The Armourer's Bench
The Armourer’s Bench is a multimedia project using both video and written articles to showcase the history of some of the world’s most interesting and important firearms. We will be bringing you detailed examinations of historic and modern small arms from around the world as well as occasionally looking at larger weapon systems. We will delve into the history, use and operation of the weapons using videos, articles and high resolution images to tell their story.
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Double Stack En Bloc Clips Ft. Cartridge Gram
In this episode our friend Jack Dutschke, of Cartridge Gram, takes a look at some en bloc clips. Jack is an Australian cartridge collector, historian and author and we're very excited to have some videos from him looking at small arms ammunition. In his first video with TAB Jack takes a look at e...
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Ukraine Uses New Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles for the First Time
On 11 May the UK confirmed the transfer of Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine. The evidence of their first use against a target in Luhansk has now emerged. In this video we take a look at Storm Shadow's capabilities and the evidence of its first operational use in Ukraine. Be sure to check o...
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Winchester Model 1905 .45ACP Conversion
Pistol calibre carbines have been all the rage for a while but this Winchester Model 1905 chambered in .45 ACP and feeding from Colt 1911 magazines is an interesting early example of rechambering a commercial carbine in a pistol calibre. Part of the Cody Firearms Museum's collection not a great d...
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Ukraine's 40mm Grenade Mortar
In April a Ukrainian unit shared an intriguing video of a small mortar that fired 40mm grenades. Be sure to check out our accompanying article for this video here - http://armourersbench.com/2023/05/28/40mm-grenade-mortar/ If you enjoy our work please consider supporting us via Patreon, TAB is a ...
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Top Attack SMArt 155 In Ukraine
A look at the German SMArt 155, a Sensor Fuzed Munition, currently in use in Ukraine. It releases a pair of fire-and-forget top-attack submunitions. The submunitions use a ballute and parachute to slow their descent and allow the onboard infrared sensor and millimeter wave radar to locate its tar...
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Vintage Weapons In a Modern War: The TT-33 Pistol In Ukraine
This is the first of a series of videos looking at the older weapons in use in the war in Ukraine. In future instalments we'll look at Maxims, Mosin-Nagants and DPs but in this first video we'll examine use of the Fedor Tokarev-designed TT-33. Be sure to check out our accompanying article for thi...
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Mk153 SMAW Rocket Launchers In Ukraine
In this video we'll look at the first sightings of the Mk153 SMAW in Ukraine. We'll explore what the SMAW is capable of and examine the first footage of the weapons in theatre. Small correction: I misspoke at 3:30 — 68th, not 66th, Jaeger Bridge. Be sure to check out our accompanying article for ...
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Ukrainian Training Video - Stinger MANPADS
Since the war in Ukraine began on 24 February the Ukrainian armed forces have been hastily putting together and sharing training films for various weapon systems. The first of these we’ll be sharing is a training video made by the Command of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Uk...
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Rare Swedish PV-1110 Recoilless Guns In Ukraine
With less than 2,000 reportedly built the Swedish PV-1110 is possibly the rarest anti-tank weapon to have surfaced in Ukraine. Be sure to check out our accompanying article for this video here - https://armourersbench.com/ If you enjoy our work please consider supporting us via Patreon, TAB is a ...
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The M141 Bunker Defeat Munition [SMAW-D] In Ukraine
The M141 Bunker Defeat Munition (or SMAW-D) anti-structure weapons have arrived in Ukraine as part of the ongoing US military aid shipments. There has been some confusion over what the SMAW-D is capable of and even over what it looks like, with some confusing it with the AT-4 and even the M72. So...
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US & Canadian M67 Grenades In Ukraine
Grenades are an often overlooked infantry weapon and they aren't regularly seen in Ukraine (as they're normally carried in pouches out of sight). In this video we look at one of the most prevalent Western hand grenades seen in Ukraine - the M67. Be sure to check out our accompanying article for t...
