Britain's Experimental Viper No.3 SMG/PDW

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A series of very compact submachine guns - possibly better described as personal defense weapons - was made in Britain at the end of World War Two under the name Viper (as an interesting aside, snake names were popular - the EM-1 and EM-2 were code-named Cobra and Mamba during the same timeframe). The first was a simplified take on the Sten, but the No.3 Viper here is a wholly new gun made from the ground up. Designed to hang under the arm and be used either with or without the detachable shoulder stock, it is chambered for standard 9x19mm ammunition. Oddly, the No.3 Viper uses MP40 magazines, instead of what should have been ubiquitous Sten magazines.
According to Matthew Moss at The Armourer's Bench (kzread.info/dron/gvK.html..., the project was organized by a Mr. Oliphant of the Ministry of Supply, and the design team included Derek Hutton-Williams (later to be superintendent of the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield and the director general of Britain’s Royal Ordnance Factories) and Messrs. J. Soutcott and W. T. Walker.
Many thanks to the Royal Armouries for allowing me to film this tremendously rare artifact! The NFC collection there - perhaps the best military small arms collection in Western Europe - is available by appointment to researchers:
royalarmouries.org/research/n...
You can browse the various Armouries collections online here:
royalarmouries.org/collection/
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle #36270
Tucson, AZ 85740

Пікірлер: 936

  • @pavarottiaardvark3431
    @pavarottiaardvark34313 жыл бұрын

    "Yo Britain, we won the war, you don't need to make emergency weapons from junk anymore" "I know, but I'm kind of addicted to it...."

  • @nonomnismoriar9601

    @nonomnismoriar9601

    3 жыл бұрын

    We are too good at making weapons so we try and give the rest of the world a chance... For example: - The computer - a few guys and some old post office junk - Longbow - bit of wood and sinewy cow gut - Tank - any old iron? - Bouncing bomb - marbles, a water tank and Admiral Nelson's battle logs... - Harrier Jump Jet - a bedstead :)

  • @fuzzyhead878

    @fuzzyhead878

    3 жыл бұрын

    This thread is amazing.

  • @AsbestosMuffins

    @AsbestosMuffins

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@nonomnismoriar9601 the ENIAC would like to beep angrily at you

  • @pavarottiaardvark3431

    @pavarottiaardvark3431

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@AsbestosMuffins ENIAC came three-ish years after Colossus, a WW2 codebreaking computer built by the British Post Office Research Station (and then kept secret for decades, which is why many people don't know about it).

  • @nonomnismoriar9601

    @nonomnismoriar9601

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@AsbestosMuffins if only Hitler had known his ultimate nemesis was a post office engineer called Tommy Flowers who paid to build the machine out of his own pocket. "Flowers later described a crucial meeting between Dwight D. Eisenhower and his staff on 5 June, during which a courier entered and handed Eisenhower a note summarising a Colossus decrypt. This confirmed that Adolf Hitler wanted no additional troops moved to Normandy, as he was still convinced that the preparations for the Normandy landings were a feint. Handing back the decrypt, Eisenhower announced to his staff, "We go tomorrow"."

  • @fatcat3211
    @fatcat32113 жыл бұрын

    "Suspect and bystanders all dead, sir."

  • @lairdcummings9092

    @lairdcummings9092

    3 жыл бұрын

    "Moderate property damage to the surrounding buildings, too."

  • @aaronleverton4221

    @aaronleverton4221

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@lairdcummings9092 "Sir, I'm told that was there when we arrived. A legacy of the late war, sir." "Yes, thank you Sergeant."

  • @lairdcummings9092

    @lairdcummings9092

    3 жыл бұрын

    😂

  • @80krauser

    @80krauser

    3 жыл бұрын

    "In a self defense situation...It didn't have to be this way..."

  • @haroldellis9721

    @haroldellis9721

    3 жыл бұрын

    Very good, Sergeant, carry on.

  • @Yakkahboo
    @Yakkahboo3 жыл бұрын

    "Wave a truncheon or something with your other hand". Excuse me Ian, that free hand is free to use another Viper No.3! Dual wielding baby!

  • @teslashark

    @teslashark

    3 жыл бұрын

    Muv Luv style

  • @xskyhawkx7821

    @xskyhawkx7821

    3 жыл бұрын

    Or to make rude gestures!

  • @warrenokuma7264

    @warrenokuma7264

    3 жыл бұрын

    Or rude gestures with anotherViper!

  • @daved2352

    @daved2352

    3 жыл бұрын

    Actually old chap it frees up a hand for lighting ones pipe

  • @warrenokuma7264

    @warrenokuma7264

    3 жыл бұрын

    With a viper.

  • @CmdrMiskyavine
    @CmdrMiskyavine3 жыл бұрын

    MP-40 mags because gun was gonna be used in West-Germany i would assume Plenty of mags were in stockpiles back then.

  • @ChrisByers100

    @ChrisByers100

    3 жыл бұрын

    Indeed, and given the grave finacial straits the UK was in after WWII I guess any cost saving measure was acceptable and it also saved on valuble metals. Does anyone now if the MP40 magazines were more reliable than Sten mags, as that too could have been a factor.

  • @truckerallikatuk

    @truckerallikatuk

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, I was going to say the same thing.

  • @ChrisByers100

    @ChrisByers100

    3 жыл бұрын

    @keith moore Thanks for the info :)

  • @donjones4719

    @donjones4719

    3 жыл бұрын

    And there was an arms manufacturing capability. Easier to ship a design over and make it there, then supply it from the stockpiles of MP40 mags and 9mm ammo. (Despite all the bombing Germany was still producing arms and munitions till the end.)

  • @curvy4655

    @curvy4655

    3 жыл бұрын

    @keith moore But used in occupied Germany, right? Surely there would be lots of MP40 mags around at the time?

  • @fredbloggs5902
    @fredbloggs59023 жыл бұрын

    Fritz: “Hey Bob, I’ve got this warehouse full of MP40 magazines, any chance you can make your new gun use them? I’ll cut you in for half, usual account?”.

  • @tuescuchatio

    @tuescuchatio

    3 жыл бұрын

    Seems legit

  • @T33K3SS3LCH3N

    @T33K3SS3LCH3N

    3 жыл бұрын

    I wonder if they thought "it's for police in Germany, so they probably have a lot of MP40 mags there."

  • @NocturnalNoises12

    @NocturnalNoises12

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@T33K3SS3LCH3N that's what I was thinking. Maybe the logic was to design it for where it would be used

  • @TheArklyte

    @TheArklyte

    3 жыл бұрын

    And while you're there, make sure to use as little tube for barrel as possible, that thing is expensive. Make something completly miniscule and short!

  • @RUBIZEN

    @RUBIZEN

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@T33K3SS3LCH3N Lots of mag pouches too.

  • @hooligan1179
    @hooligan11793 жыл бұрын

    Who'd have thought there could be so many forgotten weapons! 😳

  • @moganja3030

    @moganja3030

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yessir

  • @F4Wildcat

    @F4Wildcat

    3 жыл бұрын

    Ian- One Mckenobi= Thats...why i am here

  • @linusdn2777

    @linusdn2777

    3 жыл бұрын

    That's the military industrial complex for you. Fire arms designers and manufacturers will never ever be out of a job.

  • @AR-GuidesAndMore

    @AR-GuidesAndMore

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@linusdn2777 Sadly many firearm compnies go bankrupt. :(

  • @sethrogers8473

    @sethrogers8473

    3 жыл бұрын

    I'll go back to watch videos I like and then realize they were posted four, five, or six years ago. I had no idea a channel like this could run so long

  • @jm9371
    @jm93713 жыл бұрын

    You know your in a rough neighborhood when the cops are packing SMGs.

  • @trooperdgb9722

    @trooperdgb9722

    3 жыл бұрын

    London Heathrow? Or that flashpoint....Venice?

  • @Jamoni1
    @Jamoni13 жыл бұрын

    "wave a truncheon..." is that what we're calling that gesture now?

  • @ClayLoomis1958

    @ClayLoomis1958

    3 жыл бұрын

    When I was 15, i used to wave a truncheon 4 or 5 times a day.

  • @fancyultrafresh3264

    @fancyultrafresh3264

    3 жыл бұрын

    I came (heh) to make this joke but I am thankful someone already did the honors.

  • @Chiller01

    @Chiller01

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@fancyultrafresh3264 same

  • @RadioactiveSherbet
    @RadioactiveSherbet3 жыл бұрын

    The thing looks like it should be a bullpup, but it clearly isn't.

  • @chikitabowow

    @chikitabowow

    3 жыл бұрын

    It's a "Fauxpup"... I'm so sorry i'll see myself out

  • @seriousmaran9414

    @seriousmaran9414

    3 жыл бұрын

    This is much more like the Israeli Uzi or American Ingrams. A half way house aiming to put the magazine in the users hand.

  • @fuzzyhead878

    @fuzzyhead878

    3 жыл бұрын

    It’s undecided.

  • @ReijoRitari

    @ReijoRitari

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@dysjectamembra5322 That "wasted space" is for bolt to move backwards, deaccelerate, catch a sear and be ready to fired again

  • @SuperMrDelgado

    @SuperMrDelgado

    3 жыл бұрын

    I think it is a bullpup.

  • @bwcmakro
    @bwcmakro3 жыл бұрын

    "You can carry it rather like... this" *barrel points straight at his crotch* - Yeah, maybe I'll skip that one.

  • @SuperFunkmachine

    @SuperFunkmachine

    3 жыл бұрын

    Given the sten guns rep for slam fireing too.

  • @AshleyPomeroy

    @AshleyPomeroy

    3 жыл бұрын

    There was a Chuck Norris film with a similar sling - Invasion USA. He dual-wielded Micro-Uzis. One of those films where the basic concept was better than the film. I think it was a Cannon production.

  • @w00tb0ss

    @w00tb0ss

    3 жыл бұрын

    Never put a gun in your front waistband? You never lived fully.

  • @croccandbaultorcure3295

    @croccandbaultorcure3295

    3 жыл бұрын

    sounds good if you don't wanna have kids

  • @TheWtfnonamez
    @TheWtfnonamez3 жыл бұрын

    "slightly optimistic 300 yard aperture" actually made me laugh out loud

  • @truckerallikatuk

    @truckerallikatuk

    3 жыл бұрын

    English understatement right there. For an American translation read "F-ing hopeless"

  • @d-drizzle

    @d-drizzle

    3 жыл бұрын

    Wouldn't it be 300 meters since it's british?

  • @truckerallikatuk

    @truckerallikatuk

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@d-drizzle Not at that point. We shifted to metric in 1970.

