In this episode of What Is This Weapon? Jonathan examines a rare Romanian AK variant, the PM md.94. carbine.

Often associated with the Draco pistols imported into the U.S., this model features distinctive Romanian design choices and a intriguing 3-round burst mechanism.

In this episode of What Is This Weapon?, Jonathan takes a close look at examples of concealed pen guns from the Royal Armouries collection.

Watch as Jonathan breaks down their engineering and reveals why these unusual objects endure as icons of concealment.

In Part One, we uncovered the experimental .402 calibre Martini-Henry — the rifle that might have replaced the .450" service arm of the British Empire.

Now, in Part Two, Jonathan and Neil Aspinshaw (author of The Martini-Henry: For Queen and Empire) reveal how the story ends.

In this special episode, Jonathan is joined by Neil Aspinshaw, noted author of The Martini-Henry: For Queen and Empire, to explore the fascinating variants of the experimental .402" calibre Martini-Henry.

Why did the British Army shrink the calibre from .450" to .402"?
What problems were they tr...

Meet the Beardmore-Farquhar, a British light machine gun design that promised to be lighter, cheaper, and more efficient than the famous Lewis Gun… but never made it into service.

In this week’s episode, Curatorial Assistant Joe takes us through its unusual gas-spring system, the trials it face...

In this episode of What Is This Weapon? Jonathan examines a curious Victorian-era pistol with a curious label...

We explore its design, its purpose, and the story behind its maker, touching on a unique moment in British firearms history.

We're bringing you guns... lot's of guns.

Three rounds in fact, in our Antiques Gunshow format, this time the theme is it's 80's and 90's action movie with our special guest @hollywoodguns .

Could a revolver really be suppressed and if so, how would it sound? In this special episode of What Is This Weapon? Jonathan Ferguson explores a mysterious 1940 Enfield design for a suppressed revolver that never made it off the drawing board. But that’s just the beginning.

From sketches to Hol...

In this episode of What Is This Weapon? Jonathan unboxes a bizarre, hand-built SMG consisting of of Sterling mags, SLR furniture, and home-shed engineering. It's crude, complex but maybe ahead of its time?

“They mostly come at night… mostly.”

In this special episode of What Is This Weapon? Jonathan takes a deep dive into one of the most iconic sci-fi firearms ever conceived: the M-41A Pulse Rifle from Aliens (1986) and Alien³ (1992). But this isn’t a replica, this is a screen-used prop from the fi...

In this week’s episode Jonathan investigates a strange and rare piece from our collection, a flintlock firearm with two barrels, two locks, and a whole lot of unanswered questions.

From its unique dual-barrel configuration to its connection with elite border troops of the Habsburg monarchy, thi...

Jonathan's book, "Thorneycroft to SA80":
https://www.headstamppublishing.com/bullpup-rifle-book

"Clockwork Basilisk: The Early Revolvers of Elisha Collier":
https://www.headstamppublishing.com/collier-book

"Who Invented the Wheelgun?":
https://www.headstamppublishing.com/purchase/p/wheelgun

Ar...

This week, Jonathan takes a closer look at what appears to be a classic MP5… but isn’t quite what it seems.

Join us as we examine the Tondar TK9, Iran’s reverse-engineered copy of the iconic Heckler & Koch submachine gun.

This week on What Is This Weapon? Jonathan investigates one of the more bizarre battlefield experiments of the Second World War: a curved-barrel attachment designed to let soldiers shoot from cover… or possibly around corners.

You may have seen the Krummlauf before but you probably haven’t seen ...

Over two years ago, Jonathan introduced a strange prototype rifle, a complete unknown pulled from the shelves of the Ministry of Defence Pattern Room. No label, no provenance, and a mechanism unlike anything else in the collection.

This week, the mystery comes full circle.

You’ve seen MP5s. You’ve seen SIGs. But you probably haven’t seen this.

This week on What Is This Weapon? Jonathan takes apart the FAMAE SAF, a rare submachine gun made in Chile that looks like it’s from Switzerland and feels a bit like something from Germany.

This week on #whatisthisweapon, Jonathan examines a sealed pattern musket from Hesse, Germany.

What was it for? Who used it? And why is it covered in masking tape? Join Jonathan as he investigates this curious weapon from our collection.

This week on #whatisthisweapon, Jonathan looks at at bizarre and 'cursed' rifle - a bullpup conversion of the Armalite AR-18.

With no trigger linkage, a mismatched upper and lower, bodged welds, and a "front sight on your front sight," this prototype bullpup is more at home in a video game than ...

In this episode of #WhatisthisWeapon?, Jonathan takes a deep dive into one of the most ambitious, futuristic rifles ever conceived: the Heckler & Koch G11.

Designed with caseless ammunition and a high rate of fire, the G11 looked like something out of a science fiction movie, but it never made ...

This year marks the 80th anniversary of both VE Day and VJ Day, commemorating the end of the Second World War in Europe and across the globe.

To mark this historic occasion, Jonathan explores some of the most significant weapons used during the largest and most devastating conflict in human his...

In this episode of #WITW, we take a close look at the British Special Forces’ mysterious 'battle rifle' - the HK417.

Or as it was designated in service: the L2A1 "SACTARASS" (yes, that acronym really stands for Semi Automatic Counter Terrorist Assault Rifle and Sniper System).

Ever wondered what Jonathan Ferguson (Keeper of Firearms & Artillery at the Royal... etc) gets up to on his holidays? Well, it's pretty much exactly what you would expect...

No it's not from Star Wars, but it *might* fire lasers?

That is, in the film it's likely from - 1984. Based on George Orwell's famous novel, this firearm has a star-studded history.

Hopefully you all know about Thorneycroft by now (if you don't, there's probably a book on it), so in this episode Jonathan get's hands on with a weapon owned by the man himself.