Forgotten Weapons
How to Classify the H&K MP-7 and FN P90
2020 • E267 Oct 24, 2020
http://www.patreon.com/ForgottenWeapons
https://www.floatplane.com/channel/ForgottenWeapons/home
Cool Forgotten Weapons merch! http://shop.bbtv.com/collections/forgotten-weapons
My recent video (https://youtu.be/5Hrfxu_K9HY) proposing a particular set of definitions for three generations of submachine gun design generated a lot of comments about the H&K MP-7 and FN P90. I focused largely on the first and second generation guns in that video - as they were the bulk of what I had available to use as examples - and I neglected what should have been those two obvious modern examples. To quickly recap:
Gen 1 - The first SMGs, made with primarily milled components to a high standard of craftsmanship and expense.
Gen 2 - The economization of SMGs. Designs using stamped materials at first, and polymer more recently.
Gen 3 - Designs emulating rifle handling. Generally closed bolt, but featuring the controls, layout and handling copied from modern rifle platforms.
I believe that both the MP-7 and P90 are solid examples of what I define as a 3rd generations SMG. The MP-7 takes most of its cues form the G36 rifle, and the P90 takes its from the F2000 rifle. I don't think that the smaller-than-typical calibers used by these guns qualifies them as a new generation, nor does the clever and unusual magazine system of the P90. Neither is quite as perfect of an example as the MP5 in taking virtually every characteristic form a parent rifle design, but I think both are close enough to qualify as Gen 3 submachine guns.
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle #36270
Tucson, AZ 85740
https://www.floatplane.com/channel/ForgottenWeapons/home
Cool Forgotten Weapons merch! http://shop.bbtv.com/collections/forgotten-weapons
My recent video (https://youtu.be/5Hrfxu_K9HY) proposing a particular set of definitions for three generations of submachine gun design generated a lot of comments about the H&K MP-7 and FN P90. I focused largely on the first and second generation guns in that video - as they were the bulk of what I had available to use as examples - and I neglected what should have been those two obvious modern examples. To quickly recap:
Gen 1 - The first SMGs, made with primarily milled components to a high standard of craftsmanship and expense.
Gen 2 - The economization of SMGs. Designs using stamped materials at first, and polymer more recently.
Gen 3 - Designs emulating rifle handling. Generally closed bolt, but featuring the controls, layout and handling copied from modern rifle platforms.
I believe that both the MP-7 and P90 are solid examples of what I define as a 3rd generations SMG. The MP-7 takes most of its cues form the G36 rifle, and the P90 takes its from the F2000 rifle. I don't think that the smaller-than-typical calibers used by these guns qualifies them as a new generation, nor does the clever and unusual magazine system of the P90. Neither is quite as perfect of an example as the MP5 in taking virtually every characteristic form a parent rifle design, but I think both are close enough to qualify as Gen 3 submachine guns.
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle #36270
Tucson, AZ 85740