The loss of modern infantry weapons

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by kalos72

Targan - You seem to know alot about the physical aspects of the weapons, could you make an M16 out of recycled/smelted steel given a good machine shop and skill?

I confess I only have very limited armorer experience, but I wouldn't want to try to reproduce an M-16 in a primitive shop. You'd have better luck with those old hardy Russian SMGs or even an AK-47.

I once read a book (or maybe it was a short story?) where some time travelers went back in time to try to allow the Confederacy to win (no, not Turtledove's superb Guns of the South). What was the war-winning item they took with them? Plans for modern gunpowder, and especially, plans for the Sten SMG. That's a weapon that could be reproduced pretty easily. They introduced it to JEB Stuart as a weapon for his cavalry forces, and an SMG would be excellent for horse-borne forces.