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Kongsberg M52: A Line-Throwing Rifle (or Harpoon Gun) (ad-free)
🕑 Added 2023-04-05 12:00:01 +0000 UTCThe Norwegian Kongsberg factory has a history of making firearms-based tools for maritime use, and one of the more recent is the M52 line-throwing gun, introduced in the 1950s and sold through the 1970s. It uses a repurposed Mauser action paired with a new smoothbore barrel and a 12mm blank cartridge to fire a rescue line. A couple of different projectile heads were made, including a floating wooden one, a smaller solid steel one, and rocket-assisted ones to increase the range from about 100 yards to nearly 300 yards. Two versions of the same basic gun were made, one for throwing line (for maritime rescue, firefighting, and construction) and one as a harpoon gun for hunting whales. This example is line thrower, and particularly cool because it includes the complete original case and accessories.
Comments
John Spangler
For a comprehensive look at many different types of line throwing guns see this article from the American Society of Arms Collectors. All sorts of stuff from pistols to shoulder guns, to rockets (small and large) to cannons and mortars. https://americansocietyofarmscollectors.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2015-B111-Line-Throwing-Guns.pdf
Bruce Brodnax
Nerf harpoon, before we had plastic foam... 😁
Steve T.
Very cool, almost a copy of the 1903 line throwing guns we used in the Coast Guard. Prior to the 03, they had one made from a Trapdoor Springfield too.
Thomas Batha
An important thing to note is that line throwing guns are used to send a light line to the ship or shore to be connected with a heavier line to return to the ship and could progress several times until a line of sufficient strength was secured. Larger ships of course used small cannons such as the Lyle Life Saving Gun for longer range and heavier initial lines. Great video Ian.
AC C
Entry 2 in Ian's new Fake Viking Weapons Series. I am not falling for that again!!! Lol.
lanny w robertson
but NO at the Range
Guido Schriewer
right.. never thought about it but one needs quiet a bit of line to cross the distance. wonder who came up how early with that idea. must have been still flintlock. coool case!
