TAB Episode 12: Australian F1 Submachine Gun
Vložit
- čas přidán 25. 01. 2018
- In this episode Matt takes a look at an Australia's last general issue submachine gun, the F1. Taking cues from both the Australian Owen Gun and the British Sterling submachine gun, the F1 is a fascinating but relatively unknown Cold War submachine gun.
Check out our website armourersbench.com/2018/01/27... for a full in-depth article on the history, development and service of the F1!
If you enjoyed the video please consider supporting our work via Patreon, TAB is a viewer supported, non-monetised channel and any help is very much appreciated!
Check out our Patreon page here: / thearmourersbench
Where to find TAB:
/ armourersbench
imgur.com/user/ArmourersBench
/ discord
Don’t forget to like, share and subscribe and spread the word!
Really excited to share this one with you guys. I've been down with tonsillitis for the last week or so and today was the first day I've really had my voice back, so I cracked on and finished some overdubs that were needed to finish the episode off. So if I sound a bit croaky in places you know why! I've written up a full accompanying blog with some extra contemporary images and diagrams and some person opinions of the F1 from troops. Check that out here: armourersbench.com/2018/01/27/f1-submachine-gun/ Thanks for watching! - Matt
I'm delighted that you feel better. That brief message and subsequent silence on Historical Firearms had me worried!
Thank you! Definitely on the mend now, hopefully be back to normal posting on HF too next week. - Matt
Hi, on your blog you said "F1 fed from a 34-round curved magazine, although it could use straight, single-feed, Sten or Owen magazines." I know the L2A3 can use STEN magazines, I did'nt know that the F1 could use STEN or owen gun magazines. The STEN magazines in a F1 makes sense since the F1 and L2A3 are simular. But the F1 taking Owen gun magazines has got me confused.
I fired this gun back in the 80's in the Army Reserve. Great little weapon and fun to shoot. Bog simple in operation.
Yeah same - training in NSW - Ingleburn??
I trained with the F1 and SLR L1A1 and the AR as well in the 80s
F1 used to pull right and high as you fired so used to aim left and low to watch rounds hit the ground and walk the rounds to the target. Standard rounds scatter in a pattern when firing so it was unusual. A light robust weapon good for jungle terrain due to shortness of barrel. Good up front of the section to get enemy head down in a contact. SLR 7.62 rimless NATO round did the rest.
Mack Sarnie I believe they fed more reliably, mainly from the Sterling’s magazine
The F1 served well also army res 80sv I have recollection it pulled to the left..in circles. .
That was the first time I've seen the details of this SMG and it certainly has it's share of interesting features. Thanks Matt!
Thanks Rob! :)
Shot quite a few rounds through this at Pucka! Was heaps of fun.that was in the mid 80's.
Australian MP's were also issued this SMG which was replaced by the short barreled F88 rifle. I'm pretty sure the buttplate was also interchangeable with the L1A1 as was the pistol grip.
Yes I think you’re right - Matt
Thanks for posting. I've been waiting for Forgotten Weapons to do a special on this weapon as Ian McCullum has done 2 on the Owen gun. You beat him to the punch. I carried the weapon for a couple of years as an RAAC Trooper and although it was universally considered useless (range wise) it was effective at short range nonetheless and I have used it effectively against SMR pop up targets on sneaker ranges and put holes in figure 11 targets on 25m ranges. It was easy to keep clean and being spray painted black in killrust type paint was fairly rust resistant in the rain, unlike a worn SLR which would glow orange 3 hrs after rain (LOL). One point you didn't mention, is that in addition to using the L1A1 fire selector and pistol grip (modified) it also used the L1A1 buttplate. Anyway, great vid. Cheers from Australia. I will say that in a couple of thousand rounds shooting it, I can't remember a single misfeed or stoppage, possibly due to our SOP of putting only 30 rounds in the 34 round magazine. It was a struggle to get 30 in.
Tha ks for sharing your experiences with the F1. I love hearing from people who used the weapons we cover! Yeah I saw Ian's video, we'll be covering the Owen in a few months, I just need to edit the video! I'd like to redo our video on the Austen too. Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed the video! - Matt
Used the F1 extensively back in the day. Was issued it when performing payroll security when we were paid in cash. Simple design, easy to maintain, fire and clean. Good weapon for it's purpose.
9mm jellybean dispenser
Thank you for covering this! Absolutely brilliant topics regularly on this channel! Very much appreciated! Fascinating to see the front sight location. It certainly wouldn't snag on anything there. I remember a fellow who'd served with one saying that they were taught to centre it on the belly to point shoot it. I think he said (it was quite a while ago) they were trained to clear a dud round or stoppage by pointing the muzzle up with the bolt pulled back and hitting the ground with it as there was no extractor.
My memory must be a bit flawed as that example and the pictures on the blog seem to have extractors.
Very interesting, brought back lots of memories! Unfortunately the sound died at 2:50 to where it was barely audible. I had to turn my volume to maximum on speakers, computer and CZcams... and then at 4:14 sound came back with a vengeance!! Other than this, it was a great video, thank you!
