)

[@bakters]

Larger than life? How about he was a mentally unstable, narcissistic drug addict? I wonder if that theory does not explain this drilling travesty equally well... ;-)

[@MuddyBubby]

Yeah if you based your opinion on him from the sources of the people who were against him. But if you actually knew about these people and what they did, you'd be calling this man the title he deserves, a german hero.

[@dukecraig2402]

@@MuddyBubby Herman Goering a hero? That's absolutely laughable, he was an unhinged lunatic with more morphine in his brain than blood that screwed up just about everything he touched.

[@chrissmith3509]

@@MuddyBubby He was a failure. He had nothing left to fight with at the end. And he lost. Doesn't sound like a hero.

[@josephtutolo3304]

Great research. I'm 60 years old and this drilling has fascinated me since I was a kid.

[@mattsmith3118]

I didn’t even know these guns existed, I’d never heard of a luftwaffe drilling. Great video as always!

[@amiga2025]

why is it not capitalized?

[@MrPh30]

Also in box missing, Brenneke bullet ammo to be used in shotgun barrels also. With both barrels with Brenneke ammo in them,its for big game, moose, wild boar ,bear, buffalo and much more. Even Fallow deer as they can be bullet tough some times.

[@patrikeriksson6052]

I think 9,3x74 will do the job.

[@burgerjointgame]

Fascinating video - I never guessed it would be all three - given as gifts, used in fighter planes for survival, and used for shooting practice. I loved your explanation of how it worked at 9:57 - I only know of the gun from playing Call of Duty WW2 I didn't know it had all those astonishing details like the three pins that drop when you fire or that switch that pops up the rear sight. Marvelous gun and wonderful video!

[@dorseyharrington]

Excellent and informative. Thanks for taking time to share the beautiful drilling as well as information regarding its history.

[@Junior-fd8ux]

I have seen and heard of these a few times prior to you explaining exactly what they are all about in a older video… Iv been infatuated with them since. So beautiful

[@Guido_XL]

11:57 The contents of the box in German reads this: 1 Beschreibung, Bedienung und Wartungsvorschrift 1 Kolben mit Verschlussstück 1 Lauf mit Vorderschaft 1 Reinigungskasten a) 3 teiligen Putzstock mit drehbarem Griff b) 1 kleine Flasche Gewehrreinigungsöl c) div. Werg d) 2 Reinigungsbürsten für die Schrotläufe e) 1 Ölbürste für die Schrotläufe f) 2 Reinigungsbürsten für den Kugellauf g)1 Ölbürste für den Kugellauf h) 1 Wergaufnehmer für den Kugellauf 1 Gewehrriemen 25 Schrotpatronen Kal. 12/65, Schrot 3 ½ mm 20 Brenneke-Patronen Kal. 12/65 20 Kugelpatronen Kal. 9,3 x 74 R H-Mantel-Geschoss Now, let me try to translate, as far as I can, not being an actual gun-proficient person (sorry!): - One description, use and maintenance prescription - One stock with lock piece - One barrel with forearm - One cleaning kit a) Threefold piece of cleaning rod with rotatable knob b) small bottle of cleaning oil c) several pieces of gun cloth d) 2 cleaning brushes for the shotgun barrels e) oil brush for the shotgun barrels f) cleaning brushes for the rifle barrel g) oil brush for the rifle barrel h) gun cloth catch for the rifle barrel - One rifle strap - 25 shotgun cartridges cal. 12/65, 3.5 mm - 20 Brenneke-cartridges cal. 12/65 - 20 rifle cartridges cal. 9.3 x 74 R, H-jacket

[@robbierobt]

Brenneke can be translated to shotgun slugs.

[@Niels_Dn]

Wow, this is a very beautiful rifle! Indeed a bit over the top to have this as a survival rifle, but I guess it fits Goering :)

[@Karl_Kampfwagen]

It's always astounding, to remember how a tiny tribe of nomads displaced the Roman empire, established their own new empire, fought against basically the whole world, and was not wiped off the map ... If any other country tried, their name would be erased from the map.

[@hoppinggnomethe4154]

It's just a long gun since it is a combination of a rifle and a shotgun

[@Karl_Kampfwagen]

@@hoppinggnomethe4154 No. Long Gun is the proper descriptor for ANY rifle AND/OR shotgun where the trigger is directly under the action, AND the entire weapon is beyond 18.5" in length. NFA/ATF made up a ton along the way. "Short Barrel Shotguns." "Stocked/Braced Pistols." "Short Barrel Rifles." "Full Semi-Auto Rifles." "Military Pattern Rifles." "Assault-Style Weapons." "Large Capacity Magazines." It's semantics. A Long Gun is one which is not easy to conceal. It is made to be reliable, strong, functional, and accurate. You can look along the barrels for parallax aiming, and get trained quickly to nail a target with shotgun or rifle, which translates to the plane cannons and leading fire onto enemy planes with old school fixed sights.

