A little hairy to use and very inaccurate, because it fires from an open bolt, but certainly an easily built weapon. Magazine feed is a real problem (it sticks out sideways, people tend to grab it, and the lips of the magazine deform — plus it shows around cover) and it jams pretty easily as well. My dad served with the Brits and they hated the thing - called it the “stench gun” or the “plumber’s helper”.
So long as we're talkin in the hypothetical sense, you know.
Just sayin'...
Next to a single barrel muzzle loader, its the easiest type of gun to produce period.
Open bolt, fixed firing pin. A tube, a spring, a barrel, and a bolt with an extractor on it. People who can't purchase guns, set up and make full-auto weapons because of the ease.
I remember seeing a film about the anti-Nazi Norwegians making these jewels with nothing but hand tools.
You wicked piece of vicious tin!
Call you a gun? Don't make me grin.
You're just a bloated piece of pipe.
You couldn't hit a hunk of tripe.
But when you're with me in the night,
I'll tell you, pal, you're just alright!
Each day I wipe you free of dirt.
Your dratted corners tear my shirt.
I cuss at you and call you names,
You're much more trouble than my dames.
But, boy, do I love to hear you yammer
When you're spitting lead in a business manner.
You conceited pile of salvage junk.
I think this prowess talk is bunk.
Yet if I want a wall of lead
Thrown at some Jerry's head
It is to you I raise my hat;
You're a damn good pal... You silly gat!
- Gunner S.N. Teed
Poem first published ‘The Maple Leaf', a newspaper printed for Canadian troops in Europe.
A simple but not wholly reliable 9mm
Replicated by many countries
The subsequent Sterling is mo better and quite interesting in 7.62x51