#G41w

World War II, as well known, marked the actual in-combat debut of semi-automatic rifles by the main nations involved, such as the United States (with the .30-06 M1 Garand), the Soviet Union (the 7.62x54Rmm SVT-40), and Germany (the 7.92x57mm G43/K43). The deep influence of the subsequent 7.92x33mm MP43/MP44/StG44 family on the post-war “assault rifle” design concept is equally well recognized. But it was the earlier Gewehr 43 that eventually caught the attention of Brazil as a possible way of locally manufacturing a semi-auto rifle for its armed forces, the Brazilian G43.

The German G41(W) was Germany’s first self-loading rifle issued in any significant quantity during WWII, but it’s many flaws led it to not be appreciated or coveted by the soldiers who were issued them. Using an unusual operating method, the guns were subject to excessive fouling and other troubles.
That said, the rifles are mechanically fascinating, and in this video we take a look at what makes them work.

Now, based on the four previous articles on gun operating mechanisms, some of my readers may be thinking “jeeze, Nathaniel, we already know all this stuff! Why are you telling us this?” Don’t worry! I haven’t forgotten about you, and that’s why I am sprinkling in more advanced topics as we talk about the more basic ones. We just spoke about the principle of gas operation, so let’s jump up a grade to 201 level, and talk about two of the most conceptually obvious incarnations of gas operation. I’m writing, of course, about the Bang, and gas-trap methods of tapping propellant gases.

The Walther Gewehr 41 is a mechanically interesting rifle that was adopted by the German military during WWII. Over 100,000 were made, and it uses an interesting operating method known as the “bang” system that traps gas after the muzzle and uses it to self load. This system is known for being unreliable and sensitive to fouling (especially with corrosive ammo) but how does it shoot?

The Gewehr 41 was Nazi Germany’s first attempt at a standard-issue selfloading infantry rifle. It utilized a front flap-locking bolt coupled with a Bang-type gas trap operating mechanism. This mechanism has a reputation for not working very well (more on that below), but how well would the rifle hold up in an actual shooting situation, provided they did work? Forgotten Weapons’ Ian and Karl take the G. 41 (W) out to the 2-Gun Action Challenge match to find out: