Video
WHAT’S IN THE BOX? Opening a Crate of Ethiopian Rifles
When Uli at InterOrdnance told me that he had crates of French rifles arriving from Ethiopia, I had no choice but to show up to take a look firsthand. So, want to see what this […]
Articles by Ian McCollum
Select-fire Rifles
History of the Monolithic Polymer AR: From Colt to KE Arms
Today we are taking a look at the history of the monolithic polymer AR-15 lower receiver. By “monolithic” I mean a design which integrates the receiver, grip, and buttstock all into a single unit, rather […]
Grenade Launcher
M79: The Iconic “Bloop Tube” 40mm Grenade Launcher
Combat experience with the bazooka rocket launcher in World War Two and its larger versions in the Korean War convinced the US military that a better weapon was needed to give front-line troops a direct-fire […]
Semiauto pistol
Colt Tries DA/SA: The Colt Double Eagle (in 10mm)
The Double Eagle was Colt’s foray into the DA/SA pistol market in the 1990s. It was effectively just a standard 1911 with a Seecamp-type double action trigger mechanism and a modernized (for the time) trigger […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Czechoslovakia Recycles Mosins: The vz.54 Sniper
Czechoslovakia adopted a whole new slate of small arms in the 1950s, including the vz.52 pistol vz.52 rifle, and vz.52 light machine gun. They also adopted a new sniper rifle, developed by a Moravian designed […]
Antiques
S&W’s Pistol-Carbine for the South Australian Police
In 1880, the South Australian Police service was introduced to the Smith & Wesson No3 New Model revolver at the Melbourne Exhibition. They took a liking to the design, and promptly ordered 250 of them, […]
Accessories
Loading Tool for a .31 Caliber Volcanic Repeater
One thing I have not really though about before is how best to carry extra cartridges for a Volcanic repeater. They are self-contained, but still rather fragile compared to today’s ammunition (and they were originally […]
Conversion
Elbonian M52/57/61 Paratrooper Carbine
In 1960, Elbonia set out an RFP for a new carbine for a fledgling paratroop brigade. They wanted a rifle to provide a higher volume of firepower for these troops, rather like the intention of […]
Semiauto pistol
Glock Meets 1911: The Alchemy Arms Spectre
Alchemy Arms was a company formed in 1991 making parts and accessories for both the Glock and 1911 platforms. Its founder, William McMoore, got the idea to combine elements of both pistols to make the […]
Semiauto pistol
Korriphila HSP-701: A Masterful Bespoke German Pistol
The Korriphila HSP-701 is a boutique luxury pistols designed by Edgar Budischowsky in the late 1970s, which entered production in 1984. It uses a fixed barrel and roller-delayed blowback action with a single roller below […]