Videos tagged with British Military Rifles

This video explores a rare, non-functional bullpup mock-up of the Armalite AR-18, created by Sterling Armaments. Expert Jonathan Ferguson details the AR-18's design as a more affordable and manufacturable alternative to the AR-15, highlighting its short-stroke gas system and stamped metal construction. The mock-up's history is discussed, including its potential development for law enforcement and its surprising exhibition in 1976, despite being non-operational.

This video details the British Snider-Enfield rifle, a crucial stop-gap measure that converted muzzle-loading Pattern 53 Enfields into effective breech-loaders. It highlights the ingenuity of Jacob Snider's design, the significant increase in rate of fire from 3 to 15 rounds per minute, and its combat debut in Abyssinia. The entry also covers the three marks of the Snider-Enfield and its eventual replacement by the Martini-Henry, while noting its continued service with colonial forces.

This video provides an in-depth look at the BSA-28P Automatic Rifle, a post-war British experimental firearm. Jonathan Ferguson, Keeper of Firearms & Artillery at the Royal Armouries, details its design, operating mechanism, and historical context within Britain's search for a new service rifle. The entry highlights the rifle's unique features, its competition with other designs like the EM-1 and EM-2, and the reasons for its eventual failure in trials, including reliability issues and design complexity.

This guide details the evolutionary changes between the Lee Metford and early Lee Enfield rifles, focusing on incremental mechanical and design updates from 1889 to 1905. It highlights modifications to magazines, safeties, sights, and rifling, crucial for understanding the development of these iconic British firearms. Instruction is provided with high authority and technical precision.

This livestream finale celebrates the successful Kickstarter for Jonathan Ferguson's book 'Thornycroft SA80: British Bullpup Firearms.' The discussion delves into the history and technical aspects of British bullpup designs, particularly the EM2 rifle, comparing it to contemporaries like the FAL and exploring its potential adoption. Experts discuss manufacturing processes, design complexities, and the evolution of British small arms.

This video announces the book "Thorneycroft to SA80: British Bullpup Firearms 1901-2020" by Jonathan Ferguson, Keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the British Royal Armouries. It highlights the deep history of British bullpup designs, from early concepts to the SA80, featuring insights from firearms expert Ian McCollum and the author. The discussion emphasizes the recurring British interest in the bullpup configuration and its evolution over more than a century.

This guide details the disassembly and operational mechanics of the rare Farquhar-Hill WWI-era semiautomatic rifle, as explained by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons. It covers the unique gas piston system, bolt operation, and magazine design, emphasizing the rifle's transition to a manual bolt-action mode. The instruction highlights the complexity and historical significance of this British military firearm.