[@hoppinggnomethe4154]

@@Karl_Kampfwagen shut your wise ass. this is a long gun since it is not either a rifle or a shotgun. I don't give a fuck about the ATF.

[@dukecraig2402]

When I was a kid in the 70's my dad took me to the house of a guy who'd fought his way across Europe from D-Day into Germany, while going through Germany him and his guy's went through a castle they came across, he picked up and managed to get home a beautiful pair of perfectly matched shotguns in a wooden case that the woodwork was just out of this world. Both shotguns were absolutely perfect in how they were matched, every screw was slotted directly forward and backwards and were absolutely parallel with each other, the engravings on both were perfect copies of each other, I couldn't find the slightest differences between either one, in the case they were disassembled with the barrels off of them, I wouldn't be surprised if the barrels worked the same on either one of them that's how perfectly matched everything seemed to be. It was explained to me that nobility and the richest people had matched shotguns like that made because of the way they hunted. They'd sit in a blind and have the peasants beat the brush heading towards them to scare up any game for them to shoot, while shooting one they'd have what they called a "second" that would load and hold the other one for them, supposedly they were so identical that they both shot the same exact patterns at the same distance and had the same exact point of aim on them. The workmanship on these things was just unbelievable, the guy told me the hardest thing about getting them out of that castle and getting them home was making sure no officer's saw them because they'd have confiscated them for themselves. I don't know who the manufacturer was that made them, maybe some gunmaker that wasn't around after the war or maybe someone like Merkel, they were both hammerless I do remember that about them so I'd lay odds they were made after the turn of the century, but I'll never forget those things and could only imagine what they'd be worth in this day and age, certainly more than I'll ever be able to afford.

[@brogeoti]

Drillings are combination guns, not unlike a popular combination gun many of us older folks got as youths: A Savage Model 24. For those unfamiliar with these weapons, they are typically a .22 rifle over a .410 shotgun, although Savage made many variations of rifle caliber over shotgun gauge. Mine was and is a Model 24B that is a .22 WMR (Winchester Magnum Rimfire) over a .410 shotgun manufactured in 1962.

[@Hugh_jasshole1980]

I have a Savage Model 24D .22/.410 My grand daddy bought it in '68 along with a cleaning kit. It's mint

[@davidr1676]

I remember and always wanted the combination guns be it shotgun and the medium calibers or I've seen some with 2 different rifle barrels. I no longer recall what they were but it's been a long time.

[@erroneous6947]

Those are cool guns.

[@garybeahm6990]

I was given one (Savage not drilling)as a Xmas present in the early 50s. It was the first gun I ever owned. I was stationed in Germany (Ramstein AFB). While there I qualified as a Jaegar and went on several drive hunts. Any type of game could come out after being flushed-including wild boars. That was the purpose of the rifle round. Always had to hunt in lederhosen, hat and tie. Great memories! Thank you for this presentation.

[@ColKorn1965]

I inherited a .22/20gage from my Grandpa 😀

[@JosephCargini]

3 hours ago today , I just want to wish you a great semi retirement! I met you at The gun show Allentown, ag hall , I have learned more with your videos that’s any book! Please don’t stop the videos I am a collector also ! Good luck ! And thank you !

[@richrock8960]

I actually have one of these, case and all that my grandfather brought back from WWII. It's 12ga over 9.3 Mauser but the 12gauge chambers are for 12/60 or 12/65ammo, modern shells of any size do not fit, not that I would shoot it, I was just curious. I always admired it growing up and he always told the same story of how he got it. He always said that he and his squad were checking houses in the countryside in Germany a few days after the war was over, looking for German officers and SS members and this particular gun was underneath some blankets in a cedar chest in the bedroom. He said he grabbed it not knowing exactly what it was along with a Luger and holster, an officer's dress dager and a satchel with some parework in it. He took it all and threw it in the back of a jeep and only found out later it was a shotgun. I have the luger and dagger also. The satchel and papers he turned in to command. The gun is in excellent condition and I never dreamed it would be worth $30K! That's crazy. I always thought the luger would be worth more but is actually worth even less than the dagger according to the guy i had appraise it all. I would love to take this gun on a hunt but, I never will. I keep it wiped down and it stays in the safe along with my other valuable guns and collectables. I

[@davidwevans4132]

Probably 2.375" or 2.5" 12ga chambers. (60mm = 2.362" /3/8" is 2.375") / (65mm = 2.559"). Common European chamberings. The US came up with the 2.75", 2 7/8" (then dropped it), in the 60's the 3". The guy who appraised the Luger??? (That bad of condition?) Have someone else appraise it!!

