All language subtitles for World of Weapons S01E04 Weapons for All

THEY ARE THE
TOOLS OF HUMAN CONFLICT,

AND SURVIVAL.

INGENIOUS,

POWERFUL,

DESTRUCTIVE.

FROM THE ANCIENT TO THE MODERN,

WAR WEAPONS COMPRISE AN
EVER-EVOLVING ARSENAL

THAT'S TRANSFORMED COMBAT,

HELPED BUILD EMPIRES,

DESTROY THEM, AND
DETER AGGRESSION.

THIS SERIES HIGHLIGHTS SOMEOF THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT

AND INNOVATIVE WEAPONS

THROUGH UNIQUE EXPERIMENTS.

Machnau: I'M READY TO FIRE.

WE EXPLORE
HOW AND WHY THEY WORK.

IT'S LIKE A
NUCLEAR WEAPON.

WHAT PROBLEMS
THEY SOLVE ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

IF THAT GOES OFF
THIS COULD BE SERIOUS.

AND
GIVE FRESH INSIGHT.

LET'S GO!

INTO
THEIR ROLE IN HISTORY.

YOU'RE IN A
MINEFIELD, STOP!

THREE WEAPONS
HAVE SEEN USE IN WAR

BECAUSE OF THEIR SIMPLICITY
AND EASE OF HANDLING.

THIS WEAPON, THE PIKE,

IS ONE OF THE FIRST
CREATED FOR WARFARE.

DURING THE MIDDLE AGES,
IT COULD BE DEADLY

IN THE HANDS OF ORDINARY
MEN AGAINST CAVALRY.

BUT IN THE CLASSICAL ERA,
IT WAS CALLED A SARISSA

AND USED PRINCIPALLY
TO ATTACK INFANTRY.

THE BATTLE OF ISSUS, 333 BC.

PERSIAN KING DARIUS THE THIRD

CONFRONTS THE MACEDONIAN
RULER, ALEXANDER.

AN UNEVEN SHOWDOWN,
OR SO IT APPEARS.

BUT BESIDES A HEAVY CAVALRY

AND INFANTRY IN
PHALANX FORMATION,

ALEXANDER HAS ANOTHER
ACE UP HIS SLEEVE,

A WEAPON INVENTED BY HIS FATHER,

PHILIP THE SECOND OF MACEDON.

THEY WERE USING
VERY LONG PIKES

AND IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT
THEY MAINTAINED COHESION

AND THEY ALL FOUGHT
IN THE SAME WAY.

THE TEMPTATION TO
PUT THE PIKE DOWN

AND FIGHT WITH THE SWORD
HAD TO BE RESISTED.

ALEXANDER'S
TROOPS HAVE UNDERGONE

EXTENSIVE SARISSA TRAINING.

AT EIGHTEEN FEET LONG,

THESE WOODEN SPEARS PROVE
TO BE A TERRIFYING WEAPON,

EVEN MORE SO WHEN
USED IN A FORMATION

WITH HUNDREDS OF
SKILLED WARRIORS.

IN THE BATTLE OF
ISSUS, THE SARISSA

GIVES THE MACEDONIANS
A TACTICAL ADVANTAGE.

IT ENABLES YOU TO KEEP
THE ENEMY AT A DISTANCE.

AND AS LONG AS YOU
MAINTAIN FORMATION,

YOU CAN PRESS THE
ENEMY BACKWARDS.

HE SIMPLY CANNOT GET
CLOSE TO YOU TO ATTACK.

SO YOU'RE USING
YOUR RANGE OF ACTION

TO DRIVE THE ENEMY
OFF THE BATTLEFIELD.

ALEXANDER AND
THE MACEDONIANS PREVAIL.

DARIUS LOSES THE BATTLE.

THE ONCE INVINCIBLE
PERSIAN EMPIRE IS DEFEATED,

A TURNING POINT IN HISTORY.

THE SARISSA REMAINS A
CHARACTERISTIC WEAPON

OF THE HELLENISTIC WORLD.

IT'S ONLY AFTER THE ROMANS
DEFEAT THE MACEDONIANS

THAT THE LONG SPEAR
FALLS BY THE WAYSIDE.

BUT MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS
LATER, IN THE MIDDLE AGES,

IT'S REDISCOVERED, AND
RETURNS TO THE BATTLEFIELD.

NYKOØBING FALSTER, DENMARK.

ON THE SITE OF A
RECONSTRUCTED MEDIEVAL TOWN,

EXPERTS STUDY HISTORICAL
TECHNOLOGIES AND WEAPONRY.

DURING THE MIDDLE AGES,

THE SARISSA IS NOW
CALLED THE PIKE.

WEAPONS EXPERT MIKE LOADES

KNOWS THE PIKE IS A DEVASTATING
WEAPON IN GREAT NUMBERS.

THE PIKE IS
PROBABLY ONE OF THE

SIMPLEST WEAPONS EVER DEVISED.

IT'S NO MORE THAN A LONG
POLE WITH A SHARP HEAD.

ON ITS OWN THOUGH, IT'S
NOT A VERY USEFUL WEAPON.

ON ITS OWN, AS SOON AS
SOMEBODY IS INSIDE THAT POINT,

THEY CAN ATTACK YOU AND
IT'S CLUMSY TO FIGHT WITH.

BUT IT WASN'T USED ON ITS OWN.

IT WAS USED WITH
THOUSANDS OF OTHER PIKES.

IT WAS USED IN A
FOREST OF PIKES.

A TYPICAL PIKEWEIGHS BETWEEN 13 AND 17 POUNDS.

THE SHAFT CAN BE AS MUCH
AS TWENTY FEET LONG.

ONE END IS EITHER SHARPENED

OR CAPPED WITH AN
IRON SPEARHEAD.

THE PIKE IS AN
EXTREMELY LONG WEAPON.

IT HAD DIFFERENT LENGTHS AT
DIFFERENT TIMES IN HISTORY,

BUT IT WAS ALWAYS USED
BY MASS FORMATIONS.

MIKE WILL
SHOW HOW EASY IT IS

TO MANUFACTURE A PIKE.

IS IT REALLY A WEAPON
THAT ANYONE CAN MAKE?

IT'S SO SIMPLE.

I JUST TOOK THIS SAPLING
FROM THE WOODS OUTSIDE

AND ALL I HAVE TO DO
IS STRIP OFF THE BARK.

IT'S GOT A NATURAL TAPER AND
IT'S REALLY VERY BASIC WORK.

MOST PROFESSIONAL ARMIES
USED AN IRON PIKE HEAD.

THE SOLDIERS
OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

HAD NO USE FOR A LONG
WOODEN SPEAR IN COMBAT.

IT WOULD TAKE A FAMOUS
BATTLE IN THE 13TH CENTURY

TO RESURRECT ITS VALUE
AS A TACTICAL WEAPON.

SCOTLAND, STIRLING BRIDGE.

