Improvised & Craft-Built Firearms w/ Jonathan Ferguson & Nic Jenzen-Jones

This video delves into the history and design of the Montigny parlour pistol, a unique all-metal, breech-loading, needle-firing firearm. Hosted by firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson, the episode explores the system's development, maker's marks, and purpose, highlighting a fascinating niche in firearm history. It touches upon variants and specific details, offering a look at how indoor shooting was perceived and practiced in the past. The Royal Armouries channel provides this content as part of its mission to showcase arms and armour.

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 entry details Winston Churchill's personal Patchett Machine Carbine, an early iteration of the Sterling submachine gun. Expert Jonathan Ferguson from the Royal Armouries provides insights into its design, historical provenance, and technical distinctions from later Sterling models. The entry also touches upon Churchill's broader influence on post-war British small arms policy and his cultivated public image.

This entry details the Kubura Pećanka, a flintlock pistol from the Peć region, influenced by the Ottoman Empire and used from the mid-18th century into WWI. Expert Jonathan Ferguson highlights its construction, including imported locks and barrels assembled with local stocks and brass furniture, noting its distinct Balkan decorative style and functional features like vertically grooved frizzens. Despite perceived 'crude' fit by Western standards, its longevity was due to cultural significance, affordability, and ease of maintenance.

This video provides an in-depth look at the manufacturing process of the L1A1 SLR rifle at the Royal Small Arms Factory (RSAF) Enfield, presented by firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson of the Royal Armouries. It details the complex machining, heat treatment, and assembly stages, from raw steel forgings to the finished product, highlighting the precision engineering involved in creating this iconic rifle.

This video features firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson discussing the unusual, straight grip design of mid-19th century percussion pistols from Marseille, France, manufactured by the Viallon family. Ferguson explains the historical and functional reasons behind this distinctive aesthetic, which appears more modern than contemporary pistol grips. The video also promotes upcoming events, museum support, and the Royal Armouries' resources.

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.