The world’s best named gun? With weapon and firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson

Experts at the time called it: 'Clumsy ill-balanced and altogether unpleasant to handle.' Charming.
However, the Experimental Bang Model B1 might have been unfashionable, and not performed very well in trials, but its innovative features mean it deserves much more attention than it got at the time.
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We are the Royal Armouries, the United Kingdom's national collection of arms and armour. Discover what goes on behind the scenes and watch our collection come to life. See combat demonstrations, experience jousting and meet our experts.
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[@mikethurman3147]

As far as names, the ".22 Eargesplitten Loudenboomer" deserves recognition (and ear protection). Great video as always 👍

[@exploatores]

So what kind of .22 calibre are that one loaded with :)

[@evanwickstrom5698]

@@exploatores Enough powder to hit Mach 4.2

[@jonathanferguson1211]

I'm still waiting for a muzzle brake manufacturer to call one of their products the "Loudener" in honour of The Simpsons.

[@evanwickstrom5698]

@@jonathanferguson1211 Snake Hound made one, actually!

[@jameshealy4594]

@@exploatores As far as I recall it's a .22 calibre bullet (obviously) on a necked down .378 Weatherby magnum case. I dread to think what the barrel life would be like.

[@BK-yj7vg]

Possibly the most technically correct name.

[@jonathanferguson1211]

Which, as we all know, is the best kind of correct.

[@discerningscoundrel3055]

Along with artillery that uses the De Bange system, of course

[@toldyouso5588]

bang...click...

[@samy7013]

@@toldyouso5588 : You’ve heard of Baron von Klick?

[@toldyouso5588]

@@samy7013 No but I heard Fredo would bang two cocktail waitresses at a time.

[@SzczepanZZ]

Now we have to wait for two people called "Boom" and "Stick" to form a company and develop a rifle called 'Boom-Stick Mk 1'.

[@roguevector1268]

Stick and Boom Dynamite Company

[@justicar5]

@@roguevector1268 Bang and Thunk engineering

[@ridiculousrandy1401]

Flak-Shrapnel MG MK-1

[@cletusmandeletusman2328]

Kox-Bauls garden shear mk.1

[@LostCylon]

Lol, any missfire and it could be named a KA-Boom gun :p

[@13thbee16]

Jonathan, I'd like to say that I think you do a pretty good job at keeping these videos fairly layman accessible for all that I bet much of the audience are gun nerds. You tend to explain technical terms in a good, concise, and often a bit humorous way that's makes for nice presentations.

[@jonathanferguson1211]

Thank you! I realise that not everyone watching will be even into firearms, let alone the technical aspects.

[@houghwhite411]

Fits the job as museum curator

[@peterclarke7240]

Ah, the Bang rifle. the precursor to the Boom stick.

[@aaronleverton4221]

Are you sure? I mean, I've seen references to the Boom Stick being in [isolated] use in Dark Ages England.

[@jonathanferguson1211]

@@aaronleverton4221 If you have those references, I'd like to see them. I think you mean the Medieval period though - the Dark Ages had no firearms.

[@loogue]

@@jonathanferguson1211 There was this incident in 1300A.D where this kinda weapon so called "boom stick" was used. I Learn about it in 1993, when I saw documentary that describe such a weapon

[@peterclarke7240]

Well... You have to remember that the Boom stick you're referring to was transported to that time-period via an interdimensional vortex of potentially demonic origins, so I'm not sure that counts. Although, given it's potential influence on future firearms developments, who can say for sure? Time travel is a tricky bugger. Also, as Jonathan rightly points out, this event occurred in the middle ages, probably circa 1300ad based on armour variants discovered in archaeological digs in the mid-90s, not the Dark Ages.

[@peterclarke7240]

Thank you. Accuracy, both in tackling incursions of deadites from demonic plains of reality, and in correctly dating historical events, is incredibly important.

[@dougsteel7414]

Olufsen's rifles had a much more transparent acoustic signature

[@jonathanferguson1211]

Oh, well played.

[@psntsn89]

You're so right, Søren and Hansen is pretty common names in Denmark. Bang is a bit more uncommon though.

[@davidmcintyre998]

I remember a television manufacturer called Bang-Olsen would it be the same people?

[@tommelfinger]

@@davidmcintyre998 Peter Bang & Svend Olufsen .. Bang & Olufsen ... You were close. No relation though

[@davidmcintyre998]

@@tommelfinger i remember my father saying they were the best TVs on the market but you say not connected to the gun makers--thank you for the reply.

