Thorneycroft to SA80 Stretch Goal: The Maharaja's Bullpup

This livestream finale celebrates the end of the Kickstarter campaign for "Thorneycroft to SA80: British Bullpup Firearms 1901-2020." The video features the author, Jonathan Ferguson, discussing the book and encouraging viewers to still preorder. The goal is to reach the #10 all-time Kickstarter Publishing project. The discussion centers around British bullpup firearms from the early 20th century to the SA80.

This video promotes the presale of the book "Thorneycroft to SA80: British Bullpup Firearms 1901-2020" through PayPal and Kickstarter. It also introduces a new author poster featuring Jonathan Ferguson with a Thorneycroft carbine, part of a planned series by Headstamp Publishing. Links to the BackerKit preorder, merchandise, and Kickstarter campaign are provided.

This video delves into the biographies of the designers behind British bullpup firearms, focusing on the lineage from the Thorneycroft to the SA80. It highlights interesting individuals involved in the development of these unique rifle designs. The video promotes a Kickstarter campaign for a book detailing this history, aiming to enhance the project with additional unlocked sections.

This video announces a livestream event featuring Jonathan Ferguson from the Royal Armouries, discussing the L85A3 (SA80) in Battlefield. The event highlights a collaboration between the Royal Armouries and the Cody Firearms Museum, showcasing expert knowledge on firearms within a gaming context.

This video features Jonathan Ferguson discussing British military firearms, specifically contrasting the AR-15 platform with historical flintlock revolvers. Ferguson, an author and firearms historian, delves into the evolution of firearms, referencing his books "Thorneycroft to SA80" and "Clockwork Basilisk: The Early Revolvers of Elisha Collier." The description also links to his articles on flintlock revolvers and provides resources for other firearms history channels and reference books, indicating a deep dive into historical firearms development and design.

This video delves into the operational trials of the E.M.2 rifle in the Malaya combat zone, a fascinating discovery made during research for the "Thorneycroft to SA80" book. It highlights the inclusion of a detailed section on these trials and their outcomes in the upcoming book, promoted through a Kickstarter campaign. The content focuses on historical firearm development and real-world military application.

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.