Well the FBI did by way of the Monitor. Adding a big muzzle brake/flashhider and a a pistol grip. Ian actually has another video about it if you haven't seen it. Good video too. But if you mean in a proper millitary role? Well the Yanks made to carry them were shit outta luck.
Thomas Essers most likely because US weren’t there to buy any improved versions, the bests you probably got was a Automatic M14, and still, American’s probably didn’t mind as unless they know about it, they probably used it as any other WW2 gun.
When a army adopts a version of something, it's practically bound to use THAT version until it's replaced by something else, for the sake of interchangeability of parts. IE the last M9 Beretta manufactured for the US army were still the 1985 specs, despite the manufacturer having implemented several plug&play improvements in the civilian versions.
It's not just the US. The military procurement system of most nations makes it very difficult to change the design of a weapon once it's been adopted. Sometimes it happens, but not very often.
Colonialism and nationalism, linked with state propaganda, have the capacity to mobilize millions of ordinary men to slaughter one another when they would really rather be playing soccer with one another or having a beer.
Yup. Except that on the FN MAG there was a catch on the handle to lift with the index finger to activate the carrying handle instead of yanking the whole handle. Heck, even the removing of the bolt and piston from the rear end seemed to have translated to the FN MAG as well.
For some reason this gun is just so damn sexy. It's not elegant looking or streamlined, but looks rugged, mechanically efficient and reliable, and simply badass.
I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but when I see this BAR I get a feeling of confidence, like this is a machine made to last by people who don't ever want their boys to die for want of shooting back.
@@sinisterthoughts2896 Yup. The Ordnance dept were the proto Fudds of that era. Eugene Stoner probably lost a decade off of his lifespan having to deal with their 19th century b.s. mentality.
@@williamguilfoyle3068 I'm looking forward to a Dieselpunk M16 or something in the next one. If it takes place after the second game's American Revolution, there should be some domestically-produced weapons instead of BJ being stuck using Nazi guns the whole game.
There was an American in the neighborhood who needed to offload all his overstock product and he let them have it for a deal as he couldn't afford to ship it back. Ipso facto it became the ammo du jour. Or not, its a good story IMO even though i just made it up
They rearmed right at the end of WWII, and chose the American .30-06 as the "obvious" choice, years before 7.62x51mm was adopted by NATO. They standardized on the cartridge that their biggest ally had (and since the US was basically giving away all the US arms our Allies needed during the late 1940s...) So, Luxembourg adopted the SAFN 49 in .30-06, and FN had a package deal including the BAR in the same caliber for countries that adopted the SAFN. Much like later on (after 7.62x51mm was adopted by NATO), they had a package deal of GP35 pistol, (eventually) Uzi SMG, FAL rifle, FALO "LMG", and MAG58 GPMG. Literally, call up FN with an RFQ, tell them your basic force structure and over all size, and they could draft up a complete small arms package (including maintenance support), for a predictable price, at reasonable financial arrangements, with the entire package contract ready in days and delivery to start within weeks or a few months of acceptance.
30-06 wasnt Luxemburg's standard cartridge. They had a complete mish mash of stuff. In WW2 (and presumably prior and just after) they used Lee Enfields, Ross rifles, P14s Kar 98s, Brens, Vickers BARs and MG08s. They also made use of FN 1949 in 30-06 as well as FN FAL post WW2
Timothy J. Mullins regarded the 6.5mm Swedish edition of this FN Model D to be superior because the lower recoil cartridge made this automatic rifle more controllable in full auto fire.
If you use 5.56x45mm modern ammunition , plus a 16" barrel with a pistol grip. This will instantly turn the BAR into an assault rifle! and remember to add a dust cover!
I love this channel. The history talked about here isn't something you can easily find in a textbook and ties together some fascinating facets of the economics and people behind the weapons into a tight, understandable insight that is uniquely rare. Also, the guns Iain showcases are almost universally awesome. Someone give this man a PHD.
That wasn't the only good idea they carried over, since mechanically the FN MAG/M240 is basically a beefed up BAR with the feed system from an MG 42 on top.
There are so many features here that seem to have carried over into the FN-MAG. (Disclosure: used to be a Singapore Army infantry officer - so I was pretty much train in every infantry weapon in the inventory. 20 years later, I can probably still fieldstrip a GPMG in 30 seconds. Getting old with age :).
@@mrbloodmuffins No. Repeal the unconstitutional National Firearms Act of 1934 and all the amendments to it. Forbid lower jurisdictions from having weapon control laws as well. I also want a switchblade.
@@calvingreene90 At least in my state I can have an automatic knife, so that's something I guess. You don't realize just how convenient an automatic-opening knife is until you have one.
@@dutchplanderlinde4845 A semi-fully automatic knife. It almost does everything for you...kinda. xD I always wonder why AoC said what she did and whether she realized how awful it sounded.
Luxembourg bought 259+ of these guns, would they issue them to every single soldier😉🤔?! In 1940,they had 13 Officers, 255 members of the Gendarmerie and 425 volunteers!
The Luxemburgers went to a larger force structure after 1945, 2 infantry battalions, an artillery battalion, the Ducal Guard and the Gendarmes all needed some handy firepower.
You could make a good argument that for an army that small, arming everyone with something like a BAR makes a lot of sense. Certainly a man-portable weapon with a lot of punch and a high rate of fire would be desirable.
@@itsapittie and take a look at the constellation of an US Army squad in WW2, there was always an assistant Gunner to carry extra ammunition for the BAR Gunner, so you has no Riflemen in your squad!
@@stephanl1983 Oh, I'm not saying the army of Luxembourg actually planned that way, nor even that they should have, but it would make sense for them to have used a higher percentage of automatic weapons than contemporary armies. Obviously they couldn't realistically eliminate riflemen entirely. My comment was a not-entirely-serious observation about the needs of small armies vs. large ones.
The quick change barrel and carry handle mechanism are identical to the M240B. It's interesting to see the development history of parts and mechanisms like that. Thank you gun Jesus for bestowing your wisdom upon us.
By "typically smaller", I'm assuming you mean that the average height was some 1 inch shorter? That's really not enough to make a difference. Edited with a bit of googling, according to google sources, the average height in the US during 1940 was 69 inches, which was the same average height today.
Yeah, I disagree with Ian on this one, I think the swedish bar is the best BAR. It's a hard hitting fast and flat shooting round. If you look at it the barrel lock up Carl Gustav designed is simpler, and the swedes actually converted their BARs to belt-fed after WW2. The only drawbacks compared to the model D is the swedes forego the dust covers, and that makes sense you see that on lots of WW2 produced guns start losing those extra bits that although nice they make production slower.
The action of the Swedish BAR can't be dissembled from the back though. And some would argue that a larger projectile is more preferable for a MG round
The family history of these weapons is something I'm learning about all the time, thanks to this channel. The carrying handle 'pull out to carry' system was adopted by the UK for it's version of the FN MAG (know in UK service as the GPMG.
I love how a lot of the elements of the guts of this were used again when they designed the US M240B machine gun. I loved carrying and using it during my time in service
This weapon was the standard squad light machinegun for the Belgian army in 1940. It was also fitted in bunkers and was installed as a secondary weapon in T-13 tankhunters. (The main gun was a C47 antitankgun.) From the accounts that I've read on the invasion of Belgium in 1940 it did pretty well. The magazine is a little small at just 20 rounds but other than that, it did a good job.
ORIGINAL WWII BAR LEATHER POUCHES WITH ALL ORIGINAL TOOLS AND PARTS INSIDE AVAILABLE NOW ON EBAY
Před 6 měsíci
It is 2023 and I came here from the other, earlier model FN BAR video. The field stripping procedure is indeed an improvement. It took Ian like 5 minutes on the other one to get the bolt out.
Mr. Saive was quite the designer. The carry handle locking system is ingenious and practical. The spring guide is very reminiscent of the FAL, angled down like that (i believe the FN49 is similar- no need to reinvent the wheel). This is a great final chapter in the military BAR story. I can't believe the US military didn't adopt something as simple as a pistol grip assembly/removable fire control assembly and a better bipod. To say nothing of the quick change barrel and the easier fieldstripping. I assume it was plain old hidebound pride and an unwillingness to admit that someone could improve our arms. Great video as always. Thank you
That gearwheel mechanism for the slow firing is *exactly* how slow-speed delay mechanisms work in many mechanical camera shutters, just a fair bit larger! The duration of the time generally is based on presetting how much travel is being driven into the wheel :D
Belgian engineer here. 60 years old. I don’t design guns. I design electric guitars and design metal guitar bridges. My brand is ‘Dorian’, based in Antwerp. Dieudonne Saive’s work and the weapons, engines, and appliances developed by FN, form an obligatory part of my schooling. But so is my 19th century countryman Adolphe Sax, of Saxophone fame. I most totally love your channel. You are a great teacher and demonstrator. No fake GI Joe machismo. Not even a milligram! I like that very much about your style. I would have done better financially if I had followed my colleagues to FN, but my conscience got in the way. ‘One more guitar equals one less AK (or FAL or AR or FAMAS)’, is my motto. My other motto is: ‘I Tinker Therefore I Am’. Belgians are tinkerers. And we are a little bit crazy. We really are.😊 ❤
I'm pretty sure that slow mode system is very similar to the escapement mechanism of a clock, with the reciprocating catch being the "pendulum" essentially.
It is still the most enjoyable kind of history you can watch on youtube: Gun Jesus talks about cool old shooty hardware and teaches you a lot of information and some neat trivia. Thanks for your effort, Ian!
I only fam fired BAR in basic infantry. I was all of 130lbs lying in soft sand. It actually pulled me forward. Troop handler bitched at me for unauthorized advancing.
I've used / shot the C6 GPMG / FN MAG (belt fed), quite similar to the BAR. Fun weapons to shoot, but can leave one hell of a bruise on your shoulder if used incorrectly, may leave you with just a sore shoulder. I like the fact that they have / come with a second (longer) barrel. Thanks for showing this forgotten weapon!
That "rocker" is really neat, and it is the same mechanical part as the Palette Fork in a mechanical watch, where the gear would be replaced with the Escapement Wheel. Very clever system for slowly unwinding a (relatively) very powerful main spring. Interesting to see Belgium borrow that piece of mechanical design that was mostly limited to Switzerland at the time.
The gear and rocker remind me of the pallet fork in a mechanical watch. Also, the bolt "rat tail" spring guid rod and recoil spring looks a bit similar to the FAL.
Awesome, i love the BAR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a 1970's Browning BAR Rifle in 30-06 Springfield. Thank you So much for showing this FN Model D BAR , Gun Jesus !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They didn't call it a fast or slow position but the normal and slow down position. The rifle could be shot while the ejection port cover was closed or the rifle could be charged while dust cover closed, the cover would automatically open either way....When positioning the lever to normal (fast) the lever needs to be pushed farther than where it stops to activate..
totally agree, the LUGER 08 is iconic, unfortunaly there are many bad imitated, low quality fakes out there, but of can get your hands on a real one, just a great pistol.
People forget the BAR was built in WWI as an early Assault Weapon. It was built to Assault machinegun positions with Walking Fire. Only later was it morphed into a Squad Machine Gun. The Marines from about 1944 on tried to have three BARs per 13 man Squad, so their four-man Fire Teams each had a BAR to maneuver with when attacking dug-in Japanese. That system worked well.
The greatest irony about the BAR is that there were several iterations of the basic design that were developed during the Interwar years. The FN Model D, for example, significantly improved the gun, addressing most of the flaws brought up here. It was still a bit heavy though
I know a lot of people are talking about how this evolved into the MAG, but I'm also seeing many elements that are starting to move towards the FN 49 and FAL as well.
@@benjamingamache6441 The FNAR/Browning BAR has absolutely nothing to do with the BAR lmg's action, it's a rotating bolt with a short stroke gas system. czcams.com/video/F52jwejMQTw/video.html
If only they added a belt as well, and the allies were rocking .30-06 M240's during the war... The barrel change mechanism really shows how the FN MAG/M240 is just a fancied up BAR.
Colt: Sell our, not very good, Gun and nothing else! FN: Hmmm, what if.... And makes it a decent piece of kit. That´s Colts, legendary, ability to make bad decision again ang again and again....... If Colt where progressive they would have done some of these improvments themself.
@@sinisterthoughts2896 Fair enough. But Colt IS famous (globaly) for Idi*t decisions. One could discuss the BARs suitability for the role it was pressed into (light machinegun). U.S was not the most progessive military power during the period 1920-1940.
Why is it so beautiful ... Modern guns have little to no lines . that is a piece of art. The mag release the receiver and controls all so smooth and sexy ...
A cousin of mine, a U.S. Marine, was trained on, carried, and utilized a U.S. produced B.A.R from Tarawa to Okinawa during WWII. The ONLY two complaints I ever heard him express about the B.A.R was the lack of a quick change barrel and the limited magazine capacity. An uncle on my Dad's side of the family shrub, carried and utilized, a B.A.R. from North Africa to Germany and he had the same problems with it. Both men, Soldier and Marine, felt that the B.A.R. would have been a better weapon with quick change barrels and at LEAST fifty round box magazines.
Astoundingly ironic how the BAR was improved by pretty much every country that used it *except* the US.
Well the FBI did by way of the Monitor. Adding a big muzzle brake/flashhider and a a pistol grip. Ian actually has another video about it if you haven't seen it. Good video too.
But if you mean in a proper millitary role? Well the Yanks made to carry them were shit outta luck.
Thomas Essers most likely because US weren’t there to buy any improved versions, the bests you probably got was a Automatic M14, and still, American’s probably didn’t mind as unless they know about it, they probably used it as any other WW2 gun.
When a army adopts a version of something, it's practically bound to use THAT version until it's replaced by something else, for the sake of interchangeability of parts.
IE the last M9 Beretta manufactured for the US army were still the 1985 specs, despite the manufacturer having implemented several plug&play improvements in the civilian versions.
It's not just the US. The military procurement system of most nations makes it very difficult to change the design of a weapon once it's been adopted. Sometimes it happens, but not very often.
@@itsapittie The US military did change it, unfortunately they changed it mostly to the worse.
The BAR has three modes: Safe, Full Auto, and Fuller Auto
He has a point you know!
R/technicallythetruth
Nah.
- Safe
- DAKKA!
- MOAR DAKKA!!!
Man forgot the HCAR existed (only available in semi-auto)
ATFs worst nightmare
Teacher: So what did we all learn from WWI everyone?
Me: "You want dust covers on everything" - Ian McCollum 2020
Colonialism and nationalism, linked with state propaganda, have the capacity to mobilize millions of ordinary men to slaughter one another when they would really rather be playing soccer with one another or having a beer.
It's bad idea for the hegemon to get complacent and let an ambitious lesser power become a peer.
You may also want a dust cover on a dust cover, just to be extra sure.
@@yurisv7315 Agreed 100%. I plan on adding that one day
In 12 years of compulsory schooling, only one week at best did we ever learn anything about WW1.
You can tell that the detachable barrel translated into the FN MAG/ M240 system well
I was thinking the same thing
Even the inside looks similar!
@@paupauldu01 Yes, definitely. I'm very familiar with the 240B. It seems exactly the same with the rotating handle and teeth.
Even the bolt carrier/Op rod looks very similar to the FN MAG/240.
Yup. Except that on the FN MAG there was a catch on the handle to lift with the index finger to activate the carrying handle instead of yanking the whole handle. Heck, even the removing of the bolt and piston from the rear end seemed to have translated to the FN MAG as well.
For some reason this gun is just so damn sexy. It's not elegant looking or streamlined, but looks rugged, mechanically efficient and reliable, and simply badass.
Looking at it, looks like it fits the hands of Rambo. Uncertain of john wick though.
I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but when I see this BAR I get a feeling of confidence, like this is a machine made to last by people who don't ever want their boys to die for want of shooting back.
Very Steampunk
damn straight
It looks sturdy, unlike weapons that come out today that look like edgy nerf guns
BAR: "Who are you?"
FN-D : "I'm you but better"
@@DEarls-ye9tz
FN-D: "Who are you?"
FAL: "Im you, but skinnier and less accurate when trying to shoot fast."
@@rogueleader7506 lmfao
BAR: Who you
FN-D: I am you but a stripper
Better but less attractive
BAR: "But I'm me"
(unintelligible arnold noises)
Initial D: FN-D
“Do you like, my *BAR* ?”
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Let's go out, kick some ass
We'll become heroes
yoooo
Dann These comments are Gold!
We need to fund an idea like this
Daaaaaaamn
This weapon has absolutely no right to look as absolutely stunning as it does. I want one now.
it has every right. i want one too lol
I guess you can say it raises the bar? I’ll see myself out.
Yes. You're barred from this topic.
Budum tishh
I guess this comment section went all Fubar
I love bad jokes you can stay lol.
Good. Now get out of my bar, and never come back!
This is the gun you want whenever you riding a t-rex.
I’ll stick to the mg42
(Or facing one... lol).
I can see a mount with "gunners perch" behind the "operator/driver" of the T-rex. 😆
Why are you riding a t-rex?!
Just what I was thinking
Love the BAR. Never understood why the US military didn't adopt the pistol grip. It would make it much more ergonomic and easier to fire.
1920s and 1930s Army budgets are probably why
Great Depression.
@@sinisterthoughts2896 Yup. The Ordnance dept were the proto Fudds of that era. Eugene Stoner probably lost a decade off of his lifespan having to deal with their 19th century b.s. mentality.
@@sinisterthoughts2896 If it does not work, you can always hit them with it.
Also makes me wonder why the Krag and 03 Springfield had straight stocks, especially the 03 since it was essentially a Mauser copy.
Thing looks like what you'd get if the (new) Wolfenstein games had a BAR
Which they should
@@williamguilfoyle3068 I'm looking forward to a Dieselpunk M16 or something in the next one. If it takes place after the second game's American Revolution, there should be some domestically-produced weapons instead of BJ being stuck using Nazi guns the whole game.
@@Tobascodagama that's a cool idea! I always wanted to see more Allied stuff in wolfenstein for the contrast in design style.
Only if it was in a ww2 section of a wolfenstein game. Like how they changed the thompson and stg to have more cooling fins.
The detachable barrel and carry handle are pure genius adaptation.
Gary McKinley I’d take a Bren over this any day...both features already there...plus another 10 rounds in the magazine.
@@SonsOfLorgar bren gun is much better👍
Slightly unrelated, but how did Luxembourg end up with .30-06 as it's standard cartridge? I don't think I've ever heard the story behind that.
There was an American in the neighborhood who needed to offload all his overstock product and he let them have it for a deal as he couldn't afford to ship it back. Ipso facto it became the ammo du jour.
Or not, its a good story IMO even though i just made it up
They rearmed right at the end of WWII, and chose the American .30-06 as the "obvious" choice, years before 7.62x51mm was adopted by NATO.
They standardized on the cartridge that their biggest ally had (and since the US was basically giving away all the US arms our Allies needed during the late 1940s...)