[@JDahl-sj5lk]

The strange thing is that bang! means bang! in both danish Norwegian and swedish, yet it's a name used in all three countries as well. And i think the name Bang and the word bang goes back a fairly long time as well. Or maybe not that long for the word, but at least a couple hundred years.

[@andriandrason1318]

@@JDahl-sj5lk It's stems from Old Norse banga or banka meaning to pound, hammer.

[@josedorsaith5261]

Just got back from a weekend away with the gf, visiting the Royal Armouries. I'd always wanted to go, but it was your videos that spurred me to book train tickets. The exhibits were incredible. We ended up with a mini tour group forming around us, as I couldn't help but geek out over the WW1 & 2 small arms on display. Ended up buying a couple of guide books to chip in to the great work you've been doing on the channel. 10/10 would visit again

[@derekp2674]

Thanks Jonathan, Christian and team. It is good to see that you have those old rifles and some accompanying documents.

[@ssfbob456]

"The best named rifle" Me: we'll see about that. Johnathan: This is the Bang Rifle. Me: ...Until someone makes the Pew Pew gun, you win.

[@LibertyTreeStudios]

As soon as I heard “Bang” I had flashbacks to the painful restoration of my G41(M) which uses the Bang system...

[@violetnightmare9216]

I was re-watching the movie that made Sean Connery quit acting forever today (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) and noticed that they had horribly blinged out Sten SMGs in it - then when looking online to see if I could find pictures of it, I then noticed that the pictures where on the royal armouries website - given that you have this horrific thing in your collection, could we see you be really brave and do a video on it? Apologies in advance for the anguish this might cause you.

[@mikallaksesvela2972]

>

[@MrAnottakenusername]

Why would you EVER rewatch that movie, but now you have me intrigued :)

[@violetnightmare9216]

@@MrAnottakenusername I have one of those analytical minds which makes me enjoy picking apart bad movies, also it was an opportunity to subject a friend who hadn't seen it before to the movie.

[@23GreyFox]

I had fun watching the movie. But the weapon made sense for the crew of the Nautilus.

[@dbmail545]

@@23GreyFox only because the prop master could not come with believable harpoon guns of the comic.

[@colormetwisted]

needs an exclamation point, Bang! Rifles

[@keannuribs1817]

i see Jonathan i click i like

[@nazcomprokhat3371]

A B1? Does it say “rogerroger” whenever you pull the trigger?

[@MurrayC]

"Bang is a Scandinavian surname as well as a Korean surname. The Scandinavian surname is derived from the Old Norse banga which means to pound or hammer." So exactly the same joke as in English en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bang_(surname)

[@SavageGreywolf]

well Anglo-Saxon is a Germanic tongue after all

[@edwardbrown9220]

I wouldn't be surprised if English gained the word bang from norse invaders anyway.

[@darrenbrashaw8409]

Bangy McBangface.

[@demos113]

A nice couple of Bangers. :-)

[@moredistractions]

"Keeper of Firearms & Artillery" That's got to be one of the best job titles in the UK, considering how restrictive the gun laws are there.

[@ArteriusSaren]

Happy new year Jonathan and Royal Armouries museum.

[@stephengiunta1564]

Been watch’n for a few months and this video is best yet. Well done!

[@ihcfn]

Very cool, cheers Jonathan!

[@thesarcasticsettler252]

i like how jonathans enthusiasm gets objectively more evident as he talks "shop" around 8:30 onwards leading towards almost giddiness. While I personally have no investment in firearms it is this evident enthusiam to the topic that keeps me coming back and learning a little more each episode from this series.

[@SomaticApparition]

I’ve been wanting to learn how these rifles work for so long, thank you!

[@kencurtis508]

Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@quattroconcept4]

The WAR (Winchester Automatic Rifle) sounds better.

[@DavidCowie2022]

I hadn't heard of the Bang rifle, so I was expecting the WAR.

[@nicholasprice3539]

Another good video, very informative. Also timely as I've just returned home after my first visit to the Royal Armouries Leeds. Epically impressive, though it did dent my wallet as someone sold me membership, and your book.

[@Chiller01]

From what I’ve seen Danish small arms designs are quite aesthetically impressive. I’m a big fan of Danish or Scandinavian modern design in architecture and furniture so maybe it’s a continuation of those lines and materials.

[@magnussl2425]

Thx from Denmark

[@Phage26]

Beautiful video, as always. I personally would very much like to see a video on the Sjogren 7.62 mm rimless military rifle the UK tested in 1908. There is only one of them and if I recall correctly, it is currently at the Royal Armouries. I'm currently getting a .12 Gauge Sjogren and I'm very curious about the rifle version of it but there are no details anywhere :-(

[@Swedishmafia101MemeCorporation]

Is it compatible with a Pew suppressor?

[@donaldasayers]

Excellent case of nominative determinism.

[@mapkocc]

Outstanding content as always. If I could make a request, I think everyone here would love a video just like this one on the M1 Garand, going into detail about what made it such a league above other self-loading rifles of the era.

[@Odin79_LTD]

I believe that Ruger Model 77's still use a safety with a bolt lock. It has 3 positions, the last locking the bolt in place

[@jonathanferguson1211]

Ah, I did not realise that, thank you.

[@paullytle1904]

@@jonathanferguson1211 so do Mausers and I believe many fals have one for launching rifle grenades

[@jonathanferguson1211]

@@paullytle1904 Yes, I'm familiar with the three-position wing safety on the 98. Given its influence upon later designs, it probably shouldn't have surprised me that the Ruger 77 still had it despite being an original and much later design. The FAL does not have a direct mechanical bolt lock, rather just a gas cutoff position that prevents the gas system from working and therefore the bolt remains locked as it always is at rest.

[@matthaught4707]

@@jonathanferguson1211 I like having that option of a third bolt-locking position on a hunting rifle. I've used it when the gun's slung and I'm climbing up the side of a hill through the brush. The last thing I want is for some piece of vine or branch to hook the bolt handle and pop it open, which has happened before with other designs. But that's a bit of a specialty use, I know.

[@jameshealy4594]

Does Ruger still produce the 77? I was under the impression it was out of production.

[@cazarilolsen4630]

Great info, thanks.

[@Stevarooni]

Packed with info! 👍

[@freeholdtacticalmed]

I visited Armoury Stores in 2008 researching 18th century flintlocks…awesome experience. I would love to visit again.

[@paulodecarvalho8965]

Could we please get a Farker Hill full episode. It would be a wonderful episode.

[@RevanAlaire]

It is Farquhar Hill, though your spelling did make me chuckle.

[@JohnHughesChampigny]

Iain has done a video on the Farquar Hill, including an accidental demonstration of the problem with the magazine. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGm5pYSqZ6qngM0

[@TheWirksworthGunroom]

"Did you remember to turn the gas off..?" Beautiful!

[@natvan5869]

Love this series Can we get a walk through of the storage room? while pointing out your favourite or the most interesting peices ?

[@TheSorcerer1]

That would kinda beat the point of going to the museum wouldn't it?

[@natvan5869]

@@TheSorcerer1 well I'll likely never go as I live in Australia , but I'd still go to see it in person even after on video

[@JayeOFarrell]

I would love it if in a future episode you could cover the Webley-Mars Automatic Pistol.

[@draconus56]

Bang's descendents went on to make horrible energy drinks

[@thedesignerblacksmith5953]

Very cool, Mr.Jonathan. I didn’t care much about small country firearm. It’s really cool to know Danish made semi-auto rifle too

[@solwogan5356]

We love you, Johnny. Yes, we do.

[@hobartw9770]

Eyecatchers. Very nice.

[@jean-yvesmead3972]

2021 Going out with a Bang.

[@imherkhan]

Happy Early Birthday Jonathan.

[@vinnyganzano1930]

Definitely the best name for a weapons designer ever.

[@simonhoney2050]

Nominative Determinism! People who have jobs befitting their name. :) Always interesting videos, Jonathan. I love this way of making museum resources available.

[@Getpojke]

"This is my "BANG" stick!" : Ashley "Ash" Joanna Williams"son", Danish relative of Ash from Evil Dead. Bang, what a great example of an aptronym for a firearms designer.

[@jonathanhill6064]

For those of us more interested in the esoteric historical and mechanical aspect of firearms, this and Ian's Forgotten Weapons channel are amazing. Don't get me wrong, I love to watch people shoot shit, but these type of videos are fun for a boring guy like me. Keep up the good work. Also just saw you on an old QI episode with a Vickers and laughed and laughed when I recognized you in the shadows.

[@MakingMoneyyy857]

Would love to go to the Royal Armouries one day

[@badwolfest83o8]

Do you have a Walther collection? I'm really interested to know the beginnings of the P38 and PP series of pistols. Thanks, Johnathan. Great video as always.

[@jetpetri]

I love learning more about guns, but only gun Jesus and Jonathan can keep me engaged.

[@peterclarke7240]

Yep. They take the subject seriously, but not themselves. Tends to make for the best kind of teacher, in my experience. Bloke and Chap should also get an honourable mention, of course.