[@masterhacker7313]

dont sell that shit man give it to your kids.

[@2abuck401]

Might as well use it if you want too. It's not doing much good in a safe. Not that I'm saying you should abuse it. Just do a little target shooting and tell your kids the story.

[@johannes3153]

It is not a shotgun. It is a Drilling, a combinated gun with two shotgun barrels and one rifle barrel. That you call it a shotgun does not make very believable with you story.

[@John.McMillan]

I beg you never sell it. A war trophy is worth much more than some cash in hand. If you are desparate and destitute then sure, but even then I would keep it. I did the same with the Iron Cross with oakleaves and the Lugar I had despite my ability to sell them to get out of my situation far earlier. It is just not worth the memories, nor the effort that went in to obtaining them.

[@TheCreedBratton]

Wow! That is so cool! What a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. Thank you for sharing!

[@40momba]

Like how the screws are timed!

[@mikesouthey1657]

These and similar drillings, 3 barrels, are still made in Ferlach in Austria. Some have 2 shotgun and a rifle barrel, others have .22lr, shotgun and heavy rifle. Most are exquisitely engraved, handcrafted firearms for connoisseurs of fine work

[@robbierobt]

Many German gunmakers still make Drillings, although it's a fading breed. Still my favourite gun in the vault.

[@mikesouthey1657]

@@robbierobt I am amazed how light and well balanced they are. I've only held one once, 40 years ago, and couldn't afford one unless I won the lottery....😕

[@billbaker3565]

A beautiful rifle. I can believe that someone as flamboyant as Goring would decide HIS pilot’s needed such a rifle especially as funds were not a problem.

[@samrodian919]

What a beautiful gun and so clean. It's hardly had but a few rounds through it by the look of it. Yes that's a keeper if ever I saw one!

[@modelmickey]

I think the initials on the metal case are actually AHU, a former German tin plate company. I know they made tin plate toys so it would make sense they would be used to make storage, ammo boxes, etc. in the war period.

[@MoveAhead101]

Probably AKAH, they still sell these kind of accessories

[@mikerueb6179]

Excellent as always Tom. I cannot wait until you get to 100K. You surely deserve it for all the effort that you put into these videos...

[@alvinuselton912]

One of the reasons as to the survivors aspect was for the use against bear attacks after becoming a downed pilot. The Russian military also had a 12 gauge to protect their pilots from bears

[@chrisbrent7487]

No bears in North Africa. It would drop a camel with the rifle barrel though.

[@dukecraig2402]

You're reading too much into it, this video confirms what some of us have known about these guns all along, they were nothing more than a way for Goering to use national funds to make extravagant gifts for his favorite Luftwaffe cronies, that's all, they really had no usefulness as an actual survival gun since there was no practical way of bailing out with one, to restrict a survival gun to a ditching only scenario is just insane, if they truly were intended for survival there'd have been a feasible way of bailing out with one. They were extravagant gifts that were paid for with military money is all.

[@chilternsroamer872]

@@chrisbrent7487 "Wild animals include desert rodents, such as the desert hare and the jerboa; hyenas; foxes, such as the fennec and the red fox; jackals; skunks; gazelles; and wildcats. The poisonous adder and krait are among the reptiles that inhabit the scattered oases and water holes" Encylopedia Brittanica. From that list, hyenas & jackals sound like they would be the biggest problem for a downed pilot - especially a wounded one. A few on the list would make a nice lunch.

[@kellyphillips9770]

Glad to know positively now as to the why. I’ve wondered, but didn’t know it was all three reasons.

[@gillbates999]

@14:50 the date is 27.11 (November).1941 - the two "1" numerals just seem to merge to form an "M" (which lead you to guess "May"). In Germany the "1" is mostly written with a leading upstroke, not just a vertical line like in the US.

[@ramonelizondo4098]

As always very....very informative....thank you

[@mzmadmike]

All the steel drillings were all case hardened. There's usually remaining color inside the action. Some were duralumin, and they're anodized. The safety is normally on top as on a standard double shotgun. The lever on the side is the barrel selector. In this case they're the other way, which is neat, as is the chamber indicators. You can still get new drillings starting around $15,000. 12/65 ammo is 12 gauge by 65mm or 2.5" long, vs modern American 2.75". DO NOT put 2.75" shells in one of these guns. They'll fit, but they create dangerous pressure in the forcing cone. Complete Luftwaffe drillings are selling at auction around $22,000 in 2022.

