Anvil 038: Chauchat repair and run

Assembly pin broken off of a 1915 Chauchat. Repair and run this 8 Lebel monster........
What we show is what you need to learn, not a tutorial. If you do not posses the skills to perform at this level, do NOT attempt. Support us: / anvil

[@johnnewman9436]

I really admire how Mark can do what he does and make it entertaining to watch at the same time.

[@Novik1982]

I think this is the first time I’ve seen one run fully. That my friends deserves an applause!

[@lefr33man]

clean, 8mm lebel Chauchats ran fine, though.

[@Novik1982]

@@lefr33man that’s probably true. The ones I’ve seen have had problems, but also haven’t been re-serviced like this in the video. I’ll also admit the ones I’ve seen are in 30.06 which were never intended to run that caliber to begin with.

[@Imbeachedwhale]

@@Novik1982 During the research for the Primer episode, they found a memo that showed a 40% part failure rate for the 1918/.30-06 Chauchat, on top of the chamber and barrel problems in the US version. One of the lucky reliable ones happens to belong to a certain Francophile, and it ran very well during Project Lightening. The dented magazines were the only problem Ian had before the intense stress test.

[@Novik1982]

@@Imbeachedwhale I stand correct then. Defiantly would love to shoot one.

[@SlavicCelery]

@@Novik1982 if only they had good magazines, and accurately cut chambers.... Could have been something special.

[@keithrushforth4019]

The smile on Bruno's face at the end is so sweet.

[@DARIVSARCHITECTVS]

Having taught my friend the subtleties of how to properly shoot his new ChauChat, you have provided critical knowledge to diagnose problems, clean, lubricate and maintain this piece of history, and we both thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Mark!

[@marknovak8255]

Mission accomplished then. Outstanding.

[@ketchman8299]

I cannot express how much I look forward to Mark's classes, because that is what each one is. This one is extra good because not only is the full function of this "percussive instrument" explained, but an understanding of the why's beyond " it didn't work in the mud" is gained. And of course statements about how "the sex is put in dyslexic" is a reason in and of itself to watch.

[@psp1921tsmg]

I’ve shot just about every full auto around. I’ve shot 3 different “sho-sho’s” The long burst you got was longer than any burst I’ve ever shot or seen one run in person. Well done. Saving history one piece at a time.

[@jacksonthompson7099]

I was surprised he figured out "hey here's why this thing doesn't get long bursts!" Bet everyone who used a sho sho would have loved to have that knowledge way back when.

[@ZGryphon]

Considering they had to find a way of making a full-auto system work with just about the worst cartridge you could possibly try to put in an autoloader at the time, I'd say Messrs. Chauchat and Sutter did a better job than they usually get credit for.

[@51WCDodge]

I agree ,

[@andersbendsen5931]

I mean, you're not wrong🤷‍♂️

[@explosivo666]

Not to mention it was fairly easy to mass produce, and as soon as the war was over, they went to develop a brand new machinegun.

[@bbqsauce8854]

“Busier than a 3 peckered billy goat” 🤣 have never heard this one, but will be using from here on.

[@hoxviii]

Probably the first time a Chauchathas run through 2 magazines clean since 1918

[@MartasZLA]

xD

[@dbmail545]

That has always been distinction between a gunsmith and an armorer. Barely an armorer on very few platforms. I love this.

[@giuseppe4909]

Outstanding. What a neat and interesting gun. I can see it working great in test environment, and why not in the field. Thanks for dissecting it Mark.

[@51WCDodge]

Nothing changes, a certain Britsh Bull pup comes to mind :-)

[@halnywiatr]

The sound track of this percussion device needs to be made available to Hollywood for authentic beat lines in historic movies.

[@MrPittbull30]

18:19 Holy cow this thing is busier than a three pecker billy goat when it's running. Came here for the gunsmithing... Stayed here for the colloquialisms. Top-notch as usual Mark! 👍

[@Xaivius]

Mark, bless you for your content. I love your hands-on "gunsmith" approach, as well as your absolute respect for your customers' wishes. I believe I can also agree with your presented practical philosophy of "Firearms are but complex powder-actuated ranged hole-punches, to which many novel movements may be added."