THIS IS WHERE SCOTTISH
INDEPENDENCE FIGHTERS

FACE THE ROYAL ENGLISH FORCES
ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 1297.

THEIR LEADER IS WILLIAM WALLACE.

HOLLYWOOD HAS IMMORTALIZED WALLACE IN THE MOVIE BRAVEHEART.

THE SCOTS ARE FIGHTING
A DESPERATE BATTLE

AGAINST THE HEAVILY
ARMED ENGLISH.

MANY OF THE SCOTTISH WARRIORS
ARE LOW-BORN COMMONERS

WITH LITTLE MILITARY TRAINING.

WALLACE DEVISES A
NEW COMBAT FORMATION

DURING THE INDEPENDENCE
WARS, THE SCHILTRON.

UP TO TWO THOUSAND
SCOTSMEN FORM A SHIELD WALL

WITH THEIR PIKES,

READY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES
FROM ALL SIDES.

THE ENGLISH ATTACKERS

STAND LITTLE CHANCE OF
BREAKING THROUGH IT.

AS A GUERILLA FIGHTER
WILLIAM WALLACE WAS SUPREME

BUT AT STIRLING
BRIDGE HE HAD TO FACE

A MASSIVE ENGLISH ARMY IN
THE FIELD IN PITCHED BATTLE.

AND IN PITCHED BATTLE THE
SCOTS WERE THE UNDERDOGS.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE THIS
FULL-TIME TRAINED ARMY.

BUT HE HAD MANY MEN WHO'D
FLOCKED TO HIS CAUSE.

AND WHAT HE DID VERY QUICKLY
WAS TRAIN THEM TO USE THE PIKE,

THE WEAPON OF THE COMMON MAN.

IS IT REALLY
POSSIBLE TO TRAIN PEOPLE

TO BECOME PIKEMEN QUICKLY?

MIKE CONDUCTS AN EXPERIMENT:
15 INDIVIDUALS, ALL BEGINNERS.

TRAINING TIME: ONE DAY.

GO, TAKE UP YOUR PIKES.

HOLD THEM VERTICALLY
AND REASSEMBLE HERE! GO!

USUALLY,
PIKES WERE ONLY DEPLOYED

BY MEN ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

IN THIS EXPERIMENT,
WOMEN ALSO TAKE PART.

THAT WAS VERY
NICE, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE

YOU WERE IN A SHOE SHOP

SELECTING WHICH SIZE
WAS GONNA FIT YOU.

I WANT YOU TO RUN AT THE
DOUBLE AND GET A PIKE

AND GET BACK HERE.

GO AND PUT THEM
BACK FOR THE MOMENT.

COME BACK AND WE START AGAIN.

AT THE DOUBLE COLLECT
YOUR PIKES, GO!

THE SECOND
TIME, THEY'RE STILL LEARNING.

BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH THE
THING'S VERY, VERY UNWIELDY

WHILE YOU TRY TO CARRY IT.

SO, YOU GOTTA KEEP
IT IN BOTH HANDS

AND BE AWARE OF WHERE THE END
IS AGAINST ANY OTHER PEOPLE.

OR THE TREES OR I GUESS
YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO USE IT

INSIDE BECAUSE OF THE ROOF.

WHEN STANDING IT'S
VERY COMFORTABLE.

BUT ACTUALLY, GETTING IT UP
AND GETTING IT INTO POSITION

IS KIND OF UNCOMFORTABLE.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING I
HAVE EVER DONE BEFORE.

IT'S A VERY LONG STICK.

I'M A VERY SMALL PERSON
AND IT'S A BIT UNWIELDY

THE FIRST TIME YOU PICK IT UP.

THE PROBLEM WITH PIKE
TRAINING IS TO USE A PIKE,

YOU NEED TO BE VERY
STRONG AND VERY FIT.

THIS IS A LONG, HEAVY
WEAPON AND HOLDING IT UP

IN ITS PROPER POSITION IS
PHYSICALLY VERY DEMANDING.

MOST PEOPLE TODAY WOULD
LAST ABOUT FIVE MINUTES

WITH A PIKE BEFORE
THEY COLLAPSED.

AND THEN TO DO THAT WHILE YOU'REMARCHING ACROSS THE GROUND,

WHICH IS BROKEN OR
PERHAPS SLIPPERY,

IS VERY DEMANDING INDEED.

THREE PACES FORWARD.

ONE, TWO, THREE, TO
YOUR RIGHT, TURN!

HOLD YOUR PIKE NATASHA!

LIFT IT UP LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

YES SIR!

ABOUT TURN.

NO!

THIS IS RIGHT TURN.

THIS IS ABOUT FACE!

ABOUT TURN!

YES!

YOU LOOK LIKE A MACHINE.

ALL THE COGS ARE IN SYNC
AND GOING THE RIGHT WAY.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE
IN A STRAIGHT LINE.

YOU ARE NO LONGER INDIVIDUALS.

YOU ARE COGS IN MY MACHINE.

FRONT RANK, CHARGE!

GOOD, REAR RANK.

YOUR MAIN JOB IS TO BRING
YOUR SPEARS IN BETWEEN.

THE NEWLY
-TRAINED PIKEMEN,

IN FINAL FORMATION
FOR THE FIRST TIME.

IT'S A BIT HARD
BUT I FEEL STRONG.

I'M A SHORT GIRL SO WHEN I HAVE

A FOUR-METER STICK IN
MY HAND IT'S A BIT WOBBLY

BUT WHEN YOU ARE
STANDING LIKE THIS

IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE STURDY.

IT'S GOOD.

SO YOU'RE THE SCOTTISH
ARMY WAITING PATIENTLY

AT STIRLING BRIDGE.

I AM THE ENGLISH CAVALRY ABOUT
TO COME BEARING DOWN ON YOU.

NOW MIKE IS GOING
TO TEST THE GROUP'S RESPONSE

TO A FRONTAL ATTACK.

GOOD JOB.

THAT IS VERY VERY INTIMIDATING.

ACTUALLY, IMAGINING THIS

WITH THOUSANDS OF
OTHER SPEAR BEARERS

IT MUST BE INSANE FOR
ANYBODY WHO WILL CHARGE THIS.

HE MUST BE COMPLETELY INSANE.

BY THE END WHEN I WAS
RUNNING DOWN AT THEM,

THAT WAS QUITE
INTIMIDATING FOR ME BECAUSE

THEY WERE WORKING
LIKE ONE SINGLE BRAIN

BRINGING THOSE UP TOGETHER.

THERE WAS NO ONE,
TWO, THREE, FOUR.

IT WAS UP IN ONE.

ON THAT
SEPTEMBER DAY IN 1297,

AN ARMY OF PIKE
-WIELDING COMMONERS

DEFEATED THE ENGLISH FORCES.

FOR A BRIEF MOMENT,

THE DREAM OF SCOTTISH
INDEPENDENCE SEEMED POSSIBLE.