[@peterkracht6621]

Duralumin is an aluminum alloy, not anodized. The lever on the side is a Greener-type safety; the slide on the top is the barrel selector. This is the standard configuration on virtually ALL drillings, not just in this case.

[@jpcaretta8847]

@@peterkracht6621 correct, I have a Merkel drilling

[@entertainme7523]

Thanks mike

[@samrodian919]

@@peterkracht6621 there is no reason that Dural can not be anodised Dural is only aluminium with around 5% copper added to the mix

[@toolfool9030]

Nice video once again! The hand-guard may go along with the barrels in the protective cloth..... i think!

[@Paladin1873]

I met Adolf Galland in 1981 quite by accident. Aviation art dealer Virginia Bader (niece of legless RAF ace Douglas Bader) had arranged for him to speak at the Bolling AFB Officer's Club in Washington, DC. I happened to be in the club for dinner that night when I saw the sign for the event. Being a WWII and aviation aficionado, I could not resist the opportunity to meet a major living figure of WWII history. Following his talk and Q&A session, Galland was free to sign aviation art prints which Ms Bader was selling. When he learned I had orders for West Germany, he provided me with his contact information and told me to get up with him after I was settled in my new post. Regrettably, my orders were cancelled, so I was never able to followup. But I did enjoy a fascinating conversation with him. He was entertaining, informative, and very open about discussing his experiences, but as I later learned from a brigadier general and WWII P-38 veteran who was also attending the event, he could be a bit of a BS artist. But he was fighter pilot, so I expected as much. Anyway, I did get him to autograph a Spitfire print which still hangs over my bed today. At the bottom left corner it reads "Please, herr Reichsmarschal, equip my wing with Spitfires - Adolph Galland".

[@simonjones6128]

Beautiful gun Tom

[@sgtmajtrapp3391]

Being a hunter I was always of the opinion these were gifts from the head of that branch ( Airforce). Goring was the Hunt Master of Germany. He had an extensive firearms and animal trophy collection. He even was trying to reintroduce a large extinct wild oxen.

[@jimamccracken5783]

I know a German Machinest and is very good at what he does. He mentioned to me that J.P. Saur Company pllayed a big hand in making these. And they test fired all they made as per the the test report on this one. Beautiful work indeed.

[@RTWMC]

Very cool. I love the Drillings, they are the gunmakers art!

[@badiuzzamansatti6391]

Thank you Tom , very interesting and informative video . Loved the entire history of it.

[@Corrupted-by-Capitalism]

"They were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.” Ian Malcolm

[@k.a.davison9897]

I found myself continually thinking of the extraordinary design and engineering that was involved before the rifle was even constructed. I would be interested in some unknowable information and that would be, what percentage of the manufacturing involved hand-working the piece? To my eye all I could see was the hands of highly, highly skilled craftsmen creating a masterpiece and then compound that by, was it, 2,500 drillings? Works of art. Thank you so very much for sharing. I had never seen one before nor aware of that particular rifle. Odd, but I feel as if I have just been touring a museum. Oh, and how many men were actually involved in the project and did the contract pull skilled craftsmen from working on "true" contracts for the war efforts. You have really sparked my interest that before less than an hour ago I was totally ignorant of. Again, thank you.

[@tombrunner8181]

Wherever I have been in the world, really everywhere where ordinary people make their living, I have seen machines that are sometimes a hundred years old that help them. Sewing machines from the Singer company. Even with these machines you will find little things that may not be necessary. I'm proud of this culture of not just doing the bare minimum

[@TheGrenadier97]

Goering was extravagant and germans like to over-do things, so such a combination of purposes in an expensive gun makes sense. Great video!

[@deadhorse1391]

I saw one years ago at a gun show, I want to think it was in a tan canvas tin case Always wondered why they didn’t go with the standard 8 mm round Years ago I had an early LC Smith drilling …16 ga and 44-40

[@noth606]

I think they picked something already there or in development, this clearly wasn't developed for the luftwaffe specifically.

[@avp5964]

As mentioned it was what JPSS knew. It was a popular hunting cartridge and they made hunting guns.

[@frankcarden4709]

.22 rounds are fairly small and light,in a survival situation 20 rounds of 22 way less than the bigger rounds

[@deadhorse1391]

@@frankcarden4709 wasn’t chambered in .22 RF but 9.3x74mmR and 12ga

[@chrisbrent7487]

It was a very popular big game cartridge. I guess people in Germany at the time heard Africa and thought of lions, Rhinos and Elephants. About all you'd find in North Africa where they were was camels and goats but 9.3x74 would take a camel easily.

[@seymourwrasse3321]

My father was in the Army Air Corps, they did actually trained with shotguns to learn the basics of leading the target

[@markfreeman5790]

Would love to know more about this training. Skeet is an Air Force tradition I love.