[@josephcormier5974]

Awesome repair Bruno looked like he was loving it two thumbs

[@trev1388]

I've always considered the mag on them as series of unfortunate events that periodically functions as intended. Great Work!

[@peteraugust5295]

"Just as bad as new" is probably the right description for this repair haha

[@bengland6969]

Bravo Mark, I hope to see more older military surplus firearms; from toy guns, machine guns, and bolt guns you sir are a master at arms!

[@munched55]

Chopin waltzes were my favorite for getting my kid to sleep and working in my shop late at night. Beautiful.

[@828enigma6]

Mark, I wish I had your tools and equipment, but more importantly, your skills and knowledge of how to use them. Watching you work is like watching the painter craft the Mona Lisa.

[@franksmodels29]

I think Ian’s smiling after this..lol

[@michaelrogers4157]

Ear to ear!

[@somefool4625]

Wasn't it Ians?

[@wierdalien1]

@@somefool4625 pretty sure they were Ians.

[@proCaylak]

Ian is smiling = Ian's smiling

[@KI.765]

He smiles because total idiots still respond to his begging for patreon money, so he can keep buying himself fancy toys to show off to you later on. Remember when forgotten weapons used to show guns Ian didn't personally own? Pepperidge Farms remembers.

[@Paladin1873]

That die holder is a slick little tool. When I have to do metric threads and don't want to change the gears on my lathe, I use a hand die while the work is still in the lathe chuck. Usually this means removing the arms from my die holder and grabbing it with a leather glove while I manually turn the chuck with my other hand. Your die holder might be a better setup, although I'm thinking I might want to mount it in my tailstock so I don't accidentally cant it to one side while threading.

[@alan-sk7ky]

Tailstock die holders, much like the thing Mark freehands for ? reasons a simple mandrel held in the tailstock keeps things square and trim.

[@Paladin1873]

@@alan-sk7ky You're right. I guess I was thinking in terms of having a dual use die holder that could be both handheld and mounted in the tailstock. I did find a video on how to make one, but it's more work than I have time to put into it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJrInIWmiM6IgK8

[@dbmail545]

Mark was in the Navy. I can hear the speech of the crew in every video. I wasn't but my father was. "Busier than a..." 😉

[@828enigma6]

Years ago, when a small part on a navy ship broke or quit working, the on board machine shop had to make a new one. Not like Air Force or Army where they'd just order a new piece. Much respect.

[@SlavicCelery]

@@828enigma6 Wasn't Mark also a Submariner? I'd imagine the ability to fab something up underwater is quite a skill set.

[@franciscolarrazabal3562]

Chopin's waltz no 19 in A minor was a nice touch.

[@matthewhall9530]

There’s just something about the chunk chunk chunk that thing makes that’s beautiful. I love it.

[@smellyfella5077]

I believe this is the same Chauchat that I owned years ago (the scarring and gouging in the wood looks identical) .....I bought it from Charly Erb (class-3 dealer in Washington, PA.) back in the late 90's to use for WW1 reenacting and sold it in 2000 or 2001, there abouts. I can't remember the name of the fella I sold it to, but I recall him telling me that he owned a WW1 German Maxim airplane MG.

[@TheAhirishman]

I love these videos. Ill watch them, dose off, wake up and theyre still on. So ill watch them again. Its like im working on something and learning and dont have to leave my recliner.

[@scooterdogg7580]

"in 1919 OSHA was a town in Wisconsin" best line I've heard I a while lmao :)

[@Horseshoecrabwarrior]

When I heard what that notch in the bolt handle was for, my first thought was "So you figured out how to fix every Chauchat?" I'd always heard that the mags were the worst part, so to hear that it's the gun that's beat up the mags and that there's a way to fix it was jawdropping. I know there are other issues, but the magazines seemed to be the biggest one. I think someone else here said it better, but that's the best running Chauchat I've ever seen.

[@AM-hf9kk]

That looks like a bandaid honestly. Mark mentioned the real fix - replace the springs with a higher rate and maybe a forward recoil buffer.

[@Horseshoecrabwarrior]

@@AM-hf9kk I remember him mentioning the springs, but I guess I zoned out for the buffer. As long as that bolt handle stops beating the magazines like a rented mule, that sounds very promising for Chauchat reliability.

