Ian McCollum - Forgotten Weapons

Q&A 55: Surplus Gear and Finnish Culture w/ Jari Laine of Varusteleka

November 25, 2021 Ian McCollum 12

Today we have a Q&A guest: Jari Laine, CEO of Varusteleka. Jari is active in the Finnish reserves in addition to his role as CEO, and exemplifies the company’s practical expertise in designing and producing […]

“FUSTAN” – The Competition Rimfire MAS-36 for North Africa

November 24, 2021 Ian McCollum 11

While the French military adopted a .22 rimfire training version of the MAS-36, that rifle (the “Tir Réduit 5.5mm”) was intended for military training, and not for formal competition. During World War Two, the design […]

Ethiopian Oddities: A Long Lee / SMLE Hybrid

November 23, 2021 Ian McCollum 3

Today’s Ethiopian Oddity is a rifle that began its like as an early Lee Enfield MkI made by London Small Arms. It has the original buttstock, early style safety, volley sights, and magazine cutoff from […]

Winchester Reference Collection: Uruguayan M1908 Short Rifle

November 22, 2021 Ian McCollum 9

Uruguay first adopted a Mauser rifle in the 1880s, with the single-shot Mauser model 1871. After an abortive attempt to update those rifles to a small bore smokeless powder cartridge (the Dovitiis conversion), they opted […]

Finnish Brutality 2021 Day 2: Moving Trucks and Casualty Evacuation

November 20, 2021 Ian McCollum 7

Finnish Brutality took place on October 23 and 24 of this year, at the Loppi shooting range north of Helsinki. It was run by Varusteleka, the largest and definitely the awesomest military and outdoor supplier […]

Finnish Brutality 2021 Day 1: Featuring The Infamous Trench Stage!

November 19, 2021 Ian McCollum 13

Finnish Brutality took place on October 23 and 24 of this year, at the Loppi shooting range north of Helsinki. It was run by Varusteleka, the largest and definitely the awesomest military and outdoor supplier […]

Throwback Thursday: A .22 Rifle for John Wayne

November 18, 2021 Ian McCollum 18

Today I’m reposting part of an interview I did with L James “Jim” Sullivan back in 2014. Aside from being one of the two men who did the conversion of the AR-10 into the AR-15, […]

M44 Submachine Gun: Finland Copies the Soviet PPS-43

November 17, 2021 Ian McCollum 31

The kp/31 Suomi submachine gun in Finnish service was an outstanding weapon, but it was slow and expensive to manufacture. When Finnish forces began capturing Soviet PPS-42 and PPS-43 submachine guns form the Soviets in […]

Best SMG of World War Two: The Beretta M38A

November 15, 2021 Ian McCollum 28

The Beretta Model 38A was one of the very best submachine guns of World War Two. Designed by veteran Beretta engineer Tullio Marengoni (who designed most of Beretta’s pistols as well as the Beretta M1918 […]

Forgotten Weapons Gift Material, From Patches to Carbines!

November 14, 2021 Ian McCollum 6

You can find the WWSD 2020 rifle, WWSD Civil Defense Rifle, and KP-15 lower receivers at Brownells. Books are available from Headstamp Publishing. (Note that while you can pre-order my book on Chinese Warlord Pistols, […]