  • @d-drizzle

    @d-drizzle

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@truckerallikatuk really I didn't know that.. thanks for the information

  • @shawnr771

    @shawnr771

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@peterclarke7240 You mean like us Americans. Ahh well I can see we are wreaking havoc on the rest of the world.

  • @BarondePencier
    @BarondePencier3 жыл бұрын

    Viper the SMG: "You'll Cowards Don't Even Have Sights"

  • @brokentoes7898

    @brokentoes7898

    3 жыл бұрын

    underrated coment

  • @vanboy5697

    @vanboy5697

    3 жыл бұрын

    Y'all Cowards Don't Even Smoke Crack With One Hand While Shooting A Vintage Machine-Gun With The Other

  • @BarondePencier

    @BarondePencier

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@vanboy5697 no no, "you'll."

  • @TheArkTheArkTheArk
    @TheArkTheArkTheArk3 жыл бұрын

    Some firearms have an elegant appearance, a design that makes them as much a work of art as a functional gun. This... is not one of those.

  • @oldesertguy9616

    @oldesertguy9616

    3 жыл бұрын

    I would have to agree, lol.

  • @weswolever7477

    @weswolever7477

    3 жыл бұрын

    I concur

  • @amendable5401

    @amendable5401

    3 жыл бұрын

    That’s funny right there.

  • @DefunctYompelvert

    @DefunctYompelvert

    3 жыл бұрын

    The forbidden uzi

  • @jimyeats

    @jimyeats

    3 жыл бұрын

    But...it has wood paneling...

  • @romanmir01
    @romanmir013 жыл бұрын

    that sound while unscrewing the barrel shroud... cries for some lubrication.. just like so many valentine dates ..

  • @shawnr771

    @shawnr771

    3 жыл бұрын

    I was thinking drop it in a vat of Marvel Mystery Oil. A couple hours of that and everything should come loose.

  • @DH-xw6jp

    @DH-xw6jp

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@shawnr771 the gun or the date?

  • @SomeElsenNerd420-J

    @SomeElsenNerd420-J

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@happyundertaker6255 I'll take this as my blame card when I get to Hell.

  • @wolfsbane-rw7um
    @wolfsbane-rw7um3 жыл бұрын

    "For one handed use against fleeing suspects".......... A gun designed specifically for when you just can't be arsed to put your cup of tea down.

  • @NielMalan
    @NielMalan3 жыл бұрын

    "Forgotten Weapons": For some weapons there's an implied "Deservedly" in the title.

  • @cabinfever7262

    @cabinfever7262

    3 жыл бұрын

    "Remember that heap of shit we forgot ? " "No" "Good".

  • @teslashark

    @teslashark

    3 жыл бұрын

    Some of them are pretty popular, just not suitable for import in America because protectionism

  • @cabinfever7262

    @cabinfever7262

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@teslashark A bit like owning an ugly Dog maybe ? :)

  • @teslashark

    @teslashark

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@cabinfever7262 American puppy mills haven't lobbied to ban this many breeds

  • @gearandalthefirst7027

    @gearandalthefirst7027

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@cabinfever7262 at least even an ugly dog does it's job as long as you train it.

  • @kungfusteeze
    @kungfusteeze3 жыл бұрын

    I want more of these weird guns in games, since we will probably never get to fire them.

  • @jimmyhoffa2816

    @jimmyhoffa2816

    3 жыл бұрын

    That is the sole reason i bought the ww1 call of duty game. Sadly so much of the stuff even if ya unlock access use of them, ya only get to use online. But does help show the marketable opertunities for weird and old. And hopefully gets more folk interested. Battelfeild1 as an honerable mention, less forgotten stuff but theres certianly stuff there

  • @stevenbobbybills

    @stevenbobbybills

    3 жыл бұрын

    Well, the Viper No. 1 at least appears in Hot Dogs, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, as do many other strange and obscure weapons alongside the more common and expected options. Hell, even the keeper of firearms at the Royal Armouries himself has reviewed at least some of the firearms are portrayed in H3VR.

  • @mnk9073
    @mnk90733 жыл бұрын

    "One handed weapons suit me very much, they leave a free hand for rude gestures." -Inigo, apparently head engineer for the Viper project.

  • @feylesof6029

    @feylesof6029

    Жыл бұрын

    suçlulara müdahale edilirken ABD'de olduğu birinci öncelik ateş etmek değil. Dayak yemeye direnirse suçluyu vurmak için geliştirilmiş.

  • @joecamel2690
    @joecamel26902 жыл бұрын

    MP40 mags were extremely common across mainland Europe, especially in British Occupied West Germany. But the Belgian Vigneron was also designed to use MP40 mags, however, they did also manufacture Vigneron specific mags, which are identical in looks and design, but are made not to work in MP40 SMG's without some rather careful modifications first, but MP40 mags will work without modification in the Vigneron SMG. So, yeah, I just thought to mention that, as I am sure it slipped Ian's mind at the time. Because that is the gun that comes to mind when I think of MP40 mag inter-usage designed SMG's, and as that one actually did get adopted and go into production.

  • @stianberg5645
    @stianberg56453 жыл бұрын

    I kinda like this "spray in a general direction" concept. Even more when they add sights! It displays such an inspiring self-confidence for something that never became popular Like me Without the self confidence

  • @alltat

    @alltat

    3 жыл бұрын

    What you need is some wooden panels. Then you too could be repeatedly rejected in style!