[@boujie-tr6pf]

I can hear how excited he is when hes explaining how it all works together, i was smiling from ear to ear listening to how it runs. Love the details

[@andrewallen2999]

New subscriber here, and Aloha and Mahalo from Oahu, HI. Found you by mistake, or happy accident, Uncle. As a student of machining and firearms and general misanthropy I have been giggling and telling the old lady about this for about an hour... she fell asleep. I'm rapt with attention though. You beautiful man, Mahalo. God Bless, Sir.

[@shermanbenton5416]

Excellent show again! Your wit and humor are surpassed only by your mechanical aptitude! Keep up the good work.

[@finscreenname]

I'm telling you, it still flips me out how guns are made. I know there is blown plastics and such today but for the most part they are made out of some flat steel cut into fancy shapes, a few springs and a tube or two. I say that in the same way I look at a painting. Just a bunch of paint and a canvas but it takes a artist to put them together.

[@alanincardona1879]

The recoil impulses would make a good milkshake.

[@bigredjeepyj3436]

Another phenomenal video. How about a huge thanks to Bruno for filming and giving hand-eye signals behind the camera? Thanks, Bruno!

[@bradlilly8603]

That is a jackhammer doing a rifle impression

[@bobspatafore1696]

Bruno’s smile at the end is great

[@mississippiman]

That has got to be one of the most violently recoiling firearms I've ever seen

[@SlavicCelery]

The 30-06 version is worse, per Ian, Mae and the Yeti.

[@Iceman-kr6df]

“And that is how I put the sex in dyslexic” yeah, out of all the quips in this video that’s what got me

[@fullmetaflak]

I really appreciate the patented wood sheathed carbon pointing device

[@51WCDodge]

With added bonus ! It acts as a long term hard memory storage device.

[@jnault6441]

Between you and Ian, keep doing these videos. We will have documentation of this super interesting machine! MORE!!!!

[@jakepi2607]

This is some high quality content Mark. Amazing stuff!

[@russ375]

I’m a department armour. I always tell people that one day I will become a gunsmith. And it’s so true....I can diagnose, fix most issues but if I can’t buy a replacement part the weapon is then sent to a smith.

[@scooty6520]

This is the best channel on KZbin

[@freddykisback123]

I can hear Gun Jesus getting all giggly :D

[@C.dieslevonankwek7]

Thanks for the history lesson and the importance of quality lubrication.

[@camerondunn6258]

"There's always time for lube!!"

[@kenweiss8145]

Thank you so much for your videos! I really enjoy them. When asked what I wanted to be as a kid, it's a version of you! Work on guns, be a technician, a Craftsman and work with my hands on things I find fascinating and a wonderful part of history. My parents wouldn't hear of it, so I have not gone this route, But I really respect you and the craft, ingenuity and skill! Thanks again for sharing!

[@monkeyship74401]

Bruno gives a demonstration of why it's called a "Giggle Switch". Mark puts the Sex in dislexic. The Chauchat puts the fun in funeral. As always it's neat to watch a true professional practice his craft, and Mark isn't too bad either. :)

[@TreyWait]

You should get a medal just for operating that metal shop project.

[@ScottKenny1978]

I am reasonably sure that it took significant adult beverage to get Mark to agree to do this.

[@jakeofamazing0371]

If there's ever been a gun that deserves the title of "Angry Tube" it's probably this one!

[@timothyruggles7396]

Holly cow gust watched . Thinking back then thats a lot of movement and parts .. unbelievable THANK YOU

[@13thBear]

You poor man! You have fired that beastly device and lived to tell the grisly tale. I, on the other hand, have heard grisly tales about this fearsome beast all my live and finally lived to see a video of just how terrible it truly is to fire!

[@ashleysmith3106]

Excellent synopsis of a fascinating and historically significant gun! I found a Chauchat magazine many years ago in an underground bunker near Soissons (Battles of the Aisne; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_the_Aisne), and have been looking for the gun to fit it ever since. Unfortunately they are few and far between here in the remote areas of Australia! Please keep this wonderful series coming , Mark!

[@michaeloreagan9758]

I'll never afford these guns or ever dream to have the skill level you have. But damnit I still love these videos

[@fusi0nn]

Probably the best video so far mark!!!!! Damn I love that chauchat!!!!!! Imagine the thing with a 50 round mag. The gun that proved very effective in ww1 for the French! So much that enemies were capturing them and using them.

