Announcing: Thorneycroft to SA80 - British Bullpup Firearms 1901-2020

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 provides an in-depth review of Jonathan Ferguson's book, 'Thorneycroft to SA80: British Bullpup Firearms,' published by Headstamp Publishing. The book covers the historical development of British bullpup firearms from 1901 to 2020, detailing iconic models like the Thorneycroft, E.M. 2, and the SA80 series, including its modern A3 variant. The review highlights the book's extensive research, technical detail, and comprehensive appendices, making it a valuable resource for firearms historians and enthusiasts.

This video provides a comprehensive historical overview of the bullpup rifle design, tracing its origins from early concepts to modern iterations like the SA80. It details the British military's long-standing interest in the bullpup configuration, exploring various prototypes and adopted firearms, while also discussing the technical challenges and design philosophies behind these compact weapon systems. The presentation highlights key figures and developmental milestones, offering insights into why the bullpup design has seen periods of significant adoption and subsequent decline in favor of conventional rifle designs.

This video discusses the .280 British cartridge, also known as 7mm High Velocity, and its evolution. It highlights the upcoming appendix in Jonathan Ferguson's book "Thorneycroft to SA80: British Bullpup Firearms 1901-2020" which will detail the various naming conventions and technical changes of this cartridge, including its modification for compatibility with .30 caliber ammunition. The appendix is a collaborative effort with ammunition specialists Jack Dutschke and Ian Patrick.

This video delves into the history and development of the Hovea 44, a firearm originally intended for Swedish "super troopers" but which found its true success in Denmark. Hosted by firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson, the content explores the gun's journey from a Swedish design to Danish adoption and refinement. The description also promotes event tickets, Jonathan Ferguson's book on British bullpup firearms, and the Royal Armouries museum through various links and calls to action, encouraging subscriptions and support.

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 specific technique for separating two MAS-36 rifles that have been inadvertently locked together by their bayonets. It outlines the historical context of this issue, the modification made to the bayonet to resolve it, and the step-by-step procedure for disengagement. The technique requires precise alignment and the use of a pointed tool to access the internal release mechanism, as demonstrated by firearms expert Ian McCollum.

This guide details the loading and firing procedure for the M134 Minigun, as explained by Ian McCollum. It covers manual indexing of the barrel cluster, feeding the ammunition belt, engaging controls, and firing. The guide also touches upon the weapon's spin-down inertia and the function of modern clutch systems. Expert instruction from a recognized firearms historian highlights the technical aspects of operating this powerful weapon system.

This guide details the operational features of the H&K G11 K2, a prototype assault rifle known for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt. It covers the selector settings, magazine capacity, integrated optics, and the internal action designed for recoil management during high-rate-of-fire bursts. Expert insights from Ian McCollum highlight the historical context and technical innovations of this advanced firearm.

This guide details the operation of the German L.Gr.W.36 50mm light mortar, as demonstrated by expert Ian McCollum. It covers assembly, leveling procedures, ammunition handling, and live fire execution, emphasizing the difficulty in visually tracking the projectile. The instruction highlights the importance of proper setup for accuracy.