Ian McCollum - Forgotten Weapons

Steyr Dragoon Scout and African Big Game Cartridges: .376 Steyr, .375 Ruger, .375 H&H

July 16, 2020 Ian McCollum 26

Jeff Cooper envisioned a few variation on the Scout Rifle, most notably a heavier-caliber type suited more for African dangerous (or large) game hunting, for which the .308 Winchester cartridge was not really suitable. Cooper […]

Kohout & Spol 7.65mm Mars Pistol

July 15, 2020 Ian McCollum 19

The “MARS” pistols made in Czechoslovakia began with the “Slavia” line, designed by one Antonin Vilímec in 1920 or 1921. Those were basically simple copies of the vest-pocket Browning pistols, and were made until 1935. […]

Buying a Machine Gun with a C&R License

July 14, 2020 Ian McCollum 17

I am often asked how a C&R license (Curio & Relic, also called a Type 03 Federal Firearms License; not to be confused with “Class 3”) affects the purchase of a machine gun. So, I […]

The Omni: Llama’s Fancy Upscale Pistol…Attempt

July 13, 2020 Ian McCollum 22

Llama was never the most prestigious of the three major Spanish pistol makers, and in the 1980s they decided to have a try at an upscale new pistol. The design was done by an American, […]

Calico Liberty 100 Carbine on the PCC Evaluation Course

July 11, 2020 Ian McCollum 33

Before I even started filming this video, the Calico’s muzzle brake fell off…not an auspicious beginning! But we will push on without it, and see if the Calico can even finish the course without malfunctioning…and […]

Calico Light Weapons System: Roller Delay and Helical Drums

July 10, 2020 Ian McCollum 33

The Calico family of firearms was developed in the late 1980s, and put on the market just in time to be squashed by the 1994 Omnibus Crime Act. The heart of the Calico system was […]

No, It Doesn’t Take Glock Mags…and Sometimes That’s Better

July 9, 2020 Ian McCollum 17

Sometimes it makes sense to use convenient existing magazines. Sometimes it doesn’t. Like all things in firearms design, magazine features are all compromises. Single feed vs double feed, polymer vs steel, and straight vs curved…one […]

WW1 French Contract Colt 1911 for Tank Crewmen

July 8, 2020 Ian McCollum 28

France was in an interesting position during World War One of being a primary supplier of rifles and machine guns to its allies, but a major importer of handguns. In addition to a great many […]

An Aladdin’s Cave of Ethiopian Arms from InterOrdnance

July 7, 2020 Ian McCollum 12

I have been able to bring you a bunch of videos of guns with Ethiopian connections over the last few months thanks to InterOrdnance, aka Royal Tiger Imports. They have purchased essentially the entire stock […]

The Gras in Ethiopia: Carbines of Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taytu

July 7, 2020 Ian McCollum 9

Ethiopia is a fascinating and unique example of an African nation that was able to uphold its sovereignty through force of arms, and resist become a possession of any of the European powers during the […]