[@edmazzeo1985]

mark you're a loveable genius , and something like a mad professor ...best gun videos on utube !

[@meesvandeburgt3525]

Mark I honestly admire what you do, much love all the way from the Netherlands!

[@m73m95]

When it can, it will, and it does stop! That's when you're rockin' the ChauChat!

[@elijahaitaok8624]

The Chauchat: proof you can make firearms outa anything

[@JohnHAdams-rt4qb]

It’s a French thing.

[@ScottKenny1978]

Nah, that's the Luty SMG.

[@elijahaitaok8624]

@@ScottKenny1978 while still true, the Chauchat was made by a bicycle factory, the Luty one-upped it soon after out of hardware store findings and determination.

[@ernestrost4069]

This was a really great episode! I loved the explanations and criticism about the mechanical issues. I especially liked the fact that the way you talk reminds me of an old salty Gunny I worked under when I was stationed in Beaufort, South Carolina.

[@mohammedcohen]

...you and Othais both have unique pointy-things...

[@sendit1158]

Thank you Mr Mark you are absolutely the best

[@kevinhorning3624]

very violent action there.

[@Fuzzybeanerizer]

I forget off hand, if the 8mm Lebel was the very first smokeless powder cartridge? One of the very first, anyway. But that short fat thing is powerful... right up there with the .30-'06. I used to have a Berthier carbine. When I took the barrelled action out of the stock, it looked like it was from an XP-100 pistol, the barrel was so short and lightweight. Wow, did that thing kick!

[@floydoroid]

you are a wizard. great work man

[@dpbeardslee]

Another great video! I've heard it said that one of the best things about the Chauchat was that you could make a still from some of the parts. I'd love to see a video on that!

[@yo388]

Such a bizarre and beautiful bicycle

[@silverbullet7434]

Looks like a machinist nightmare . Some engineers got together and said lets see if we can make the most unpractable demanding auto. .But id love to have one.

[@biggerbehindthetrigger2814]

Ok so I am not a school trained gunsmith. I was taught by hanging around my gunsmith that was a great friend untill he passed away and then the gun shop/range had a gunsmithing shop with 5 real gunsmiths that did all the fitting for the Renato Gamba shotguns that we were the importers for. They were made one at a time and would cost from $3,500 to $250,000. 8m not throwing out names and numbers to impress you because no one gives a flying frogs ass. I'm just saying this because these guys and gal really knew their business. I was always 5bere and they taught me how to use a mill and a path and I was the one that test fired all the fírearms for them and if it was a go then I would save the brass always 5 rounds and the target and it would go to the customer with the fírearm so they could inspect the brass and see what the fírearm would do on a 75' range. I really loved my job. I don't work on other people's fírearms but for my friend who has a very large collection of antique firearms. Of it's out of my ballpark I always send I'm to a good but not excellent gunsmith. There isn't much in Illinois for shooting or ranges in the northern half of Illinois. My wife and I are looking to move to gun country. I got started with gunsmithing in Aurora Colorado. When I was working at a high end Gunshop with a class 3 FFL and we supplied a majority of the Denver and surrounding city's police officers with their duty weapons. The would bring in a voucher and a list of fírearms that they could carry and a list of things that they could add to their firearm but it had to be installed by their armourer. We would get flooded by new police officers when ever a agency had a hiring period. It was fun helping them because they looked like a kid in a candy store plus I was helping them pick out a firearm that will be used to say e their lives and help others who are victims. It just made me feel good to help them since they signed up to save my life and possibly get hurt if I ever needed it. I just wanted to say thank you for your talent and sharing it with us. I have used your methods on a few of my rifles but you don't show all your tricks and that is good. I just hope that someone like me who is semi self taught doesn't go deeper then their tools and their abilities will endanger someone's life. I know there are some people out there that day they are a gunsmith and really don't know what the hell they are talking about. If I don't know or even have a doubt I won't touch it. I will day I can't do it and will end it to a capable gunsmith. That's why I'm real cautious when I give a firearm to someone who says they are a real gunsmith. I have several questions that I ask and I want to see their work before I have them any fírearm. Out of the 4 or 5 gunsmiths that are close to me I will only trust one. He is way better then the others but my as good as the guys and gal at the gunsmithing shop in Aurora Colorado. I have mailed then a few fírearms that are very rare and have one with a double digit serial number that was made on the first day of production. It is a MAB 25 acp pocket pistol with the serial number 93 with matching slide and barrel. I got it for free because it didn't work. Turns out that after the first 279 fírearms the trigger design didn't work well and broke like the one that I have. Their were another 160 it so hard a design flaw with the new design trigger so it was fixed and then they made millions of them up until the late 30's. I wish I could send pictures. Ok this is too long. I am very sorry. You have a wonderful day. Happy Safe Shooting 🇺🇸💪.

[@johnanderson4203]

It was broken when it was new

[@BcFuTw9jt]

Another impressive performance sir, thank you.

[@keithkempenich6401]

I'd offer a minor correction - armorers build armor and those jackasses done took our word! We're still using it, thank you very much! ;)

[@bulletinmyleg]

"busier than a 3 pecker billy goat".

[@vagabond-yj8pn]

And more swagger than a three ball tomcat.

[@singleshot2218]

Love your humor Mark! You’re the best man I know to fix a firearm!

[@loviedebiasio8864]

Another awesome video. Thanks Mark

[@thedude8046]

That is a beautiful peace of machinery.

[@alan-sk7ky]

Nah its really not, but on the other hand there wasn't any solid 'how it should be done' body of knowledge re full power locked action weapons yet, Madsen comedy complicated action, Hotchkiss portative clumsy but going in the right direction, too early for the BAR and the Lewis. Ask C&Rsenal about why the US dragged feet on 30.06 Lewis guns ;-)

[@Fuzzybeanerizer]

All French military firearms seem to have quirky designs, usually with carryover features from previous quirky French designs. But the machining is usually very good. The parts from earlier French rifles (1860's to WW1) really look like Swiss watch parts in their fine machining and finishing. The machined parts here look pretty decent to me.

[@derekbutts1782]

"Anything I can do, mark can do better " " mark can do anything better than me"

[@scotthaddad563]

Even gave me a smile to hear that thing cycle.

[@o2wow]

Nothing like full auto fire followed by Mark's patented, Nod of Approval.

[@janwacawik7432]

Oh Lordy, words cannot express how much do I want to have such an odd, old hunk of metal.

[@SavageShooter93]

Fun fact Napoleon had a set of Aluminum "silverware" which he whipped out and had VERY special guests use, the normal plebs got gold "silverware" but the real VIP's ate with Aluminum.

[@BillB23]

I've seen the C&Rsenal and Forgotten Weapons vids on this piece and knew, just knew that it was you that got this beast running. Not quite putting lipstick on a pig, but close. Bravo!

[@ScottKenny1978]

What he hasn't said is how much profanity he emitted while fixing the beast. I expect that there was a large storm centered over South Carolina from all the Sailor Language.

[@BillB23]

@@ScottKenny1978 I also wonder how much black gang coffee and how many stogies were consumed while unscrewing the inscrutable.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@BillB23 probably an entire #10 can of coffee grounds and a box of stogies. And at least one bottle of adult beverage.

[@BillB23]

@@ScottKenny1978 My bad! Thanks for reminding me of the ethanol component. I'm sure that it was consumed after working hours. Too much personal discipline to do otherwise.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@BillB23 I'm assuming that it took one bottle of ethanol to get him to dive into the beast in the first place... And one or two more once they left the shop in celebration!

[@davidellenbaum1229]

love when full auto everyone smile ear to ear thanks for sharing

[@ryanthede4689]

An old tool and die maker once told me that an even older tool and die maker once told him that in the time before threadlockers people would cut a knick on their finger and place a drop of blood onto the threads of a fastener in order cause it to rust in place

[@marknovak8255]

I've heard that also, believe it's plausible......................

[@ryanthede4689]

@@marknovak8255 only one way to find out

[@fredmaughan5669]

@@ryanthede4689 I watched a Russian mechanic (in the city of Tula, no less) dip a nut in a puddle of water before installing it on the tractor he was servicing. I asked why, and he explained to me the nut would quickly rust itself solidly to the stud. He was surprised I was so ignorant of basic mechanics.

[@michaelrogers4157]

I recognize that magazine! I'm excited!

