Ask Ian: Why So Few Reproduction Historic Guns? (ad-free)

I think those were still made into the 1980’s as the P1 so the tooling might still exist.

Michael Quinn

But that was sort of Ian's point.

Larry Schwartz

No, it's its own kettle o' fish. More "meme gun" than true repro, since no part of it fits an original...

Bruce Brodnax

Recent examples of reintroduction are Springfield and FN versions of the Browning Hi-power, and the Colt Python. These are updates, rather than reproductions, due to modernized features or improved materials. Do they sell well? Probably not as hoped. I haven't seen either Hi-power in shops, while the price of the Python remains in the display case.

EyeBall

An original FG42 costs more than many houses ;-)

Nick Beckwith

The Brownell's BRN-180 is another example of a repro gun.

Larry Schwartz

How about the 1898 Standard Pistol in 9mm Nato instead of 7.63 Mauser? I think Ian would go for this Pistol!

Stephen T. Goode Jr

What about an m40 reproduction? Simple blowback, easy caliber, mp40 mags aren't unobtainable but you still might want to consider colt smg mags or uzi mags. Seems more doable than most.

Michael Quinn

I would be quite happy to own a good reproduction knowing that I can take it out everyday and shoot it at my leisure for my entertainment!!! 🤠👍 P.s. It does not have to be Exact for me to be happy!!

Paul Beck

I really enjoy watching and learning from your videos. I would love to have original guns in all of the above, but the funds are not available. So for me reproduction guns are fine. I might not get the whole experience, but I get a little bit of it.

Cowboy guns are not immune from production and QC difficulties, due in part to weaknesses in the original designs. The Colt Lightning replicas come to mind. So does the topbreak Smith and Wesson. David Chicoine wrote in some detail about the mechanical problems encountered by Armi San Marco when they built the first Cimarron labeled Schofields. Bottom line: don't expect, say, a modern repro Merwin and Hulbert DA any time soon.

ViejoLobo

Sorry fairly decent examples.

Seamus Curran

I don't believe at least the P-38 would be economical for a reproduction. poking around on gunbroker you can actually find fairly examples for the mid to high 100's of $ as long as you don't mind post-war West German Production.

Seamus Curran

Okay but closed-bolt changes the gun in fundamental ways, increases the cost and engineering alot more than I think you realize, and even though it would probably be necessary to get past the ATF will make the guns less desirable.

Seamus Curran

My desire to have reproductions of significant firearms from the past is mostly based on watching your channel. I was relatively ignorant of firearm history until I began bingeing FORGOTTEN WEAPONS and then, at your suggestion, C&RSENAL. I’d love a Walther P-38 or Webley VI copy, but thanks for making me aware of them in the first place!

ERB2

Cowboy guns are different they can look and function as they should. I don't want a fully semi auto machine gun. I want the real thing

I am surprised you did not mention the plethora of repro cowboy guns and why they have been so successful in spite of all that you said.

I feel like a Sten repro would be doable. Common caliber. You could use colt 9mm mags. I imagine not much engineering would be needed to produce, even if they converted it to closed bolt. A company like psa could probably produce it at a scale where it would cost ~$800 or less and that would be appealing to a wide audience I feel like. I know there were those valkyrie arms ones but ive never actually heard of anyone who had one.

Ryan Sponauer

The main reason I could see for building reproduction STG44s or FG42s is because the originals are select fire, the repros can be semi only and thus easier to buy and own. Plus, you wouldn't have to worry too much about burning rounds through a gun worth more than most cars. Of course, the demand vs. production costs will generally keep the costs higher, but not as high as NFA originals.

Ian F

I think the M1917 Enfield receiver could be resurrected as a scopeable sporting rifle simply because it's such a good mechanism. If they wanted to bring it back fully original with sight ears, I guess that would be OK too. What I'd truly like to see is an early WWI pattern SMLE with all the bits and bobs that were removed in 1916 to save production cost. This might have some good marketability simply because, for all practical purposes, attrition consumed all the originals.

Erik

The original over the copy is what I’d prefer….but only if the original sells for less than $10,000! (PSA is, once again, sticking their financial neck out on a new project. I hope their StG-44 project is a success. They picked an interesting and iconic piece, but one that will be harder to sell than their 9mm AK.)

Jack Wakeland

Re. Mr. Wumbo's on reproducing a copy of the German StG44, this rifle like many other German products is over engineered. I've got a machinist drawing of the StG44. It has a lot more parts than either the M16 or the AK47. So any reproduction of it is going to cost more than copy of an AR15 or and AK47 in spite of it's sheet metal receiver.

Kerwin Kerr

It helps that it's a small number of iconic designs that existed before modern machine tools. You don't need super advanced tooling because they didn't back then either - though it sure helps with scaling.

Norman A. Letterman

Gotta consider the only thing that makes most guns affordable is mass production. When you can build machinetools and crank out thousands of copies, the individual price falls down a cliff. Reality is that the number of people interested in paying for a replica is small and doesn't justify it. Nevermind when replica manufacturers shoot themselves in the forehead for no reason (see : USFA).

Norman A. Letterman

Lugerman stuff seems a niche. as those 45 and 10 are sort of an own twist to it.

Guido Schriewer

Where it seems to have worked is guns of the American West. Original Colts, Smiths, Winchesters and Sharps are all readily available, but there have probably been more reproductions made than originals.

man they could at least do the less complicated ones. say like 80s uzi semi carbines. stens. there is this FG 42 repro... 8000€ a mag I think 170. that is a complicated gun again though.

Guido Schriewer

I was somewhat fond of the near external replica rimfire clones. GSG did a nice STG and was very affordable. An affordable rimfire (17HMR?) replica of the SVD Dragunov There was a 22 FAMA clone based off of the Italian Jager 22 AK

Kenneth Marshall

Id say that makes sense. There are people that prefer old guns over modern guns but that pool also would have to be the people that prefer old guns, but also are okay with buying a reproduction one as opposed to the real gun its based on. Some people would be on the fence about buying a repo stg-44 when they may have the money to buy a real one. And in my opinion, I'd rather have an original over a copy.

Ben Wumbo