@historicalfirearms / www.historicalfirearms.info
We've previously seen HK416s in use with a variety of Ukrainian units, but since mid-August there have been sightings of a small numbers of some interesting Heckler & Koch rifles in Ukraine - HK G36s and the new HK433. In this video we'll examine which units are using, where they've been sighted and try and get to the bottom of how many might be in Ukraine.
In 1970 Heckler & Koch introduced the futuristic looking VP70 (VP standing for Volkspistole/People’s Pistol). Building on the idea behind the Mauser’s 9x19mm blowback Volkspistole. Heckler & Koch designed the pistol to be simple and cost effective and utilised a revolutionary polymer frame - making the VP70 the first production polymer handgun.
The VP70 was designed by a team headed by Alex Seidel, Tilo Moller and Helmut Weldle. It was chambered in 9x19mm and fed from a double-stack, double-feed 18-round magazine. This was a marked increase on Heckler & Koch’s first commercial pistol, the HK4. Work began on the design in 1968 and the pistol was was introduced in 1970, predating the Austrian Glock 17 by 12 years. The pistol used a polymer frame and receiver which supports the barrel.
The weapon used a standard blowback action, while this is typically ill-advised with 9x19mm ammunition Heckler & Koch alleviated the potential problems of the blowback action by machining extra deep rifling which allowed propellant gases to bleed past the projectile as it moved up the barrel. This dropped the pressure in the barrel - though in turn reducing the round’s muzzle velocity by around 10%.
The VP70′s action was striker fired with a very heavy double action trigger. The VP70 doesn’t lock open on an empty magazine and has no manual slide lock. Unloaded the VP70 weighed 0.82kg/29oz, significantly heavier than the later Glock at 0.65kg/23oz. Unlike the Glock, the civilian VP70 had a conventional cross-bolt safety positioned behind the trigger. The magazine release is located on the heel of the magazine - common with European pistols.
Patent drawing showing the stock assembly for the VP70M (source)
The VP70 was designed with an impending Soviet invasion in mind, it was designed to be cheap and easy to manufacture. It was intended to arm the German people should they need to resist a Soviet invasion, though what good arming the population with handguns would do is unclear. It was reportedly intended for stay-behind guerilla elements inside territory occupied by advancing Russian forces. Its possible to see it in this role as a concealable weapon offering considerable controllable close range firepower when used with its stock. The military variant, the VP70M (Militar)’s attachable polymer stock/holster is perhaps the pistol’s most interesting feature. It allowed the weapon to become a select-fire personal defence weapon (PDW), with a controllable 3-round burst option. The selector switch is located on the left hand side of the stock. While ostensibly designed as a cheap and simple weapon for mass production the addition of the stock’s burst mode necessitated a somewhat complex trigger mechanism. From examination of the pistols its clear the final product was not intended as a throwaway.
The pistol was also entered into the US military’s Joint Services Small Arms Program Trials in the late 1970s but suffered ammunition-related cycling issues and was rejected. Though originally designed for military purposes a civilian variant, the semi-automatic VP70Z (’Zivil’/Civil) was marketed. A limited run of VP70Z pistols were also chambered in 9x21mm for the Italian market. An even smaller run of ‘ZH’ pistols were produced with the civilian gun being sold with the attachable holster, without the burst fire mechanism.
The VP70 combined elements of the past and present with features like its holster/stock harking back the the earliest German automatic pistols while its polymer construction was at the cutting edge of manufacturing techniques in 1970. Production ceased in 1989 but the VP line continues with the unrelated HK VP9.
Military Small Arms, I. Hogg & J. Weeks, (1985)
‘The H&K VP70 Machine Pistol’, Firearms News, L. Thompson, (source)
‘Self-loading pistol with a stock’, US Patent #3861273, 23/06/73, (source)
‘Self-loading pistol having forwardly extending breech slide’, US Patent #3696706, 10/10/72, (source)
‘Self-loading pistol with cocking trigger‘, US Patent #3678800, 25/07/72, (source)
_______________________________________________________
In 1970 Heckler & Koch introduced the futuristic looking VP70 (VP standing for Volkspistole/People’s Pistol). Building on the idea behind the Mauser’s 9x19mm blowback Volkspistole. Heckler & Koch designed the pistol to be simple and cost effective and utilised a revolutionary polymer frame - making the VP70 the first production polymer handgun.
The VP70 was designed by a team headed by Alex Seidel, Tilo Moller and Helmut Weldle. It was chambered in 9x19mm and fed from a double-stack, double-feed 18-round magazine. This was a marked increase on Heckler & Koch’s first commercial pistol, the HK4. Work began on the design in 1968 and the pistol was was introduced in 1970, predating the Austrian Glock 17 by 12 years. The pistol used a polymer frame and receiver which supports the barrel.
The weapon used a standard blowback action, while this is typically ill-advised with 9x19mm ammunition Heckler & Koch alleviated the potential problems of the blowback action by machining extra deep rifling which allowed propellant gases to bleed past the projectile as it moved up the barrel. This dropped the pressure in the barrel - though in turn reducing the round's muzzle velocity by around 10%.
The VP70′s action was striker fired with a very heavy double action trigger. The VP70 doesn’t lock open on an empty magazine and has no manual slide lock. Unloaded the VP70 weighed 0.82kg/29oz, significantly heavier than the later Glock at 0.65kg/23oz. Unlike the Glock, the civilian VP70 had a conventional cross-bolt safety positioned behind the trigger. The magazine release is located on the heel of the magazine - common with European pistols.
Patent drawing showing the stock assembly for the VP70M (source)
The VP70 was designed with an impending Soviet invasion in mind, it was designed to be cheap and easy to manufacture. It was intended to arm the German people should they need to resist a Soviet invasion, though what good arming the population with handguns would do is unclear. It was reportedly intended for stay-behind guerilla elements inside territory occupied by advancing Russian forces. Its possible to see it in this role as a concealable weapon offering considerable controllable close range firepower when used with its stock. The military variant, the VP70M (Militar)’s attachable polymer stock/holster is perhaps the pistol’s most interesting feature. It allowed the weapon to become a select-fire personal defence weapon (PDW), with a controllable 3-round burst option. The selector switch is located on the left hand side of the stock. While ostensibly designed as a cheap and simple weapon for mass production the addition of the stock's burst mode necessitated a somewhat complex trigger mechanism. From examination of the pistols its clear the final product was not intended as a throwaway.
The pistol was also entered into the US military’s Joint Services Small Arms Program Trials in the late 1970s but suffered ammunition-related cycling issues and was rejected. Though originally designed for military purposes a civilian variant, the semi-automatic VP70Z (’Zivil’/Civil) was marketed. A limited run of VP70Z pistols were also chambered in 9x21mm for the Italian market. An even smaller run of 'ZH' pistols were produced with the civilian gun being sold with the attachable holster, without the burst fire mechanism.
The VP70 combined elements of the past and present with features like its holster/stock harking back the the earliest German automatic pistols while its polymer construction was at the cutting edge of manufacturing techniques in 1970. Production ceased in 1989 but the VP line continues with the unrelated HK VP9.
Military Small Arms, I. Hogg & J. Weeks, (1985)
‘The H&K VP70 Machine Pistol’, Firearms News, L. Thompson, (source)
‘Self-loading pistol with a stock’, US Patent #3861273, 23/06/73, (source)
‘Self-loading pistol having forwardly extending breech slide’, US Patent #3696706, 10/10/72, (source)
‘Self-loading pistol with cocking trigger‘, US Patent #3678800, 25/07/72, (source)
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In 1976, with criminal and terrorist activity on the rise the West German Federal Police launched a search for a new small, lightweight service pistol to replace their stocks of Walther P38/P1′s and various 7.65×17mm pistols.
Entries to the trials included the Walther P5, the HK PSP (P7) and the SIG Sauer P225 (P6). All three pistols performed well and saw various police forces adopt them.
In this week’s Armourer’s Bench video I compare two of the last roller-delayed production rifles: the Spanish CETME Modelo L and the Heckler & Koch G41. These rifles represent the last evolutions of two strands of the roller-delayed development tree - the Spanish and the German.
