Museum-weapons

Maegun Rifle

Post by Barry Rodgers

Aug 12 2024

Happy Firearm Friday!

This week we are sharing with you the back story of the Maegun Rifle which Ron helped design and named after his daughter.

Chambered 7.62x39 and made famous by the AK47 the Maegun was Manufactured in China on machinery that was making Ak’s and bicycles. They were then assembled in Gympie at the address we are at now.

Ron specified to them that he wanted longer than normal barrels, a sporting style butt stock, a longer forend, target style open sights and for it to be built as semi auto and NOT capable of full auto. They came in with a 5 shot magazine opposed to the 30. They have a chrome lined barrel which made them very popular for primary producers because the action style is almost indestructible. They became restricted in 1996 and many were destroyed. We have recently noted that one was used in the movie “Land of bad” which has just been released on streaming services.

Winchester 1866

Remington 1864 “Rolling Block Rifle”

This week for Firearm Friday we are bringing you the Remington 1864 “Rolling Block Rifle” The Remington Rolling Block was developed from the 1863 pattern .50 calibre split breech carbine issued to the US Cavalry during the American Civil War. This earlier weapon was designed by Joseph Rider and Leonard Geiger to fire the same cartridges as the Spencer carbine. The split breech rifle lacked a hammer spur because it self-cocked when the breechblock was opened. In 1865, Rider improved the split breech design to create the rolling-block action which was named the "Remington System” The medium-strength action developed some headspace issues with new smokeless powders coming into use by the late 1890s. A heavier-style action was produced for later smokeless cartridges, although there were still issues with some ammunition. In 1867, the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway was the first military to adopt the rifle as the standard military rifle. Around 250,000 military rifles and carbines and 85,000 civilian rifles in Sweden, were produced under license by Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori and Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Aktiebolag, and about 53,000 rifles in Norway by Kongsberg Vaapenfabrik. The British Empire purchased rolling-blocks to arm the Egyptian Army during the 1870s. These were made in Liège, Belgium, in .43 Egyptian calibre and were issued with a sword bayonet. Rolling-block rifles were used against Muhammad Ahmad's Ansar Dervishes during the Mahdist War, including at the Siege of Khartoum where General Gordon met his end. Guns with decorative brass Islamic crescents and Arabic inscriptions on the buttstock are not uncommon on the collector's market. The French acquired 210,000 Egyptian rolling-block rifles to make up for a shortage of the standard-issue ...

Nov 15 2024