Jonathan Ferguson answers a fan's question as to a quirk of timing and happenstance why there are two different Webley revolvers with the designation 'Mark IV'.

This week's mystery weapon was sent to Jonathan Ferguson by a fan who had screenshotted an image from the Channel 4 TV show, Utopia. The weapon appeared to be a version of the recognisable Browning Hi-Power. However, Jonathan noticed some subtle differences that led to the rediscovery of a little...

The early 20s saw a dramatic reduction in spending from from the European powers who believed the Treaty of Versailles had put pay to any future conflict on the scale of the First World War. This slashing of military expenditure explains this weeks hand-cranked rattle attachment for the British L...

This week Jonathan's joined by the dinky little brother of the Webley Mark IV family, the 'pocket model. Designed for ease of concealment and personal defence, this compact design is seeing a new lease of life as the Webley brand is reborn in the 21st century.

While at first appearing as a standard Greener Shotgun, this weapon features some major differences. It features an SMLE-style bayonet lug, and is chambered in the much smaller .476 calibre. Jonathan suspects it could be a nerfed version for Indian Police, highlighting the distrust between the Br...

The streets of Victorian Britain could be mean and dangerous and there was a real fear of being garotted from behind by criminal gangs. Jonathan investigates an ingenious solution.

In an attempt to minimise barrel wear, Britain looked at the possibility of a reversible Bren barrel. Jonathan examines whether this was feasible and why you haven't heard more about this novel concept?

It was clear to British weapon procurement in the mid-thirties that war in Europe was fast approaching. Britain, in its haste to adopt an aircooled machine gun for its tanks and AFVs turned to the Czech ZB-53. However, with the time constraints of a rapidly approaching conflict, this .303 variant...

In the late 1940s Britain were searching for an Automatic Rifle to match the German Sturmgewehr. This design did not pass the trials. Watch Jonathan describe why.

In the 1920s, the British Army examined a number of options to replace the bolt-action Lee Enfield rifle. Several self-loading rifle systems were examined at a time when the US Army was looking at adopting the M1 Garand. One such weapon proposed in the trials was the 'Bang' rifle as covered in a ...

Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857-58, Britain was intent on preventing a repeat of its own Indian Sepoy troops rising up and fighting against British forces. One solution to this was to effectively 'nerf' the weapons they were issued. This India Pattern Musket is the product of the distrust ...

Our collection often treads a thin line between being a deadly weapon or piece of art. These 19th century self-defence pistols play on this very notion, attempting to disguise their deadly purpose in the shape of a typical jewellery case of the period. What practical use would something so seemin...

The mid-nineteenth century saw huge strides in the development of repeater pistol mechanisms, with the introduction of the Colt Paterson revolver in 1836. Other excellent designs would follow in the ensuing decades. But, as we'll discover with the Jones, weapons designers continued to deviate fro...

The introduction of bolt action, magazine rifles saw Britain's vast arsenal of relatively new Martini-Henry's quickly obsoleted. An ex-army officer, Charles Greville Harston took it upon himself to come up with a cheap, simple solution. The solution was expensive, complicated and quickly surpasse...

Instantly recognisable to weaponry enthusiasts, the Luger is a mainstay of war movies and video games alike. This suppressed example is an extremely rare variant, as it was designed for covert operations by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) during the Second World War. Join Jonathan ...

In the 1930s, Britain sought to replace the ageing Vickers and Lewis guns in its aircraft arsenal. The trials winner was the Browning .303 but the War Office wanted a number of changes to the off-the-shelf weapon, including a substantial increase in the rate of fire. Famously mounted in the Hurri...

This week's weapon tells two juxtaposing stories. The first is one born out of the troubles in Northern Ireland, while the second deals with an intergalactic lizard assassin. Join Jonathan Ferguson as he reveals both stories behind this fascinating firearm.

Join Keeper of Firearms and Artillery, Jonathan Ferguson as he examines two of the treasures from our collection. Created by master gunsmith, Ezekiel Baker, these opulently finished target pistols tell the story of a firearm-loving monarch who had a taste for the finer things in life.

Join Jonathan Ferguson as he brings you a quintessential What is this Weapon. This 'almost' bullpup design was created against the background of the looming war in Europe, drawing heavily on Italian sub machine gun designs. But, it also features some unique features which range from the inventive...

One of the most remarkable combination weapons in the Royal Armouries collection, this 19th century musket-come-grenade launcher can be fired in both directions.

In search of replacing their 'absolutely useless' percussion cap pistols, the British Lancers put in place a sequence of events that would lead to the development of the Enfield Revolver. A strange looking design, Jonathan examines why this pistol failed to impress its buyers and users alike.

Can you make a gun without a lock? Mr Riviere certainly thought so. Mr Ferguson isn't quite so sure. Join Jonathan as he looks at an exquisite pair of pistols featuring a beautifully crafted sea monster hammer.

Military aviation was still in its infancy at the outset of the First World War. Pilots and navigators took to the skies wielding a host of handheld small arms including pistols, rifles and even shotguns alongside larger fixed machine guns. The Webley self-loading pistol in .455 calibre with its ...

This week Jonathan Ferguson examines one of several prominent female gun manufacturers present in Britain in the 19th century. Ann Patrick was known for high quality firearms, with this pair featuring a fascinating lock system that was ultimately made obsolete by the percussion cap.