Norwegian M1914 Kongsberg Colt

[@metalguitarstuff]

Fun fact - The Norwegian police force didn't ditch their .38 special revolvers until 2008, when they adopted the P30L.

[@daltonbecker4494]

Ironically they switched for the same reason the USA did. A *big* bank robbery when down and they started thinking "You know maybe we should have guns that fire a few more rounds than six?"

[@Kraakesolv]

Fantastic firearm, my father was an intelligence officer in the navy and carried one of these. It was the first pistol I fired and I remember it as a cannon. Granted, I was just 7-8 years old back then. I knew where it was hidden and often took it out to admire it and play with the mechanisms. It is the sole reason I'm so into guns today. The feel of the metal, the sounds, the smell. Mmm. Thanks for a great trip down memory lane, Ian! Best wishes from Norway.

[@richardbyrne2210]

There's a further true story ... workers at the factory during the German occupation(including my former uncle-in-law) used to smuggle parts out, and assemble their own pistols, with a view to using them in resistance operations if the time ever came. They are sometimes called 'lunchbox guns'. After the war, the local police knew who had these, and visited them. The deal was that they could keep the pistols, but they had to be numbered and registered. As I recall of what my uncle-in-law told me as he showed me his own home-assembled gun, the police took hand stamps around with them and applied the numbers as they went along. I would imagine that these hand-numbered versions are now among the rarest of a rare type.

[@knutdergroe9757]

Richard Byrne, AWESOME ! I can say, By doing this your Uncle's life was to be very short if caught. The rare pistol, is a prize to be valued for man who loved his Land and family. I do not think I could put a price on that.

[@Lowlandlord]

@@knutdergroe9757 His families life would be pretty short if caught do, maybe not the best way to show love of family.

[@Musicguy1161]

Your uncle-in-law was a patriot and hero. Be sure to do all you can to keep his story alive.

[@nerd_in_norway]

@@Lowlandlord Wrong. The occupying Nazis were douchebags, but they didnt kill entire families here just because one member was caught doing resistance work.

[@toastpuppy3491]

gjolb you underestimate “collective punishment”

[@sanderterjesen694]

I am norwegian, it is so much fun learning about history which i didnt know, thats the reason why i love this channel

[@VicariousReality7]

+MARISEX123 I was norwegian 1100 years ago

[@kebman]

@@VicariousReality7 I'm still Norwegian 1100 years later lol. The first documented instance of my family's name is about 1100 AD, in church books, but we recon the farmstead has been there since at least the iron age.

[@PhillSmith-bn9pv]

1100 years?​@@VicariousReality7

[@PhillSmith-bn9pv]

Interesting

[@torkilvold3855]

Norway got it's independence from Sweden in 1905, so most things was a question of national pride at the time.

fuck sweden

[@gunnarkvinlaug7226]

Well, the USA adopted the Krag Jørgenson rifles from Norway, and fucked it up. The Norwegian adopted the M1911 from USA... Or Belgium, and inproved it!

[@twinleaf3076]

@Dr BoomYes, Norway definitely got tossed around a bit between Denmark and Sweden after the Viking era

[@kebman]

@@gunnarkvinlaug7226 Affectionately known in the USA as The Crægg xD Meanwhile most Norwegians use the british Ah sound and call it the Khraaahgh Yurgensen.

[@gunnarkvinlaug7226]

@@kebman No, we would say Jørgensen, we're not germans so why should we use the germans u with two dots over- sound?

[@tvtrolet]

2 of the first ever made M1914 ever made is in the possession of the Norwegian King and Queen. the pistols is stil owned by the King and Queen and has been passed down thru generation.

[@Ben742011]

Feil. Den første , Serienummer 1. M1912 (de 95 første var M1912 ikke M1914) ble nettopp solgt i USA for 22000$ og S.nr. 2 ble stjålet fra et museum i 1978.

[@shishino66]

@@Ben742011 Nice. Ganske interessant

[@thebossofbox]

i'am a simple Norwegian i see Norway i press like

[@Hooga89]

+SMGJohn "Norway" didn't participate in the holocaust of Jews. The Nazi puppet state that existed in Norway from 1940-45, participated in the holocaust of Jews. There is a big difference.