WILLIAM WALLACE REMAINS

A SCOTTISH NATIONAL
HERO TO THIS DAY.

THE SECRET OF THE PIKE'S
SUCCESS IS NOT ITS DESIGN,

BUT IN ITS EFFECTIVE
USE BY A MILITARY UNIT.

ONE SINGLE PIKEMAN DOES NOT
STAND A CHANCE IN BATTLE.

BUT A COORDINATED WALL OF
PIKES IS HARD TO DEFEAT.

Nixon: TEAM SPIRIT IS
IMPORTANT IN MANY JOBS,

IN MANY WALKS OF LIFE.

BUT THE DIFFERENCE IN
THE ARMY IS THAT IT'S

A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
LIFE OR DEATH.

A TEAM WILL MAKE THEM DO
THE JOB MORE EFFICIENT,

QUICKER AND SAFER.

AND IF THEY CAN'T
RELY ON THEIR TEAM,

THEY KNOW THAT THAT CAN
RESULT IN THEM BEING KILLED.

SO, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
TRUST IN YOUR TEAM,

TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT YOU
HAVE THE TEAM BEHIND YOU

IS ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE
WITHIN AN ARMY SETTING.

THAT
TRUST IN EACH OTHER,

AS PROVED BY WILLIAM WALLACE

AND THE SCOTSMEN
AT STIRLING BRIDGE,

CAN PRODUCE A VICTORY
AGAINST A MORE POWERFUL FOE.

BY THE THIRTY YEARS' WAR,

THREE CENTURIES AFTER THE
BATTLE AT STIRLING BRIDGE,

BOOKS ON MILITARY
DRILLS BECOME PROMINENT.

AMONG THEM, "THE ART
OF INFANTRY WARFARE"

BY A GERMAN WRITER,

DETAILING MOVEMENT
SEQUENCES AND FORMATIONS.

OVER TIME, MILITARY
DRILLS TRANSFORM A MAN

FROM A CIVILIAN TO A SOLDIER,

FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE
PRUSSIAN ARMIES.

MARCHING, STANDING AT
ATTENTION, FIRING A WEAPON,

EVERY ACTION WAS
PRACTICED REPEATEDLY.

THANKS TO THEIR TRAINING,
PRUSSIAN SOLDIERS RANKED

AMONG THE BEST FIGHTERS IN
THE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES.

PROFESSIONAL ARMIES
USE DRILL TO MAXIMIZE

THEIR COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS.

THE PRUSSIAN GOOSE STEP IS A
CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF A DRILL.

THOSE ARE NOT DRILLS
FOR THE BATTLEFIELD.

THEY'RE DRILLS TO
INSTILL THE COHESION

AND THE SYNERGY BETWEEN ALL
OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT GROUP.

THEY ARE ALL DOING THOSE
DIFFICULT THINGS TOGETHER.

WHEN YOU ASK THEM TO DO
A SIMPLE THING UNDER FIRE,

UNDER STRESS, ON
THE BATTLEFIELD,

THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

BACK TO
MIKE LOADES' PIKEMEN.

THIS TIME HE'LL SIMULATE
ANOTHER KIND OF ATTACK.

WELL I THINK YOU
ALL DID EXTREMELY WELL.

NOW WE NEED TO TEST YOU
AGAINST THE REAL THING.

I THINK JUST A STICK
CAN GIVE YOU A FAIR BIT

OF EXTRA SECURITY.

PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE
NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

IF YOU'RE COMPLETELY
FRESH OFF THE FARM.

IT'S SOMETHING BETWEEN
YOU AND THE HORSE.

DESPITE ONLY
A FEW HOURS TRAINING,

THE FORMATION REMAINS INTACT.

THAT'S A VERY
INTIMIDATING SIGHT.

VERY VERY DIFFICULT TO
GET A HORSE THROUGH THAT.

YOU ALL FEEL PRETTY
SECURE I AM GUESSING?

YOU ALL FEEL PRETTY SAFE.

SEBASTIAN, YOU'RE FEELING SAFE?

FEELING SAFE?

NOT WORRIED, NICKY?

NOT WORRIED AT ALL
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?

WHETHER THEY ARE BEING ATTACKED
BY CAVALRY OR BY INFANTRY.

THAT PIKE BLOCK IS A REALLY
DEVASTATING MILITARY MACHINE.

PIKEMEN BECAME
A FIXTURE IN EUROPEAN WARFARE

FROM THE LATE MIDDLE AGES
UNTIL THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY
SAW THE RISE OF LARGER,

STATE-RUN, PAID ARMIES OF SOLDIERS, ALONG WITH AN INCREASE

OF MERCENARIES TO
FILL THE RANKS.

AS THE OLD FEUDAL
ORDER BREAKS UP,

WARS ARE FOUGHT BY NATIONAL
ARMIES MADE UP OF SOLDIERS

WHO ARE NATIVE-BORN
CITIZENS AND MERCENARIES.

EARLY MODERN
STATES, MODERN STATES,

BEGIN TO RECRUIT
THEIR OWN PEOPLE.

THEY COULD BE MERCENARIES,

THEY COULD BE NATIVES
OF THE COUNTRY,

BUT THEY'RE RECRUITED
DIRECTLY AND THEY'RE NOW

OWNED BY THE STATE.

THAT CHANGES THINGS.

IT MEANS THAT THE
RECRUITING POOL IS WIDENED,

AND YOU CAN RECRUIT FROM AREAS
WHERE THERE ARE NO KNIGHTS.

FOR WHOEVER PAYS THE BEST.

IF THERE'S NO WAR, OR
IF THEIR FIELD COMMANDER

HAS GONE BANKRUPT, THESE
SOLDIERS-FOR-HIRE OFTEN GO

FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY,
MURDERING AND PLUNDERING.

THEIR AVAILABILITY ALSO PRESENTS

NEW LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES
FOR ARMY COMMANDERS.

MANY OF THE
MERCENARIES BRING ALONG

THEIR WIVES AND CHILDREN
WHO MUST ALSO BE FED.

BY THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY,
THE PIKEMEN FROM SWITZERLAND

HAVE EARNED A GREAT
REPUTATION AS FIGHTERS.

WITH HALBERDS, AN IMPROVED
VERSION OF THE PIKE,

THEY CAN BE DEPLOYED
OFFENSIVELY.

MANY RULERS ENLIST THE HELP

OF THEIR OWN
PERSONAL SWISS GUARD.

AND THEY STILL PROVIDE
ACTIVE SERVICE TO THIS DAY,

IN THE VATICAN.

THE LEGACY OF
THAT IS THAT THE POPE

STILL HAS SWISS GUARDSMEN

DRESSED UP IN 16TH
CENTURY UNIFORM

AS HIS SECURITY SYSTEM.

