And now for something completely different: Texas-based Rhineland Arms is apparently working on an FG42-style rifle, chambered in 9mm. And, Wolverine Supplies says this oddball firearm (Rhineland calls it the FG9) might be coming to Canada.
The FG42 was one of several innovative firearms the German military fielded in World War II, a select-fire mash-up between a rifle and a light machine gun. The initial design was built for paratroopers, who needed a lot of firepower in a compact package. The Germans did not produce many of these magazine-fed firearms, but they are considered by many to be a technological predecessor of the US's famous M60 machine gun.
Below, you can see Forgotten Weapons' take on this historical firearm:
Head over to YouTube, and you can see several other videos from Forgotten Weapons considering various aspects or variants of the original FG42.
The FG9 is a semi-auto only design from Rhineland Arms with an external resemblance to the FG42, but different internals (a simple blowback design, we'd assume). It is chambered for 9mm, a pistol-calibre cartridge, not the full-power 8mm Mauser of the original FG42. As per Rhineland's website:
"The FG-9 is a 9mm version of the German FG42 rifle with modern features. The carbine uses Ar15 9mm magazines and fire control group. The receiver has a large feed ramp to help feed all bullet types including wide hollowpoints. The rifle has a built in scope rail and modified m-lock on the lower rail for bipods or addition items. All component parts are help in place with HK style push pins for rapid field disassembly. For reservations please contact us, available mid Feb 2022. MSRP $875"
Presumably, these are the same magazines as the 9mm Colt SMG. Note that in the photos, the FG9 comes with provision for adding optics, just like the original FG42 design.
On social media sites, Wolverine says it's already working on bringing these into Canada. How long will it take the RCMP's testing labs to say yea or nay? Stay tuned on that, but when it shows up, expect to convert that $875 US MSRP into CAD, and add a bit extra for the importer/distributor's trouble. Judging by initial online comments, and by the success of the Type 81 LMG, Wolverine would have no trouble selling the FG9 if it came to Canada.
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