Ian McCollum - Forgotten Weapons

How Does It Work: Patents and Blueprints

February 10, 2019 Ian McCollum 25

What is the difference between patents and copyrights? If someone wants to reproduce an old firearm design, how do they get the rights to? Why can’t you reproduce a gun design from patent drawings? What […]

Chinese CS/LS2: A Modern Bullpup SMG with no Redeeming Qualities

February 9, 2019 Ian McCollum 35

This the fairly modern Chinese CS/LS2 – the 9mm Parabellum export model of the 5.8x21mm QCW-05 submachine gun. It takes most of its design cues form the QBZ-95 rifle, as you can see form the […]

CETME Modelo A: First Step Towards the G3

February 8, 2019 Ian McCollum 16

The Modelo A was the first series production version of the CETME rifle, following a series of successful trials in Spain. It was developed by a team of ex-Mauser engineers led by Ludwig Vorgrimmler, and […]

How Does it Work: Long Recoil

February 7, 2019 Ian McCollum 43

Long recoil operation is one of the most mechanically interesting of the main firearm operating systems. When the gun fires, the recoil energy generated forces the barrel to move rearward, and the bolt remains locked […]

Colt CK901: An AR in 7.62x39mm for the Yemeni Military

February 6, 2019 Ian McCollum 16

Colt developed this rifle, the CK-901, for the Yemeni military in 2014 – which appears to be the only buyer they have found for it since. The rifle is basically an AR-15 chambered for 7.62x39mm, […]

Q&A 26: SHOT Show and More

February 5, 2019 Ian McCollum 46

More Q&A! No specific theme this time, but a combination of SHOT Show news, what-ifs, and some specific questions about me… 0:00:34 – SHOT Show Report 0:05:22 – 1895 Lee Navy destructive testing 0:07:40 – […]

Unique Military Trials Steyr-Hahn M1911 Pistol

February 4, 2019 Ian McCollum 17

Today we are looking at a unique military trials Steyr-Hahn M1911 pistol which has been fitted with an adjustable tangent rear sight. The standard model of the Steyr-Hahn has a fixed rear notch, but it […]

Book Review: The British Sniper – A Century of Evolution

February 3, 2019 Ian McCollum 8

Steve Houghton’s newly released book “The British Sniper: A Century of Evolution” is an excellent reference on British sniper rifles, accessory equipment, and training from World War One through the present. Where Skennerton’s work ends […]

Shooting a Type 99 Nambu in 7.62mm NATO

February 2, 2019 Ian McCollum 49

Some older footage from the vault – this was a gun I bid on, but did not win. Didn’t want to have the whole audience thinking about bidding against me…but now that it’s been sold […]

Becker Blow-Forward Revolving Shotgun

February 1, 2019 Ian McCollum 19

The Becker shotgun is a very unusual blow-forward, revolving cylinder shotgun made in Germany in the 1920s (although it was originally patented in the late 1890s). Only a very small number were made – allegedly […]