History’s marked by its many strange experiments when it comes to military guns. However, not all of those military guns designs were destined for mass production. Some just ended up being their own clever ends, while others though were able to pave the way for future innovations. These 14 military guns were certainly unexpected.
1. Obrez Pistol
This sawed-down Mosin-Nagant rifle, usually cut just past the chamber and stock, is a crude, oversized handgun. These makeshift firearms weren’t factory-produced but rather improvised, making them especially unique.
2. The Infamous “Praying Mantis” Machine Gun Carrier
The “Praying Mantis” was a British wartime design that enabled the crew compartment to reach up to nearly a 60-degree angle. In turn, the machine gun was able to fire its dual Brens over obstacles.
3. The Bicycle Machine Gun
This Italian Bersaglieri machine gunner with a Fiat Revelli M1914 machine gun was mounted on a Bianchi Model 1912 bicycle. The setup was circa 1918.
4. The Water-Cooled Standschütze Hellriegel M1915
Hailing from 1915, this Austro-Hungarian water-cooled machine gun was a prototype developed during World War I. It was unusually large and included a water-filled jacket around the barrel.
5. Yes, a Literal Gun Sword
The 1913 Patton Saber gun-sword was an experimental hybrid that combined Patton’s thrusting cavalry saber with a Colt 1911 pistol built into the guard. Only a few prototypes were made, making it one of the rarest and most unusual weapon experiments of the early 20th century.
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6. The Unprecedented Triple Lewis Gun Mount
Rotating machine guns sounds pretty advanced for 1918, which is why this one was experimental.
7. Sedgley OSS .38 Fist Gun
This (literal) handheld gun fired if you punched someone. So unsuspecting!
8. Gyrojet Gun
Made in the USA, this semi-automatic pistol fired rocket-propelled ammunition.
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9. A Literal Punt Gun
This massive shotgun often exceeded one gauge in diameter and could take out 50 ducks at once.
10. The Owen SMG Prototype
In 1938, Australian inventor Evelyn Owen built his first prototype submachine gun using parts from a .22 rifle, a homemade thumb trigger, and a drum magazine ingeniously fashioned from a car crankshaft balancer. Initially dismissed by the military, the design eventually caught interest, leading to the development of the famous Owen Gun in 1941.
11. XM556 Machine Gun
This compact, man-portable rotary machine gun is essentially a scaled-down version of the M134 Minigun. Designed for high firepower in a smaller package, it boasts extreme rates of fire.
12. The Sputter Gun
The Sputter Gun was a crude, semi-homemade firearm sold in the U.S. during the 1960s that fired .22 caliber rounds without a trigger mechanism. Instead, it operated by manually pulling back and releasing the bolt, causing it to “sputter” shots in slam-fire fashion until the magazine was empty.
13. Cemetery Guns
Cemetery guns were 18th- and 19th-century security devices designed to deter grave robbers. Mounted near fresh graves, they were essentially spring-loaded, tripwire-activated firearms that discharged when disturbed, scaring off or injuring would-be robbers.
14. The Davis Gun
The Davis Gun was the world’s first practical recoilless gun. During World War I, the U.S. Navy mounted it on F5L flying boats for anti-submarine missions. Its design used a counterweight of grease and lead shot to offset recoil, allowing the massive weapon to be fired from relatively lightweight aircraft.
Wondering about other guns in history now?
Take a look at 10 Classic American Guns That Are Still Popular Today, along with 10 Historic Guns That Sold for Sky-High Prices. You might also enjoy 11 Self-Defense Gadgets People Actually Used in the Past.