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A Generous Donation to the TAB Reference Collection
I was recently contacted by Nigel a viewer who very generously offered some items from his late father's collection. They're now part of the ever-growing TAB Reference Collection, I'm honoured to look after them and share them with you in some future videos. Be sure to check out our accompanying ...
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Russia's Standalone Stock for GP-25 Grenade Launchers
In early March we looked at a Ukrainian conversion kit which turned GP-25 under-barrel grenade launchers into standalone weapons. Since then further research has discovered a very similar conversion design originating from Russia. The Север 1 developed by a company called RGL. Be sure to check ou...
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Ukraine’s Tavors [Fort-221 / Fort-224]
In 2008 Ukrainian state enterprise RPC Fort entered into a partnership with Israel's IWI to offer Tavor rifles - the Fort-221 and Fort-224 have since been seen during the fighting. Usual caveat that I'm terrible at pronouncing things applies! Be sure to check out our accompanying article for this...
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Russia's 2B25 'Silent' Mortar in Ukraine
Recent video and photos from Ukraine show Russian troops getting to grips with the unique 2B25 82mm 'silent' mortar. In this video we'll examine the imagery and how it shows the 2B25 being used. Be sure to check out our accompanying article for this video here - https://armourersbench.com/2022/12...
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Russian & Ukrainian MT-LB Adaptations
In this video we take a look at two MT-LB adaptations; one Russia, one Ukrainian. The MT-LB offers an extremely versatile platform for mounting a variety of weapons. Everything from anti-tank guns to heavy machine guns have been mounted on them by combatants.
Be sure to check out our accompanyi...
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Walk Around: The Vickers Machine Gun & Machine Gun Corps Event at the National Army Museum
On the 16 July, I took part in a Spotlight Saturday event at the UK’s National Army Museum in London. Organised by the Vickers Machine Gun Collection & Research Association the event commemorated the 100th anniversary of the disbandment of the British Army’s Machine Gun Corps but also commemorate...
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Surplus Zone - SUSAT Scopes
Vic continues his Surplus Zone series with a look at the British SUSAT sight, principally used by Britain on the SA80 and by Spain with the CETME Model LV & AMELI. In this episode Vic shows us how to refit a SUSAT with new Tritium elements. Check out the accompanying blog for this video over at: ...
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Russia's Rare A-545 in Ukraine
The Russian A-545 is perhaps the rarest of assault rifles in use in Ukraine. Since Russia's full-scale invasion last year there have only been a handful of potential sightings of the rifle which features an internal recoil mitigation system. Be sure to check out our accompanying article for this ...
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Unpacking 60 Years Military History
Today we have a bit of an interesting unpacking/unwrapping video. I've saved up a few parcels with some new additions to the TAB reference collection and I thought I'd bring you along for the ride. The manuals we'll be taking a look at span about 60 years of British Army doctrine and weapons. And...
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Shoot To Live - British Army Cold War Marksmanship
Shoot to Live - British Army Marksmanship Training pamphlet Shoot to kill had long been a British Army slogan, appearing in numerous training films and pamphlets, but in the late 70s a need introductory pamphlet on marksmanship filed it on its head. In this video we take a look inside an original...
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Vulcan / Malyuk: Ukraine's Bullpup
One of the most prominent rifles of the ongoing war in Ukraine has been a bullpup - the Vulcan / Malyuk. Designed and developed by Ukrainian company IPI, the Vulcan has been adopted by elements of the Ukraine's Special Forces and frequently seen in imagery from the war. Be sure to check out our a...
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M14 In Ukraine
Over the past couple of months there have been a number of sightings of M14s in Ukraine. In recent weeks they have been seen more frequently, in this video we look at where they may have come from and how they're being used. Be sure to check out our accompanying article for this video here - http...
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Makeshift Fire Extinguisher RPG Warheads In Ukraine
In December 2022, images of an interesting new craft-made munition began to surface in Ukraine. Chechen troops in Bakhmut have improvised an RPG-7 warhead made from the body of a small fire extinguisher. Be sure to check out our accompanying article for this video here - https://armourersbench.co...