[@kickit59]

Tom you always have interesting stories! This is one of your best. It seems odd to me they would go to that kind of effort in mid 1941 right when Hitler was starting Operation Barbarossa! However from time to time we have heard of many things the Nazis did that cost them extra effort when all of their efforts should of been laser focused on the war effort. However this is an example of how they could of done something different at less cost & effort to achieve the same result. However it was good for the allies that they made mistakes in war production and good for you because now you have a really really cool Drilling!

[@russellweber3466]

There were no nazi's, members of the NSDAP never referred to themselves as that slur, nor do tea party members refer to themselves as tea baggers, but guess what tribe of (goblins) came up with this slur.

[@dukecraig2402]

This is not an example of something that the Nazi's per say did, this was exclusively a Herman Goering move done internally in the Luftwaffe with Luftwaffe funds, I seriously doubt the Nazi party itself and especially Hitler knew anything about it, he'd have probably lost his mind if something like this went across his desk.

[@kickit59]

@@dukecraig2402 True enough however and like I said before it was lucky for us the Nazis did not coordinate their efforts to supply their war machine as well as they should have. In a total war effort such as operation Barbarossa Luftwaffe funds should be total war effort funds & some group should of been coordinating efforts between the services to ensure that items supplied to each branch of the military was the best tool for the job while also the most efficient cost wise. However it was a good thing they made a lot of mistakes.

[@dukecraig2402]

@@kickit59 Nope, they never stood a chance against countries that just one of them was making 1 bomber every hour from just 1 plant. 1945 saw only the beginning of what the US was capable as far as it's manufacturing goes, what was being produced at the end of the war was a fraction of what could have been produced within the next few years. And the narrative that Germany was within inches of producing weapons that would have turned things around for them is nonsense that sounds good in documentaries but has nothing to do with reality, the fact is they didn't develop anything that the Allies didn't already have an equal in development or close to production themselves. The fact is most of Germany's so called "wonder weapons" that people put so much stock in were flops in all reality that did nothing but drain precious resources away from a country that barely had any resources to start with. And the myth of superior German manufacturing quality is just that, a myth, their industry was a shambles before the war even started, they had no standardization across different industries, a master fabricator in one industry couldn't even read the blueprints from another industry because the symbols on blueprints meant different things to different industries. In the US the lowest quality aircraft were the prototypes, as manufacturing of an aircraft progressed the quality of them continued to rise, the last of the mast produced aircraft were the highest quality of all produced for that reason, in Germany the highest quality aircraft were the prototypes and quality continued to decline throughout their production, this was mostly due to their industries not being standardized and struggling to build anything that wasn't designed within that industry, any changes due to different variations reeked havoc everywhere in the manufacturing processes. The narrative that Germany almost won the war at any point or that they were on the verge of breakthroughs that would have turned things around have nothing to do with reality, the fact is despite them building up their war machine starting starting in 1932 they couldn't even win the Battle of Britain in 1940, the only reason they had the successes they did early on is because anyone who sneak attacks another country starts out with a huge advantage already, but every time Germany came up against a country who was prepared they lost, after their early sneak attacks they had nothing but one defeat after the other and that's the only way it was ever going to go for them.

[@steveshoemaker6347]

WOW....What a beautiful Gun......Thanks Tom.....Shoe🇺🇸

[@whistlepig64]

I've seen one in person and held it, one of those guns that has always stuck with me.

[@jamesvandemark2086]

I.ve seen one in West Germany, 1976. Belonged to a former Luftwaffe squadron leader. I was a guest at his daughter's wedding & he showed off his collection.

[@joshuagibson2520]

I hope you get some range time in before it gets cold, Tom. Life is short. Shoot often. I know the range isn't close for ya, but get out there!

[@polygonekoma]

As a German I've wondered for how much such a beautiful piece goes these days. The craftsmanship is insanely nice

[@e36s50b30]

Irgendwo zwischen 10 und 30.000€.

[@blksubiesti]

You gatta admit that would be pretty cool to be given stuff like that in todays military. We should bring back some of these traditions

[@jayoutdoors1534]

I have one my grandfather gave me I use it for hunting every deer season.

[@427Arbok]

Just want to note that the aircraft at 3:48 is not any fighter aircraft I know of. All Bf 109s (Messerchmidt's most prominent design) were ridgebacks, and the backs of the Fw 190s' canopies were shaped more like the tail of a teardrop. It looks like the article identifies the aircraft as a Stuka (Ju 87) dive bomber (which is definitely what's shown on the next page), which... despite the canopy not being something I recognize, seems to be correct. The lighting is so strong that it kinda washes-out the aircraft's wing, but I think I see the distinctive flaps of a Stuka, and I believe I see the crook of its gull-wing.

