You Tube finds

[Westmarcher]

The Ferguson Rifle from the AWI. A development that didn't take off because of the expense.

[fsn]

... and, if I recall correctly, Ferguson died in the American Revoution? 

[toxicpixie]

It says so in the video. So yes

[d_Guy]

Since it was capable of being loaded in the prone position I wonder why it wasn't ultimately selected instead of the Baker rifle. Too delicate, too easily fouled?

[Westmarcher]

Apparently, the gun was not adopted because it was difficult and expensive to produce given the manufacturing technology of the era. Plus (according to Wikipedia), "they broke down easily in combat, especially in the wood of the stock around the lock mortise. The lock mechanism and breech were larger than the stock could withstand with rough use. All surviving military Fergusons feature a horseshoe-shaped iron repair under the lock to hold the stock together where it repeatedly broke around the weak, over-drilled out mortise." 

[fsn]

It says so in the video. So yes

Thought so. Was in work so couldn't watch the video, but first remember the story from Mil Mod, probably from 1975.

It's one of the "might have beens". If Ferguson had lived and had time to refine his design, what could have been?

[paulr]

I found this interesting overview of WWII in Europe and some parts of Africa, interesting to watch the ebb and flow

[fsn]

Probably a bit late for Techno but ...

Don't know anything about the sheep shearing but ...

In Viet Nam?

[Terry37]

I was not going to post this, but....why not! This is a pretty good, and humorous music video, and one of the cowboys in a brown hat, white shirt and black vest looks an awful lot like a certain wargamer I know in Middle Tennessee!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vF3F6IElRA&t=2s

Terry.....err, I mean HT Terry

[d_Guy]

Terry, I'm not sure people know you are using live rounds 

Also - exuberant about getting Federal, State, and County taxes paid, I have run off in high spirits, posting with abandon.

Found this a bit ago:
The Blackwatch escorting the crown from the castle down the Royal Mile to the Scottish Parliament. Looks to be battalion pipes and drums and a full rifle company. Particularly like it since the camera follows the whole way and they play pretty much the same march set my late pipeband played forty years ago (although our "regimental" was different). 20 minutes, but enjoyable to watch and hear:

[mollinary]

Grest video of the official march past the Edinburgh Warhammer shop. I am told it happens every year.

Mollinary

[Terry37]

Bill,

You are right, we do use live rounds for the match shooting - a special soft lead bullet with low velocity powder so we don't damage the targets - they're called cowboy rounds. However for the video none of our guns were actually loaded. We did use two blanks when the two stars were firing their pistols at each other, but nobody was really in front of them (we filmed each one separate). For the shooting of the banjo, we used a shotgun with a live round. I got a little concerned when I saw the producer setting up his camera about 2 feet from the banjo, so I said, "I'm sorry, but with him using a live round you will not be able to be there". He may have already known it, but not being sure I felt better expressing it. He said, "OK, I'll put the ca,era on remote auto".

it was still fun and we filmed just over three hours of footage to get the 90 seconds of film he used!

Terry

[fsn]

This dates from 1951.

[fsn]

[cameronian]

Tellytubbies with guns, splendid !