  • @grigoriyefimovichrasputin7897

    @grigoriyefimovichrasputin7897

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@alltat wood is beautiful though

  • @nigeh5326
    @nigeh53263 жыл бұрын

    Thanks Ian I’m in the UK so shooting is a problem due to our gun laws. You make excellent videos that I always enjoy and I must admit I had never heard of this smg/pdw until today. Once covid is dealt with the Royal Armouries at Leeds is on my must visit list. Thanks again sir Cheers 👍

  • @EpicTyphlosionTV
    @EpicTyphlosionTV3 жыл бұрын

    This is the most British-looking gun I've ever seen

  • @flgators1986

    @flgators1986

    3 жыл бұрын

    Just missing yellow teeth and a tea maker.

  • @jackpiper4581

    @jackpiper4581

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@flgators1986 tea maker? 😂🤦🏻‍♂️

  • @Anino_Makata

    @Anino_Makata

    3 жыл бұрын

    Webley Revolver, Sten SMG, and Enfield Rifle: *Are we jokes to you?*

  • @HerbiieIsBest

    @HerbiieIsBest

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@Anino_Makata L85A1: Tries to look small and unimportant

  • @TheArgieH

    @TheArgieH

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@flgators1986 Yellow teeth are healthy teeth, they also happen to be real teeth. Gold caps/crowns excepted.

  • @loose_tooth
    @loose_tooth3 жыл бұрын

    Very nice "truncheon waving" technique there, Ian, very nice. Keep up the cracking work, love the channel.

  • @jamestrebillcock4718

    @jamestrebillcock4718

    3 жыл бұрын

    That's how I use mine

  • @nindger4270
    @nindger42703 жыл бұрын

    Starting with a Sten and then making it into something that looks even more awkward to use deserves some kind of medal. Preferably one that smells faintly of poo, but still.

  • @IceWolfLoki

    @IceWolfLoki

    3 жыл бұрын

    The Australian designers were so horrified at the STEN data pack that they insisted on making it better, totally forgetting it was meant to be really cheap.

  • @ChuckD99
    @ChuckD993 жыл бұрын

    "Mom, can we have UZI?" "No, we have UZI at home." UZI at home:

  • 3 жыл бұрын

    Hahahaha!

  • @mrzweig6479

    @mrzweig6479

    3 жыл бұрын

    lol

  • @mrbluesky2050

    @mrbluesky2050

    3 жыл бұрын

    that's funny !

  • @Papperlapappmaul

    @Papperlapappmaul

    3 жыл бұрын

    Hilarious and original.

  • @alancox5777
    @alancox57773 жыл бұрын

    Mp40 mags are vertical feed where as sten mags are horizontal feed. I imagine that therefore the stem mags springs mag not be man enough for a vertical feed design.

  • @trinitytest5986
    @trinitytest59863 жыл бұрын

    300 yrds. Very optimistic. This thing looks like it was knocked together in some guy's garage.

  • @ianmills9266

    @ianmills9266

    3 жыл бұрын

    Don't knock the effectiveness of a British gun manufacturer in a shed. Look at accuracy international with the L96 sniper rifle. Ian did a very informative video about it

  • @stephentaylor9382

    @stephentaylor9382

    3 жыл бұрын

    "Knocked together in a shed" is the British equivalent of "Lockheed Skunk works developed it"

  • @easterriot1916

    @easterriot1916

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@ianmills9266 You beat me by 15 minutes. I was just about to say the same. Nice one! Have a great 2021

  • @puzzlewuffy7210

    @puzzlewuffy7210

    3 жыл бұрын

    Just like the sten xD

  • @malcaniscsm5184

    @malcaniscsm5184

    3 жыл бұрын

    "looks like"... Yes.

  • @Ukraineaissance2014
    @Ukraineaissance20143 жыл бұрын

    Royal Armouries is amazing. If it was in London people would rave about the plce, but its worth going to Leeds just to see it.

  • @InternetEntity

    @InternetEntity

    3 жыл бұрын

    I live here and can confirm, Leeds is nothing special. Least it's in Yorkshire!

  • @voiceofraisin3778

    @voiceofraisin3778

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@InternetEntity On the plus side Leeds will always be a winner in the 'at least it not Rochdale' competition!

  • @Ukraineaissance2014

    @Ukraineaissance2014

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@InternetEntity I actually used to live in leeds and hated it but love the royal armouries. If I ever go im straight there and out the city after im done

  • @nunyabeeswax6002
    @nunyabeeswax60023 жыл бұрын

    its like the sten engineers said " I think we can go dumber "

  • @biker1373

    @biker1373

    3 жыл бұрын

    you need dumber if meat heads are going to carry it .

  • @RoyRogerer

    @RoyRogerer

    3 жыл бұрын

    excuse me, nothing dumb about sten.... ah well, who am i kidding...

  • @TheArgieH

    @TheArgieH

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@RoyRogerer It worked, it was there in numbers when needed. And it was as cheap as chips to produce, what more do you want in time of need? Incidentally, I mentioned elsewhere that given the chance folk would customise their Stens by sorting some of the grosser problems.