So, Luxembourg adopted the SAFN 49 in .30-06, and FN had a package deal including the BAR in the same caliber for countries that adopted the SAFN. Much like later on (after 7.62x51mm was adopted by NATO), they had a package deal of GP35 pistol, (eventually) Uzi SMG, FAL rifle, FALO "LMG", and MAG58 GPMG. Literally, call up FN with an RFQ, tell them your basic force structure and over all size, and they could draft up a complete small arms package (including maintenance support), for a predictable price, at reasonable financial arrangements, with the entire package contract ready in days and delivery to start within weeks or a few months of acceptance.
@@geodkyt So how did they determine that .30-06 was the "obvious" choice? Just picked it because it was available, or were there some tests?
30-06 wasnt Luxemburg's standard cartridge. They had a complete mish mash of stuff. In WW2 (and presumably prior and just after) they used Lee Enfields, Ross rifles, P14s Kar 98s, Brens, Vickers BARs and MG08s. They also made use of FN 1949 in 30-06 as well as FN FAL post WW2
@@thegoldencaulk2742 loads of M1s and other guns that were given to them by the US, similar to how the Italians and Danes started using it
Heavy is good, heavy is reliable. If it doesn't work you can always hit them with it.
It's close to 20 pounds.
“Flashbacks of Medal of Honor Franchise”
@@WALTERBROADDUS exactly why one doesn't want to get brained with it, I think. I know I wouldn't volunteer.
And if you're in Luxembourg you're not going to have to carry it more than 80km.
WALTERBROADDUS perfect weight for bludgeoning someone to death
By far also the prettiest BAR, with also a beautiful dieselpunk aesthetic!
The Swedes had them on thet one.
4:34 Let me show you...God I thought he is gonna say"Let me show you its feature" with Joerg Sprave laughing voice! lol
Had the same thought there!😂
Tanks and Bye Bye!
_You hear a slow booming laughter coming from the end of the hall._
I was hoping for it! He should do it just as a homage and a gag.
@gofa curself Jörg did a video about owning guns in Germany. And yes, he does! Hahaha!
Thanks, and bye-bye!
Gear wheels within the trigger assembly, now that's craftsmanship.
Yep. That’s quite impressive rate reducing mechanism.
That's soldiering
Timothy J. Mullins regarded the 6.5mm Swedish edition of this FN Model D to be superior because the lower recoil cartridge made this automatic rifle more controllable in full auto fire.
If you use 5.56x45mm modern ammunition , plus a 16" barrel with a pistol grip.
This will instantly turn the BAR into an assault rifle!
and remember to add a dust cover!
@@orionakdAh, an early FN CAL.
I love this channel. The history talked about here isn't something you can easily find in a textbook and ties together some fascinating facets of the economics and people behind the weapons into a tight, understandable insight that is uniquely rare.
Also, the guns Iain showcases are almost universally awesome. Someone give this man a PHD.
A 240B or Golf has the same barrel change system. Pulling out the bolt is similar too. When FN gets a good idea they really stick with it.
That wasn't the only good idea they carried over, since mechanically the FN MAG/M240 is basically a beefed up BAR with the feed system from an MG 42 on top.
Not just FN, Belgians in general are very practical and firmly believe "if it aint broke dont fix it"
Even with the HK MG4 and MG5 the operating bar seems similar although that the bolt is different
And with that, we get a complete history of the BAR. God, I love this channel.
There are so many features here that seem to have carried over into the FN-MAG. (Disclosure: used to be a Singapore Army infantry officer - so I was pretty much train in every infantry weapon in the inventory. 20 years later, I can probably still fieldstrip a GPMG in 30 seconds. Getting old with age :).
My grandfather used this gun during his service in Lux
my dad also. as rifles they had the fn fal
I got excited when I saw RIA's title said transferable only to be crest fallen when the description said dealer sample.
Universal FFL for all citizens!
@@mrbloodmuffins
No. Repeal the unconstitutional National Firearms Act of 1934 and all the amendments to it. Forbid lower jurisdictions from having weapon control laws as well. I also want a switchblade.
@@calvingreene90 At least in my state I can have an automatic knife, so that's something I guess. You don't realize just how convenient an automatic-opening knife is until you have one.
Kelton Oliver a fully-semi automatic knife?
@@dutchplanderlinde4845 A semi-fully automatic knife. It almost does everything for you...kinda. xD
I always wonder why AoC said what she did and whether she realized how awful it sounded.
This seems to be the FAL's dad.
@@SonsOfLorgar They met during the German occupation..... it was a forbidden love....
Isn't FAL's dad dead?
Luxembourg bought 259+ of these guns, would they issue them to every single soldier😉🤔?!
In 1940,they had 13 Officers, 255 members of the Gendarmerie and 425 volunteers!
Me and my standard issue BAR 😁
The Luxemburgers went to a larger force structure after 1945, 2 infantry battalions, an artillery battalion, the Ducal Guard and the Gendarmes all needed some handy firepower.
You could make a good argument that for an army that small, arming everyone with something like a BAR makes a lot of sense. Certainly a man-portable weapon with a lot of punch and a high rate of fire would be desirable.