[@mannihh5274]

Glad to help you out - look up the Bf110 - its pronounced back of the canopy is quite recognizable, as well as the two side rudders.

[@HO-bndk]

It's very obviously a Ju-87. It's not a Bf-110 as you can see the propeller blades on the nose. The fuel filler cap and the pronounced dihedral visible on the left are also dead giveaways.

[@Native_love]

Wow! Beautiful!

[@RichardGoth]

2:41 "Hunting cabin" is a bit of an understatement where Goering's estates are concerned

[@jamesjanson6129]

FACT!!!Whole complex was huge!

[@RichardGoth]

@@jamesjanson6129 yep he had Carinhall, which was huge; then he tried to buy the Electoral estate of Rominten off the Kaiser (who refused to sell) so he built his own "lodge" with 100 square miles of land After the Kaiser died forced his heirs to sell their estate as well. I'm sure there were others he grabbed off private owners

[@scott1357]

I believe the reasons they were so elaborate was to encourage and instill pride in the pilots. At that time 1941 Germany had to wage savage warfare to survive. Also one point I would like to mention Goering loved his Luftwaffe , maybe they were a farewell gift to the pilot's.

[@castielsisko2120]

Germany didn't have to wage savage warfare to survive at all. They didn't need to start the war to begin with.

[@schnorrergaming7541]

What a romanticized retelling of history.

[@stinct1776]

Will you next tell us stories about Goering's noble character?

[@paulryan2128]

@@stinct1776 LOL & 👍

[@tombrunner8181]

Polen started the war with the siege of the German city of Danzig. Die Wahrheit über den 1.Weltkrieg kam auch erst die letzten Jahre mehr ans Licht. Ich habe Geduld

[@leichi1988]

I renember when I was a child my neighbour had a beautiful Drilling with a very old Zeis-scope, one of the shotgun-barrels had an insert-barrel for 223-remmington and the 3rd Barrel was in 22-longrifle.

[@sadnessinside123]

A great video. Thank you so much for taking the time to produce this.

[@craigcooknf]

Beautiful piece! And yes. Newfoundlanders in Canada unfortunately know what boondoggle means. We use it when talking about the Muskrat Falls Hydro Project. The biggest construction boondoggle in modern history.

[@lavida57]

That is really something 😳.

[@alanrogers6770]

I remember that number and article of Guns and Ammo from 1979. I had the magazine sent to the UK the subscription was cheap and I looked forward to its arrival every month. I love drilling and combi's

[@blondbowler8776]

I have that issue of G&A. About ten years ago I got to examine and handle a WWII bring-back German drilling (might have been Swiss). Two 12 ga barrels and a 9.3 x 56 (IIRC) Mauser/Mannlicher rifle barrel. Beautiful little gun, really, but it had been sadly neglected in a closet since the end of WWII. Pitted bores, rust, cracked and dried wood. I deemed it unsafe to fire. A wall hanger. A pity. You could tell that at one time it was a fine specimen of sporting/stalking gun. Had a dried out, rotting leather take-down case for it, too. Evoked images of plains game and birds in Africa, or maybe The Black Forest, wild boar, dogs, grouse and pheasant. Even so, I could not talk the guy out of it. He just put it back in the closet. We did work a nice trade on a M1917 Colt and $200 for a M92 Beretta a RN friend had given me in a cigar box. All it needed was a spring. I'll never forget that drilling. The only one I've seen and handled in person.

[@randypowell4783]

The front trigger is also a "Set trigger" by pushing it forward when the rifle is selected.

[@robbierobt]

It's a French style "Stecher" trigger, indeed. The proper handling of a Drilling is still a topic in German Hunting license exams. Many drop out because of just the Drilling.

[@dennismeyer3425]

Thank you for doing this. I have one of these purchased from an Austrian friend years ago. It makes much more sense now why it was built. BTW, it is a full choke on the right, modified on the left, with a 2 1/2 chamber. It should not be used with 2 3/4 rounds.

[@johnasti7429]

Great video. I didn't know about this ingenious weapon. I learned a lot, thank you.

[@g.alistar7798]

Thanks, great story. Stationed in Germany, after a year in Iraq, I had the opportunity to take the Germany Hunting course in 2004. Pretty extensive and upon graduation was inducted into the Order of St Hubertus….bonfire ceremony at the US Army Rod and Gun Club in Heidelberg. It’s a lifetime license, honored in most of Europe and Africa. The hunting tradition goes back to the 12th or 13th Century, lots and lots of history with hunting and wildlife.