  • @41tl

    @41tl

    3 жыл бұрын

    Sten mk.5 is actually a decent SMG

  • @RoyRogerer

    @RoyRogerer

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@TheArgieH yeah for sure. I was just joking. Sten is one of my favorite smg, especially the early ones, not because I know how well they worked, but because they look so awesome hehe

  • @crktritual
    @crktritual3 жыл бұрын

    When the Villain goes over the budget for the volcano lair, and has to make cutbacks for the henchmen.....😬

  • @michalbarsfajny4268
    @michalbarsfajny42683 жыл бұрын

    I have a confession. I like to watch/listen to your videos as I am falling asleep. Your voice is so calming and technical stuff helps me keep my mind busy from messed up things I saw during my service. Thank you

  • @k4p84
    @k4p843 жыл бұрын

    Maybe the reliability of Sten mags in vertical vs horizontal orientation prompted the use of MP40 mags

  • @fredrickgustafsson4795
    @fredrickgustafsson47953 жыл бұрын

    i preffered when it was called "the pattern room" sound more british and mysterious

  • @T33K3SS3LCH3N
    @T33K3SS3LCH3N3 жыл бұрын

    "Sir, the 17 pounder won't fit!" - "Put it in sideways." Glad to see the British botch culture continued even after the war.

  • @TheArgieH

    @TheArgieH

    3 жыл бұрын

    Nothing botched about the 17 pounder. Why do you think the Wermacht tankers targeted Fireflies first.

  • @krisskringle920

    @krisskringle920

    3 жыл бұрын

    now, time to put a 17 pounder in a SMG. maybe market it towards giants?

  • @vattmann1387

    @vattmann1387

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@TheArgieH I think they meant "bodge culture" :)

  • @TheArgieH

    @TheArgieH

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@vattmann1387 Thanks, that's better, nothing wrong with a good bodge if it works. Think about the way the Dambusters got their height right for the "bouncing bombs", or the RN got their torpedoes to run in a shallow, mud bottom harbour (Taranto). Stick the radio in an armoured bustle on the turret back, turn the gun on its side and you can fire it and as important reload it. Pity about the Sherman's high profile and the muzzle flash, but you can't have everything.

  • @dylanmilne6683

    @dylanmilne6683

    3 жыл бұрын

    Sir the sten guns too bulky! Put the magazine in horizontally Sir! It needs to be used one handed! Integrate the pistol grip with the magazine well Sir! It needs to be cheap enough for the police Full auto only just mow the buggers down!

  • @ljg6979
    @ljg69793 жыл бұрын

    “Sten magazines tripping over Sten mags in corners...” Man what I wouldn’t give to go to one of GJ’s Forgotten Weapons house parties..

  • @Mavd-mk9iq
    @Mavd-mk9iq3 жыл бұрын

    wow greatest collab Royal's Armoury and Gun Jesus!

  • @anonymous2513456
    @anonymous25134563 жыл бұрын

    intended to use in vehicles. Due to the various treaties and rules with Ivan, a lot of military work was done undercover in civilian vehicles

  • @recurvestickerdragon

    @recurvestickerdragon

    3 жыл бұрын

    Especially handy for riding a bike (motorized or not)

  • @51WCDodge

    @51WCDodge

    3 жыл бұрын

    If you mean BRIXMIS, the aggrement was they were never armed from day one.

  • @alanpenton2061
    @alanpenton20613 жыл бұрын

    I think this was for use on Military Police motorcycle guards, one handed use would be and advantage , probably more stable than a Webley pistol too

  • @Anino_Makata

    @Anino_Makata

    3 жыл бұрын

    That, plus a quick burst from a submachine gun while on a motorcycle is more likely to hit home than a couple of shots from a revolver.

  • @blank557
    @blank5573 жыл бұрын

    Wasn't the reason the British didn't consider Sten mags, was because they were the weak point of the Sten, causing feeding issues and jams?

  • @ianmills9266

    @ianmills9266

    3 жыл бұрын

    I would of thought the spring would be weaker than needed for a vertical feed mag

  • @warrenokuma7264

    @warrenokuma7264

    3 жыл бұрын

    And the designers were sane. Funny that.

  • @lucajohnen6719

    @lucajohnen6719

    3 жыл бұрын

    As far as I know the MP40 has the same inherent issue of the sten mag, aka going from double stack to single feed

  • @Aliyah_666

    @Aliyah_666

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@lucajohnen6719 Britain really figured it out with the sterling mags though. Damn fine piece of engineering.

  • @lucajohnen6719

    @lucajohnen6719

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@Aliyah_666 the Sterling is the single most, non-mp5 sexiest SMG hands down

  • @ADITADDICTS
    @ADITADDICTS3 жыл бұрын

    The rear sight is 100, 200 and 300 yard adjustments? Looks more like 1, 2 and 3 yards. After that is bonus points.

  • @Lee1enfield
    @Lee1enfield3 жыл бұрын

    The most funky steam punk machine gun I have ever seen

  • @johnqualls5990
    @johnqualls59903 жыл бұрын

    I lived in Berlin for 5 years...the French zone was above the British, and the Americans were in the southern part of West-Berlin. So if there were logistical problems the French and British could move ammo between each other in this case. Ian go to Berlin when you have a chance! You still see the scars of war, but only in a handful of places. Keep it up! I live in Germany, so seeing this helps cope with homesickness

  • @Nyuugat
    @Nyuugat3 жыл бұрын

    Later Sten versions were planned to be able to use MP40 magazines, this one was literally designed with an MP40 mag. That was just the thought - for people to use it among german equipment.

  • @dksdg
    @dksdg3 жыл бұрын

    New SMG video from Ian! Great way to start the week!

  • @smilergrogan1452
    @smilergrogan14523 жыл бұрын

    The Sterling SMG was in production by then and yet somebody still had to design something like this. . . . .

  • @AS-Val-Gijinka

    @AS-Val-Gijinka

    3 жыл бұрын

    Sterling was too 'spensive for cratered post-war British economy

  • @spinnyboi6700
    @spinnyboi67003 жыл бұрын

    perhaps the reason it uses mp40 magazines was because there would have been a lot of captured german stockpiles containing an abundance of mp40 magazines close at hand to where the guns would be issued and used so they decided they may as well make use of them

  • @LexBear
    @LexBear3 жыл бұрын

    I never thought I'd see a Viper again, let alone another version of it.

  • @TheArgieH

    @TheArgieH

    3 жыл бұрын

    It makes one yearn to see what the Mk 2 looked like, a chrome finish sten maybe?

  • @MilitaryHistory2011
    @MilitaryHistory20113 жыл бұрын

    1:30 Shooting the suspect AND giving him a hand gesture? That's just overkill

  • @jamestrebillcock4718
    @jamestrebillcock47183 жыл бұрын

    I'm waving my truncheon to this video. Great work Ian.

  • @takomerp
    @takomerp3 жыл бұрын

    I'm surprised they went through all that trouble to design a different bolt so they could have a magazine going through the grip and an appropriate ejection window, but didn't opt for a telescoping bolt at that point in time. Maybe they used the MP 40 bolt as the base for their bolt design?

  • @TadhgMcGrath
    @TadhgMcGrath3 жыл бұрын

    I was wondering why it was designed for one handed use. I found out that it was originally conceived as a personal defence weapon for motorcycle despatch riders.

  • @wanderingranger4208
    @wanderingranger42083 жыл бұрын

    The museum is also free to enter as well I believe. Well worth a look round if you’re visiting Leeds.

  • @mrkeogh
    @mrkeogh3 жыл бұрын

    Someone saw the photo of Churchill with a Thompson and thought _No, no, no! An American gun? This won't do at all, chaps_

  • @nolanolivier6791

    @nolanolivier6791

    3 жыл бұрын

    Give him a Lanchester...

  • @iangreenhalgh9280
    @iangreenhalgh92803 жыл бұрын

    They would have had huge numbers of MP40 mags left over after the war and they were probably rather better made than the STEN mags, hence more reliable.

  • @jamestedjo3736
    @jamestedjo37363 жыл бұрын

    Every time I see Royal Armouries I wonder where Johnathan Ferguson is during the filming

  • @BigSwede7403
    @BigSwede74033 жыл бұрын

    Gaaah, that ratcheting sound when unscrewing the barrel has me twitching to do pushups for not holding down the pin!

  • @albertguzik2816
    @albertguzik28163 жыл бұрын

    So since Ian is at the Royal Armouries, can we expect to see an appearance by Jonathan Ferguson anytime soon?

  • @frankdiehl8749
    @frankdiehl87493 жыл бұрын

    1:32... I'm not sure one should be "waving" one's "truncheon" in that manner when out and about...🤣

  • @Edeinawc

    @Edeinawc

    3 жыл бұрын

    But you can wave your full auto with one hand!

  • @tcurtisjohnson
    @tcurtisjohnson3 жыл бұрын

    Just rewatched the MkI video, and I THINK I've come up with a reasonable explanation for the "gotta be one-handed!" thing: control a suspect with one hand, keep his partners from rescuing him with a Viper in the other. Given the context, I'm SURE there was worry at all levels of command about Nazi holdouts making lethal mischief in squad-sized units. I have NO idea what Royal Army Military Police doctrine was like, but patrols by pairs in "quiet" sectors doesn't seem unreasonable; the last thing you'd want in those circumstances is for a patrol to actually stumble across a couple of SS men cutting the wire around the back of your armo(u)ry and say "You're nicked, chum!" only to discover that their 11 buddies were watching from the treeline when their only firepower is a No.4 or a Webley. A Sten would obviously be the best case in that situation, but you're not shooting one of THOSE one-handed with much chance of success any more than you're knocking someone unconscious with it. Dead or escaped prisoners don't yield much intelligence value, and dead Tommies yield even less, so why not try to achieve both ends at the same time? Such, at least, COULD have been the reasoning at the time, though the benefit of 20/20 hindsight demonstrates pretty conclusively that Nazi partisans were not something necessary to be concerned with. Edit: Oh, yeah, not only do I agree with the "Meant for Germany, use local German magazines" crowd, I ALSO think, based on Ian's comments, that the designers may have chosen the MP-40 mags BECAUSE they were dimensionally smaller than Sten mags. Given the mag-as-grip-component design, it may have been a Brit who coined that well-known phrase, "This one fits my HAND better than this one does..."

  • @TheGearhead222
    @TheGearhead2223 жыл бұрын

    Another great video Ian! Thank you again!:)-John in Texas

  • @evantemple4341
    @evantemple43413 жыл бұрын

    Not sure if the British occupational troops were veterans of the previous fighting throughout Europe but if they were, I’m sure they had acquired a lot of practice instinctively aiming by then.

  • @truckerallikatuk

    @truckerallikatuk

    3 жыл бұрын

    In the first years of the peace, they were in the main. Though over 1945-1947 they were cycled out for demob. Some experienced troops will have remained in service for many years after that.

  • @gordslater
    @gordslater3 жыл бұрын

    and in the other hand, a nice cup of tea (with saucer, and biscuit)

  • @TheTimeshadows
    @TheTimeshadows3 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful, and, super cool. Thanks so much!

