2026 - Forgotten Weapons

How the USS New Jersey’s 16-Inch Guns Work: Top to Bottom

July 13, 2026 Ian McCollum 16

Join World of Warships today to and use invite code USA250 to get your free rewards: https://wo.ws/FW I had a chance to spend some time on the USS New Jersey, today docked in Camden NJ […]

Train Company Makes Guns: Union Switch & Signal M1911A1

July 11, 2026 Ian McCollum 3

Of the five companies that made 1911 pistols during World War Two, Union Switch & Signal was the last to be awarded a contract and the smallest mass production producer. A subsidiary of the Westinghouse […]

How to Make Reproduction Guns (And How Not To)

July 10, 2026 Ian McCollum 16

Since I continue to get a lot of questions about reproductions, I figured I’d devote today’s video to looking at different elements that go into producing a reproduction firearms. Why some work out and some […]

AS Val: The Soviet 9x39mm Silent Assault Rifle

July 8, 2026 Ian McCollum 11

The AS (Special Assault rifle) Val was one of two dedicated silenced rifles developed in Russia in the 1980s. The Val was intended for assault use with full auto firing, while the VSS (Special Sniper […]

Russian Current Service Pistol: the PYa / MP443 Grach / MP446C Viking

July 6, 2026 Ian McCollum 45

The current Russian service pistol is the PYa, or MP-443 “Grach”, and it is (or was) made for civilian sales as the Baikal MP-446C “Viking”. The gun was adopted by the Russian Federation to replace […]

From the .50 M2 to the Mk7 16 Inch Turrets: All the Guns of the USS New Jersey

July 4, 2026 Ian McCollum 4

I had a chance to spend some time on the USS New Jersey, today docked in Camden NJ as a public museum ship. Today we are going to go through all of the weapons systems […]

MAT 54 SB: A Semiautomatic SMG for Banks and Cash Trucks

July 3, 2026 Ian McCollum 4

The MAT 54 SB is a variation of the MAT 49/54, which was in turn the police model of the French MAT 49 submachine gun. Chambered for 9x19mm Parabellum, it uses MAT 49 magazines and […]

Announcing Truk Lagoon 2027: The Best WW2 Wreck Diving on Earth

July 1, 2026 Ian McCollum 1

Join me and Dirty Dozen Expeditions for a week of diving in Truk Lagoon in December 2027: https://dirtydozenexpeditions.wetravel.com/trips/truk-lagoon-with-ian-mccollum-december-2027-dirty-dozen-expeditions-26862261#about-this-trip I am very excited to announce a trip to Truk Lagoon in December 2027 for a week […]

Pauza P50: A Failed Barrett .50BMG Competitor

June 29, 2026 Ian McCollum 39

Developed in the late 1980s by machinist Robert Pauza, the P50 is a .50 BMG semiauto rifle that was introduced in 1990. It uses a short-stroke gas piston and tilting bolt closely copied (and scaled […]

S&W Model 52-1: A Magnificent Target Pistol for .38 Special Wadcutters

June 26, 2026 Ian McCollum 31

The Model 52 is a purpose-built target pistol that Smith & Wesson built on the Model 39 frame. It is chambered for a very specific flush-loaded 148gr .38 Special wadcutter loading, to be used in […]