The rifles while both being chambered in 5.56x45mm and both using roller-delayed blowback actions differ a great deal in both their designs and their features. Not only are their external appearances very different but their internals also differ a great deal. In one of those fascinating quirks of fate, however, both of these rifles were eventually replaced by the HK G36.
Check out the full accompanying article for more info and photos over on the TAB website, here.
I’m very pleased to announce my new book, a colouring book! Featuring such iconic prototypes as the Steyr ACR and the legendary Kraut Space Magic - the HK G11!
Check out my video introducing it here:
Each of the prototype guns is featured with brilliant, original illustrations drawn from my photographs of the actual weapons. Each page includes a short history & description of how the gun worked!
The 8-page booklets are 8x6" (or A5 sized) and are available now from our website for $6.00, plus shipping. There’s also a cool new vinyl G11 sticker too!
The sales of the new TAB merch will go towards supporting the project next year, I really hope you guys like the idea, I think it’s pretty fun!
In this week’s Armourer’s Bench video I take a look at Heckler & Koch’s first 5.56x45mm rifle, the HK33. Introduced in the late 1960s, the HK33 was Heckler & Koch’s response to the emergence of the new 5.56x45mm round and FN’s introduction of the FN CAL. While the HK33 wasn’t adopted by West Germany it proved a popular export rifle and remained into production into the 1980s.
Check out our accompanying blog on the HK33 over at armourersbench.com. If you enjoyed the video and would like to support the project, check out the TAB Patreon page here, we’ve just added come cool new perks.
Thanks for watching, hope you enjoy the video!
- Matt
Hi guys,
In our this week’s Armourer’s Bench video I take a look at Heckler & Koch's first 5.56x45mm rifle, the HK33. Introduced in the late 1960s, the HK33 was Heckler & Koch's response to the emergence of the new 5.56x45mm round and FN's introduction of the FN CAL. While the HK33 wasn't adopted by West Germany it proved a popular export rifle and remained into production into the 1980s.
Check out our accompanying blog on the HK33 over at armourersbench.com. If you enjoyed the video and would like to support the project, check out the TAB Patreon page here, we've just added come cool new perks.
Thanks for watching, hope you enjoy the video!
- Matt
This week’s Armourer’s Bench video marks TAB’s 40th episode. So it’s only fitting that its a live fire video featuring a replica Gerat 06(H), the rifle that began the roller-delayed blowback dynasty which has included Spanish CETMEs and German HK's like the G3 and MP5.
Replicas: The Gerat 06(H) and the gas operated Gerat 06
You can check out my accompanying blog for the video over on the TAB website, here.
Thank you for watching, liking, subscribing and sharing our videos, with YouTube not being at its most helpful at suggesting them to new people, TAB has relied on word of mouth and has grown to nearly 3,500 subscribers!
Perhaps the most famous of Heckler & Koch's designs from the 1980s is the G11 caseless ammunition-firing individual weapon, but another infantry rifle developed by HK in the late 70s and early 80s is almost as rare.
Heckler & Koch developed the G41, as an answer to the M16A2, FN FNC and the Steyr AUG. With NATO adding 5.56x45mm to their list of standard calibres HK needed a new rifle which could use M16 magazines. The result was the G41 which included a number of new features including a forward assist and a new recoil spring. The G41 would be the last infantry service rifle, developed by HK, to use the roller-delayed blowback action that is synonymous with the company.
Check out my new video looking at the G41 below, I discuss the rifle’s design, development and history as well as comparing it side-by-side to its predecessor the HK33. Check out the full video here:
The G11 and G41 couldn't have been more different in design and operation but both both proved to be equally ill-fated. The G11 programme was shelved following the reunification of Germany in 1990 and the G41 struggled to attract sales.
You can also find my full in-depth blog about the G41 over on the Armourer’s Bench site here.
In the early 1980s, with NATO standardising to 5.56x45mm Heckler & Koch, having been preoccupied with the G11 caseless ammunition individual weapon, scrambled to develop a suitable rifle which could be offered to European nations seeking to transition away from 7.62x51mm battle rifles.