[@ziggy2shus624]

" In 1910 aluminum was space age stuff." (at 13:45) In 1800 the monster Napoleon ate off of very expensive aluminum plates at a formal event, while his underlings ate off of gold plates.

[@redcat9436]

Napoleon wasn't a monster. It was the Catholic Church that has slandered him.

[@elijahaitaok8624]

Now aluminum is the cheapest most readily available metal out there

[@luisnunes2010]

@@redcat9436 Everybody slandered him. The english blamed him for the wars they subsidsed and the revolutionaries for the wars they declared. The pop history version of the period is a joke.

[@thermionicemission6355]

@@luisnunes2010 The English blame EVERYONE, while actually being the ones who started all modern wars directly or indirectly. People don't even know they invaded totally peaceful nations, just look the Crimean war, the greedy british empire wanted trade routes n the black sea, so they went and tried to slaughter and push out any people living there.. I think they kinda won, but most of the troops froze to death lol, it was an abnormally cold winter, it's almost like nature tried to kill the fucking tyrants, if you look on the map crimea is actually VERY far down south, and it's not normal for it to have extremely cold temperatures, but that year the weather just changed for the worse rapidly. Gotta love mother nature, it defends those who can't defend themselves from tyranny of certain humans.

[@luisnunes2010]

@@thermionicemission6355 Too true. Perfide Albion always found dupes with hands outstreched, but Napoleon the little wasn't even smart enough to get payed. But don't forget all the pro-revolutionary historians, the bastards were always ready to forget that Napoleon came ten years into the wars their wonderful revolutionary government declared (say it was a formality, it was also a fact). It's true you russians were pounding on the turks, but hey, I'm portuguese, I can only approve, what with all the little contretemps we had with them in the indian ocean. 😉😁

[@Tsudoshi09]

French: Design a cheap, simple, mass production squad automatic weapon... 1918: *Spits out Gauloises* ..Hold my wine

[@shawnnelson6146]

Wow! That must have had your mind bubbling thinking it through what a problem was. I had a problem with a simple semiautomatic .22 rifle. It was anything but simple for a novice like me, taking three years to figure it out and fix. I admire your ability to quickly deduct what the issues were! 👏 Thats a well trained gunsmith with great trouble shooting skills. You can only get that from experence.

[@Dagfari]

Me in high school: "Wow, what were they thinking?! The magazine is open, look at that!?" Me in 2020: "You know, maybe the Chauchat got a bad rap..." Me after watching this video: "Wow, what were they thinking?! Didn't they think it would be used in the field? When the gun itself fires, it gets hot, too, and the tolerances are so tight..."

[@andrewschulze3865]

Awesome!, I remember Ian talking about Mark fixing his guns awhile back and it's awesome to see weapons that have so much history good and bad and how it was the first of its kind sort of

[@antique_sud_militaria]

Quelle magnifique arme avez vous la Pour nous les Français, c'est un bijoux cette arme. 🇫🇷

[@carbunkle9902]

I'm not dyslexic, thank Dog.

[@nickhannaford3253]

Ok squad which of you guys was a Enginner/toolmaker/machinist etc. Cool....squad meet our new automatic weapon operator! Very interesting from a engineering perspective but what a thing to actually try and use when your soaking wet, covered in mud and other people are trying to ruin your day.

[@blargblarghonk]

You are a treasure in firearms repair.

[@planescaped]

"I think I stepped on what damages the mags" Coincidentally it is stepping on them. >__>

[@WhitzWolf92]

I thought he meant the ground, but that's a good point, too.

[@walkingcontradiction223]

That's not a sporting piece? I beg to differ. I can imagine trying to hit Othias' clays with that would be quite the challenge.. Therefor it fits the qualifications for "sporting." I also liked your "Minute of Mark" , outstanding.

[@alexnissley9848]

Been thinking of picking one of these up one day

[@DavidReese2ndA]

Boy! What a Machine!

[@chetlockwood1491]

Brilliant, a lot of work to get to the Full Auto Grin. You are a Wizard and Maker of Boom-Boom.

[@garyh.7282]

I always thought you were the assembly stud guess I was wrong . Always fun watching a pro at work.

[@randomidiot8142]

I thought Mark was the assembly stud.. thanks for the vid.