A failed attempt; Britain's search for an Automatic Rifle with firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson

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 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 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 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.

Ian McCollum and Jonathan Ferguson of the Royal Armouries present a challenge to find three unique firearms based on appearance, mechanical oddity, and historical impact. They showcase experimental and rare pieces like the Charlton Automatic Rifle, Sterling 7.62mm prototype, Schwarzlose Model 1898, Gabbett-Fairfax Mars pistol, an SA80 prototype, and a BSA Machine Carbine, highlighting their unusual mechanisms and limited adoption.

This entry details the Knight's Armament KS-1 (L403A1), the British Army's new Alternative Individual Weapon, adopted under Project Hunter. Expert Jonathan Ferguson from the Royal Armouries provides an in-depth look at its features, intended use for specialized units, and its role in supplementing existing platforms like the SA80.

This guide details the process of arming an 11th-century Norman knight, as explained by an institutional expert from the Royal Armouries. It covers the sequence of donning essential protective gear, including padded undergarments, a mail hauberk, a nasal helmet, and a kite shield, emphasizing weight distribution and historical construction techniques.

This guide details the installation and operation of the Harston's Patent Mark IV magazine, a rare modification designed to convert the single-shot Martini-Henry rifle into a repeater. Expert Jonathan Ferguson explains the mechanism, its inventor Captain Charles Gravelle Harston, and the historical context of its development. The guide covers fitting the magazine, the cycling process for feeding rounds, and the use of the cutoff device for single-shot operation, while also noting potential reliability issues and the high conversion cost.