The result was the HK G41, a re-development of HK’s favoured roller-delayed blowback action. The G41 had a new lower receiver which enabled it to feed from STANAG magazines rather than the proprietary magazines used by HK’s earlier 5.56x45mm rifle, the HK33.
Heckler & Koch G41 (Matthew Moss)
The G41 proved unsuccessful at cornering the emerging 5.56x45mm market, rejected numerous times, missing out on contracts in Ireland, Sweden and Italy. In Italy, HK entered into a partnership with Lugi Franchi who entered the G41 in Italy’s trials to find a replacement for the BM59.
Franchi submitted the original HK configuration, with Franchi-marked receivers (see image #1), and also the develop their own, slightly modified version, the Franchi Mod. 641 (see image #2). The Mod. 641 had a ribbed front grip, a re-profiled buttstock, an added carrying handle and a new rear sight. It also added a mounting point for a bipod. It retained the G41′s action, its lower receiver and fire control group and forward assist. Franchi’s submissions to the trials proved unsuccessful and the Beretta AR70/90 was eventually selected.
Sources:
Images: 1 2
The World's Assault Rifles, G.P. Johnston & T.B. Nelson, (2016)
Full Circle: A Treatise on Roller Locking, R. Blake Stevens (2006)
Few experimental weapons have cultivated myth and legend like Heckler & Koch’s G11. Affectionately described as ‘Kraut Space Magic’ the G11 is an incredibly complex weapon made up of well over 400 individual parts.
A couple of months ago I had the chance to field strip one and get a look inside. In the latest Armourer’s Bench video I attempt to explain and show you just how the ‘space magic’ works. I field strip the rifle and then take a look at the major assemblies and component parts. It is as complex as you’d imagine!
I’m really excited to share this one with you guys, it took over a week to put together in a way that explains how the rifle works as clearly as possible. I believe this is the very first video to show the internals in detail and attempt to explain just how the mythical beast works. The G11 truly was an extremely complex weapon but it was also an incredible piece of engineering.
I’ve also shared more close up photos of the G11 over on the TAB website, you can check those out here! I hope you enjoy the video, the G11 is a fascinating piece of small arms history. If you haven’t yet please subscribe to the channel, many more videos to come!
The latest Armourer’s Bench video looks at the ‘Spezialkoffer’ or ‘Special Case’ developed by H&K in the late 1970s. It was designed as a discreet, clandestine weapon system designed for personal protection details who wanted to keep things business casual. The ‘Special Case’ offered the firepower of an MP5K in a concealed package which could be brought into action rapidly.
I also put together a full accompanying blog, with more photos, about the ‘Spezialkoffer’ over on the TAB website, check that out here!
Developed by H&K in the late 1970s, the 'Special Case' was designed as a discreet, clandestine weapon system designed for personal protection details. The 'Special Case' offered the firepower of an MP5K in a concealed package which could be rapidly brought into action.
I discuss the history of HK's briefcase gun and take a look at how the MP5K fit inside and how the trigger mechanism worked to allow the gun to be fired.
Check out my full article on it here
Hey guys,
So firstly our next episode is out later today - it’s on the very cool Heckler & Koch Briefcase Gun!
Secondly, Youtube are rolling out a new ‘Premiers’ feature that schedules a video and sends out reminders when it goes live at 10.30PM GMT, 5.30PM EST 2.30PM PST. More importantly the new feature gives you the option of a live chat feature when the video becomes live so you guys can jump into the chat with me and tell me how bad my German pronunciation is in the video!
I think the live chat will be fun if you guys want to ask questions or anything like that - give anything a try once, hope you’ll join me! - Matt
I’m very excited to share the first Armourer’s Bench video looking at the legendary German HK G11. This introductory video is a primer for both future in-depth videos looking at the G11′s incredibly complex action and discussing its history in greater depth but also looking at weapons of the US Army’s Advanced Combat Rifle program.