[@thebossofbox]

+SMGJohn we did things like sabotage Vemork where they made heavy water my great-grandfather drove refugees from Norway to Sweden in a bus at night we did not participated in holocaust of Jews

[@edwardtroth8630]

me 2

[@jonasHM]

the Norwegian police happily helped the Germans rounding up the Norwegian jews. And thousands of Norwegian men joined the SS and fought on the eastern front.

[@DonHavjuan]

Normally all I associate with Norway is that you still kill whales like it's 1870. Great to see you have some cultural elements which progressed as far as 1914.

[@Great.Milenko]

All of your videos are so informative, I look forward to every upload.

[@showgunnw]

Feels when you watch this from Kongsberg, with my kongsberg colt next to me

[@BringerTeaOf]

As a Norwegian I find this video most interesting, thanks Ian! Though gun ownership in Norway is not easy, this sparked my interest even further.

[@STB-jh7od]

My paternal Grandfather served in the Kings Guard in Norway in late 1920's-early 1930s, but I don't think he know he was carrying a "Colt .45." I really enjoyed learning this. Thanks.

[@kebman]

Handguns are usually only issued to officers and sergeants during peace time. You know... For office use lol! Otherwise its use is usually mission spesific.

[@STB-jh7od]

@@kebman pictures of my grandfather showed him as NCO with pistol holster, so yeah that's what he carried.

[@kebman]

@@STB-jh7od Nice! Alt for Kongen!

[@richardkluesek4301]

Back in the day (1960s,) these guns were advertised in magazines real cheap. The slide stops were on Sarco's site when I was shopping parts a couple of years ago, but the left grip would have to be modified for a custom build project.

[@IGotThisShit69]

This is extremely interesting to me as my family has an heirloom from my great uncle who was in the FSSF as a Canadian in WW2. He fought through Sicily, Italy as well as other campaigns and survived the war. Sadly he was killed afterwards but he still brought back many items, including a Colt 1911 in a holster. We still have this 1911 and since my father and I are both gun enthusiasts we had examined the pistol and had always been confused by some of the markings on it including the "M/1914" marking on the side and a crest similar to the one on yours. Now we had always assumed this handgun was his sidearm during the war but this could mean that it was picked up off/ or traded from another soldier, German or otherwise. This adds a lot of insight and I now have so many more questions! Thanks for the video, and I would love to ask more!

[@scotscotty8075]

I picked up 2 of these back in the early 90's, never fired them. This video has rekindled my interest, I guess it is time to oil them up and take them to the range.

[@calverz]

I am a complete 1911 nerd, and the his video schooled me. I thank you sir (your channel is increasingly becoming my favourite on KZbin for this very reason).

[@fardiemann]

In Norway, we use the word våpen as for waffen and weapon. So the propper name for the factory would be: Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk Otherwise very interesting video:)

[@sergeantbigmac]

I love the checkering pattern on those grips!

[@halogenmoose]

i've waited so long for you to do a video of this! :)

[@velocitytracer3005]

Good and informative video Ian, I actually have one of these myself although it has seen its fair share of usage over the years but still runs like clockwork.

[@TheCleansingx]

Damn, those are some beautiful grips! And all those markings are just to cool.. I want one

[@URANOMNOM]

Lol I am actually from Kongsberg. My dad has spoken quite a bit about this specific pistol, as well as other pistols created by the Kongsberg factory. My grandfather and his father worked at the Kongsberg arms factory, and my cousin works there now, although they produce Penguin NATO missiles there.

[@erikarneberg11]

Red Guard Wait- NATO uses missiles against penguins?!?! ; )

[@marionmorrison2854]

I think its cool that no matter how many times they tried they couldn't deny Browning's success.

[@slaughterhound8793]

I read about these in a magazine years ago, & for about a year would have liked to bought one. I grew out of that, too many other more easily obtained but still excellent firearms out there, but I still think these are one of the coolest versions of the 1911 I have ever seen.

