What is this Weapon? Christmas Cracker, with firearms experts Jonathan Ferguson and Ian McCollum

This video humorously explores the SA80 bullpup rifle, showcasing its ergonomic limitations and presenting a custom 'un-bullpupped' variant dubbed 'The Jonathan Ferguson Special'. It highlights the standard SA80's right-handed-only design challenges and demonstrates the modified rifle's traditional configuration. The content emphasizes expert knowledge of firearm design and historical 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 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.

The AR-14 was a real, documented design concept by Armalite for a semi-auto sporting rifle, evidenced in company literature and patent filings for Eugene Stoner's gas system. However, Armalite pivoted to military projects like the AR-10 and AR-15, eventually selling the gas system design to Colt. While the AR-14 concept existed, it's highly unlikely any physical units were ever manufactured.

This video explores hypothetical modernizations of the WWI-era Chauchat rifle, inspired by video game concepts. While some upgrades like modern optics and improved bipods are feasible, others like bullpup conversions are mechanically impossible due to the Chauchat's long-recoil action. Historical improvements like the Belgian M1927 pattern are also discussed, suggesting modern calibers could make a Chauchat viable.

This video promotes the "Small Arms of the Cold War: NATO Battle Rifles" book, focusing on the historical context and iconic designs of battle rifles used by NATO forces. It details the strategic differences between NATO's full-power cartridges and the Eastern bloc's intermediate cartridges. The book covers over 70 models, organized by type, including notable rifles like the FAL, G3, M14, AR-10, and MAS, with a chapter dedicated to precursors and others. The book features historical insights from Ian McCollum and photography by James Rupley, providing a comprehensive look at these often under-documented firearms.

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.