[@kinnexion]

Oh my sweet lord Jesus. That noise of the bolt releasing forward at 10:00. Literal Firearm ASMR 🤤 I love how heavy and substantial old firearms and their components are

[@travishabursky4362]

Johnathan m8, we know you’re the keeper of firearms and artillery for the museum. Could you please show off a field gun or two?

[@Jmvars]

That second rifle looks _really_ cool with the circular perforations on the upper guard.

[@jeffprice6421]

Love these videos. What is that angular rifle at the end of the rack over your left shoulder? Thanks.

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

Nice! I like a nice Bang.

[@robertfarrow4256]

What an interesting rifle! It would be very nice to know how this system would have worked in the original chambering.

[@TeamGreenBurrito]

That’s a bang-on good looking rifle. That rifle straight up bangs. That’s a bangin’ gun.

[@bighogicy9279]

I love this guy

[@mattclarke8791]

One question I'd ask Jonathan if I had the opportunity is; does the museum have any artifacts they can't put on display? (I guess a yes/no answer might have to suffice)

[@buggoprince4772]

As a Dane, i think you pronounced Dansk Rekyl Riffel Syndikat pretty well. I was quite interested, cause i'd never heard of this rifle till now.

[@thespecialbru]

That CHUNK is very aesthetically pleasing in that room you’re in 👍

[@F1ghteR41]

I've only read about this system but never seen one, not to mention the trials reports. Thanks for the video and happy New Year! 3:52 I was fully expecting from you to name France here. By the beginning of WW1 they had how many, 15? 20 years of development program behind?

[@KoRbA2310]

That is a nice Bang Stick indeed!

[@evernever9877]

Like the new room,

[@bohba13]

Hearing Ian's work mentioned by a major museum curator threw me for a loop. Guess that shows how good his work is.

[@JustaMuteCat]

There were a few times that Jonathan mentions Ian’s expertise to pull apart guns without damaging them much in several videos. I guess years of doing so in auction houses, museums and personal collections while conscious that marring the finish or leaving marks would be a huge deal helps a ton.

[@gordonmillar110]

Really good interesting

[@PURPLECATDUDE7734]

The G. Money rifle is also well named

[@KNURKonesur]

Any chance to see a video about the VSS Vintores and/or AS VAL?

[@George_M_]

Jonathan mentions bullpups...check.

[@tedrex8959]

If only the Pew triplets had gone into gun design instead of making benches, just imagine the firepower we could have had!

[@Rehteal]

Between Jon and Ian, the side of me that moves interesting mechanisms never gets bored. Plus it made curious enough to look up how a certain "Railgun" in a certain game compares to modern day sniper rifles. The thing is literally outperformed by the Arctic Warfare. The cutting edge railgun can't even break 1000m/s, has a 4-round mag, a delay between the trigger pull and the rifle firing, and is needlessly complex in its feed system on top of still being bolt-action for some reason. THAT is a gun meant to be on Forgotten Weapons.

[@Rehteal]

@Mr. Pecker's Finnish knife adoration society The Railjack from Planetside 2. Projectiles in that game are agonizingly slow.

[@StormBringare]

@@Rehteal TBF the Railjack has the highest muzzle velocity of all guns in that game IIRC. So in reality it would be much faster than 1000m/s, but that delay between triggerpull and firing would never be ok IRL 😂

[@Rehteal]

@@StormBringare A sniper rifle made in the 80s is better on all technical fronts than a railgun.

[@StormBringare]

@@Rehteal Than a non-existent railgun made by a game developer that rightfully premieres balance in their weapons designs and likely knows fuck all about guns. Of course the real gun is objectively better. That being said this fictive railgun is better than any real railgun in existence today.

[@Rehteal]

@@StormBringare "Of course it's better" what kind of logic is that? The L4D hitscan 60-round M16 that can put out endless rounds without wear is *obviously* worse that the real thing. Of course the real gun is better.

[@fuzeairsoft]

Do you guys have a G 11 in your collection of always wanted to see one

[@maxlindqvist5732]

Hey Jonathan! I was wondering if You would ever be interested in making a video displaying all the different versions/ models of the AK platform? I know there are some really werid designs that would be great for a video. Extra points to You and the Royal Armouries if You include a Finnish Valmet RK62!

[@joshinya42069]

I’m keen for this .303 rifle video

[@AidanMyne]

Perhaps a silly question. Is a barrel tapped for gas (for DI or piston systems) before or after the barrel blank is rifled?

[@handlesarefeckinstupid]

Interesting question, as an engineer I would rifle the barrel after, as it would be easier to remove the burr. Yet I suppose it would still burr and be a pain to remove either way.