[@kolbjrnhalvorsen863]

Excellent video! I fired probably more than a thousand rounds through one of these during my year in the Norwegian Navy back in the early eighties, so it was nice to see it again. Mine was made in 1941 and was tight and precise. Some of the others in my squad had ones made in 1941, 1942 and 1945, and I seem to remember that we also had a few made in 1944, although according to Wikipedia, none were produced in neither 1943 nor 1944. The ones made in 1945 malfunctioned a lot due to the poor steel quality that had been used because of supply shortages towards the end of the war. Also, the ones manufactured in 1945 (and possibly 1944 and maybe even 1942) were decorated with a swastika on the slide. Only the 1945 ones also had the Waffenamt stamp on them, as far as I can recall. We were told at the time that the M1914 Colt was the only US-designed handgun in use by the German armed forces during WWII, but I have not fact-checked that.

[@DrakeKillah]

It's so incredibly funny to hear you say my hometowns name... It's proof that we really do live in a small world :P Pronounciation wasn't too shabby either! I learned a lot from this vid, even though I spent many hours at the local museum, which has a display with the history of the "M1914" along with other Kongsberg-produced weapons, you covered some unknown facts as usual :) Great vid, keep'em coming :)

[@andersh95]

Its a shame handgun ownership has become such a pain in Norway. A domestic 1911 patent pistol would be a great addition to every norwegian gun collection

[@ricardo3760]

Ikkje eigentleg, 10 treningar i løpet av eit halvt år klarar vell dei fleste

[@trued2010]

Is the audio kinda funky or is it just me?

[@ForgottenWeapons]

+trued_2 Seems fine to me. What is weird about it?

[@Kloick]

+trued_2 I think something is different too. I thought the previous video was a bit off too. It seems to be a little lower quality, and in this particular video it's louder on the right side than the left.

[@smokeydops]

+Forgotten Weapons The audio quality seems to have tanked in all your recent RIA videos. It's as if there is an aggressive noise filter on the mic. This one is also mute on the left.

[@Kloick]

+Forgotten Weapons There is a noticeable difference between this audio and the one for "Should Guns be in Museums or Private Collections?", even though they are recorded in the same place.

[@mR_Craigpd]

+Forgotten Weapons To me, it sounds hollow, somewhat distant if you would. Almost distorted. I am reasonably sure that it is the effect that the pop filter has on the audio recording. I understand that the pop filter is necessary in order to remove the intrusive "Bumps" "Bangs" and "Clangs" we hear from the mic hitting against your shirt. But perhaps it might be reasonable to look into a Boom Microphone and mount it on the camera. This should allow for you to clearly capture your voice without the need for a pop filter or run the risk of hitting it with your shirt.

[@HamletNOR]

You pronounced Kongsberg pretty well actually! Love your videos!

[@paknive]

You should also mention the Kongsberg lunchbox(matpakke) colts. Parts were smugled out by workers in their lunchboxes before they were stamped, and assembled privatly and given to resistance fighters. It's believed around 500 were made.

[@SuperLaplander]

Great video and an interesting story around that gun. The sound slightly weird, saw your comment on that. Still enjoyed this one a lot. Best regards from Sweden.

[@61diemai]

Great historical background info !

[@LUR1FAX]

This was the first pistol I shot! A friend of mine has a Kongsberg Colt 1914 produced in 1924. Not that difficult to control in my novice opinion.

[@mattiasfagerlund]

For reasons that escape me (I'm not actually fond of weapons) I really enjoy these videos. But having nationally sourced weapons and food produce is more than a matter of pride, it's a matter of survival. Especially for small countries like Norway and Sweden (my country). Less so now than before, but at the early 1900, memories of European wars would have been close at hand... cheers, m

[@killersalmon4359]

Was the big slide release a design concession to account for the user probably having to wear gloves when using it?

[@steinelgaaen]

KillerSalmon I believe so

[@kebman]

It's so it'll also fit in the hand of Norwegian trolls!11

[@shotforshot5983]

I've always wondered about the quality-metallurgy, fit, machining of the arms made during occupation. Not just these, but the Polish and Czech made arms too.

[@jackeyxm8401]

love the checkering on the grips

[@Bikerbob59]

That is so interesting would love to get my hands on one. Great history.

[@SIeipner]

@Forgotten Weapons You should feature the AG3 (The Norwegian G3)

[@robertmitchell8728]

No! Domestic made means a far more reliable supply. Not relying on someone else, like your future enemy, or their friends etc. So it's wise to at least get the rights to produce demestically. You can also more easily protect your supply. Less of your money is leaving your country. More jobs for your country, or at least helps keep some working. It is good for your industrial capacity for war. And so on.

