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PODCAST: The First Assault Rifle? (Patreon)

Published:
2017-03-13 12:32:15
Imported:
2026-06

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This episode is *mostly* audio friendly so I figured it should go here.   The video does have a lot of other visual aids that do enhance this particuar content quite a bit, however. 

If we're willing to consider the assault rifle in its applied role, and not just by an arbitrary definition, then I propose that the first "assault rifle" in application was the 1860 Henry and the first intermediate cartidge was the 44 Henry Rimfire.

The Henry rifle first saw combat near the end of the US Civil War but rapidly cut a bloody swath via the Indian Wars and throughout the "Old West".

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Comments

Donald Luetkemeyer

I would actually assign that distinction to the Spencer Carbine. Relatively speaking, a lighter, higher capacity weapon using a true BP intermediate cartridge. In application I always have thought of the Henry in terms of a submachine gun.

Donald Luetkemeyer

The Spencer also has a "Select Fire" capability with an available magazine cut off.

Eugene Luder

Years ago American Rifleman had an article about a full auto lever rifle conversion. It had essentially a spoon mounted in front to the muzzle with a hole to the bullet to pass through. The spoon was connected to a spring loaded lever system that operated the action and the lever had a spur that would hit push the trigger as the lever closed. It would empty the gun with one firing but did function.

Eugene Luder

Haven't we been fighting a continuing education battle with the anti gunners that an assault rifle is, by definition, a fully auto firing weapon?

chris rookstool

I read somewhere that the Cubans converted Model 94's to auto rifles. Can't remember anything more.

Jason Mercer

Why do you compare this to an assault rifle rather than the sub machine gun that it far more closely shares ballistics with?

Lee Hetrick

A very nice presentation, Karl. An interesting thesis.

Bruce Quam

The 1866 Winchester was used by the Ottoman Turks vs. the Russians in 1877 at Plevna.

Padraic Kalisek

I think Karl is right on as his thesis is historically accurate. It was an innovation the was both accepted and rejected as the "modern assault rifle" is today. Also remember that up until recently the Russians considered the AK47 a sub machine gun. And the Germans named the STG a machine pistol at first, although the reasoning was different.

phil cole

I'm just waiting for someone in the Australian anti-gun media to pick this up and use it to bolster their current push to have lever action guns banned here. *sigh* (but please don't take this to mean that I don't think you should do these videos)