Check out the video, in which my colleague Vic looks at not one G11, but two and also read my full accompanying article which gives a fairly in-depth introduction to the G11′s design, development and history.
Initially developed at the Centro des Estudios Tecnicos y Materiales Especiales (CETME), the Spanish Modelo A would later evolve into the Heckler & Koch G3. Designed by Ludwig Vorgrimler, the early CETME rifles chambered the proprietary 7.92x40mm CETME round and used a roller-delayed blowback action. This action would be used in rifles chambered in various calibres and form the basis for a whole family of Heckler & Koch designs.
The West German Bundesgrenzschutz first tested a CETME rifle in 1954, with further testing following. The West German’s were extremely interested in the Spanish rifle and when the Bundeswehr was formed in late 1955, the interest in the CETME continued during the eventual West German Army rifle trials. During the Bundeswehr trials the CETME Modelo A, designated the G3, faced off against the FN FAL (G1), SIG 510 (G2) and the Armalite AR-10 (G4). In April 1956, the German defence ministry ordered 400 CETME rifles chambered in the new NATO round for exhaustive testing. In June 1957, in an effort to spread development costs the Spanish licensed the design to Nederland Waapen & Munitiefabrik (NWM) for production and sale in the Netherlands and its territories - some sources suggest they claimed a worldwide license. A month later CETME began negotiations with the West German government to license production in Germany - these negotiations continued until January 1959. In 1961, CETME ended their relationship with NWM and agreed a worldwide manufacture and sales agreement with West Germany.
General Assembly drawing of the CETME G3 (source)
Heckler & Koch partnered with CETME to rechamber the rifle in the newly developed 7.62x51mm round but when this led to cracked receivers a less powerful round with identical dimensions to the new NATO round, the 7.62×51mm CETME, was developed for Spanish service. In the meantime the FN FAL was tentatively selected as the G1. However, when FN refused Germany the rights to manufacture the FAL, the trials resumed.
The trials resulted in a number of changes requested, these included a combination flash hider and grenade launcher, a diopter rather than leaf rear sight, the addition of a spent case deflector, a simpler pistol grip and changes to the selector positioning, buffer system and a more ergonomic charging handle. Most importantly Heckler & Koch refined CETME’s design making it slightly lighter and using better high carbon steel for the receiver, bolt and bolt carrier - this allowed the rifle to fire the hotter NATO round, and the chamber was fluted to aid case extraction.
Later improvements included weight reductions, tweaks to the rifle’s bipod, lighter magazines and a last round hold open device. The improved Heckler & Koch G3 was eventually selected in 1958. The Spanish adopted the Modelo B as the Modelo 58, chambered in 7.62x51mm CETME, the same year. The new G3 and the Modelo B both differed from the Modelo A in that they were lighter and fired solely from a closed bolt. They both retained the earlier rifle’s bipod integrated into the hand guard.
Bundeswehr troops with an MG1 and a G3, c.1960 (source)
Following the Bundeswehr’s selection of the H&K-improved G3 complex negotiations were held involving CETME, the Spanish and German governments and H&K and Rheinmetall. Eventually a manufacturing agreement was signed in February 1959. Massive numbers of rifles were needed, as the Bundeswehr grew to nearly 300,000 men by the late 1960s,and production was assigned to both Rheinmetall and Heckler & Koch to ensure a steady supply of G3s. Each company were given an initial order for 65,000 rifles. The Spanish Army adopted the Modelo C, chambered in NATO’s 7.62x51mm round, in 1965. In 1969 Rheinmetall moved their focus to the MG3 and H&K became the sole German manufacturer of the G3. The G3 continued in German service into the mid 1990s when it was replaced as the Bundeswehr‘s primary service rifle by the G36. The Modelo C was replaced in Spanish service by the 5.56x45mm CETME Modelo L in the late 1980s.
Sources:
Images: 1 2 3 4 5
The World’s Assault Rifles, G.P.Johnston & T.B. Nelson, (2016) Rifles of the World, J. Walter (1993)
My thanks to the ever helpful Dan Watters for providing some detail from Blake Stevens’ Full Circle, which I don’t currently have a copy off.
