History of Bullpup Rifles

By Eric R. Poole

It’s difficult to identify the first use of the term “bullpup” as it applies to firearm configurations, but the concept was first seen in the bolt-action Thorneycroft carbine of 1901. Since the current British L85 service rifle is one of the world’s most recognizable small arms of this style, it seems only appropriate that an English gunsmith earned a patent for the Thorneycroft on July 18, 1901.

The Thorneycroft held five rounds of .303 British within its internal magazine. Measuring 7½ inches shorter and weighing less than the Lee-Enfield rifle in British service at that time, its reduced overall length was achieved by placing the action so that the retracted bolt would slide back through the stock. And although the rifle gained some interest, testing at Hythe demonstrated excessive recoil and poor handling qualities. It was never adopted for military service.

FRENCH FIRSTS

Appearing in 1918, the 6.5x61mm Faucon-Meunier of France was the first semi-automatic bullpup rifle. Frenchman Henri Delacre developed and patented the first bullpup pistol by 1936. And, like the history of so many bullpup-configured firearms that followed, neither gained enough popularity for mass production.