Rusty Fox How odd! Sorry about the problems, I will look into it. Glad you enjoyed the video though, thanks for letting us know! - Matt
Not a real problem. The volume drops again at 4:57 and increases again at 6:29. I'm just glad it wasn't late night here or I would have woken everybody else! But great nostalgia. One difference (the main difference) between the F1 and the Owen was the ejection port. The Owen had a tendency to lift and go left, as a reaction to the ejection to the right. The F1 only had a tendency to lift straight up, making aiming a burst a bit easier from the hip.
Ahh that is interesting to hear, I'd love to shoot them both. Great to hear Will hopefully over the Owen soon first hand opinions. - Matt
Well presented.
All of the overdubs seemed very quiet compared to the rest of it. I don't know if you can turn up the volume there, but it would be helpful. This is true on other videos as well.
It’s a delicate balance getting the overdubs at the right volume, but I’ll try and work on that in future videos. Appreciate the feedback, thanks! - Matt
I hated the thing.
The recoil made it hard to aim but worst of all, if the F1 was loaded and you jumped off a vehicle, whilst holding it vertically; the bolt would slide backwards, free it itself from the safety-sear, move forward and because it had a fixed firing-pin, fire a round through the handler's head.
My father-in-law used the Owen in Korea and the F1 in general service. He said the Owen was much better to use.
That thing is beautifully ugly. Thanks for yet another highly interesting video!
Really enjoy these videos but at 01:02, what was the point in cutting the footage of the magazine insertion?
Glad you're enjoying the videos! Damn, that appears to be an editing mistake, looks like a short section was cut. :/ - Matt
Weirdly, by adopting the F1, the Australian Army adopted a weapon that was more vulnerable to jamming.
🤷♂️
The Armourer's Bench Great video! Keep up the good work! Can you do a video on the BSA 28P rifle?
Hendrik Tõnisson I'd love to cover the 28P, I wrote my Masters dissertation on the EM-2, which is also on the list to cover. - Matt
Cool! It seems that very few people know about the BSA 28P rifle.
Hi, in fact I already did a video on the BSA 28P some two years ago for my old channel 'Inside the Pattern Room' unfortunately it was in 720p so I thought it too low quality. I will reevaluate it and/or revisit the subject soon. Vic
Good. There´s very little information about the history of this rifle on the internet and also no technical review of it. So it would be really great to see this rare British rifle and to get some more information about it.
Can't hit the broadside of a barn, but great fun to shoot😊
The charging handle is also reminiscent of the SLR
Whats the story of the short little AR18 rifle under the M1 carbine?
A good one for a future video hopefully! - Matt
Did the Sterling have the roller followers in the mag? I carried this gun during the mid 80's, pretty whacky little gobang.
Yes, it did indeed.
Sorry. Just read your blog which mentioned the SLR butt plate. My bad.
Luvley gun mate! Where do you live, as I am curious how you can legally own this gun-John in Texas
Hi John, thanks for watching. Its a rare one, it's in a UK military collection we have access to.
Good vid! However, a few points... A: the bayonet (L1A1 or L1A2) was NOT a sword bayonet. B: The SLR and F1 was replaced by the F88 not "F1" C: having carried and fired the F1 many times it's a shit gun well worth replacing. D: The F1 was used in Vietnam but not a lot... it was usually replaced by the M16 when the Owens went out of service.
Good vid, though.
Thanks for the feedback! Quote right, hadn't realised I mispoke and said F1. Hopefully, will redo this one in the future. Working on a video on the Owen & Austen currently. Thanks for watching!
@@TheArmourersBench Kool!
petethebastard I used the F1 in the Army Reserve in the 1980’s. You’re right, it was a piece of shit. Probably okay in close quarters, but give me an SLR any day. Even an M16. It’s best feature was that perforated barrel shroud looked fucking scary. If you wanted to rob a bank, THIS would be what you’d take along to menace the fuck out of everyone to hand over the loot! Other than that..pathetic.
I want them both.
sorry mate the govt put most into a furnace years ago.
The owen gun was still used untill 1966
I'll mention that in our upcoming Owen Gun video. Thanks for watching! - Matt
But why the mag on top ?!
Dirt and crap getting in just falls straight through. Also, if your on the ground for cover, you can get right down to the ground and still aim and fire. If the mag is at the bottom, you cannot.
the section sig hated carrying this club...switched to a 16 much better going to ground with...BFA non existant
Can't blame him, I think I'd prefer an M16 too.
I was very happy to see this. My F1 replica: i.imgur.com/zvWXj8t.jpg
l2a3sterling cool replica!
It's a semi auto paintball marker. Sterling is my favorite. Lots of cool old school guns covered by you here.
l2a3sterling Ahh, fun. Well I just finished writing a book on the Sterling for Osprey, and we'll definitely be covering it here in future videos! - Matt
@@TheArmourersBench UPGRADED MAGAZINE i.imgur.com/OZojZ2o.jpg
That has to be the most breakable rear sight I've ever seen in my life.
Perfect for snagging.
The magazine goes on top because Australia is upside down.
F1 would never be used by Imperial Storm Troopers. Just would not happen.
It’s not a charging handle, it’s a cocking handle? God, wokes with their terminology?