Many of our followers will be familiar with the Welrod suppressed SOE pistol. But far less is known about it's minimalist cousin, the 'Sleeve Gun'. Made by BSA, the gun was introduced towards the Second World War's end as a single-shot, assassination weapon.

Since their introduction during the First World War, modern flamethrower operators have been a priority target for marksmen and snipers due to the deadly fuel the weapons unleashes. This Soviet-made ROKS-2 flamethrower was likely designed to disguise it's true capabilities, resembling more of a ...

At the end of the 19th century, cycling was booming in Europe. Unfortunately for enthusiasts of two-wheeled conveyance, so was rabies in dogs. A solution to this problem was found in the 'Velo-dog', a French/Belgian self defence revolver that gives us a fascinating peek into the perils of pedalli...

Heavily influenced by Germany's revolutionary assault rifles of the latter half of the Second World War, Britain sought a replacement for its reliable yet ageing Lee-Enfield series of rifles. The EM1, one of the contenders to fit this bill never quite lived up to expectations. Keeper of Firearms ...

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.

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 ...

Attaching a highly explosive attachment to a short range weapon may at first glance seem like a recipe for disaster. However, for certain applications having such a capability could be of real tactical use and indeed the ISTEC 200 series of launchers did see adoption with different nations during...

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.

In many ways, the VP70 was a pistol ahead of its time, with an all-polymer frame and futuristic look. Anticipations were high for large sales across the Atlantic. Despite substantial adoption, the pistol was largely overshadowed by the Glock which followed it 10 years later.

Anti-tank rifles are complex, but this one is especially so. Jonathan Ferguson looks at an early model of the Panzerbüchse that was ultimately superseded. The Panzerbüchse 38 anti-tank rifle.

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.

First produced in 1951, the Belgian-made self-loading rifle was designed by famous FN weapons designer Dieudonné Saive. Saive was living under Nazi occupation when he was extracted to Britain in 1941 where he developed the Model 1949 AFN

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.

It's Jonathan's week off so join our Curator of Firearms Christian Wellard as he explores the bulky M3 Carbine. Developed at the end of the Second World War, the M3 was trialled by British forces in Korea and Malaya and despite its hefty size and weight, was well liked by troops.

The M16 is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable weapons in the history of firearms. But, did you know that the Colt Model 715 M16A2 was also adopted into limited use by British armed forces. Join Jonathan Ferguson as he explores the key differences between a British service M16 and its Americ...

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...

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.

This week Jonathan examines an extremely rare system for suspending your revolver cylinder by Liege-based gunmaker, Alexandre Fagnus. Resembling the humble British plug chain, Jonathan explains why we don't see this system widespread among revolvers of this period.

The relatively rare Danuvia VD-01 is the focus for this week's What is this Weapon? episode. While boasting a relatively unremarkable spot in the story of firearms development, the VD-01 does have some interesting features, including polygonal rifling and a helical barrel.

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.

This week Jonathan examines two beautifully made self-defence pistols from the mid 19th century which the Keeper of Firearms and Artillery himself admits has never seen anything quite like. This is our last episode of 2022. We'd like to thank all our fantastic followers for their support over the...

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...

Why would you want a pair of pistols joined by a single barrel? The answer is a nuanced legal workaround to avoid restrictions on concealed weapons in 19th century Italy.

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 ...