The stump jump plough and the owen SMG...great Aussie inventions

Often overlooked…the rounded edges were a design choice as it reduced cuts from sharpe edges. Very important given that risk of infection from even minor wounds in the tropics

Owen received 10,000 pounds for his design. After failed business ventures in a sawmill after the war he died from alcoholism in 1949. The gun that Owen designed and made was a rather crude home made firearm. A next door neighbour of Owen's, Vincent Wardell who was a supervisor at Lysaght in Newcastle NSW and a engineer Freddie Kunzler who also worked at Lysaght developed the gun to it's final design. Lysaght was allowed a 4% profit margin for manufacture. They were not payed by the Government until 1949 with inflation they made a 1.5% profit margin on the manufacture. The Thompson ran out at 300% profit. Major difference.

@danielcurtis1434

21 күн бұрын

Thanks for the context I was only aware of about half of that. 😮

100% Agree. The Owen should have been the allied SMG in WW2. Or at least copied.

@SimonsMilitaryStuff

8 ай бұрын

The Thompson had over a 100% profit margin.

@Colt3854

3 ай бұрын

300% actually.

I can bet when Australia decide to adopt the Steyr Aug as their Main Rifle a few of those folks who decided maybe bear the Owen SMG, 'cause nearly the same ergonomics.

outstanding report, technical & very interesting history!

@SimonsMilitaryStuff

5 ай бұрын

Very glad you enjoyed it.

FW is of the opinion that the Finish Suomi 31 was the best SMG of WW2. From a technical standpoint this is probably true. However, I would argue that the Owen was definitely the best SMG of the Pacific theatre, due to to its reliability.

@SimonsMilitaryStuff

25 күн бұрын

Well the Owen only saw combat in the pacific. Given the opportunity.who knows?

Phenomenal engineering

what a great video. Liked

@SimonsMilitaryStuff

Ай бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

The F1 was not an improvement,just a political decision to be seen to do something, follow the money !

Oh, dang skippy, maing! 👍

who cares what it looked like

The F1 was ok to me no where as good as the Owen if I had a stoppage it was with the F1 I don't remember one with the Owen Oh only when the mag was empty

The diggers darling there is no substitute 🇦🇺

is this ugly SMG the best?? ???

@SimonsMilitaryStuff

7 ай бұрын

Australian Diggers would visit the factory in Newcastle NSW to thank them. It was very highly regarded.

Pps41 was the best nothing more to say

@SimonsMilitaryStuff

2 ай бұрын

Well it's always going to be a subjective call, and the Pps41 is an iconic weapon for a reason. The idea of the Tu-2Sh is mind bending too. But I stand by the Owen.

Nonsense the Thompson outclassed it in every way 👍 The Owen was chosen for political purposes and everyone knows it 🙄