THIS ON THE ONE
HAND IS LAUGHABLE,

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND IT'S
ACTUALLY VERY PRACTICAL

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T MISS THEM.

THEY'RE VERY OBVIOUS AND
THEY DO HAVE A HALBERD,

WHICH IS QUITE AN UNPLEASANT
INSTRUMENT, EVEN A BLUNT ONE.

SO THE SWISS GUARD
REMIND US OF AN AGE

WHEN MERCENARY SOLDIERS WERE
A CRITICAL PART OF ALL ARMIES.

AND IT'S ONLY AFTER THE
RISE OF NATION-STATES

AND THE IDEA THAT YOU
ACTUALLY HAD A HOMOGENOUS

NATIONAL ARMY, WHICH IS
ACTUALLY QUITE A MODERN IDEA.

THE PIKE,
A LONG WOODEN SPEAR

WITH AN IRON HEAD.

SIX HUNDRED YEARS AGO,

IT BRINGS ABOUT PROFOUND
CHANGES ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

AND, IN THE HANDS OF
EVER-LARGER INFANTRY ARMIES,

HELPED LEAD TO THE
DOWNFALL OF KNIGHTS.

THE PIKE HAS LEFT ITS MARK.

IN ITS HEYDAY, THIS
CLOSE-COMBAT WEAPON WAS

AN INTEGRAL PART OF EVERY
SOLDIER'S EQUIPMENT.

EVEN IN THE AGE OF FIREARMS,
IT WAS USED TO DEFEND

MUSKETEERS AND ARTILLERY
AGAINST CAVALRY ATTACK.

BUT LONG BEFORE FIREARMS,
ANOTHER EASY-TO-OPERATE

RANGED WEAPON DECIDES THE
OUTCOME OF ENTIRE WARS,

THE CROSSBOW.

ITS INGENIOUS DESIGN
MAKES IT DANGEROUS.

EUROPE IN THE EARLY
FIFTEENTH CENTURY.

THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR
BETWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND

IS IN FULL SWING.

BOTH SIDES USE THE CROSSBOW
AS A RANGED WEAPON.

IT QUICKLY TURNS TRADESMEN,
CRAFTSMEN, MERCHANTS,

AND YEOMAN FARMERS INTO
BATTLEFIELD WARRIORS.

Nixon: IN THIS CASE YOU'VE GOT

THE OPPORTUNISTIC
WEAPON THAT IS EASY.

IT'S AVAILABLE AND
PRETTY MUCH ANYBODY

CAN PICK UP AND USE IT.

THEREFORE, IT CREATES A
SITUATION THAT AT ANY FIGHT,

AT ANY GIVEN TIME IT'S A WEAPON

THAT CAN BE USED BY EVERYONE.

PUCHBERG, AUSTRIA,
IS HOME TO A MAN FAMILIAR

WITH THE SECRETS OF
THE MEDIEVAL CROSSBOW.

ANDREAS BICHLER RESEARCHES
AND BUILDS HISTORICAL WEAPONS.

HE KNOWS HOW THE CROSSBOW
REVOLUTIONIZED EUROPEAN WARFARE

FROM ONE THOUSAND TO
TWELVE HUNDRED A.D.

A WEAPON THAT TOOK DOWN
EXPERIENCED KNIGHTS

FROM THEIR HORSES.

THE CRAFTSMANSHIP
OF THE OLD CLASSICS

IS JUST FASCINATING.

JUST THINK ABOUT THE
TECHNICAL SOPHISTICATION,

NEEDED TO CONSTRUCT

AND MANUFACTURE SUCH
HIGH-TECH WEAPONS,

ESPECIALLY AT THAT TIME, AT
THE END OF THE MIDDLE AGES,

IN THE 15TH CENTURY.

IN HIS
WORKSHOP, BICHLER WORKS ON

DIFFERENT CROSSBOW VARIANTS,

BASED ON SURVIVING
HISTORICAL MODELS.

THE MANUFACTURING
PRINCIPLE IS SIMPLE.

EVERY CROSSBOW NEEDS A FRAME,
CALLED A TILLER OR STOCK.

BICHLER THEN PLACES
A BOW ONTO THE STOCK.

THIS CROSSBOW MODEL IS MADE OF
WOOD AND HAS A WAXED STRING.

A CRUCIAL PART OF THE
TRIGGER MECHANISM IS THIS

ROLLER NUT, WHICH IS
TYPICALLY MADE OF ANTLER.

THE NUT, THIS
CYLINDRICAL PAWL,

IS PLACED INSIDE A SLOT

WITHIN THE STOCK
WHERE IT CAN ROTATE.

THIS WAS CALLED A LOCK
IN THE MIDDLE AGES.

SO HOW DOES IT WORK?

THE TRIGGER BAR, THE KEY SO
TO SPEAK, ATTACHES TO THE NUT,

THERE IS A CAVITY IN THE NUT
FOR IT, AND ONCE YOU PULL IT,

THE ROLLER NUT BEGINS TO ROTATE,

AND THE BOW STRING
CAN BE RELEASED.

THIS IS ONE OF THE
LAST STEPS NECESSARY

TO FINISH THE CROSSBOW.

BY WINDING THE ROPE
AROUND LIKE THIS,

YOU LINK THE BOW
TIGHTLY WITH THE SOCKET.

SIMPLE CROSSBOWS
WERE ALREADY MANUFACTURED

IN THE MIDDLE AGES.

WEIGHT, ABOUT 6
AND A HALF POUNDS.

RANGE, NEARLY A THOUSAND FEET.

BUT THEY'RE MOST EFFECTIVE AT
A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 250 FEET.

THEY WERE USED FROM
AN ELEVATED POSITION

TO EQUIP AND DEFEND
WALL-WALKS OR TOWERS.

BUT CROSSBOWS
PRE-DATE THE MEDIEVAL ERA.

IT'S AMONG THE FIRST WEAPONS
IN HISTORY TO BE MASS-PRODUCED.

AS NATIONS AND
STATES GET BIGGER,

THE ARMIES THEY
DEPLOY GET BIGGER

AND THE DEMANDS THEY HAVE
ON THEIR WEAPONS INDUSTRIES

EXPAND EXPONENTIALLY.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO PUT A LOT OF EFFORT,

NOT JUST INTO THE FIGHTING LINE,

BUT ALSO INTO THE SUPPORT LINE.

AND THE ATTRACTION OF
MASS-PRODUCING WEAPONS

IS THAT YOU CAN REDUCE THATTAIL END OF THE MILITARY SYSTEM.

YOU CAN PRODUCE MORE
WEAPONS WITH LESS PEOPLE.

STANDARDIZED DESIGN,
INTERCHANGEABLE PARTS,

THESE ARE ATTRACTIVE THINGS
WHEN ARMIES GET TO THE SIZE

WHERE HANDMADE WEAPONS ARE
NO LONGER A RELEVANT ISSUE.

THE
THIRD CRUSADE, 1191.

