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The End of the Mamba: A Tale of Manufacturing Incompetence (Ad-free)
🕑 Added 2024-12-20 12:00:06 +0000 UTCThe Mamba was a pistol that had a pretty decent design, but failed because of incompetent manufacturing. Today we are taking a look at a handful of surviving Mambas including the only know Green Mamba, courtesy of Val Forgett at Navy Arms. In addition, we have the minutes of a June 13, 1978 meeting of the whole Mamba team along with the senior Forgett and his factory manager. Those minutes really shed some light on why the project failed so badly. You can download the PDF and read them in full yourself here:
https://www.forgottenweapons.com/the-end-of-the-mamba-a-tale-of-manufacturing-incompetence
Full video on Mamba history and development:
Comments
Kyle
This brings to mind something I figured out a very long time ago: The difference between a plan and an idea is that a plan is shared. An idea is in your head. You cannot execute an idea: No matter how much money you spend trying to. Have an idea, create a plan, share the plan and specifics to all parties. Execute that plan with specified performance expectations. Inshalla will only take you so far and is not a strategy for success in making a physical thing.
Beccaskye
I just finished reading the minutes. They reminded me of the Laurel and Hardy skit of "Whose on First".
Stephen Bukowsky - Blind Squirrel Enterprises
The dramatic reading of the meeting minutes might be my favorite thing you've ever posted. Sitting through a meeting like that makes you feel like a character from Catch 22
Guido Schriewer
that text explains a lot. that bad, huh. how did they expect to sell anything like that...? this best example. man the ejection port is kind of small, isn't it. hey that green snake one could get into a ownes smg sort of yellowgreen look. cool.
Old n Grey Gunner
I've worked at some of those companies that operated like that. Most are now closed or on their way down.
Glenn Miller
What a great episode. Sounds like every meeting ever when the project was way behind schedule and you find out that project staff don't know how to do their jobs and there's no control of changes to the process. Software/hardware - makes no difference, the path to disaster is the same!
Beccaskye
Include ALL Government Projects.
Pat Patterson
Let this be required reading as a Cautionary Tale for future start-ups. That way, SOME value can be squeezed out of the disaster.
