The Untold Story of the Martini-Henry (Part One) with experts Neil Aspinshaw & Jonathan Ferguson

This entry details a Khyber Pass handmade copy of a Martini-Henry pistol chambered in .303 British. It highlights the gunsmiths' attempts to replicate British markings, including a unique method of stamping 'Enfield' to form a broad arrow proof. The analysis points out historical inaccuracies in the markings, such as the date '1561', and notes the crude, yet distinctive, craftsmanship.

This guide, drawing on expert instruction from Brandon Herrera, covers essential safety protocols and legal considerations for firearm modification and handling. It emphasizes the critical importance of verifying firearms are unloaded before any work, understanding NFA regulations regarding barrel length, and the dangers of improvised firearms. The guide also touches on specific firearm types like revolvers and the use of optics, reinforcing safe practices and legal compliance.

This guide details the expert gunsmithing process of sleeving a Peabody rifle's chamber to .45-70 Government, as demonstrated by Mark Novak. The modification involves precise machining on a lathe and milling machine to adapt the breech and extractor for the larger cartridge. Crucially, the rifle is only safe for black powder loads due to structural modifications.

This guide details the disassembly of the Money-Walker 1868 Trials Rifle, focusing on its unique falling block action. It highlights the process of removing the barreled action from the stock to expose the internal mechanism, offering insights into its historical design and operation. The information is presented with the authority of a firearms instructor knowledgeable in historical military procurement.

This guide details the expert gunsmithing process for repairing a Westley Richards Cape Gun, focusing on re-soldering a detached forend lug and reinforcing a split stock. Mark Novak, an expert gunsmith and firearms conservator, demonstrates advanced techniques including precision soldering, the use of 'dog bone' cross-bolt reinforcements, and Acraglas bedding. The repair addresses common structural failures in vintage firearms to ensure continued functionality and preservation.

This guide details the operation of Major Fosbery's unique breechloading prototype rifle, focusing on its vertical flip-block action and locking mechanism. The video, presented by Ian McCollum, highlights the rifle's design for 19th-century British military trials, emphasizing its innovative, albeit ultimately unsuccessful, approach to breechloading.

Ian McCollum and Jonathan Ferguson of the Royal Armouries present a challenge to find three unique firearms based on appearance, mechanical oddity, and historical impact. They showcase experimental and rare pieces like the Charlton Automatic Rifle, Sterling 7.62mm prototype, Schwarzlose Model 1898, Gabbett-Fairfax Mars pistol, an SA80 prototype, and a BSA Machine Carbine, highlighting their unusual mechanisms and limited adoption.

This entry details the Knight's Armament KS-1 (L403A1), the British Army's new Alternative Individual Weapon, adopted under Project Hunter. Expert Jonathan Ferguson from the Royal Armouries provides an in-depth look at its features, intended use for specialized units, and its role in supplementing existing platforms like the SA80.

This guide details the process of arming an 11th-century Norman knight, as explained by an institutional expert from the Royal Armouries. It covers the sequence of donning essential protective gear, including padded undergarments, a mail hauberk, a nasal helmet, and a kite shield, emphasizing weight distribution and historical construction techniques.

This guide details the installation and operation of the Harston's Patent Mark IV magazine, a rare modification designed to convert the single-shot Martini-Henry rifle into a repeater. Expert Jonathan Ferguson explains the mechanism, its inventor Captain Charles Gravelle Harston, and the historical context of its development. The guide covers fitting the magazine, the cycling process for feeding rounds, and the use of the cutoff device for single-shot operation, while also noting potential reliability issues and the high conversion cost.