Rifles

Bergmann 1897 Carbine

November 28, 2013 Ian McCollum Semiauto pistol, Semiauto Rifles 13

Several of the popular pistols of the very early 1900s were offered by factories in carbine configurations, with 10-14 inch barrels and permanent shoulder stocks (not to be confused with the detachable stock/holsters also made for many of these pistols). In particular, the Luger, Mauser 96, and Mannlicher designs were offered this way. Well, one of our readers asked if carbine versions of the Bergmann pistols were ever made, and I responded that they were not…and it turns out I was not quite correct.

At least a few Bergmann carbines were made, both as pistol-carbines and as dedicated shoulder arms. From Milpas.cc we have a photo of one such carbine, wonderfully engraved and accepted with horn and gold inlay:

Bergmann 1907 Carbine

The serial number on this example is 34, and it is marked “TH Bergmann – Gaggenau”, indicating that it was manufactured at Bergmann’s own factory. The top of the bolt is marked “Karabiner Bergmann / Patent Brevete S.G.D.G.”, and – most interesting – the rear of the bolt has a fancy inlaid “TB” marking. Unfortunately, this appears to be the only photograph of this or any other Bergmann carbine that can be found today, and the available literature does not mention them.

US Bommarito semiauto rifle

December 22, 2010 Ian McCollum Semiauto Rifles 0

The Bommarito was one of the many rifle designs sent to the US Ordnance Department when they announced a search for a capable autoloading rifle for the US Army. It was not one of the more successful entrants, though. It used a toggle lock like the Luger and later Pedersen rifle, and was heavy, unreliable, and liked to eat shooters’ fingers in its toggle mechanism.

Bommarito semiauto rifle

We have a couple more images available in the Bommarito page of the Vault…

Rheinmetall Model 1928

May 8, 2015 Ian McCollum garand development, Manuals, Semiauto Rifles 10

The Rheinmetall model 1928 (designed by one Karl Heinemann and made in Switzerland) was one of the rifles tested by US Ordnance in trials that eventually settled on the Garand and Pedersen designs (and ultimately chose the Garand). The Rheinmetall rifle had a pretty interesting combination of features…

Heinemann/Rheinmetall 1928 rifle field stripped, Aberdeen photo

Heinemann/Rheinmetall 1928 rifle field stripped, Aberdeen photo

It was chambered for the .276 Pedersen cartridge, and used a detachable magazine that mounted horizontally on the left side of the rifle. As you can see in the above photo, it had a toggle-type bolt, but it was neither short recoil like the Luger nor delayed blowback like the Pedersen rifle. Instead, it had a muzzle cup which would capture gas from firing and slide forward (much like the Bang or Liu rifles). This movement was transmitted through a rod under the stock to pull a locking cam out of engagement, thereby unlocking the bolt. Residual pressure in the bore would then throw the bolt backwards to cycle.

Overall weight of the rifle was 4.5kg (9.9 pounds), and magazines were made holding 5, 10, 15, and 25 rounds. It did also have a stripper clip guide on the right side of the action to allow loading by clip. The Ordnance Board like that it was effectively sealed against dirt getting into the action when closed, but disliked several other elements:

  • the feed system (they wanted Mannlicher-style clips rather than box mags)
  • the sights (it had Mauser-style notch and post sights, and the Board preferred aperture sights)
  • the weights (they wanted something under 9 pounds, which the ZH29 proved was possible)
  • the number of parts (it had 114)
  • the lightweight barrel (which contributed to poor cooling in their opinion)
  • unreliable functioning

The Rheinmetall rifle was tested in August of 1929, and removed from further consideration as a result of those problems.

A description of the operation and disassembly of the rifle is available here:

3 Likes

Rheinmetall Model 1928

Ljungman AG-42

first suggested by SzepWaxweiler

Ljungman AG-42

The AG-42 (Halvautomatiskt Gevaer 42) Ljungman was Sweden’s first standard issue selfloading rifle. It was put into production in 1942, with only a one-year development period. It is a direct gas impingement design, with a gas tube feeds pressurized gas directly against the bolt carrier. Locking is done with a tiling bolt similar to a FAL or Tokarev design.

