Our Collection: Henry VIII's Foot Combat Armour

This video offers a behind-the-scenes look at the foot combat armour of Henry VIII, specifically item II.6, as it is being prepared for a new tournament gallery at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. The focus is on the historical artifact itself and its preparation for display, rather than any modern firearms.

This content details Henry VIII's specialized tournament armors, the Foot Combat Armour and the Tonlet Armour, created for the 1520 Field of Cloth of Gold. It highlights the intricate design, precise measurements, and the unexpected rule change that necessitated the rapid assembly of the Tonlet Armour. The video showcases the historical significance and craftsmanship of these pieces, including their decorative elements and a reenactment of their use.

This behind-the-scenes video captures the deinstallation of Henry VIII's 1540 Field and Tournament Armour. The armour was on loan to the National Portrait Gallery for the exhibition 'Six Lives, The Stories of Henry VIII's Queens.' The video highlights the historical significance of the armour and its connection to Henry VIII's reign, coinciding with the anniversary of his coronation. It serves as an invitation for viewers to explore more about arms and armour at the Royal Armouries, the United Kingdom's national collection.

This video showcases a Stechzeug, a specialized suit of armour designed for jousting, specifically the "Joust of Peace" from the late 15th century. It highlights how jousting evolved into a dangerous sport necessitating protective gear. The armour is typically displayed at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. The video was produced by History™ for the "Dressed to Kill" exhibition, a collaboration between Historic Royal Palaces and the Royal Armouries, coinciding with the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's ascension.

This video offers a visual tour of Elizabethan armours housed in the Tournament gallery at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. It focuses on historical defensive wear, showcasing the craftsmanship and design of armour from that era, likely detailing different types, components, and perhaps historical context for their use in tournaments and combat.

This video from the Royal Armouries introduces modern jouster Marie Baron, discussing her passion for the sport. The content ties into the 500th anniversary of the Field of Cloth of Gold in 1520, where King Henry VIII participated in a joust. While the video is in French, English subtitles are provided. It is part of a series introducing various jousters, with a playlist linked for further viewing. The Royal Armouries aims to showcase its collection of arms and armor through events like jousting demonstrations.

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.