CHRISTIAN KNIGHTS
INTEND TO BRING

THE HOLY CITY OF JERUSALEM
UNDER ITS CONTROL.

RICHARD THE LIONHEART,
KING OF ENGLAND,

IS ONE OF THE COMMANDERS
OF THE CRUSADE.

HE RELIES ON HIS CAVALRY,
RIDING IN TIGHT FORMATION.

RICHARD'S INFANTRY
SUPPORT, WHICH WAS CRUCIAL,

CONSISTS MOSTLY OF
CROSSBOWMEN DEFENDING HIS

ARMOR-CLAD KNIGHTS AGAINST
THE TROOPS OF SULTAN SALADIN.

IN THE END, HOWEVER, RICHARD
FAILS TO CAPTURE JERUSALEM.

IN AN IRONIC TWIST
A DECADE LATER,

THE LEGENDARY ENGLISH KING DIES

AFTER HAVING BEEN HIT
BY A CROSSBOW BOLT.

BACK IN AUSTRIA,

WEAPONS EXPERT ANDREAS BICHLER,

WITH THE TWINS FABIAN AND DAVID,

SET OUT TO ANSWER TWO QUESTIONS.

IS IT EASY TO LEARN
TO SHOOT A CROSSBOW?

AND CAN AN UNTRAINED PERSON
SHOOT MORE ACCURATELY

THAN WITH A BOW AND ARROW?

THE TWINS HAVE NEVER
FIRED A WEAPON BEFORE.

WHO WILL HIT THE
APPLE ATOP THE BUST?

DAVID'S FIRST SHOT WITH A BOW
AND ARROW MISSES THE TARGET.

SO FAR, IT'S NOT EASY.

HIS FOLLOWING SHOTS
ARE OFF-TARGET AS WELL.

NOW THE CROSSBOW.

WILL FABIAN HAVE BETTER LUCK?

BULLSEYE!

WITH THE CROSSBOW.

TRY BEATING THAT!

WITH TRAINING, AIMING
THE CROSSBOW GETS EASIER.

YOU CAN IMPROVE.

YOU LOOK FOR THE POINT OF AIM.

IF YOU FIND IT, YOU ARE
ABLE TO HIT THE TARGET.

AN ARCHER
WITH A BOW AND ARROW

NEEDS A DRAW WEIGHT OF UP TO
75 POUNDS TO SHOOT AN ARROW.

THAT'S QUITE A CHALLENGE
FOR A FIRST-TIMER.

LACK OF EXPERIENCE MAKES IT
ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO AIM WELL.

THE CROSSBOW IS DIFFERENT.

ONCE IT'S DRAWN, ARCHERS
CAN TAKE AS MUCH TIME

AS THEY WANT BEFORE SHOOTING.

OVER THE CENTURIES, THE
CROSSBOW BECAME MORE REFINED.

THE COMPOSITE STRUCTURE
WAS A LEAP FORWARD

IN TERMS OF EFFECTIVENESS.

COMPOSITE BOWS CONSIST
OF SEVERAL LAYERS

OF HORN AND ANIMAL
SINEW GLUED TOGETHER.

THIS TECHNOLOGY REACHES
EUROPE IN THE 13TH CENTURY

AND MAKES THE CROSSBOW
EVEN MORE POWERFUL.

BUT THE MORE THE
CROSSBOW DEVELOPS,

THE HARDER IT BECOMES TO DRAW,

UNTIL THE ARCHER'S OWN
STRENGTH IS NO LONGER ENOUGH.

HE'LL NOW NEED SUPPORT.

ORDINARY WOODEN
CROSSBOWS DON'T REQUIRE

AN ELABORATE MECHANISM,
A SIMPLE DEVICE WILL DO.

THIS IS THE FIRST
MECHANICAL DRAW SUPPORT

FOR CROSSBOWS.

A BELT HOOK.

THE ARCHER PUTS IN TWO FINGERS
AND CAN THEN DRAW THE BOW

WITH THE SUPPORT
OF HIS LEG MUSCLES.

SUCH SIMPLE
MECHANISMS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT

FOR THE HEAVY
COMPOSITE CROSSBOW.

A CRANEQUIN CAN OFFER
RELIEF BY DRAWING THE STRING

WITH A COG-WHEEL MECHANISM.

THIS REQUIRES LITTLE PHYSICAL
EFFORT BY THE ARCHER,

BUT TAKES ABOUT ONE
MINUTE PER SHOT.

CAN SUCH A HEAVY
COMPOSITE CROSSBOW

PENETRATE A KNIGHT'S MAIL?

TIME TO TEST IT,
USING A REPLICA.

THE WORST CASE WOULD BE THAT
THE STRING PASSES OVER THE BOLT

AND SERIOUSLY INJURES
THE SHOOTER

BY SWINGING UNCONTROLLABLY.

A PERFECT HIT.

THE RINGS HAVE BEEN
DESTROYED IN SEVERAL PLACES

AND THE BOLT JUST WENT
DOWN TO THE FEATHERS,

THROUGH THE TEXTILE ARMOR
AND OF COURSE THE MAIL.

THAT MEANS WE HAVE AN
ESTIMATED PENETRATION DEPTH

OF ABOUT 20 CENTIMETERS.

AN ABSOLUTELY DEADLY SHOT.

THAT'S NOT ONLY DUE

TO THE EXTREMELY HEAVY DRAW
WEIGHT OF THE CROSSBOW,

BUT ALSO TO THE WAY
THE BOLT IS FORMED.

IT IS VISIBLY SHORTER AND
THICKER THAN THE ARROW

OF A REGULAR BOW AND
HAS A HEAVY IRON HEAD.

THE MEDIEVAL MAIL
COAT COULD NOT PROTECT

THE KNIGHTS AGAINST THIS WEAPON.

CROSSBOW BOLT
INJURIES ARE OBVIOUSLY

EXTREMELY PROFOUND INJURIES
BECAUSE THE BOLT IS DESIGNED

TO PENETRATE THE SKIN AND
FLESH AS DEEPLY AS POSSIBLE,

TO GO STRAIGHT THROUGH THE
BODY AND DIFFERENT ORGANS.

ARMY DOCTORS OF
THE ERA HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME

TREATING THESE TERRIBLE
BATTLEFIELD INJURIES.

THEY LACK THE NECESSARY
ANATOMICAL KNOWLEDGE

BECAUSE DISSECTING
HUMAN BODIES IS STILL

FORBIDDEN IN THE MIDDLE
AGES FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS.

HEALING THESE WOUNDS REQUIRES
NEW SURGICAL STRATEGIES.

MEDIEVAL SURGEON
ROGER FRUGARDI

SAVES PEOPLE WOUNDED

BY A CROSSBOW WITH A
SPECIAL TREATMENT METHOD.