[@svenax]

Wow, that was really interesting. Thank you!

[@fenrir9404]

Great video, but you left out maybe one of the coolest parts of the history when the nazis occupied the factory. It is estimated that about 200 of what we call matpakke (Lunch box) colts were made. These Colt's were non matching numbers and the parts were smuggeled out of the factory and assembled for the norwegian resistance.

[@DFX2KX]

+Fenrir I wonder how many of those survive stuffed into Norwegian attics...

[@fenrir9404]

+DFX2KX They appear now and then, the coolest things are probably when they are found in the walls. A lot of the freedom fighters also joined a secret operation after the war called Stay Behind. They had secret arsenals all around the country containing among other things sten guns, thompsons, m1 carbines and Kongsberg colts. I will inherit one kongsberg colt made in 1929 who where found in one of those arsenals.

[@Dobbo2958]

Watching your video's from England. I nothing about firearms but learning slowly via your concise interesting video's. Thank you very much.. Best wishes to you and your family..... Mark

[@der_arvid]

Another reason for national pride was, as I suppose, that Norway had regained its sovereignty in 1905, after about 90 years in personal union with Sweden (the Swedish king being the king of Norway), and before that, since the late 14th century (Union of Kalmar), under Danish rule. Needing to outfit their army with anything non-Norwegian was probably seen as severe blow, not that the country was free again after that long a time.

[@PeterThrane]

+Arvid Gutjahr Arvid: Union of Kalmar was only during the middle ages (Wiki says 1397 to 1523). Since then, until 1814 it was the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway, a personal union. Denmark lost Norway in 1814 after losing the Napoleonic wars. Rather than split up other parts of the Kingdom of Denmark, Denmark conceded to release Norway, knowing full-well that it would most likely be annexed by Sweden. Interestingly, Greenland, Iceland and the Faeroe Islands actually belonged to the Norwegian crown, but were transferred to Denmark, probably since the British preferred the Atlantic possessions in Danish hands, thinking they would be easier to wrestle from Denmark in the next war. From that perspective, it's pretty easy to understand the fierce Norwegian resistance in WW2: Free for only 35 years after being subjugated 400-500 years, and then the Germans show up! From a Danish perspevtive, 1940 was: "Oh man, here they come again. Everyone, do as we always do - abandon Jutland, rally up in Copenhagen, do whatever they ask and pray the peace terms are not too rash - they'll leave eventually, they always have in the past 1200 years!"

[@UGLEIV]

+amazed2341 Denmark never put up a fight, soldiers was even banned from digging trenches. Just look up the Danish losses on 9th of April.

[@UGLEIV]

16 men dead is a testament to a complete and utter lack of fightig spirit. The Danish army was the last army in europe to use volley fire with magazine cut-off. The lack of fight was a result of a political decision not to fight, to claim otherwise is just wrong. And as in other peaceful takeovers like the British ocupation of Norway in 1945, accidents created massive casualties. This is what put Denmark and Norway apart in 1940, the Norwegian politicians didnt make a decision. To this day nobody knows if there was or wasnt give an order to mobilze, and if it was given it was per mail days after the invasion.

[@Erc112]

+Arvid Gutjahr Why would that be seen as a severe blow? Are you just guessing at this? They bought coastal guns and ships from Germany, Madsens from Denmark.

[@PeterThrane]

+Erc888 Norway just achieved true independence and sovereignty for the first time in modern history, having been subjugated from 1397 to 1905. They're pretty big on doing their own thing. So much so that they invented a new language with a new grammar to bring the official language closer to what was considered the true Norwegian spoken outside the circles of the ruling Dano-Norwegian elite. That struggle persists to this day. So on that note, the pistol thing with three trials seems not very silly by comparison.

[@basto1d]

Interestingly, the Norwegian police have had a, from what I can tell, Colt 1911 chambered in 9mm. It is marked "Politi", and carries the Norwegian Coat of Arms, it also says "9mm" so there's no doubt about the caliber. From having handled it personally, it resembles the 1911, and does not have the typical slide release of the Kongsberg produced 1914's. Neither was it marked with the serial all over. The finishing of it was finer than all the Norwegian produced 1914's I've seen, it was more polished. IRemember especially the side of the slide having a satin finish. I've since tried to find information on it, but to no avail. So if anyone knows anything about these, I'd be very interested in hearing from you! And finally, to Ian from Forgotten Weapons, another interesting video! I always eagerly await new videos from you, always a joy and a lot to learn. Thank you so very much! Regards from Norway

[@TheNorwegian]

Possibly the Polish vz36 (often called "Radom")? They look a lot similar to a Colt 1911, and apparently a few were taken over from the Wehrmacht in 1945

[@zymelin21]

your story about the armament of the norwegian police, gave me the answer to a question that have puzzled me. Rember Henry Rinnan? the officer commanding the firing squad (I think it was Sønstebye) was armed with just such a Colt 9 mm, with which he shot Henry Rinnan to make sure that he was dead!

[@garrisonandrew9862]

I've got a 1942 dated one, I love it.

[@az2vet698]

My LGS has one on the shelf for sale. Had it in my hands 4 days ago, nice gun.

[@nathanvaaga5065]

So there's parts compatibility between this and most other 1911s?

[@roberth1328]

That's a wonderful looking pistol.

[@1NOTEGBEATZ]

I know right? the blueing matches the handguard so nicely.

[@warth09]

The most collectible kongsberg m/1914 here in Norway might be the "lunchbox" colts smuggled out of the factory by norwegian workers and then given to the norwegian resitance under the nose of the german guards. They have no numbers and maybe not any markings either.

[@drmaudio]

I always think of the .45 as a American caliber. If I think about it, I know others had adopted it, but it somehow seems strange to think of Norway rocking theses for so long.

[@daltonbecker4494]

Lithuania did as well if I'm correct.

[@jamesfairmind2247]

Ian did the Germans ever use the Kongsberg factory to assemble Browning P35's during the occupation?

[@robsciuk729]

Interesting history, Ian. Nice article.

[@nemisesdragon]

For anyone interested. 25000 NOK in 1914 is $168591 today, which is still a steal for what they got.

[@TheGamingPile]

have you ever done a video with the FN1910/22? Love that weapon but couldn't find if it was among the many unusual pistols you've shown :)

[@ForgottenWeapons]

+Nathan Hogan Nope, not yet.

[@Cta2006]

Today the USA uses a lot of Kongsberg equipment: NASAMS ( National/Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System ) wich is what is guarding the White House and US congress. Also NSM Navy strike Missiles and JSM Joint Strike Missiles for your F-35 aircraft and on some of your ships and the Protector RWS Remote Weapon Station. So Kongsberg makes quality stuff these days :-)

[@Malignant88]

Ian, I cant hear what you're saying when you tying to say a foreign word without any actual volume. whats the word at 6:15?

[@kolbjrnhalvorsen863]

+C andyforBreakfast It is this word: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffenamt

[@surplusdriller1]

i have one from 1927 and love it. the interresting thing is there are "lunch box colts" that was made from smugled out parts under the ocupation thay have no nr on most of the parts and some was painted not blued.

[@tjafs1]

Cool, i have #6792. From Norway btw.

[@kongoper91]

wait... in perpetuity? so we can still make them?

[@dukejivetalker7541]

The best van dyke on youtube reviews the best colt ever

[@bretthompson3865]

Neat gun! I've seen a couple of these over the years, but...those stocks. Don't believe they originally came with skip line checkering. Thanks for the history, I'd never read about the repeated trials before adoption.

[@russbilzing5348]

Can't imagine owning a Waffenampt stamped, 1945, Norwegian made, Colt (Browning) 1911 .45 ACP. The stories that thing could tell...

[@AndwiguZ]

My step brother found one in a barn and he had to be a good citizen and turned it over to the police. Still haunts me to this day.

[@c3o2osu43]

Dude, he is just pronouncing Våpen wrong.

[@kevinoliver3083]

Not really. The WW2 production M1914s mostly went straight into armouries and were never issued.

[@Hibernicus1968]

I would imagine the stories would be of spending the whole war riding in the holster of some German soldier on garrison duty in Norway, and nothing else. The Germans typically issued these substitute standard weapons to garrison troops, so they could ensure there were enough of their primary weapons for the troops actually in combat. I don't think there is any way the Germans would have issued a pistol using a non-standard caliber to front line troops, and thereby unnecessarily complicated their logistics. I've never seen any evidence that these 45s made under German occupation ever turned up anywhere else in the ETO.