@@itsapittie and take a look at the constellation of an US Army squad in WW2, there was always an assistant Gunner to carry extra ammunition for the BAR Gunner, so you has no Riflemen in your squad!
@@stephanl1983 Oh, I'm not saying the army of Luxembourg actually planned that way, nor even that they should have, but it would make sense for them to have used a higher percentage of automatic weapons than contemporary armies. Obviously they couldn't realistically eliminate riflemen entirely. My comment was a not-entirely-serious observation about the needs of small armies vs. large ones.
"You're going to war son"
BAR-D "But father, all I want to do is sing!"
Stop that stop that, there’ll be no singing while I’m here
Who would build a castle in a swamp?
The quick change barrel and carry handle mechanism are identical to the M240B. It's interesting to see the development history of parts and mechanisms like that.
Thank you gun Jesus for bestowing your wisdom upon us.
The locking system on the 240 is also based on the BAR lockup.
The fact that men were typically smaller and yet hauled this beautiful beast into battle is a testament to ability and strength.
If you stand lower to the ground, less likely you are to get the head blown off.
By "typically smaller", I'm assuming you mean that the average height was some 1 inch shorter? That's really not enough to make a difference.
Edited with a bit of googling, according to google sources, the average height in the US during 1940 was 69 inches, which was the same average height today.
That gear and rocker system is called an 'escapement' they've found in every mechanical watch.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escapement?wprov=sfla1
Thank you. Will do some more reading on this.
I wonder how quickly the gear and rocker teeth wear in use and need to be replaced.
@@WalkaCrookedLine if properly designed, they'll last as long as the rifle.
Once used on rc model airplanes as well.
@@daer2121 as long as sand and oil don't get inside at the same time.
I didn't think I could love the BAR more, but I guess I can. It's so beautiful!
Arguably, the FN-D is still being made, as the FN MAG is just a BAR turned upside down w/ a belt feed... ;-)
I wonder how the Swedish BARs were to operate, they had quick detach barrels and were chambered in 6.5x55 so recoil would be very manageable.
Yeah, I disagree with Ian on this one, I think the swedish bar is the best BAR. It's a hard hitting fast and flat shooting round. If you look at it the barrel lock up Carl Gustav designed is simpler, and the swedes actually converted their BARs to belt-fed after WW2. The only drawbacks compared to the model D is the swedes forego the dust covers, and that makes sense you see that on lots of WW2 produced guns start losing those extra bits that although nice they make production slower.
For anyone wondering what they talking about you can read more here:
www.gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar/kg/swedish_kg2.htm
Beautiful weapon.
The action of the Swedish BAR can't be dissembled from the back though. And some would argue that a larger projectile is more preferable for a MG round
@@KamikazKid they designed a belt fed one but it was not adopted
The family history of these weapons is something I'm learning about all the time, thanks to this channel.
The carrying handle 'pull out to carry' system was adopted by the UK for it's version of the FN MAG (know in UK service as the GPMG.
Indeed the Belgians can make more than just waffles. I wish there is a modern civilian version of this gun.
Beer, chocolate, ... ;)
@@WarblesOnALot and the best "French" fries in the world.
@@bartdebaere2252 - them too.
@@PapaSchultz74 - how come I forget that? The Belgians gave the world french fries.
@@WarblesOnALot sure i should have said 'frites a la graisse de bœuf'
I love how a lot of the elements of the guts of this were used again when they designed the US M240B machine gun. I loved carrying and using it during my time in service
As someone who has used the KSP-58, it is fun to see the origins of the detatchable barrel system for the FN MAG
This weapon was the standard squad light machinegun for the Belgian army in 1940. It was also fitted in bunkers and was installed as a secondary weapon in T-13 tankhunters. (The main gun was a C47 antitankgun.) From the accounts that I've read on the invasion of Belgium in 1940 it did pretty well. The magazine is a little small at just 20 rounds but other than that, it did a good job.
I came here for the guns, and stayed for these stories.
Luxembourg is about the size of a large American county, and they had at least 259 of these auto-beasts?
That's very metal of them.
When you're little you want force multipliers.
I'd imagine the weapons possessed in just one large American county would blow your mind 🤣
@@ProlificInvention no... I live in a large American county. No surprise at all.
@@clintcannon1902 It was quite metal of them though. Definitely agree.
ORIGINAL WWII BAR LEATHER POUCHES WITH ALL ORIGINAL TOOLS AND PARTS INSIDE AVAILABLE NOW ON EBAY
It is 2023 and I came here from the other, earlier model FN BAR video. The field stripping procedure is indeed an improvement. It took Ian like 5 minutes on the other one to get the bolt out.
Mr. Saive was quite the designer. The carry handle locking system is ingenious and practical. The spring guide is very reminiscent of the FAL, angled down like that (i believe the FN49 is similar- no need to reinvent the wheel). This is a great final chapter in the military BAR story. I can't believe the US military didn't adopt something as simple as a pistol grip assembly/removable fire control assembly and a better bipod. To say nothing of the quick change barrel and the easier fieldstripping. I assume it was plain old hidebound pride and an unwillingness to admit that someone could improve our arms. Great video as always. Thank you
"Last and best BAR"
HCAR: "Am I a joke to you?"