IF THE BOLT CANNOT
BE REMOVED MANUALLY,

HE FITS IT INTO A CROSSBOW AGAIN

AND CATAPULTS IT
OUT OF THE FLESH.

PAINFUL, YET EFFECTIVE.

THE SURGEONS
OBVIOUSLY HAD TO INTERVENE

ON THE BATTLEFIELD, WHICH
OFFERED THEM GREAT INSIGHT

INTO THE HUMAN BODY.

THEY PROBABLY CAME TO
UNDERSTAND HUMAN ANATOMY

EVER BETTER THAN BEFORE.

THEY ALSO LEARNED WHERE
EXTREME CAUTION WAS NEEDED

WHEN REMOVING A FOREIGN
OBJECT FROM A MAN'S BODY.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT DO I
HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR

WHEN THE OBJECT HAS
PENETRATED A BLOOD VESSEL?

I THINK ALL THE PHYSICIANS
LEARNED A GREAT DEAL

FROM THESE EXPERIENCES.

THEIR FINDINGS HAVE
HELPED MODERN SURGERY.

I THINK THEY REALLY
ACQUIRED BROAD KNOWLEDGE

ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

PAVED THE WAY FOR
MODERN SURGERY.

FRANCE, THE SIEGE OF ORLEÉANS
DURING THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR.

MAY SEVENTH, 1429.

JOAN OF ARC, THE
LEGENDARY PEASANT GIRL,

LEADS THE FRENCH
TROOPS TO BATTLE.

SHE WANTS TO END THE SIEGE OF
ORLEÉANS BY THE BRITISH FORCES.

DURING COMBAT,
SHE WEARS ARMOR

THAT DOESN'T PROTECT
HER ENTIRE TORSO.

A CROSSBOW BOLT HITS
HER IN THE SHOULDER,

BUT SHE SURVIVES AND LEADS
HER SOLDIERS TO VICTORY.

AT THE BEGINNING OF
THE 15TH CENTURY,

PLATE ARMOR BECOMES
INCREASINGLY POPULAR

OWING TO IMPROVEMENTS IN
METALWORKING TECHNOLOGY.

BUT DOES IT OFFER
SUFFICIENT PROTECTION

AGAINST THE CROSSBOW?

TIME FOR ANOTHER TEST.

JUST LIKE MEDIEVALTRADITION HAS IT,

THE CHANCES ARE SLIM.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE
THE PERFECT ANGLE,

THAT MEANS POSITIONING THE
WEAPON AT A 90-DEGREE ANGLE,

YOU BARELY STAND A CHANCE
OF PENETRATING PLATE ARMOR.

BICHLER'S TEST
SHOWS THAT A STEEL PLATE

LESS THAN A QUARTER INCH THICK

DOES OFFER PROTECTION
AGAINST CROSSBOW BOLTS.

THE MEDIEVAL ARMS RACE
ENTERS THE NEXT ROUND.

FOR AT LEAST TWO HUNDRED
YEARS THE CROSSBOW IS ONE OF

THE MOST PIVOTAL WEAPONS
ON EUROPEAN BATTLEGROUNDS.

BUT WITH PLATE ARMOR ON THE
RISE IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY,

CROSSBOWS ALMOST
LITERALLY HIT A WALL,

AND THE EMERGING FIRE
WEAPONS EVENTUALLY PUT AN END

TO THE CROSSBOW ERA.

THE NEXT WEAPON HAS ACHIEVED
INTERNATIONAL NOTORIETY

AND IS DREADED AROUND THE WORLD.

IT HAS CLAIMED MORE
VICTIMS THAN NUCLEAR BOMBS,

THE KALASHNIKOV.

WHAT'S THE REASON FOR
ITS BLOODY SUCCESS?

WHY IS THIS RIFLE THE
GO-TO WEAPON OF TERRORISTS?

VIETNAM, MARCH 8TH 1965.

US STRIKE FORCES
LAND IN DA NANG.

THEIR PURPOSE IS TO
DEFEAT NORTH VIETNAM

AND PREVENT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY

FROM FALLING INTO THE
HANDS OF THE COMMUNISTS.

ON AVERAGE, THE US
SOLDIERS ARE YOUNG

AND LACK HANDS-ON
WAR EXPERIENCE.

BUT THEY ARE EQUIPPED

WITH A NEW MODERN
ASSAULT RIFLE, THE M16.

THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
SOLDIERS USE SOVIET WEAPONS,

PRIMARILY THE AK-47,
THE KALASHNIKOV.

IS A SOVIET INTERPRETATION

OF THE SECOND WORLD
WAR ASSAULT RIFLE

DEVELOPED BY THE GERMANS AND,
TO AN EXTENT, BY THE SOVIETS.

IT IS THE MOST ALL-AROUND
USEFUL PIECE OF HARDWARE

OF THAT TYPE EVER BUILT.

THE
HISTORY OF THE AK-47

BEGINS IN WORLD WAR TWO.

RUSSIAN SOLDIER
MICHAIL KALASHNIKOV

IS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

AFTER HIS RECOVERY, HE DECIDES
TO BECOME AN ARMS DESIGNER.

IT'S ONLY AFTER THE WAR,
IN 1947, THAT HE FINISHES

THE PROTOTYPE OF THE FULLY
AUTOMATIC ASSAULT RIFLE.

HENCE THE NAME, AK-47.

IN 1949, IT BECOMES THE STANDARDWEAPON OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY.

MILLIONS OF KALASHNIKOVS
ARE MANUFACTURED.

WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES
THIS RIFLE, A WEAPON

THAT EVEN UNTRAINED INDIVIDUALS
CAN USE, SO POPULAR?

STEPHEN BULL IS A WRITER
AND MILITARY WEAPONS EXPERT.

HE'LL TAKES A CLOSER
LOOK AT THIS QUESTION.

THE KALASHNIKOV CONSISTS
OF AROUND 100 PARTS,

IS NEARLY THREE FEET
LONG, AND WEIGHS

JUST UNDER TEN
POUNDS WHEN LOADED.

A WEAPON'S RELIABILITY IS
A CRUCIAL FACTOR IN COMBAT.

US SOLDIERS FIGHTING
IN VIETNAM SOON FIND

THAT THEIR MODERN
M16 DOESN'T WORK WELL

IN THE SWAMPY FORESTS
WHERE HUMIDITY IS HIGH.

THE TROOPS OF THE
SUPERPOWER CONSTANTLY

STRUGGLE WITH JAMMING
AND MALFUNCTIONS.

THEIR OPPONENTS' WEAPON,HOWEVER, IS SURPRISINGLY ROBUST.

STEPHEN BULL WANTS
TO SEE FOR HIMSELF.

HOW GREAT IS THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN THE M16 AND
THE KALASHNIKOV?

YOU HAVE TO BEAR IN
MIND THAT IN A MODERN WAR

WHERE TAKING COVER,
GOING INTO SHELL HOLES,

STAYING LOW TO THE GROUND,
SOMETIMES THESE ARE

THE SORT OF CONDITIONS THAT
A SOLDIER AND HIS WEAPON

WILL HAVE TO PUT UP WITH.

AND MUD BATHS LIKE
THIS DO FORM PARTS

OF MODERN TESTING OF WEAPONS.

THE M16, THE
AMERICAN STANDARD RIFLE

IN VIETNAM, IS TESTED FIRST.

NOW, A MAGAZINE,

AND WE'RE READY TO GO.

THE M16 IS
SUBMERGED FOR THIRTY SECONDS.

AND I THINK WE ARE
READY TO BRING IT OUT.

THAT IS FILTHY!

ON
A SHOOTING STAND,

BULL WILL LEARN IF
LARGE AMOUNTS OF DIRT

AFFECT THE FUNCTIONING
OF THE WEAPON.

THE TEST TEAM WILL
LEAVE THE SHOOTING STAND

FOR SAFETY REASONS.

THE WEAPON COULD BLOW
UP IN THEIR FACES.

USING A ROPE, THEY'RE ABLE TO
PULL THE TRIGGER OF THE M16.

READY?

SO, HERE IT IS, LET'S
TAKE THE MAGAZINE OFF.

IT'S OFF.

SO, THE MAGAZINE IS NOW EMPTY.

I'LL WORK THE MECHANISM.

IT'S QUITE TOUGH, I CAN
HARDLY MOVE THE THING.

NOTHING!

I CAN'T ACTUALLY
WORK THE MECHANISM.

SO, THIS GUN WOULD JUST
SHOOT ONCE AND THEN STOP.

SO, THIS COULD BE A
PROBLEM FOR THE SOLDIER

ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

AND THIS CERTAINLY WAS THE CASE

FOR THE AMERICANS IN VIETNAM.

NOW BULL
WILL TEST THE AK-47,

SAID TO BE MORE RELIABLE.

IS IT BETTER SUITED FOR FIGHTING

IN ADVERSE AND MUDDY CONDITIONS?

TARGET DOWN
THE FAR END.

WE'RE BEHIND THE METAL
DOORS. ARE WE READY TO GO?

FIRE IN THE HOLE.

WOW!

THE ROPE IS GONE,
BUT THE RESULT IS GOOD.

IN THE TEST,
THE AK-47 FIRED SEVERAL SHOTS.

OKAY, EVERYTHING
IS WORKING.

SO THE FIRST TWO BULLETS
HAVE FIRED CORRECTLY.

AND THE THIRD BULLET
WAS LEFT IN THE GUN.

THE ONLY REASON FOR THIS
WAS THAT THE ROPE FAILED

SO THAT THE GUN WOULD
CONTINUE TO FIRE PERFECTLY.

SO, THE AK-47 HAS ACTUALLY
PASSED THIS HORRIBLE TEST

WITH FLYING COLORS.

THE REASON FOR
THIS IS BECAUSE OF ITS DESIGN.

GENEROUS CLEARANCES WITHIN
THE WEAPON'S MOVING PARTS

ALLOW IT TO FIRE NO MATTER
HOW CLOGGED OR DIRTY IT GETS.

THE AMERICAN M16'S
DESIGN IS MORE COMPLEX.

THE GIS IN VIETNAM HAD TO
CLEAN THEIR WEAPONS CONSTANTLY

TO KEEP THEM WORKING
ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

NOW, TIME TO TEST WHETHER A
KALASHNIKOV IS EASY TO OPERATE.

WE'RE IN ARIZONA, THE
AMERICAN SOUTHWEST,

WHERE GUN REGULATIONS ALLOW
FOR THE TESTING OF THE AK-47,

EVEN IN FULL-AUTOMATIC MODE.

I'M GONNA TEACH YOU HOW
TO TAKE APART THIS GUN.

THERE IS BASICALLY FOUR
PARTS YOU GOTTA REMEMBER.

VIVIEN,
THE TEST PARTICIPANT,

HAS NEVER TOUCHED
AN AUTOMATIC WEAPON BEFORE.

FIREARMS EXPERT KENTON TUCKER

DISASSEMBLES THE AK-47
IN FRONT OF HER.

AFTERWARDS, VIVIEN WILL
REASSEMBLE IT, HERSELF.

NOW I HAVE TO PUT
IT BACK TOGETHER?

NOW YOU HAVE TO
PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.

VIVIEN ONLY HAS
TO REASSEMBLE FOUR PARTS.

FIRST, THE BOLT
AND THE GAS PISTON.

THEN THE CARRIER SPRING,

AND THE LAST PIECE IS THE COVER.

IN SECONDS, SHE'S DONE.

WAS THAT HARD?

NO BUT DIRTY.

THAT WAS
YOUR FIRST TIME.

YEAH.

NOW IMAGINE IF YOU DID
IT ABOUT 20 MORE TIMES.

YOU'D HAVE IT DOWN PRETTY WELL.

A DURABLE
FIREARM NEEDS TO BE RELIABLE,

EASY TO OPERATE, AND ACCURATE.

THESE ARE THE DECISIVE FACTORS.

KENTON TUCKER WILL COMPARE
THE AK-47 TO THE AMERICAN M16.

THE TARGET, CARDBOARD PANELS
AT A DISTANCE OF 45 FEET.

THE STANDARD MAGAZINE
CAPACITY OF BOTH WEAPONS

IS THIRTY ROUNDS, GONE IN NO
TIME AT FULL-AUTOMATIC FIRE.

BUT WHICH RIFLE
IS MORE ACCURATE?

ALL THIRTY ROUNDS
WENT INTO THE TARGET.

BUT YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IT
IS PRETTY WELL DISPERSED.

THE AK MOVES AROUND A LOT
ON FULLY AUTOMATIC FIRE.

THAT'S FIFTEEN METERS AWAY.

IT'S OKAY.

IT ACTUALLY WAS KINDA HARD TO
CONTROL, BUT IT DID THE JOB.

WELL THIS IS ALL THIRTY
ROUNDS THROUGH AN M16.

AS YOU CAN TELL, THEY
ARE GROUPED TIGHTER,

IT WAS EASIER TO CONTROL.

IT'S MORE PRECISE OF A WEAPON
ON FULLY AUTOMATIC FIRE.

YOU'RE ALL OVER THE
PLACE WITH AN AK-47

ON FULLY AUTOMATIC FIRE.

M16 IS RIGHT WHERE
YOU WANT IT TO BE.

SINCE THE KALASHNIKOV

WORKS WITH EXCESS ENERGY,

THERE'S MORE RECOIL
COMPARED TO THE M16.

THE FACT THAT IT IS EASY
TO USE AND VERY RELIABLE

COMES AT A PRICE;
LIMITED ACCURACY.

NOW IT'S VIVIEN'S TURN
TO FIRE THE KALASHNIKOV.

