Original subtitles

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.

MERCENARIES GO TO BATTLE

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.

MEDIEVAL ARMY DOCTORS

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.

THE KALASHNIKOV 47, OF 1947,

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.