[@Aasen...]

Great video

[@IQsveen]

As a norwegian it's really funny hearing you trying to pronounce norwegian words :P

[@KapteinFruit]

This was really interesting! I'm Norwegian and didnt know of this story. I kind of want one now...

[@sergeantbigmac]

+KapteinFruit Can you own handguns in Norway?

[@Audigiant]

+sergeantbigmac Yes.

[@sergeantbigmac]

Audigiant Cool. Id like to visit someday, my grandparents are from Norway.

[@Audigiant]

sergeantbigmac​ Ok. A lot of norwegians emigrated to the US. (I am guessing you live in the US). My grandmother was born in New York. She went back to Norway thoug. :)

[@sergeantbigmac]

Audigiant Yep there are, they settled a lot of the midwest and west coast.... Coincidentally theres a 'Sons of Norway' organization down the street from me lol.

[@kebman]

2:53 _Waffenfabrik_ is a German word, but I see that it might have said so on older documentation, especially those that stem from WWII. In Norway we use the word _Våpenfabrikk_ (\voːpɛn-fɑ⋅brɪkk\) instead. Königsberg used to be part of Prussia....... But it's now called Kaliningrad, and it's in Russias exclave to the Baltic Sea. Kongsberg (\koːŋs-bærɡ\), on the other hand, is a town in Norway. ;) Anyway, still love your contents!

[@PDXDrumr]

That is interesting history. Thanks

[@martinstensvehagen9161]

why do you say waffenfabrikk? thats german :p we speak norwegian. We say våpenfabrikk (vôpen fabrikk) Kongsberg and konigsberg are also vastly different places :p (tho i guess they both mean kings hill in the different languages) one is in Norway, the other in Germany :) Great stuff otherwhise tho! love to watch your videos

[@showgunnw]

+Martin Stensvehagen they actually used the name kongsberg waffenfabrik when they tried to reach out in Europa. The official name in 1919 was Kongsberg Arsenal and from 1940 to 1945 kongsberg waffenfabrik was the official name of the company, because the germans ordered them to make weapons for the wehrmacht. So on paperwork it will often be in german, that's why alot of foreigners say waffenfabrik (Er 4 generasjon som jobber i kongsberg arsenal ;) )

[@Magnussen92]

+Martin Stensvehagen Hehe, jeg merket det samme! Litt sløvt av han, men samtidig forståelig.

[@UGLEIV]

+showgunnw Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk have never been refered to as a "Arsenal". It was founded as a weapons factory, to make up for the huge unemployment in Kongsberg following the disolution of union with Denmark, by converting muskets. It have never been a place where firearms were stored, ie. not an arsenal. You seem to mix it with "Hovedarsenalet"(main arsenal) in Christiania, wich also had a small gun factory. "Hovedarsenalet" was housed in the building that today houses the armed forces museum in Oslo, and "Hovedarsenalet" is today based at Hovemoen just north of Lillehammer from "Lillyhammer" fame. If we look at KV trough the years, the spelling on "Fabrikk" and "Våpen" have changed as the Norwegian written language moved way from Danish. But never have the factory been given a germanic name, the waffenamt used numbers and letters for different manufacturers, and did not change any name.

[@showgunnw]

+UGLEIV You are absolutely correct about the name area, my bad. However i'm almost positiv that kongsberg vaapenfabrik had an arsenal inn it's facilities. I currently live in the US(texas) and on the paperwork both of my m1914's kongsberg arsenal is listed as the manufacturer. One from 1919 and one from 1940. That's the reason why I referred to it as kongsberg arsenal, it seems that this is the name most frequently used in the US try to google "m1914 kongsberg arsenal". Even ria.com refers to it as "the Government Arsenal at Kongsberg" in the description www.rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/57/lid/1512 that being said i believe you are correct.

[@UGLEIV]

That would be a translation error, as Kongsberg was the government arms factory. It of course had storage rooms/houses someone could informally dub "Arsenal", but at no time was that sentiment official. In Norwegian documents you can actually track when items were foramlly accepted by various arsenals from KV, some aresenals even made guns theselves from KV-parts. Like the Navy arsenal at "Karljohansværn" manufactured/put together the Royal Norwegian navy's "Jarman rifles", but this practise was abandoned with the advent of smokeless powder and its need for consistency. As Kongsberg is still an entity, you could perhaps google them to have a look on their website. Unfortunatly they were split up after a huge corruption scandal in the late 1980's, they basicly sold computer and CNC technology for the manufacuring of subamrine propellers to the USSR, not a smar move when you are ownd by a NATO government. So today the only remainig government owned part is the arms manufacturing(Protector, JSM etc.), I even think the small arms division have been offloaded. From what I heard quite literally, people living in Kongsberg allegedly found the machinery to manufacture G3's and MP5 just dumped in the river...

[@jaredtimm327]

Bring this back pretty please

[@jarleabelhaugeek1217]

Very good,accurate and interesting!

[@21creed]

you forgot to tell about the luchbox colt's that was smuggled out of the factory for use in the resistence! unnumbered parts smuggled and re assembled by private allied forces :D

[@1961goofy]

Still looking for a Norwegian slide stop. Bought a Norwegian "Style" slide stop. It was beveled to be used with the full grip panel, so it will snag on clothing, etc. Bought it from Sarco. Still looking for an original or accurate copy. I'll dremel a relief cut in the grip panel, no prob.

[@dissociativealeks]

Great video, super interesting!

[@brussel4242]

I have one of these. One of those made in 1945 with the WaA stamp on it. Nice guns.

[@jhpfmj]

very interesting history. thank you.

[@T0mN7]

I think the Argentineans were manufactured by Ballester-Molina. My grandpa was a cop, here in Argentina, and that was his service pistol.

[@keithlarsen7557]

+T0mN7 I thought the Ballester-Molina was a locally made stopgap to fill in for the 1911's.

[@T0mN7]

Keith Larsen Yep, my bad. While they look similar, the 1911 was called " Sistema Colt Modelo 1927" (Meaning, Colt system 1927 model) Which ironically was produced for a significantly longer period of time.

[@John4566442]

+T0mN7 "The Ballester-Molina was designed to offer the Argentine police and military a less-expensive alternative to the Sistema Colt Modelo 1927, which was itself a licensed copy of the Colt M1911A1, built under the supervision of Colt engineers. Production of the Ballester-Molina began in 1938 and ceased in 1953. Ironically, the Sistema Colt 1927 was manufactured until 1966."

[@John4566442]

+John4566442 The Model 1927 is a Colt 1911. The Ballister-Molina is slightly different and the parts don't necessarily interchange.

[@zymelin21]

also in Spain the Astra makes a copy

[@mrspike007able]

I have one Dated 1928 Matching Same Exact Finish I Bought at a Pawn Shop in 96 for $250.00 it was marked on the Tag as a 'German Colt 45'. The Nazi Production Seems to be Two Production Runs 1942, 1945.

[@Metalheadyup]

+BigBossManBBQ Only the 1945 run had the WA stamps.

[@mrspike007able]

+rainmechanic Try Again.

[@UGLEIV]

They sold for a lot less than 600 dollars here in Norway in 96, I suspect you could get close to 10 for that price back then. Its not much less than what they go for now.

[@magnargg]

Hello. I just bought one of the few pistoles that there are only made 920 of in 1945 marked with the wa. If you where to be in norway and want to make a video about it you surly can. Love your work

[@Mamiya645]

Regarding the audio, to me it sounds just like a bad cable connection, like when a plug isn't all the way in but in enough for signal bass tends to go away in exchange for a more sensitive upper frequency segment and weak mids.

[@MatthewSuffidy]

4:09 wow choosing it was like Major Savings!

[@dtbroad5862]

Another great video. Very interesting.

[@throttlemccrackin1877]

Ian, one of these days you are gonna get me to bid on a weapon or two.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

+Throttle McCrackin That is Rock Island's cunning plan... :)

[@TheToby272]

How do you say all of this? Do you have a script or do you remember the whole history of the weapon? Im very impressed

[@acreativename1790]

And you didnt even mention the "lunch box colt", unmarked examples assembled from parts smuggled out by factory workers in their lunch boxes, and then fielded by the resistance

[@fhsreelfilms]

Ian, did the test run turn out to be successful? Did the Kongsberg people start making handguns again? How would you compare quality of manufacture on the Kongsberg to a Colt or domestic military contract 1911 or 1911A1 of the same period? Great video as always. I saw these once in a magazine, and I was thrilled to see you'd done a video about one. Any plans to do the Mexican Obregon 1911? Or maybe you already did.... I'll go look.