Yes.
HCAR is an abomination against humanity
If only HCAR field stripped liked the model D
Preeeetty much yeah
absolutely
Ohio Ordnance Works:
*Cries in HCAR*
*sad HCAR noises
Isnt the hcar like 8lbs lighter? Seems like a win to me. That FND is heavy as shit. When I had one it felt as heavy as a 240
@@breembo yeah but recoil my dude
@@ToastytheG cant be worse then FA m14.
@Toucan • its too late, the atf already seized it. Now I only get to use harsh language to fight off xenomorphs.
That gearwheel mechanism for the slow firing is *exactly* how slow-speed delay mechanisms work in many mechanical camera shutters, just a fair bit larger! The duration of the time generally is based on presetting how much travel is being driven into the wheel :D
Belgian engineer here. 60 years old. I don’t design guns. I design electric guitars and design metal guitar bridges. My brand is ‘Dorian’, based in Antwerp. Dieudonne Saive’s work and the weapons, engines, and appliances developed by FN, form an obligatory part of my schooling. But so is my 19th century countryman Adolphe Sax, of Saxophone fame.
I most totally love your channel. You are a great teacher and demonstrator. No fake GI Joe machismo. Not even a milligram! I like that very much about your style. I would have done better financially if I had followed my colleagues to FN, but my conscience got in the way. ‘One more guitar equals one less AK (or FAL or AR or FAMAS)’, is my motto.
My other motto is: ‘I Tinker Therefore I Am’.
Belgians are tinkerers.
And we are a little bit crazy.
We really are.😊
❤
Wow, that machine gun is one of my best version of the Browning’s Bar. I love it.
I'm pretty sure that slow mode system is very similar to the escapement mechanism of a clock, with the reciprocating catch being the "pendulum" essentially.
Yup, this is exactly how a mechanical clock works.
ORIGINAL WW2 BAR 1918 POUCHES WITH ALL PARTS AND TOOLS WWII AVAILABLE ON EBAY
It is still the most enjoyable kind of history you can watch on youtube: Gun Jesus talks about cool old shooty hardware and teaches you a lot of information and some neat trivia.
Thanks for your effort, Ian!
Never seen a gun with what is literally a clock-escapement rate reducer!
Very cool
I always enjoy your very thorough and easy to follow explanations. Thanks much!
I only fam fired BAR in basic infantry. I was all of 130lbs lying in soft sand. It actually pulled me forward. Troop handler bitched at me for unauthorized advancing.
Well atleast they chose a universal D for both our languages. Flemish= Demonteerbaar, Wallonian= Dèmontable
Flemish is not a language, it's just a Dutch dialect.
Lol, the Dutchmen unite. In before Flanders becomes our latest province
@@damienvandepol yes i am flemish and the factory was in the french speaking half of Belgium Herstal
was and still is lol
@@janlievens6964 good for you! That still doesn't explain why people from Flanders think Flemish is a language, instead of being a Dutch dialect.
Damn that barrel qd system and bcg is definitely the MAG/240's daddy.
I've used / shot the C6 GPMG / FN MAG (belt fed), quite similar to the BAR. Fun weapons to shoot, but can leave one hell of a bruise on your shoulder if used incorrectly, may leave you with just a sore shoulder. I like the fact that they have / come with a second (longer) barrel. Thanks for showing this forgotten weapon!
I like how you can see the precursors to future FN projects on this rifle, which makes sense considering the designer.
Teacher: What we learn about WWI?
Ian: ¡Yes! you wants dust cover on everything!
Now I really hope you'll get the opportunity to make videos about the Swedish manufactured m/21 and m/37 BARs soon.
Magnificent piece of kit. Cheers for sharing.
That "rocker" is really neat, and it is the same mechanical part as the Palette Fork in a mechanical watch, where the gear would be replaced with the Escapement Wheel. Very clever system for slowly unwinding a (relatively) very powerful main spring. Interesting to see Belgium borrow that piece of mechanical design that was mostly limited to Switzerland at the time.
The gear and rocker remind me of the pallet fork in a mechanical watch. Also, the bolt "rat tail" spring guid rod and recoil spring looks a bit similar to the FAL.
HALO 2304 even the locking system. Flip it go from 1911 to hipower. There is your FAL.
FN D is just a BAR but in a mad max gun form.
Awesome, i love the BAR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a 1970's Browning BAR Rifle in 30-06 Springfield. Thank you So much for showing this FN Model D BAR , Gun Jesus !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For half a second, I thought Ian was going to say " Let me show you... It's Features"
“D” which stands for “Destroyer of Worlds”
You'd think the Swiss would be the first to build an escapement into a rifle.
