2021 - Forgotten Weapons

The Dutch Model 1871/79 Beaumont – from Ethiopia

August 27, 2021 Ian McCollum 12

The Beaumont was one of the early European breechloading metallic-cartridge rifles, adopted in 1871. The rifle is a combination of elements form the Chassepot, the Mauser-Norris, and a unique V-spring firing pin system invented by […]

Great Celebrity Breakups: Winchester and John Browning

August 26, 2021 Ian McCollum 24

In August 1903, Thomas Bennett (head of the Winchester company) wrote a letter to his many distributors and agents explaining how Winchester had decided to part ways with the Browning Brothers, and how the company […]

But Does it Take 1911 Mags? Prototype Winchester 1905SL in .45 ACP

August 25, 2021 Ian McCollum 0

One of the really cool aspects of the Cody Firearms Museum is that their collection is built largely on the original Winchester factory collection. Thus they have a significant number of prototype Winchester designs that […]

Q&A 53: With Matt Larosiere (FRT Trigger) and Russell Phagan (KP-15)

August 24, 2021 Ian McCollum 38

0:00:28 – What am I using to learn French? 0:01:21 – How difficult is a C&R license? 0:04:06 – Thoughts on FB Radom’s return to the US commercial market? Military Beryl AK: https://youtu.be/VGUHYjZFg5c 0:06:22 – […]

Ross WWI Sniper Rifle w/ Winchester A5 Scope

August 23, 2021 Ian McCollum 19

The standard Canadian sniper’s rifle of World War One was the MkIII Ross fitted with a Warner & Swasey “musket sight” purchased from the United States. However, armorers in the field did create sniping rifles […]

Zastava M93 Black Arrow in .50 BMG at the Range

August 21, 2021 Ian McCollum 26

Today we have the M93 “Black Arrow” out at the range. I made an attempt to get the scope zeroed enough to be on paper, but was unable to get it there within a few […]

Zastava M93 Black Arrow: Serbia’s .50 Cal Anti-Materiel Rifle

August 20, 2021 Ian McCollum 47

The M93 Black Arrow is a .50 caliber anti-materiel rifle developed by Zastava to replace some applications of the RPG with better accuracy. It was originally produced in 12.7x108mm, the same as used in the […]

Throwback Thursday: Cei Rigotti Rifle Disassembly

August 19, 2021 Ian McCollum 15

The Cei Rigotti is a fascinating early Italian self-loading rifle design that was tested in several countries, but never adopted or put into production. I had a chance to disassemble one at the British REME […]

Marius Berger’s Ring-Trigger Tube-Magazine Pistol

August 18, 2021 Ian McCollum 21

The 1880s and 1890s were a fertile period of experimentation with repeating handguns. One such example is this design by Marius Berger, manufactured in France by St Etienne in 1880 and 1881. It uses a […]

Ians Customs: Tanker M1 Scout

August 17, 2021 Ian McCollum 39

Today we are looking at the Tanker M1 rig I put together about 15 years ago. This is an original WW2 production receiver rebuilt with an 18″ 7.62mm NATO barrel in the 1980s by Arlington […]