Thats the stoney cold face Ian uses when he tells his wife he's not spending another 20k on some French junk. I'm so proud

Elbonia: the only country to standardize .22 Hornet as their intermediate rifle cartridge. "It's cheaper than 5.56X45mm Nato or 7.62X39mm. Plus, it is far more suitable to hunting small game, so soldiers can better supplement their meager rations. And stop complaining about it being rimmed. The Russians have automatic firearms in rimmed calibers for a century now" -Traitorous defense minister

My grandpa served as part of the Elbonian special forces, and he showed me some pictures of his time in the service. Most of the pictures show him carrying the Hakim LMG, but he was also issued a suppressed Nagant revolver for covert ops.

"The national bird of Elbonia is the Frisbee..." Tells us all we need to know really.

Ian’s poker face is a little too good. Nobody play cards with him.

I love how far this joke has gone

Fun fact: Elbonia supplies like 80% of the worlds lithium and potassium.

It's Ian's clean-shaven blonde evil twin brother that did this to Elbonia. We call him E'un.

Friendship ended with France - Elbonia is now Ian's best friend!

Served for Elbonia as a PMC back in '56, saw quite a few locals toting these. They had nothing but good things to say about the guns.

The only thing Elbonians like more than speed holes are front sites angled at 45 degrees and random hex screws.

"Hail, Hail Elbonia, a land I didn't make up"

Still better than that Dremel-crafted AK with the hacked-up bolt.

One of the great things about Elbonian arms is that you know they'll do well in mud tests. How could they not when Elbonia is 100% comprised of mud?

As the US Ambassador to Zendia in 1998, I once visited the Elbonian capital city (Funnibone). The country was quite impoverished; they had electricity in the capital for only about four hours per day, which was provided by large banks AA batteries recharged by solar panels. I remember the food being particularly unpalatable.

Fun Fact: The Swiss Armys major fictional exercise-scenario features "Elbonia" as the unstable northern neighbor of Switzerland. A short summary of the scenario: A coup of right nationalists leads to a civil war in Elbonia. Many oppositional Elbonians flee to Switzerland and the Swiss government tries to make peace in Elbonia. But instead of peace, Switzerland itself is now a target for the Elbonian nationalists. Elbonian militias and terrorists start a hybrid war in Switzerland to assassinate key-politicians or destroy key- infrastructure in order to strengthen their power and international influence. If you d'like to know more, just ask. Although my English beeing not very good :)

April came early, I see.

There's even an "Elbonian Guns" playlist now.

I must have been living under a rock as Ive never heard of Elbonia. Edit: i fell for Ian's fictitious country story.

All is possible when the noble mud of our homeland is at stake.

Ian, I have seen pictures of Elbonian army cooks carrying Nambu surrender pistols converted to chamber the 5.7 spitfire cartridge. I was told by a credible source that they were issued by the Elbonian defence ministry to protect the Elbonian Catering Corp from the rest of the Elbonian Army. Can you confirm?

Shout out to my elbonian brothers, my thoughts and prayers are with you

"Most people rejected Gun Jesus's message, they hated Gun Jesus because he told them about Elbonia" *-Galil 4.16*

“Elbonia” sounds like a nation I would found in a drunk-ass friday night D&D game.

The Hakim LMG had been assembled by Tuco in a gun shop of the old west.

Bought the Elbonian shirt and poster before the halfway mark 😎 I swear if Ian declares his house the micronation of Elbonia I'll buy a title of nobility...

Got deployed to Elbonia as a part of a training programme back in 1996. So many of these things were still in so much use. Plus I saw a kid in the programme no older than 9 wielding a Mosin-Nagant in 577-450 Henry Martini.

other youtubers: buy my merch! Ian: here's a 15 minute sketch I wrote using a cool junk-gun I found. oh by the way theres merch

I love Ian's absolutely straight face throughout the whole thing xD

Every day is April 1st in 2020, so this is fine.

Probably easier to say the line about the traitorous defense minister, when you are not said traitorous defense minister

"Hail Hail Elbonia, a land I didn't make up!!" ~ Futurama reference

..... I went from "ha, Ian is really going a long way with this elbonia joke" To "wait... Elbonia is a joke right? Or was that just a similar sounding name that was made up?" Nice job Ian lmao

Ahh elbonia, where mud testing is the most important part of trials...