[@ashleysmith3106]

What are the strange curved bits on the front sling attachment? Stacking hooks?

[@lmyrski8385]

I found this very informative. Surprised you did not mention the German gas traps, G41(W) & G41(M). Interestingly, the German military included the same request concerning using the rifle as an ordinary repeater if the gas system failed. Mauser went a bit crazy on that and designed a total basket case of a rifle. Walther appears to have ignored the requirement and went for the same approach as you mentioned. Remove gas cup and cycle by hand. You probably know all this and that the G41(W) saw more use. Everyone claims that the design was subject to fouling. My G41(W), which is in good condition, has never failed, using various surplus ammo, although I'm not on the Eastern front although it performed just fine at 11 degrees (F) in the mountains of New England (can't say the same for the SMLE I brought along). I have not seen any German sources concerning the fouling (combat reports, etc.) being a big problem and suspect it was not half the issue it is made out to be. I suspect the weapon was really redesigned into the G43 to simplify manufacture; replacing the gas trap system made it cheaper and easier to build, with a lot less machining. I'd be curious if you knew anything to prove or disprove this?

[@RevanAlaire]

Being Danish, it is always amusing to hear foreigners mangle the pronunciation of Danish words. Though Jonathan actually does pronounce the words quite well.

[@yeahbee8237]

Tbf you mangle the words yourselves to...

[@RevanAlaire]

@@yeahbee8237 Can't argue with that.

[@StormBringare]

IIRC Khalashnikov recently developed a precision rifle with a gastrap mechanism, not so sure how well it works or anything but it's a similar principle as the second gun.

[@johnryder1713]

This patent was used in the G41 and K43 rifles not as successfully as hoped

[@Elslemmo]

Danish guy here... Bang huh? That name could have ended in some seriously weird conversations hehe... The enemy was approaching, so I held my bang firmly. Pulled the trigger and the bang from my bang nearly blew my hat of

[@zera2314]

Came across this channel from the review of Apex Legends guns, and I'm glad I found it! Very interesting content.

[@kloppanator]

This, is my Bang stick! I'm sorry, couldn't resist.

[@OverwatchExtractor]

Would love to see the Walther Gewehr 41 if you've got one floating around! I believe it's also a type of "gas trap" rifle which was prone to fouling as well. Unless I'm mistaken, that was a large contributor to the later design and adoption of the Gewehr 43.

[@stevemc6010]

The Gewehr 41s used the Bang system as the Germans insisted that drilling a gas port in the barrel would negatively affect accuracy, until they finally encountered SVT-40s and M1 Garands.

[@JOE_XD]

Any Pew Model 1? :P Great vid as always!

[@Rrgr5]

There was any trials with the Garand in Britain before WWII? I read somewhere that the Canadians did some trials with the Garand, and during the war the British also did, also something about spec-ops units using it, but nothing about it before the war, which is interesting since the Pedersen was tried, same with other US self-loaders, none in .303, but the Garand was easier to convert, since they did converted it from .275 to .30-06.

[@ilmt]

7 round magazine for 5 round clips makes quite the sense for me - I might be gamifing it a bit - but that allows you to top up the gun sooner before it is entirely empty, so the soldier can choose the moment when he do so. Not sure how much would that be useful to a soldier but from gamer/airsofter point of view it is quite desirable (given that I have a fixed magazine gun and stripper clips)

[@connormacdonald9217]

On the topic of named guns, are there any historical examples of individual firearms with unique names? I think Billy the Kid's revolver had an upgrade named a "thunderer", but I've heard his gun in particular was referred to by that name as well.

[@kebabsvein1]

Pretty decent danish pronounciation there... Not half bad. Good to get some Scandinavian designers involved on the series!

[@jonathanferguson1211]

Thank you! I tend to use Google Translate and play it back a few times to at least try to get it right.

[@TorquilBletchleySmythe]

Would firing that chambered round with the bolt-lock on cause damage to the self-loading mechanism? Or is the gas impingement system indirect enough to afford some sort of buffer?

[@prisregil]

What is that G36 looking rifle that is first on the far right rack

[@Sonny_Doro]

Please Jonathan, tell us about the Martini Henry rifles

[@pegoossens]

the Bang rifle it 's a name that seems to come straight out of an Ikea catalog.

[@Ashfielder]

That chap’s name sounds like a fun night out. Saw him. Handsome. Bang.

[@StrappedUpNick]

You should make a video on the PTRS sniper

[@ciandersen1334]

Jonathan your danish is actually pretty good

[@fanbatcher]

Bang&Olufson …. Fantastic stereo systems.