  • @Friedbrain11
    @Friedbrain113 жыл бұрын

    So the "shoulder" stock is actually a brace like we have nowadays on some pistols :) Woodwork was excellent.

  • @shaiq-nbaiq1826
    @shaiq-nbaiq18263 жыл бұрын

    Damn...and I thought my Valentines Date was ugly.

  • @willbxtn

    @willbxtn

    3 жыл бұрын

    I'm sure your right hand isn't that ugly.

  • @michaelguerin56

    @michaelguerin56

    3 жыл бұрын

    Is that what she said? 😀

  • @mancubwwa
    @mancubwwa3 жыл бұрын

    My guess is that as it was meant for occupied West Germany, they had a stock of MP40 magazines on hand somwhere.

  • @EnvyKoi
    @EnvyKoi3 жыл бұрын

    I'd love to see all these amazing forgotten weapons fire tested it'd help with recreating these both irl and in games. May these amazing artifacts rest in peace.

  • @panzermadchen651
    @panzermadchen6513 жыл бұрын

    Already beaten to it, but an uneducated guess would be that there were massive surplus of MP-40 mags as well as Sten. If British troops were stationed in West Germany, then it would make at least some sense for them to use the MP-40 mags. Already there, already produced, may as well use them.

  • @51WCDodge

    @51WCDodge

    3 жыл бұрын

    Especially if it would support the local economy by being sub contracted to West German firms.

  • @BatCaveOz
    @BatCaveOz3 жыл бұрын

    Whew! I love me an SMLE, but I was starting to feel SMLE burnout after so many variations in such a short period of time.

  • @wierdalien1

    @wierdalien1

    3 жыл бұрын

    never. I imagine you hated the mo th of bergmans too.

  • @Piromanofeliz

    @Piromanofeliz

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@wierdalien1 same for the berthier biennium

  • @ComputingCactus
    @ComputingCactus3 жыл бұрын

    would this be considered a bullpup since the magazine is part of the grip, technically behind the trigger?

  • @recurvestickerdragon

    @recurvestickerdragon

    3 жыл бұрын

    Most semiauto pistols would count, then

  • @aidensidk3273

    @aidensidk3273

    3 жыл бұрын

    No

  • @loupiscanis9449
    @loupiscanis94493 жыл бұрын

    Thank you , Ian .

  • @Chasmodius
    @Chasmodius3 жыл бұрын

    The last time I heard Jonathan Ferguson discuss the Viper series (I think it was for a video on the guns of Hot Dogs, Horseshoes, and Hand Grenades?), I thought he mentioned something about the intended role being for amphibious assaults, where one hand might need to be pulling a boat up the beach or something. I could be misremembering that, though. EtA: I went to look it up, and it's from the Gamespot series of "A Firearms Expert Reacts," and all he says about it is that it was designed for commandos assaulting over a beach.

  • @gusd41
    @gusd413 жыл бұрын

    I’m guessing since these guns were meant for Germany, the British just wanted to recycle old magazines instead of making new ones.

  • @panzermadchen651

    @panzermadchen651

    3 жыл бұрын

    Assumption that they could have used the Sten Mags for the Viper Mk.3 which were already made and production en masse.

  • @haroldbalzac6894

    @haroldbalzac6894

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@panzermadchen651 the sten mags might have had feeding issues if used vertically.

  • @talscorner3696
    @talscorner36963 жыл бұрын

    This thing looks utterly ridiculous and yet oddly interesting...

  • @michaelguerin56
    @michaelguerin563 жыл бұрын

    In regard to the ejection port cover, the Sten may have had a history of icing up when being carried outside for long periods during winter. If any submachine gun was going to ice up, it would be that piece of junk. I suspect that the varying ‘range’ positions on the backsight were actually intended to allow zeroing, at a realistic range, by soldiers of different heights. If the idiots on high tell you not to make equipment adjustable to the individual user (and it needs to be) you find another way. I have had this suspicion about range adjustments on submachine guns for some time.

  • @giovannicostantini1637
    @giovannicostantini16373 жыл бұрын

    I think they used the mp40 mags because the sten can use the mp40 mags too, but the sten mags cannot fit the mp40, i think it was made on purpouse because of course, if the gun was developed for MP in west germany, they probably had a loot of mp40 and mags + 9mm ammo

  • @andreasmarsteintrdet2168
    @andreasmarsteintrdet21683 жыл бұрын

    Makes the viper one seem reasonable

  • @recurvestickerdragon

    @recurvestickerdragon

    3 жыл бұрын

    Ehhhhh... I have to say, it's at least fabrication-wise much better than the Mk I's wooden clamshell deal

  • @unbearifiedbear1885
    @unbearifiedbear18853 жыл бұрын

    "So, what are we building today?" "Yes." Probable discussion in the factory (someone's garden shed)

  • @davidgillon2762
    @davidgillon27623 жыл бұрын

    Couple of ergonomic points: That pistol grip looks like it's at a reasonable angle, until you realise the magazine goes into it vertically, meaning the width of the grip is wider than it needs to be. At the base, it's about half as wide again as the MP40 magazine. The only reason I can think of is it effectively becomes a flared mag-well. And behind the grip, the body of the receiver seems to be much deeper than needed for several inches. Yes, the tube of the butt needs an internal tube to slot into, but the area forward of that tube is as long again, and clearly can't be used to telescope the butt given the butt is canted downwards aft of the back of the receiver, plus that area is visibly a bit narrower. I wonder if the intent was the support hand gripped the receiver underside, given there is a sloped surface there, but it's a bit tight to the forward grip if it is. But the more I look at it, the more I wonder if the intention might have been to fire it P90 style, with a double-handed grip around the pistol grip and trigger guard (which would explain the necessity for the barrel shroud.

  • @keithallardice6139
    @keithallardice61393 жыл бұрын

    Weird but cool ... yip, yet another Forgotten Weapon I like - thx for sharing Ian!!

  • @loripara141
    @loripara1413 жыл бұрын

    What fresh hell is this

  • @kamikazemelon787
    @kamikazemelon7873 жыл бұрын

    these “hang it on your arm” smgs seem like such a poor idea

  • @ScottKenny1978

    @ScottKenny1978

    3 жыл бұрын

    Like the P90?

  • @ScottKenny1978

    @ScottKenny1978

    3 жыл бұрын

    @i camouf all on ya exactly my point.

  • @theolang3566
    @theolang35663 жыл бұрын

    finally a firearm made with a length of pull comfortable for me, i'm long and lanky that front sight post seems super nice as well, i have a similar post on my favorite air rifle

  • @Reddsoldier
    @Reddsoldier3 жыл бұрын

    I recall one of the curators at the Royal Armories in the Hotdogs Horseshoes and Hand Grenades video he did with Gamespot saying that the Viper was also intended for Commando usage due to its ability to be fired from under the shoulder one handed. I guess its insanely short length in CQB would be useful and so would the ability to carry gear whilst also being able to lay fire (albeit just randomly in the general direction of an enemy).

  • @b.elzebub9252
    @b.elzebub92523 жыл бұрын

    Man. Imagine showing up with this thing in Berlin and seeing the Soviets/East Germans lug around SKS and AK47's. Bummer..

  • @Trashcansam123

    @Trashcansam123

    3 жыл бұрын

    The Soviets didn’t start showing off the AK publicly until Hungary 1956

  • @msngrpat
    @msngrpat3 жыл бұрын

    -I say chaps, you see this c96 inside its shoulder stock holster? -We do indeed sir. -WELL MAKE IT BLOODY WELL SHOOT THAT WAY The first Viper

  • @MyPlus-gj9or
    @MyPlus-gj9or3 жыл бұрын

    1.32 That gesture means something else here in England :)

  • @kathyarmstrong649
    @kathyarmstrong6493 жыл бұрын

    This thing makes some of the abominations on Brandon Herrera ' s cursed gun images look good.

  • @widgren87
    @widgren873 жыл бұрын

    That looks uncomfortable...

  • @dotdashdotdash

    @dotdashdotdash

    3 жыл бұрын

    It's British. 😊

  • @dotdashdotdash

    @dotdashdotdash

    3 жыл бұрын

    It's British. 😊

  • @bcompany650
    @bcompany6503 жыл бұрын

    it look like a long tail Uzi

  • @Scourgething
    @Scourgething3 жыл бұрын

    The only reason i can think of for it using MP40 mags would be since this was to be used by troops in Germany, they could requisition them for extra mags.

  • @shawnr771

    @shawnr771

    3 жыл бұрын

    @Belagerungsmörser the Sheep Why not just use captured MP 40s?

  • @rudysmith1445
    @rudysmith14452 жыл бұрын

    This seems like something the enemy henchmen would use in a James Bond movie or a Tintin comic or something, just sprayin' and prayin'. I actually love this design, it's kinda pretty in weird way. Wish we could see one firing!

  • @randyruppel6727
    @randyruppel67273 жыл бұрын

    Early cause my truck won't start

  • @JunkMan13013
    @JunkMan130133 жыл бұрын

    Its not for shooting fleeing suspects, its for spraying down crowds of Germans from the hip like a badass.

  • @sumvs5992

    @sumvs5992

    3 жыл бұрын

    *W* *H* *A* *T* *'* *S* *T* *H* *E* *D* *I* *F* *F* *E* *R* *E* *N* *C* *E* *?*

  • @JunkMan13013

    @JunkMan13013

    3 жыл бұрын

    ​@@sumvs5992 You gave the one chance to flee, failing in your duty. Although, if they're not running, it can't be considered sport.

  • @sumvs5992

    @sumvs5992

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@JunkMan13013 we gave them a chance to flee from the 6th of July 1944 to April 1945. If they still approach you, they want to die

  • @francesconicoletti2547
    @francesconicoletti25473 жыл бұрын

    So in the previous video where the optimal solution was design a better parachute harness, in the middle of a war the Germans expended resources creating and building a rife/light machine gun hybrid that handled like their previous rifles. The British where the optimal solution was a semi automatic double stack pistol in peace time gave someone with some skill spare parts from war time guns and some timber and asked home to fettle something together. Three guns later the project ended.

  • @Khalrua
    @Khalrua3 жыл бұрын

    Congrats on 2 million!

  • @victorlopes-
    @victorlopes-3 жыл бұрын

    This puppy is so ugly Yan wears gloves when handling it haha

  • @christhesmith
    @christhesmith3 жыл бұрын

    Congrats on smashing the 2 million subs mark..!!!!

  • @CzechoslovakGunStories
    @CzechoslovakGunStories3 жыл бұрын

    I love these awkward things! Always nice to see people taking different approach :)

  • @LudwigKessler
    @LudwigKessler3 жыл бұрын

    Hi Ian, next time you're in England, be sure to visit The Combined Services Museum, Maldon, Essex. They have a large collection of rare firearms. Cheers.