HOW WILL SHE, AN UNTRAINED
SHOOTER, HANDLE IT?

YOU'RE LIGHT,
I AM LIGHT.

YOU KNOW WE'RE NOT THAT
BIG SO WHAT YOU DO IS YOU

REALLY GET YOUR
BODY IN FRONT OF IT.

'CAUSE IT'LL PUSH YOU BACK.

AND YOU TRY TO HOLD
DOWN ON THAT GUN,

'CAUSE IT'S GONNA RISE UP.

SHOOTING, YOU KNOW, 12
ROUNDS A SECOND OR SO.

OKAY, HERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT, YOU CAN SHOOT AT IT
AT WILL.

WHAT DID YOU THINK?

WELL I AM PROBABLY GONNAGET BRUISES OR SOMETHING.

EXACTLY.

AND I AM SHAKING!

SHAKING, OKAY.

THAT'S THE FIRST TIME YOU
HAVE EVER DONE THAT TOO.

YEAH, AND I
CLOSED MY EYES.

THIS IS A VIOLENT GUN
TO SHOOT ON FULL AUTO.

AND YOU JUST PROVED THAT POINT.

THE AK-47
IS EASY TO OPERATE.

IT'S THE WEAPON FREQUENTLY
USED IN CIVIL WARS

AND IN TERROR ATTACKS.

IT'S EVERYWHERE, IT'S
THE EASIEST THING TO MOVE

BECAUSE THERE ARE SO
MANY OF THEM, IT'S CHEAP,

IT'S UNBELIEVABLY CHEAP, AND
IF YOU WANT A KALASHNIKOV,

WHEREVER YOU ARE IT'S ALMOST
CERTAIN YOU CAN GET ONE.

GUERRILLA
FIGHTERS AND TERRORISTS

LIKE TO SHOW THEMSELVES
WITH KALASHNIKOVS.

IN JANUARY 2001, OSAMA
BIN LADEN IS SEEN

SMILING WHILE
TESTING A NEW MODEL.

THE LEBANESE HEZBOLLAH MILITIA

HAS IT EMBLAZONED ON ITS FLAG.

SO TOO DOES THE AFRICAN
STATE OF MOZAMBIQUE,

THE SCENE OF A BLOODY CIVIL WAR

IN THE NINETEEN
SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES.

SO, THEY TURN UP IN
EVERY COUNTRY ON THE PLANET

IN THE HANDS OF
THE WRONG PEOPLE.

THEY'VE BEEN THE ICON OF
FREEDOM FIGHTERS, GUERRILLAS,

AND TERRORISTS FOR 50 YEARS.

IT'S JUST NOT
POSSIBLE TO IMAGINE

A WORLD WITHOUT KALASHNIKOVS.

THEY ARE AS UBIQUITOUS AS FLIES.

THE PAKISTANI
TOWN OF DARRA ADAM KHEL,

CLOSE TO THE AFGHAN BORDER.

IT'S A CENTER FOR THE
ILLEGAL ARMS TRADE,

WHERE A PERFECT REPLICA
OF A KALASHNIKOV

IS CHEAPER THAN A SMARTPHONE.

THE COUNTERFEIT COSTS LESS
THAN A HUNDRED US DOLLARS.

IN THE WAR-TORN AFRICAN
NATION OF SOUTH SUDAN,

CHILD SOLDIERS WERE
GIVEN KALASHNIKOVS,

WITH CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES.

Nixon: CHILDREN ARE
NOT PROGRAMMED

TO COMMIT SUCH ACTS OF VIOLENCE.

WHEN YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING
LIKE THE KALASHNIKOV,

WHICH IS A SYMBOL OF
SOMETHING SO POWERFUL,

SUCH A DANGEROUS WEAPON,
DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL

THAT THE CHILD IS AT, HOW
LONG THEY'VE BEEN RECRUITED

AS A SOLDIER, THE TRAINING
THAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH,

IT MAY GIVE THEM
A SENSE OF POWER.

BUT ULTIMATELY FOR THE
MAJORITY OF CHILDREN

IT WILL TERRIFY THEM.

RELIABLE,
CHEAP, AND EASY TO OPERATE,

THE FEATURES THAT
MAKE THE KALASHNIKOV

THE DEADLIEST
WEAPON IN THE WORLD.

EVERY YEAR, EIGHTY THOUSAND
PEOPLE DIE FROM AK-47S

AND WEAPONS LIKE THESE.

A HUNDRED MILLION OF THEM
ARE STILL CIRCULATING.

THERE ARE NO GUARANTEED WAYS

TO REDUCE THE PROLIFERATION
OF THESE WEAPONS.

WEAPONS MANUFACTURING
IS BIG BUSINESS,

AND THERE'S MONEY TO
BE MADE SELLING ARMS.

NOR WILL BANS ON
EXPORTS OR RAIDS

MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.

ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE
ARE COUNTLESS REPLICAS

OF KALASHNIKOVS IN THE WORLD.

HERE, THE TURKISH
POLICE CONFISCATED

THOUSANDS OF CARTRIDGES
AND DOZENS OF AK-47S

FROM KURDISH REBELS.

TO THIS DAY, MICHAIL KALASHNIKOV

IS REVERED AS A
NATIONAL HERO IN RUSSIA.

THERE'S EVEN A MEMORIAL
HONORING HIM IN MOSCOW.

ALMOST ANYONE CAN BUY WEAPONS
IN ANY PLACE IN THE WORLD.

IT'S ESPECIALLY EASY
IN CONFLICT AREAS,

OR IN THE UNITED STATES.

IN THE FUTURE, GETTING
ACCESS TO WEAPONS

MAY BECOME EVEN
LESS COMPLICATED,

WITH WEAPONS MADE
BY A 3D PRINTER.

CONSTRUCTION PLANS
FOR THE LIBERATOR

ARE CIRCULATING ONLINE.

A DEADLY WEAPON, ITS COMPONENTS
CAN BE PRINTED AT HOME.

HOWEVER, ONE ESSENTIAL
ELEMENT, THE BOLT,

CAN'T BE PRODUCED YET,

AND HIGH-QUALITY 3D PRINTERS
ARE STILL EXPENSIVE.

BUT TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES
AT A BREATHTAKING PACE,

WHICH WILL MAKE IT EVEN HARDER

TO CONTROL THE PRODUCTION
OF FIREARMS IN THE FUTURE.

WILL WE FIND OTHER
WAYS OF MAKING WEAPONS?

YES.

THERE IS NO LIMIT
TO HUMAN INGENUITY;

WE JUST HAVE TO ASK
ANOTHER QUESTION.

SO, THINGS WILL
CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.

WEAPONS. SOME
SO EASY TO OPERATE

THAT ALMOST ANYONE CAN
USE THEM TO KILL.

AND GIVEN THE
PACE OF TECHNOLOGY,

THEY MIGHT BECOME EVEN
DEADLIER IN THE FUTURE.