[@Mythricia1988]

I don't recall if they kept making handguns, but Kongsberg weapons factory itself was and still is (although re-organized under a new brand now) a *very* significant international weapons systems designer and manufacturer. They make several systems used by the US military, including anti-ship missiles, air defense missiles, and they also made the software suite used in american AWACS. And if I remember right they make avionics components for many of the US air-to-air missiles of various types.

[@TheNorwegian]

To my knowledge they do not. The Norwegian military now use the Glock 17, which is bought from Austria.

[@SPFDRum]

Military's around the world are looking at and testing semi-auto pistols in the early 1900's. The FBI does it officially in the early to mid '80's....

[@SPFDRum]

+M. Pulverman I really don't see a handgun as the "latest and greatest" military gear. Maybe because I was and and had bigger, better things to play with. But in the era of the gangster, they sure didn't see any fault with being on the edge of personal protection. Good luck with you six shots when the bad guy has 8 and can reload much faster. Google the 1986 FBI Miami shootout.

[@SPFDRum]

+RonJohn63 true, that's my point.

[@SPFDRum]

Despite the extensive military trials, it still was decades for the civilian federal law enforcement arm to catch up. Seemed ironic.

[@millwaterpublishing1387]

+RonJohn63 Somebody should remind them of that.

[@W1se0ldg33zer]

+SPFDRum The FBI had/has their own tests which are kept in secret. Because they don't want that information given out to criminals.

[@TrymYoutubeMainChannel]

greetings from norway :D

[@mrwiik644]

hei you forgot an important part of the story. the employees of the kongsberg factory did smugle some of the pistols out to the norwegian resistance groups in lunchboxes, without being noticed by the germans :) greeting from norway.

[@arnehusby1420]

Still in use in military field shooting competition in Norway.

[@flcktphs]

Hey Ian, you should do a video on the German occupation made Krag-Jørgensen rifles. Would be quite interesting- although I doubt there are many of them in the US?

[@Lowlandlord]

"Anyways, the Germans left, kinda got kicked out", that is certainly one way to put it.

[@johnnypea5369]

I like how they put those lanyard loops at the bottom of the grip. I guess they were wanting to discourage magazine changes.

[@evanator166]

The double lanyard loops are a bit of a mystery since I had heard from a Dane that Norway never issued lanyards to any of their troops.

[@UGLEIV]

If you look at the drawings by Hauge in his book from 1945, wich is the earliest complete account of the german invasion you will see a laynard loop on all pictures of norwegian officers using the Colt.

[@comradenordmann5145]

I live in Kongsberg yay

[@erikarneberg11]

Darth Vader Really? From you accent I thought you were from Tromsø! ; )

[@tedkier3264]

"It wasn't Norwegian? that doesn't give me wood!"

[@carstengerm]

Interesting History there.

[@BozE-Claire]

+Forgotten Weapons you may want to run youre next few videos through a sound normalization filter as the audios left channel was at 30% and the right channel was 100% might be the microphone you are using playing up or could just be KZbin however one in 20 videos you have uploaded in the past has had this issue too. suggesting it may be the way you wear your current microphone (if it is a chest mounted mic with a "pop filter")

[@ForgottenWeapons]

+Matthew Bozanich FCP X doesn't have one.

[@BozE-Claire]

Forgotten Weapons ah well thanks for the reply. i hope it irons itself out

[@tommywkarlsen]

Great video. But i was a bit sad when he didn`t mention the "matpakke colt" (lunchbox colt). Some M1914 was smugeled out of the plant by workers to the resistance in their lunchboxes, whithout any markings or serials on them. A Norwegian.

[@finmark98]

the 1914 is the best military 1911 in my opinion that slidestop is soo acessible sights are somewhat fine but i was plinking at 50m no problem

[@kebman]

Norway: Pistøls!

[@UGLEIV]

Ian, I was a bit disapointed you didnt adress that strange magazine with the lanyard loop.