This thorough explanation and visual representation of the trials of Elbonia moved my heart and I had to order the shirt. The sadness without a complete teary breakdown and the professional composure throughout this video is worth the cost of bringing awareness to the world of the existence of Elbonia and its compatriots worldwide. Thank you Ian for bringing the light to such a dark period in history and for your professionalism.

Ian, the fact that you were able to keep a straight face throughout the video is a testament to your dedication to this meme and I love every second of it.

My first reaction was: Elbonia, isn't that from the Dilbert comic? Lol

Luckily there is a disclaimer in the end for people watching randomly this video in ten years hahaha!

Once referred to as “the elbow of Europe”

In 50 years theres gonna be a serious book written about this mysterious lost nation.

Hi, Ian. Thanks so much. I am outlining chapter 14 of the History of the Elbonain Armed Forces. Your video clarifies some of the more mystifying aspects of how the conversion of the MG-13 via the Hakim was accomplished. I had no idea that the Israelis helped finance it. Now I can sort out the changes involved going forward from the Dreyse Model 1918 heavy water-cooled machine gun to the Hakim LMG. What a maze of threads brought this gun to fruition. It is a pity that workmanship failed them at the finish line. Too little, too late, too sloppy. Thanks for sharing! Stay healthy!

Bent front sight. Elbonian windage adjustment, just bend it.

I love this presentation, and the shirt. The fact @The_Chieftain is in on the joke with the armored corps just makes things even better. A fictional History of the Elbonian post-war years would be an exceptionally funny book, and full of opportunities. Just need to get Drach in for the AF and someone for the Navy....

This was absolutely brilliant, looking forward to hearing about more "Elbonian" firearms in the future.

This was just an audition tape for the next John Wick movie, it shows off just how good of an actor Ian is lol

Ian, so you've thrown down the gauntlet to Nicholas Moran so he'll have to come up with a 'new' Elbonian series of armored vehicles?

I'm listening to the the Dead Kennedy's classic "Holiday in Elbonia" as I watch this.

This takes me back, my unit actually got a few of these for field testing back when I served in Elbonian army. It was light, comfortable and a surprisingly solid shooter, easily able to hit a lemon-sized target from 500 yards, that was the military testing standard at the time, we classified the guns as 1-lemon, 2-lemon and so on by the size of the groups they could make. We ultimately had to stop the testing prematurely as they sent one magazine for each, and the quartermaster's dog had at them because they resembled the '49-issue chocolate bars we used to get in our rations.

I found this video completely by random, and goddamnit, this is why I love Ian.

Have to admit it was so well done I had to check myself on the geography. 😆

I remember running boatloads of these down the Brachial River (main supply artery) back in '57. Good times.

Wow, when I was young, I had a Hakim I “sporterized” bubba style. But not this bad. Although it took me 30 years to find the parts to undo the damage. It is now back in the condition as it was issued, as all surplus rifles should be lol

I love how this joke has taken on a life of its own.

Man, this was the perfect April fools joke. Even more perfect by it not being April fools

I didn't get the memo saying that due to the COVID crisis, April 1st has been moved to September 12th.

It's almost like a blind man tried telling a deaf man about the Iwo Jima Stinger

I've seen high precision engineering, and I've seen half arsed bodge jobs, but Elboinan engineering is just something in its own class altogether.

Except for that last 10 seconds, you could sell this story cold. The work is excellent.

And he's pulling it off without even giggling once.

Ian sir, you win the Internet today. How you managed to completely deadpan this one is remarkable.

That’s a nice piece of Elbonian craftsmanship

Ians next book should be a history of Elbonian small arms development. :)

One small correction, the curved front sight blade was deliberate to offset for the constant left to right cross wind that blows in Elbonia, due to its unique topography. Which also uniquely means that Elbonian flags always fly perpendicular to the flag pole, historically giving rise to the old Elbonian saying, that roughly translates as "If the flags ever fall, Elbonia will soon follow", though technically there are no direct equivalents for the words "fall" or "flag" in the Elbonian dialect.

This has to be the highest effort joke i’ve ever seen.

Ok Chieftain, when we’ll get the Elbonia 2-man-heavy-tank t-shirt to complete the set?!?

