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Thorneycroft to SA80: British Bullpup Firearms, 1901–2020
Thorneycroft to SA80: British Bullpup Firearms, 1901 – 2020 is a reference work for all those interested in the history of military firearms. It charts the British love affair with the ‘flipped’ bullpup rifle and machine gun - weapons with their firing mechanism positioned behind the trigger - from a faltering start in the Edwardian period, through the controversy of the NATO rifle trials, to the troubled history of the current SA80 family. The book covers the following arms in detail:
Thorneycroft rifle
Godsal rifle
Korsak’s Light Automatic Gun, 7.92 mm, (E.M. 1)
Thorpe’s Automatic Rifle, .280 inch, (E.M. 1 aka ‘Cobra’)
Janson’s Automatic Rifle, .280 inch (E.M. 2) aka ‘Mamba’)
Rifle, 7 mm, No. 9 Mk. I; Rifle, 7 mm, X1E1; and Rifle, .30 inch, X2E1
4.85 mm Enfield Weapon System (Individual Weapon and Machine Gun)
SA80 Individual Weapon (L85A1, A2, A3) and Light Support Weapon (L86A1, A2)
SA80 Carbine (L22A2) and grenade launchers
Several more civilian, prototype, developmental, and other weapons
Each chapter describes the weapon's conception, development, trial and intended role. Essential technical aspects of design and operation are framed in their historical context and the whole is laid out in a clear, logical, and chronological manner. These stories are lavishly illustrated with top quality photography of key examples from the world’s best collection of these exotic and poorly-understood weapons. As the contemporary debate over the relative merits of bullpup and conventional small arms builds pace, this work is a timely reflection on the efforts of the most prolific of the bullpup nations. Thorneycroft to SA80 is both a comprehensive reference work to support serious research, and an aesthetically pleasing illustrated publication for the firearms enthusiast.
Thorneycroft rifle
Godsal rifle
Korsak’s Light Automatic Gun, 7.92 mm, (E.M. 1)
Thorpe’s Automatic Rifle, .280 inch, (E.M. 1 aka ‘Cobra’)
Janson’s Automatic Rifle, .280 inch (E.M. 2) aka ‘Mamba’)
Rifle, 7 mm, No. 9 Mk. I; Rifle, 7 mm, X1E1; and Rifle, .30 inch, X2E1
4.85 mm Enfield Weapon System (Individual Weapon and Machine Gun)
SA80 Individual Weapon (L85A1, A2, A3) and Light Support Weapon (L86A1, A2)
SA80 Carbine (L22A2) and grenade launchers
Several more civilian, prototype, developmental, and other weapons
Each chapter describes the weapon's conception, development, trial and intended role. Essential technical aspects of design and operation are framed in their historical context and the whole is laid out in a clear, logical, and chronological manner. These stories are lavishly illustrated with top quality photography of key examples from the world’s best collection of these exotic and poorly-understood weapons. As the contemporary debate over the relative merits of bullpup and conventional small arms builds pace, this work is a timely reflection on the efforts of the most prolific of the bullpup nations. Thorneycroft to SA80 is both a comprehensive reference work to support serious research, and an aesthetically pleasing illustrated publication for the firearms enthusiast.
622 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2020
6 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Ferguson
15 books32 followersJonathan Ferguson is Curator of Firearms at the Royal Armouries in Leeds as of 2017.
Having completed a first degree in Archaeology (BA, Exeter 1997-2000), Jonathan began his museum career as a volunteer at Coldharbour Mill Museum in Devon and received his postgraduate diploma in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester in 2002. Before joining the Armouries in 2009, he held posts at Colchester Museum, Imperial War Museum Duxford and the National War Museum of Scotland. His research interests include the use and effect of firearms (both historic and contemporary), their popular perception, mythology, and their depiction in mass media. He is a member of the editorial advisory board for Arms and Armour and British Journal of Military History.
Jonathan curated the 2008 exhibition ‘Call to Arms’ at the National Museum of Scotland and was lead curator on the Royal Armouries’ First World War exhibition ‘Bullets, Blades and Battle Bowlers’ in 2014. He has presented at several conferences, including ‘Firearms and the Common Law Tradition’, co-chaired by Wesleyan University and the Smithsonian Institution (2016). Jonathan has also made various media appearances, including the BBC4 documentary series ‘Sword, Musket & Machine Gun’ (2017) and the History Channel’s ‘Sean Bean’s Waterloo’ (2015).
Having completed a first degree in Archaeology (BA, Exeter 1997-2000), Jonathan began his museum career as a volunteer at Coldharbour Mill Museum in Devon and received his postgraduate diploma in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester in 2002. Before joining the Armouries in 2009, he held posts at Colchester Museum, Imperial War Museum Duxford and the National War Museum of Scotland. His research interests include the use and effect of firearms (both historic and contemporary), their popular perception, mythology, and their depiction in mass media. He is a member of the editorial advisory board for Arms and Armour and British Journal of Military History.
Jonathan curated the 2008 exhibition ‘Call to Arms’ at the National Museum of Scotland and was lead curator on the Royal Armouries’ First World War exhibition ‘Bullets, Blades and Battle Bowlers’ in 2014. He has presented at several conferences, including ‘Firearms and the Common Law Tradition’, co-chaired by Wesleyan University and the Smithsonian Institution (2016). Jonathan has also made various media appearances, including the BBC4 documentary series ‘Sword, Musket & Machine Gun’ (2017) and the History Channel’s ‘Sean Bean’s Waterloo’ (2015).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 6, 2021
The second installment from Headstamp Publishing, this book is very impressive! Packed with high quality original material from a knowledgeable author and containing lots of references to period documents from the Royal Armouries archives. The book is illustrated with hundreds of beautiful full color photos and archival images as well. Jonathan Ferguson is a brilliant writer and the book is interesting and informative, holding my attention for what can otherwise be a dry subject matter.
January 25, 2022
My second Headstamp Publishing book. Exhaustive, fascinating, and passionate. Great photography, amazing research, and authoritative.
May 16, 2022
Another brilliant production from Headstamp. The quality of book is evident of course but the content is absolutely phenomenal as well. Jonathan Ferguson is a superb writer in explaining both technical details and the story of development challenge that occurred in the (greater than I knew about) tale of British military bullpup development. A must have for anyone with a great interest in small arms, British military history, bullpups, or if you want something to stand out on your shelf.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews