Boer Lee-Speed Rifle from the Jameson Raid

This YouTube video highlights the intricate design and craftsmanship of late Victorian sight protectors, specifically those found on a Lee-Speed rifle. The creator emphasizes that these protectors, despite their seemingly simple function, involved significant effort and detail in their creation. The video serves as a bonus segment, elaborating on an accessory previously seen on another rifle. It aims to showcase the historical engineering and artistry applied to firearm components.

Jonathan Ferguson, Keeper of Firearms & Artillery at the Royal Armouries, clarifies the confusion surrounding two distinct Webley Mark IV revolvers. He explains that the 'Mark IV' designation was applied to different series of revolvers, leading to historical ambiguity. The video details the .455 caliber service revolver and the smaller .380 caliber pocket revolver, highlighting their differing origins and military adoptions.

This video is a book review of Dave C. George's three-volume work, "Carvings From the Veldt." The books document nearly a thousand carved rifles from the Boer War, a unique practice among Boer civilian militia who often embellished their personal weaponry. The review highlights the variety of styles, the research into personal histories of the rifle owners, and recommends the set for collectors and historians interested in South Africa, the Boer War, and the British colonial period. Links to purchase the books directly from the author and the author's YouTube channel are provided.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.