It's really hard to march in all that mud.

Awesome. I'm a bit of an Elbofile, so this great to see. These videos are so important least the lessons and rich culture they offer are never learned or forgotten.

I’m holding out for the Elbonian Left Handed Liberation Front patch.

"Hi, I am Ed Winchester straight from Elbonian capital. We are here to interview famous weapons designer Major (ret) Shortcomings." *Massive demonstrations outside of the house. But not against Major, instead of support. Riot Police lazily strolling around.* "Major Shortcomings? What is your response to recently released American video about weapon you designed?" "I....I...I did best I could do. I told them to buy surplus guns, but no. Instead "we must have our own design. Our national pride demands it." I told them it was stupid idea, but no nonono." "And if I understood correctly, it never went to production?" "Yes. All that time and effort for nothing. All I wanted to do, is design nice .22lr rifles for youth..." *Breaks down crying* "Do you know that weapon collectors are scrambling to get the few guns that were made? I believe the term they use is "Frankengun" and are willing to pay premium?" *Perks up face brightening* "They are?" "Yes. I believe you have mail from RIA waiting in your inbox." *Runs to computer, slamming the door shut* "Hi, I am Ed Winchester, and in the next episode we will interview Elbonian Special Forces about their adoption of new handgun. Rogak."

Hilarious. I see April Fool's Day was delayed by Covid 19.

You know what I love about your videos (besides the technical and practical stuff)? You don't talk about ideology. Those of us not from the States really enjoy the neutrality and absence of salty comments about other countries the weapons originate from. No prejudice, just arms. Thank you sir.

How Ian keeps a straight face... I'd love to see more of the out takes from this series :-)

I want to see the documentation of this "unicorn" Must say one of the better fake guns out there and one of the better uses of my patreon dollars, lol

You’d think that Elbonia would be full of people showing off how well AKs work when covered in their finest Elbonian Mud.

This really is great. wonderfully thought out, and well executed.

Just when you thought the joke was done... We've had the Chieftains update on armour, we should really get Drachinifel's update on the wet and briny. It'd make a heck of a documentary.

The pride of the Elbonian people has been gravely wounded, Jesus of Galil. Pray you do not insult us... a third time.

Definitely one of the best FW videos in a long time, I always love the historic accuracy presented in videos like these, especially when it comes to obscure nations like Elbonia.

The moment that I saw "Elbonia" I thought `Someone's been reading Dilbert comics'.

That bent front sight for a windage adjustment is perfect Elbonian....

I have no idea how you did all this with a straight face xD

I read that it did surprisingly well in mud tests

I look forward to learning more about Elbonian arms history, especially in the later cold war era 👍

I was getting ready to Google "Elbonia?" "Where is Elbonia?" Thanks for the clarification at the end! Good job, you deserve an award from the "Elbonia Historic Society! "

This is absolutely one of the best things to come out of this damn quarantine.

Ah yes I remember my time hoofing it with a 1st elbonian rifles back in 58 that thing save my but fighting the arksakines in the mud wars many times never jamed I still wish I could of been able keep mine

I, for one, am truly enjoying this look at this very rare Elbonian military firearm. If only we in Canaderp/Kanuckistan could own something of such historical importance.

Just ordered a shirt. Cool video, and I've been absorbing your videos and recommending them to my friends for years. Thanks.

Why didn’t this go out in April fool’s, amazing!

Did April 1st come early or later this year?

Man you really managed to stay clean looking at a gun made entirely of mud

Amusingly, it is with this video that I finally understand how guns cause the bolt to actually do what it needs to do after firing a round

Props for keeping a straight face throughout!

Chieftain needs to review the surviving examples of era Elbonian Armoured Fighting Vehicles, he high lighted on his channel.

Im absolutely buying that shirt. This joke has gotten way out of hand and I love it.

I really appreciate how you chose to briefly mention the shirt and continuing the video. That is how everyone should do it imo.

God bless Elbonia, land of the dodgy defense ministers and stressed procurement officers

Ian reviewing cursed gun images in person 💦

My collector dad has a beautiful hakim and also an Egyptian fn49. Love seeing familiar guns I grew up with.

This delivery is GOLD! I was completely taken in.