[@driftless1870]

That is a beautiful piece.

[@mohammedcohen]

I had a chance to meet General Galland in 1977 when he was signing books at Bill Dean's Sky Books on W 52nd St in Manhattan - but I was teaching high school history that day and couldn't just up and take the day off...

[@mcnimbus]

The rifle cartridges are, interestingly enough, made by the Swedish NORMA company and the text is in Swedish.

[@jamesjanson6129]

They are post war manufacture.

[@albondigas9549]

I inheirated a drilling from my grandfather Valentine Bruno Katzenberger. Its really a piece of art.

[@douglasturner6153]

"The finish and engraving on this survival weapon is a little over the top"! Hey, it's Hermann Goering baby.

[@earloliver7247]

New subscriber thank you so much for this video I have one that has been passed down from my great great grandpa never see or hear about them very often.

[@petermccuskey1832]

Really nice presentation. Thank you!

[@simontemplate]

Fascinating presentation; thank you.

[@MrPh30]

Some of pictures of RJM is of him with 9,3 ou double rifles. Merkel, BSW and so . The picture of him with the double rifle under his left arm in sling is Merkel 8x75RS ,one of 3 barrel set he had, ( 2x8x75, 16 Ga 8x75, 16Gax2 ) 9,3x74R is ammo for LW drillings . Merkel,Heym, Sauer, Krieghoff and others make drillings in standard builds. Many good one to find on German stores for export, and Austria and such. Many custom makers making them also.

[@stillcantbesilencedevennow]

Tbf, having multiple types of ammo is great and all. But all the extraneous stuff... It really speaks to their hubris, that they expected these to be "conversation pieces" after the war. "Opa! How did you get that shotgun?"

[@seanwhitty1335]

Do love the drilling realy dosnt mater what they used it for just glad they did the case hardening is beutifull reminds me of something ive seen on the ceiling of the cistein chappel very beutifull the reasons they made it are interesting but not as much so as the rifle its self stunnin bit of craftsmanship and a top exampale thankyou 👍👍

[@myowndrummer3372]

in the 80s in Texas, My German neighbor had a Drilling. They used it for hunting Elk. One of the barrels had an insert adapter to shoot .22

[@robbierobt]

Classical setup, left shotgun barrel is 16 or 12ga, right shotgun barrel has a "Einstecklauf" for .17 or .22 calibers (l.r., WMR, Hornet or .222) and a full power rifle barrel underneath. The front trigger can release the right top and the rifle barrel and it can be set for lower trigger weight. As universal as it can be!

[@billmonaco8424]

A great learning experience...Thank You !

[@stevecastro1325]

Excellent! Your details rival the legendary Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons. Thanks for the deep dive.

[@Nick_B_Bad]

Man that’s one of my dream owns right there. #Someday

[@richardkuhn9130]

My Grandad had the commercial version of this rifle it was called a Triboor. He also had a 9.3 Mauser which kicked like a mule. I was the oldest grand child an as such had privelages that the other boy grand children had to earn. I would go shoot rats in the barn with a browning .22 rifle. Rodney the youngest a a complete pain would follow me round, 'Let me shoot, let me shoot'. So I put away the Browning, saddled up a horse and rode to the other side the ranch. Poor kid, I got him to fire that 9.3 Mauser. Fast forward a few vyears and Rodney gets conscripted into the South African Army point blank refuses to even touch a rifle and gets deffered from service. Fast forward again, I dragged Rodney off to my local shooting range and taught him to shoot with that Browning .22. The triboor was sold to cover medical expenses later in our Grandads life. Thank You for this video I enjoy your insight into the history of firearms. Thank You again.

[@brittakriep2938]

9,3 x 74R is not from Mauser company , it was for break action weapons. 9,3 x 62 was invented by a man with the name Bock.

[@malyhunter]

@@brittakriep2938 exactly 👌

[@Felix-fy7ki]

@@brittakriep2938 I guess "9.3 Mauser" means he also had a 98 Mauser style rifle with a 9,3mm bore.

[@brittakriep2938]

@@Felix-fy7ki : In case of repesting rifles either 9,3_x 62,ot rarer 9,3_x 6%.

[@Toadonthehill.]

Thank you my friend you have taught me something new 👍.

