Ian McCollum - Forgotten Weapons

The FAL for British Troop Trials in 1954: X8E1 & X8E2

February 21, 2020 Ian McCollum 33

The NATO rifle trials of the early 1950s eventually chose the 7.62mm x 51mm cartridge, and the British and Belgians agreed on the FAL rifle to shoot it (and they thought the US would as […]

A Unique Partnership: Czech Mausers for Ethiopia after WWII

February 19, 2020 Ian McCollum 13

After World War Two, the Czech economy was in serious need of money to recover from the ravages of war. The arms factory at Brno was not bound by the same restrictions as German manufacturers, […]

Q&A #38: Short-recoil SMGs and Kimber Model 1907 .45s

February 18, 2020 Ian McCollum 30

Q&A time again! 00:45 – Rifles with 3-dot pistol style sights? 01:56 – Why not more short-barreled machine guns, if barrel length doesn’t impact accuracy? 03:53 – Is bolt/carrier mass important in a roller delayed […]

FN Grand Browning: The European 1911 that Never Happened

February 17, 2020 Ian McCollum 16

When John Browning licensed his handgun patents, the North American rights were granted to Colt, and the Western European rights to FN in Belgium. Browning provided the patents and patent model guns to the companies, […]

RIA Feb 2020 Special: Sporterized M1 Carbine

February 16, 2020 Ian McCollum 12

Our final quick video from RIA this weekend is a look at a sporterized M1 Carbine – but one that was actually done quite nicely! I would never suggest that someone cut up an intact […]

RIA Feb 2020 Special: Mystery Spanish Revolver

February 15, 2020 Ian McCollum 18

Today’s quick look at RIA is a Spanish revolver that I can’t identify. The proof stamps indicate that it was made in 1931, and it has an unusual cylinder latch that looks like a loading […]

RIA Feb 2020 Special: Field-Modified Mannlicher 1888 Carbine

February 14, 2020 Ian McCollum 6

Today’s quick RIA look is a Mannlicher 1888 that was cut down to carbine length and adapted to fit a Type 30 Japanese Arisaka bayonet. Most likely done in China in the teens or twenties, […]

RIA February 2020 Special: Venezuelan and Argentine FN49s

February 13, 2020 Ian McCollum 14

Today at RIA, a quick look at a pair of FN-49s – one Venezuelan pattern in 7x57mm, and one Argentine Navy model in 7.62mm NATO using detachable mags (the only variant of FN-49 to do […]

Arming the Lion of Judah: Ethiopian FN Mauser Rifles & Carbines

February 11, 2020 Ian McCollum 11

In 1930, Haile Selassie I became Emperor of Ethiopia (aka Abysinia), and would rule for almost 45 years, with a brief exception when the country was occupied by fascist Italy. During that time, he paid […]

“System Mauser” – The Very First C96 Pistols

February 10, 2020 Ian McCollum 20

The very first group of C96 pistols made. -about 200 in total – are called “System Mauser” pistols. They have this hand-engraved on the top of the barrel, and have a number of other very […]