Lee Metford MkI*: Britain's First Repeating Rifle (Almost)

This video segment from "American Rifleman Television" explores the Lee-Enfield Carbine, a specialized firearm developed for British cavalry at the end of the 19th century. Unlike its infantry counterparts, the carbine featured a shorter, sleeker design optimized to minimize snagging when carried in a saddle scabbard. Key differences include a six-round magazine and specific nose cap configurations. The video touches on its use in the Second Anglo-Boer War, various modifications for different units like the Royal Irish Constabulary and New Zealand troops, and its eventual obsolescence as military design shifted towards more standardized roles by the turn of the 20th century, ultimately being replaced by the Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield.

This video delves into the fascinating history of early bullpup rifle designs, specifically focusing on the Thorneycroft First Pattern rifle, which is presented as a potential 'Edwardian SA80.' Firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson provides an in-depth analysis, covering its design, features, and historical context. The video also briefly mentions the Gamwell Rifle and draws comparisons to well-known firearms like the Lee-Metford and SMLE. In addition to the historical firearm content, the description announces an upcoming Call of Duty livestream event for the Royal Armouries.

The Charlton Automatic Rifle was a unique WWII-era conversion of obsolete Lee-Enfield and Lee-Metford bolt-action rifles into light machine guns for the New Zealand Home Guard. Despite successful trials and a contract for 1,500 units, production challenges and a post-war fire made surviving examples extremely rare. The conversion featured an external gas system, cooling fins, and a scroll cam mechanism to operate the bolt, allowing for select-fire capability.

This YouTube video is the fourth installment in C&Rsenal's WWI Primer series, focusing on the British Long Lees (Metford and Enfield) rifles. Hosted by Othais and Mae, the documentary explores the history, function, and includes a live fire demonstration of these iconic World War I firearms. The episode highlights the centennial anniversary of the conflict and encourages viewer support through Patreon, SubscribeStar, and merchandise purchases. Additional resources like a book recommendation, music credits, and collaborators such as The Great War channel are provided.

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.