[@larsdahlen319]

The Luftwaffe drilling is a standard m30 Sauer & Sohn drilling they are still made today by Merkel and others. They are still today a commonly used gun. It is quite often the only gun that a hunter in Germany or Northern Europe use especially if he is a member of the older generation. It is not any luxury gun it is the simplest and cheapest drilling made, this drillings are one of the most common combination guns ever made. In Sweden you can buy one second hand in good shape for about 1200 dollars. That means that Sauer & Sohn probably had thousands and parts for further thousands in stock when the market for them crashed in 1939. So the guns were probably just taken out of storage ,fitted, stamped and sent to Luftwaffe. It would have been more expensive specially make unengraved and uncollared weapons. Regards Lars Dahlén

[@jugo1944]

From an Americans perspective 1200 is an expensive gun when you can get a functional AR-15 for less than 500, probably, or a shotgun for like 300

[@larsdahlen319]

@@jugo1944 Europe and America has often different perspective Volvo is counted as a luxury car in US but not in Sweden the difference is that most of us have the same car for ten to fifteen years. The rifles and shotguns I use were used by my father or my grandfather. A Sauer is good for at least a hundred years. I do not think that a AR-15 last for hundred years.

[@Felix-fy7ki]

Here in Germany a used, but still functional Sauer & Sohn Drilling may be sold for less than 700€, sometimes even cheaper. The younger generation doesn't like those heavy guns very much, they prefer modern rifles or shotguns.

[@Felix-fy7ki]

@@larsdahlen319 Well explained, my friend!

[@jugo1944]

@@larsdahlen319 I don't see why an AR wouldn't last a 100 years if you take care of it

[@Nighthawk1966]

Wow very cool and interesting! Nice job 👍

[@stephan4022]

Great video! But you did not mention the "Stecher". A handy technical detail used for precision shots.

[@DrMurdercock]

that is a gorgeous double barrel, let alone the bonus rifle barrel underneath

[@justinthomas226]

That is one heck of a nice survival gun.

[@alangreen5858]

Combination guns (12g + rifle round) are still manufactured in Europe. Generally used for hunting or deer and wild bore. Often a sold slug is used in the 12g for close targets.

[@terryqueen3233]

what an awesome looking weapon! I'm impressed

[@allanfulton7569]

I had that magazine that my dad gave me when I was a kid in the 80s. I got all his magazines when I was 10 in 1984

[@Nikolas-rz8lb]

Drilling guns are still produced by german and Austrian gunsmiths. Look at the work of the gunsmith from Ferlach (Austria).

[@kearnsey64]

I'm going with training. My dad was in the navy in WW II and the first thing they had to do was shoot trap or skeet to learn how to lead.

[@jake4194]

I know they gave out Shotguns to shoot down messenger pigeons. But this is too fancy

[@worldtraveler930]

Very Cool!! Now I want one!! 🤠👍

[@kirillgorovatski1492]

03:49 is, of course, not "Messershmidt" but Junkers Ju-87 "Stuka" - a famous WWII dive bomber (single-engine, gull-wing + gunner "turret") just where your right point-finger is... P.S. Much thanks for all your content from big fan & subscriber !

[@Not_Puro]

I got unsubscribed by youtube from your channel bc I used to get notifications when you uploaded then I stopped getting them finally you pop back up on my suggested but this time the subscribe button is red again? I love your stuff man (I doubt youll see this) and keep up the great work!

[@jensenwilliam5434]

Thank you!!

[@rex8255]

I would suspect that there are different versions of this gun. Starting with the standard issue version, no fancy stuff and whatever the normal wood finish was at the time. Herr Guering wants to give one as a gift? He grabs a couple, and sends them off to the Gun Smith to for some fancy stuff.

[@larsdahlen319]

The Luftwaffe drilling is the standard so I do not believe that these were given away as gifts.

[@Republikaner1944]

Perfect weapon for every gentleman. Rifle ammo is Norma and RWS, even today Europe's best. Brenneke slugs are known even across the pond.

[@Jlinwoodjackson]

Good god! Those rifle rounds had an insane amount of powder in them!! Whoah!!

[@michaelherrmann842]

Funny actually, I have the civilian version of this sitting in my basement (formerly my grandfathers). Never knew about the connection to the Luftwaffe version but when you held them side by side I had to go check.

[@GazalAlShaqab]

2:39 This picture is Hermann Goering hunting in Poland in February 1938, in Białowieża forest, with his hunting buddy President of Poland, Ignacy Mościcki. Goreing first came to Poland for a hunt in 1935, and will return in 1937 and 1938… (Goering was trying to get Poland into the Anti-Komintern pact then, but it did not work…) In 1937 Goreing was awarded the HIGHEST Polish order, the "White Eagle" (this was later ERASED from history), and in return he offered to Mościcki a beautiful Mercedes-Benz car. In February 1939 Goering did not come any more, but instead Heinrich Himmler came to Białowieża for a hunt.

[@jamesjanson6129]

Himmler going hunting???Thats very intresting,as he was an avowed animal lover.

[@russellweber3466]

@@jamesjanson6129 He raised and ate chickens.