Behind the Scenes: Maintenance Week

This video from the Royal Armouries celebrates reaching 400,000 subscribers. Hosted by Jonathan and Josh, it's a thank you to their "What is this Weapon" viewers and a Halloween greeting. The description mentions "Dog Soldiers" as viewing material and encourages subscriptions for more content on arms and armor, including behind-the-scenes looks, combat demonstrations, jousting, and expert insights. It also includes calls to action for supporting the museum through donations and museum memberships. The content appears to be educational and celebratory, focusing on historical arms and armor with a festive Halloween theme.

The Kretz Rifle, a bizarre conversion of the British Pattern 1913 rifle, utilized a unique 'blow-forward' gas system powered by bicycle chains and clock springs. Despite its innovative mechanism, the design was deemed overly complex, heavy, and unreliable during 1913 British trials, leading to its rejection. The rifle's failure was attributed to its intricate mechanics and the inherent flaws of the P13 action, compounded by the .276 Enfield caliber.

This Christmas special episode from the Royal Armouries features Jonathan Ferguson, Keeper of Firearms and Artillery, alongside guest Dave Jewitt. They discuss various firearms, their personal experiences with them in real life and video games, and what they wish to see more of in virtual weapon depictions. The conversation touches on favorite firearms to shoot, unusual museum pieces, and even a humorous question about officiating weddings. The video offers a glimpse into the experts' knowledge and passion for historical and modern weaponry, with a festive twist.

This video explores craft-produced firearms from the Mau Mau Uprising, highlighting their psychological impact over physical effectiveness. Jonathan Ferguson details the technical limitations, such as poor obturation and improvised actions, of these weapons. Despite their crude construction, these guns served as potent symbols of resistance against the British Empire.

This video features Jonathan Ferguson, Keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the Royal Armouries, demonstrating firing at Bisley ranges, in collaboration with FN UK. The Royal Armouries, the UK's national collection of arms and armour, showcases behind-the-scenes content, combat demonstrations, and expert insights. Viewers are encouraged to subscribe for more arms and armour content and support the museum through donations or membership.

This video features firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson examining an exquisite Auguste Francotte revolver, a Belgian-made presentation piece gifted to a British officer. The episode delves into the mystery of Captain Bateman, the history of Francotte of Liège, and the craftsmanship and design of the revolver, exploring whether its purpose was primarily functional or fashionable. The Royal Armouries, the UK's national collection of arms and armour, presents this in-depth look at a unique historical firearm.

This video features Ian McCollum and Jonathan Ferguson in a 60-second challenge at the Royal Armouries to find three unique firearms: a Charlton Automatic Rifle, a Schwarzlose Model 1898 pistol, and an early SA80 prototype. They discuss unusual mechanical operations and limited historical impact, highlighting experimental designs like the Sterling 7.62mm prototype and the Mars .45 Automatic Pistol.

The Knight's Armament KS-1, designated L403A1 by the British Army, is a new AR-15 platform rifle adopted for specialized units like the Army Special Operations Brigade and Royal Marines. It features a 13.7-inch barrel, ambidextrous controls, and is equipped with a Vortex 1-10x LPVO and an Aimpoint ACRO P-2 for versatile engagement ranges. The rifle utilizes a KAC QDC/MCQ-PRT suppressor and is part of 'Project Hunter' to enhance interoperability with allied forces.

This video details the armor and weaponry of an 11th-century Norman knight, emphasizing the evolution of protective gear. It covers the padded undergarments, the mail hauberk constructed from thousands of iron rings, and the nasal helmet for head protection. The kite shield offered significant defense, while primary weapons included the lance and a one-handed sword.

This video explores a unique modernization attempt of the Martini-Henry rifle using Captain Harston's Patent Magazine. Jonathan Ferguson details the Mark IV rifle's features and the external magazine's mechanism, designed to convert the single-shot rifle into a five-round repeater. Despite its ingenuity, the system faced issues with reliability, high conversion costs, and was ultimately overshadowed by superior bolt-action designs like the Lee-Metford.