They didn't call it a fast or slow position but the normal and slow down position. The rifle could be shot while the ejection port cover was closed or the rifle could be charged while dust cover closed, the cover would automatically open either way....When positioning the lever to normal (fast) the lever needs to be pushed farther than where it stops to activate..
It’s crazy how many parts of this, mainly the barrel detach system made their way onto the Mag 58 and are still in use today with the Mag/240
MY TWO favorite guns in the world , "BAR" and the German "LUGER" !!!
totally agree, the LUGER 08 is iconic, unfortunaly there are many bad imitated, low quality fakes out there, but of can get your hands on a real one, just a great pistol.
@@SeeYouInValhalla615 YESW !!
Does the dust cover automatically open or is that something they would have to remember to open before firing?
People forget the BAR was built in WWI as an early Assault Weapon. It was built to Assault machinegun positions with Walking Fire. Only later was it morphed into a Squad Machine Gun. The Marines from about 1944 on tried to have three BARs per 13 man Squad, so their four-man Fire Teams each had a BAR to maneuver with when attacking dug-in Japanese. That system worked well.
The greatest irony about the BAR is that there were several iterations of the basic design that were developed during the Interwar years.
The FN Model D, for example, significantly improved the gun, addressing most of the flaws brought up here.
It was still a bit heavy though
FN- Let's see how we can improve the BAR.
Swedes- Those boneheads forgot to belt feed it lol.
Ian sounds really excited throughout this video. I'm betting he'll bet on this.
He wouldn’t make a video on it if he was going to bid on it
@@miatafan He did with the MAS 38...
It's a dealer sample, sadly
I love how easy this field strips
I know a lot of people are talking about how this evolved into the MAG, but I'm also seeing many elements that are starting to move towards the FN 49 and FAL as well.
Dee err donnay. literally "God given" in French, so I guess his parents felt blessed by his birth.
I think the name you are looking for is "Dieu-donné".
I wonder how a modern FNAR would perform with an auto sear.
considering the FNAR is a completely different gun, probably not well
@@Xtorin_Housecat_Ohern True but the action is based on the BAR, and here in the good ol' U-S-of-A, we don't ask why, we ask why not?
@@benjamingamache6441 The FNAR/Browning BAR has absolutely nothing to do with the BAR lmg's action, it's a rotating bolt with a short stroke gas system. czcams.com/video/F52jwejMQTw/video.html
Great show, Ian! Granpa tolt me they gave BAR 2 smalles guy in unit cos snipers went after them 1st.
Best episode from your excellent channel.
Fun fact: If Ian McCullan lived in Ireland and was a famous member of the R.I.A. The police here would be making you a visit for a chat.
I feel like I shouldnt be here yet
yeah.... something's wrong here
Wait
Really appreciate the history Ian, thank you!
I love the field strip 2 bolts, so simple!
Oh, this BAR looks TOUGH!
Painfully small magazine for a machine gun though.
Suppressive fire. Always gave bar to smallest guy in unit bc snipers hit him 1st.
Nice find Ian. Thanx for info.
The design of this pleases me greatly.
If only they added a belt as well, and the allies were rocking .30-06 M240's during the war...
The barrel change mechanism really shows how the FN MAG/M240 is just a fancied up BAR.
But better and sexier. God I love that thing
Its like a 240... Huh.
Well a 240 is just an upside down BAR
@@troyweatherford2428 hardly a surpride
Love to see live fire of this upgraded BAR! 👍
Just when I thought I was done with BARs, Ian pulls me back in.
Everyone except the US improves the Bar, aint that ironic.
Same goes to many guns
Colt made lots of improvements, it was just the US military specifically that wasn't buying.
@@ForgottenWeapons True, should have clarified that i was meaning the Bar in military use.
@@baronofhell2277 Because CONgress wouldn't vote for more $ for new weapons in peacetime.
Colt: Sell our, not very good, Gun and nothing else!
FN: Hmmm, what if.... And makes it a decent piece of kit.
That´s Colts, legendary, ability to make bad decision again ang again and again....... If Colt where progressive they would have done some of these improvments themself.
@@sinisterthoughts2896 Fair enough. But Colt IS famous (globaly) for Idi*t decisions. One could discuss the BARs suitability for the role it was pressed into (light machinegun). U.S was not the most progessive military power during the period 1920-1940.
Why is it so beautiful ... Modern guns have little to no lines . that is a piece of art. The mag release the receiver and controls all so smooth and sexy ...
A cousin of mine, a U.S. Marine, was trained on, carried, and utilized a U.S. produced B.A.R from Tarawa to Okinawa during WWII. The ONLY two complaints I ever heard him express about the B.A.R was the lack of a quick change barrel and the limited magazine capacity. An uncle on my Dad's side of the family shrub, carried and utilized, a B.A.R. from North Africa to Germany and he had the same problems with it. Both men, Soldier and Marine, felt that the B.A.R. would have been a better weapon with quick change barrels and at LEAST fifty round box magazines.