Orita 1941 SMG, Need your help!

I'm trying to figure out how this gun works, because I want to bring it into a computer game. It would be nice to know how it works before I do this. Theres a few pieces on the gun that I still don't know the function of, if anyone can clarify what these parts do that would be greatly appreciated. Also anyone that has high resolution pictures from a private collection or such, and is willing to share them, that would be appreciated a lot as well.

On this version theres a slide on the side of the gun, what does that do?



Also, on some pictures like the one below, theres a knob on the other side of the gun going into the wood of the stock. What does that do?



Like said, any help on this would be great to have, hope to hear from you.

http://worldwar2.ro/images/content/orita.jpg

I have found that blueprint as well, but that doesn't really tell me how this gun works. I mean, the slide on the first picture must have a function, and so does the knob on the second, but from what I can see on the blueprint I don't really have a clue what it is theyre used for.

I don't have specific knowledge of the Orita SMG, but may be able to give you a little help based on similar items on other firearms.

In your second image, it looks like the highlighted part is the bolt handle which would allow you to withdraw the bolt, loading a fresh round of ammunition when a new magazine is inserted. Depending on how the Orita functions, the bolt may lock in a rearward position when the magazine has been emptied (if it normally fires from the closed bolt position), or it may usually stop in the rearward position (if it normally fires from the open bolt position).

The first image is less obvious since so much of the firearm has been highlighted. It may be that the image is simply showing some machining that was intended to remove unnecessary metal in the receiver (thus lightening the weapon).

Unfortunately, the blueprint that was referenced did not provide descriptive notes for the numbered parts; it is possible that the extractor (which removes the brass case of fired ammunition) is mounted on the left side of the bolt and is exposed.

Diego

Hi Diego,

Thanks for the reply. I have yet to find any more detailed picture of this knob. About that slide in the first picture, I found a better picture. Maybe this clarifies it more for you what it's intended for? That trigger like thing could be folded down since there's an opening for that in the slide and its trajectory. This pic also shows me that on the other side of the gun there's a hole of some sort because the barrel goes through a change in shape.

It's a 2MB image so it might take a while

The lever on the left appears to be the cocking handle, while the one on the right is a "wedge" for holding the mechanism together.

Ironically, it looks to be the same kind of "wedge" that holds together the blackpowder Colt revolvers. Only bigger.

That's my read from the pics and the blueprints.

This post has been edited by 120mm on February 13, 2007 07:58 am

On this version theres a slide on the side of the gun, what does that do?


theres a knob on the other side of the gun going into the wood of the stock. What does that do?

Hi DeV,
Here are some answers:

"On this version theres a slide on the side of the gun, what does that do?" -
That is the cocking handle. When pulled back, that loads a round into the breech (or removes it, according to case)

"theres a knob on the other side of the gun going into the wood of the stock. What does that do?"
That is the firing selector - it slides up and down to choose the type of firing.
When it is in the "Up" position, the gun is in "Automatic" mode and will fire bursts. When "up", the letter "A" shows on the slide to indicate that it is in "Automatic" mode. In your photo, the slide is "Up" / "Automatic".
When the slide is in the "down" position, the MG is in "shot" mode and will fire single shots.

HTH
Radu

This post has been edited by Radub on February 13, 2007 09:55 am

Hey Radu,

That helps a great deal, thanks a lot for that. I would like to model the single fire/automatic fire on the gun, but it's a shame there aren't too much pictures around of how it actually looked. Does anyone have pictures of it? Or are there other guns that I could take a look at that have it in a similar way? I know this might be a stupid question, but I really want to model this gun accurately for Carpathian Crosses.

Cheers,

-DeV

Hi DeV,
Actually, after I posted my answer, I noticed the link to the blueprints. The two sketches in the left bottom corner show the slide in the two positions ("Foc cu foc" means "shot by shot" and "Automat" means "Automatic") and the relevant arrangement of the inside mechanism in the two positions. However, according to the drawings, when the slide is "Up" (and letter"A" shows up on the slide), the gun is in "Shot" mode and when it is in the "Down" position, the gun is in "Automatic" mode.
Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, and that it very possible since it's been 15 years since I last saw an Oritza MG, but I thought it was "Up" for "automatic" and "Down" for "shot". Maybe others know more...
HTH
Radu

This post has been edited by Radub on February 13, 2007 10:33 am

Judging the picture I posted before and this older picture, I think theres some sort of hole above the magazine in the barrel. I marked it in green in the following picture. Is this possible? I presume this was where the shells left the gun when the bullet was fired, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Hi DeV,
You are right, that is a case ejection port. Usually it is covered by the bolt and is open only when the bolt is pulled back.
HTH
Radu

I have another question concerning this gun:

Does the slide on the right move when shooting? And does the little handle on the slide stay upright when shooting? Im kind of wondering how this functions when you're shooting, would it move like the mp-40 mechanism does?

Big thanks to Mihnea who sent me an email explaining it, very clear, thanks again