Ian McCollum - Forgotten Weapons

France’s Final Battle Rifle Iteration: The MAS 49-56

May 24, 2019 Ian McCollum 26

Preorders now open for my book, Chassepot to FAMAS: French Military Rifles 1866-2016! Get your copy here! While the development of the MAS 49 had given France a very utilitarian rifle that could serve as […]

Q&A 29: Galilean Sights and American AKs

May 23, 2019 Ian McCollum 23

The Kickstarter presale for my book, Chassepot to FAMAS, is still running, and you can still get an exclusive Kickstarter copy at a discounted price! Questions for today’s Q&A, as always, come from my Patrons, […]

Watchmaker’s Perfect Miniature MG08 Maxim

May 22, 2019 Ian McCollum 15

Today at the Kessler auction house in Kreuzlingen Switzerland, we are looking at an exquisitely made miniature model of an MG08 Maxim machine gun. This was probably made by a watchmaker in military service, but […]

How Does It Work: Direct Gas Impingement

May 21, 2019 Ian McCollum 26

Interested in small arms history? Make sure to pre-order a copy of my book, Chassepot to FAMAS: French Military Rifles 1866 – 2016! Direct gas impingement is an operating system that has been used only in […]

MAS 49: A Universal Service Rifle

May 20, 2019 Ian McCollum 13

Preorders now open for my book, Chassepot to FAMAS: French Military Rifles 1866-2016! Get your copy here! As the MAS 44 saw combat service with French Marines in Indochina, some of its shortcomings began to […]

Book Review: The Dreyse Military Needle-Ignition System

May 19, 2019 Ian McCollum 7

Leonard and Guy A-R-West have released the second book in their series on antique military rifles, this time on the Dreyse system. As anyone interested in the Dreyse has probably already learned, there is very […]

Shooting the Chatellerault FM 24/29 Light Machine Gun

May 18, 2019 Ian McCollum 39

Preorders now open for my book, Chassepot to FAMAS: French Military Rifles 1866-2016! Get your copy here! The Chatellerault FM 24/29 is an oft-forgotten light machine gun despite its relatively early design (predating the ZB/Bren […]

MAS 44: The French Adopt a Semiauto Rifle

May 17, 2019 Ian McCollum 22

Pre-sales for my book, Chassepot to FAMAS: French Military Rifles 1866 – 2016 are now live on Kickstarter – check it out! The French Army had been planning a semiauto infantry rifle since 1921, but […]

A Mild Rant: Stupid Marketing Names

May 16, 2019 Ian McCollum 33

One of my pet peeves is when people buy collectible guns because they have been stuck with clickbait sorts of gimmicky names. In particular, the “Grey Ghost” P38 and the “Black Widow” Luger – especially […]

Swiss 1929 Simplified Luger (Yes, Swiss and Simplified)

May 15, 2019 Ian McCollum 18

Switzerland was the First Nation to adopt the Luger as a service pistol, and they purchased them DWM in Germany from 1900 until 1914. World War One stopped deliveries, of course, and after the war […]