About

Headstamp Publishing is a specialist publisher producing authoritative books on arms, munitions, and military history. Drawing on an extensive network of subject matter experts and unprecedented access to top-tier collections around the world, we aim to deliver best-in-class books, combining exceptional research and technical accuracy with the latest in high-quality production and photography techniques.

Headstamp Publishing was founded by N.R. Jenzen-Jones (Director, Armament Research Services), Ian McCollum (of Forgotten Weapons fame), and James Rupley (the Co-Founder and Creative Director of the popular Vickers Guide book series). We are committed to producing books that showcase world-class authors, technical specialists, photographers, and editors.

Principals

N.R. Jenzen-Jones
Director of Research

N.R. Jenzen-Jones is a technical intelligence specialist and historian focusing on arms and munitions. As Headstamp Publishing’s Director of Research, he coordinates authors, technical reviewers, subject matter experts, and editors to ensure the publications meet our rigorous content standards. In addition to his work with Headstamp, Dr. Jenzen-Jones is the Director of Armament Research Services (ARES), the Editor of Armax: The Journal of Contemporary Arms, and the founder of Helios House Press. He has held visiting fellowships at the University of Staffordshire and the University of Northampton, and was awarded the Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s 2022–2023 Resident Fellowship for his work with the Cody Firearms Museum. He serves in consultancy roles with a number of prominent organisations, and has produced extensive research and analysis on a range of arms and munitions topics. Dr. Jenzen-Jones is a certified armourer, an ammunition and ordnance collector, and a member of numerous professional organisations.

Ian McCollum
Subject Matter Expert

Ian McCollum is the founder, editor, and presenter of Forgotten Weapons, a decade-old web site and video archive dedicated to preserving firearms history. As a Subject Matter Expert with Headstamp Publishing, he helps to ensure the factual accuracy of firearms information contained within our publications. In addition to being an avid practical shooting competitor, Mr. McCollum studies the history of firearms development as well as their practical use, with a particular interest in the developmental stages of manually repeating and self-loading arms. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Purdue University, a NIMS Level 1 CNC operator’s certificate, and has worked in firearms manufacturing as well as having lectured for the Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners (AFTE). Mr. McCollum also continues to produce significant original research with Armament Research Services (ARES). His work with firearms includes a particular speciality in French arms which has led him to a deep interest in collecting these weapons. His book on this topic, Chassepot to FAMAS: French Military Rifles, 1866 – 2016, was released by Headstamp Publishing in 2019.

James Rupley
Creative Director

James Rupley is a book publisher, professional photographer, former practicing attorney, hunter, fisherman, and amateur competitive shooter. As Headstamp Publishing's Creative Director, Mr. Rupley is responsible for ensuring that photography, layout, design, and printing all meet our exacting quality requirements. He has also been the principal photographer for a number of the books published by Headstamp Publishing.

A graduate of The Citadel (The Military College of South Carolina) Honors Program (Magna Cum Laude) and Tulane University Law School (Cum Laude), he has practiced law in New York City and has served as in-house counsel for a retail and wholesale business. Mr. Rupley has been licensed to practice law in New York and Tennessee, and he is also the co-founder and producer of the Vickers Guide series of high-end coffee table reference books, in partnership with U.S. Special Operations combat veteran Larry Vickers. He has published over 30 critically acclaimed books as part of the Vickers Guide book series and with Headstamp Publishing, and his photography and other creative product have been featured in a multitude of media outlets.

Mr. Rupley has also served as a firearm subject matter reviewer and proofreader of the four most recent novels by New York Times Bestselling Author, Jack Carr: Savage Son, The Devil’s Hand, In The Blood, and Only The Dead, published by Atria/Emily Bestler Books. Mr. Rupley is also a regular photographic contributor to Watches of Espionage. 

Contributors and Advisors

Jonathan Ferguson
Technical Specialist (Small Arms & Light Weapons)

Jonathan Ferguson is Keeper of Firearms & Artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in the United Kingdom and a Technical Specialist with Armament Research Services (ARES). He is responsible for curating a collection which spans the full history of firearms, from the handgun of medieval times to the latest modular assault rifles. Through his role with ARES, Mr. Ferguson provides Headstamp Publishing with subject matter expertise and technical review. He is a specialist in the identification of small arms and light weapons, including identification solely based on component parts or weapon fragments. Mr. Ferguson has published various articles and books; his next title will be published by Headstamp in 2019.