The Ljungman is a relatively heavy rifle (over 10 pounds unloaded), and combined with its standard muzzle brake and relatively light 6.5×55 cartridge it has little felt recoil. However, operating the AG42 is significantly different from almost any other autoloading rifle. The rifle has a bolt carrier and receiver cover that operate together. To manually retract the bolt, one pushes the receiver cover all the way forward which locks it onto the bolt, and then pulls it back along with the bolt. Subsequently pushing the receiver cover forward a fraction of an inch will release the bolt to slam forward, either chambering a cartridge or crushing your poorly-placed thumb (anyone who complains about M1-thumb has definitely never had a digit caught in an AG42 action).

The Ljungman was the standard Swedish infantry rifle into the 1960s, when it was replaced with a licensed H&K design. In 1953 the AG42 was upgraded to the AG42B model, which involved a number of small changes. The most distinctive one is the change from serrated patches on the receiver cover to round protrusions, to allow shooters a better grip. In addition, a rubber ejection buffer was added to prevent brass damage, the gas tube was strengthened, the magazine was give a more secure front hook, and a few other minor internal improvements were made.

In the early 1950s, Sweden licensed production of a Ljungman variant in Egypt, where it was known as the Hakim. These rifles have a few differences form the Swedish guns, including use of an adjustable gas port and being chambered in 8mm Mauser. Egypt also produced a Ljungman-based carbine in 7.62x39mm, called the Rasheed (or Rashid).
AG-42 Ljungman | Gun Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia
too good to be seen only once
900x249
Carbine m/94-14 or M/94-14 (with bayonet lug)
Gevär fm/1923-36

Test rifle

900x326
900x208
900x367
900x559

fm/1923-36 Note stonger receiver without recess for thumb.

907x514

904x508

The Wooden stock for the premature excellent rifle Fm/1924-36 in 6,5x55 mm with original front band.
Length over all 1 260 mm


Weight 4.4 kg
Calibre 6.5x55 mm
Barrel 750 mm rounds
Bolt handle Straight
Sight Diopter Lyman patent Model 48M
Round capacity 5+1 cartridges

This rifle was very much the same as fm/1923 but with a thumb hole stock. The receiver was stiffer and stronger because it lacked the recess for the thumb on the left side.
Swedish Anti tank Rifle m/1939 & m/1940

pvg m/39 and m/40

1939 Sweden wanted a new anti tank rifle. At first the Army thought it would be enough with the German Kar98K and the standard German Mauser Kar98K was bought from Germany 1939 and was first designated Pvg m/39 (8mm Cartridge m/39) and it was rebuilt to 8x63mm (8mm Cartridge m/32) and for a short while designated pvg m/40. Very soon the designations for both rifles were changed to G m/39 and G m/40 (G = rifle).

Read more about the rifles m/39 & m/40 here>>>

900x211
Original Swedish rifle m/39 with bayonet delivered by CG
Gevär m/39, G m/39
Calibre 8×57 IS
Ammunition 8 mm m/39
Feed 5-round integral, double row magazine
Design Mauser model 1898
Action Bolt action
Manufacturer Mauser
Year of delivery 1939
Quantity 5000
Barrel 600 mm
Length 1110 mm
Weight 4,2 kg
Sights 100-600 m
Miscellaneous German Kar 98k
Status Modified to G m/40
900x675
Swedish rifle m/40

Read more about the rifles m/39 & m/40 here>>>
Gevär m/40, G m/40
Calibre 8×63
Ammunition 8 mm m/32
Feed 4-round integral, double row magazine
Design Mauser model 1898
Action Bolt action
Manufacturer Mauser
Year of delivery 1942-43
Quantity 4900
Barrel 600 mm
Length 1135 mm
Weight 4,25 kg
Sights 100-600 m
Miscellaneous Modified G m/39
Status Obsolete, sold

2 Likes