Ian McCollum - Forgotten Weapons

OSS “Stinger” Covert Cigarette Guns

July 16, 2018 Ian McCollum 18

During World War Two, the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) was the primary US clandestine operations organization. It was responsible for making all sorts of unique weapons, including these “Stinger” cigarette guns. They were single […]

Virtual Tour of the Excavation at DigHill80

July 15, 2018 Ian McCollum 9

DigHill80 was an archaeological project funded in large part by you, the viewers of Forgotten Weapons. Hill 80 was a German fortified position in World War One outside the Belgian town of Wijtschate. In 2015 […]

Testing the Halbek Device

July 14, 2018 Ian McCollum 10

The Halbek Device was an interesting clamp-on muzzle brake designed by two Rhodesians, Douglas Hall and Marthinus Bekker. It was patented in Rhodesia in 1977 and in the US in 1980, and manufactured in small […]

Pistola PRESSIN: Llama’s Sneaky Self-Defense Weapon

July 13, 2018 Ian McCollum 35

Developed in 1978 and produced by Llama until 1995, the Pressin was a two-shot derringer made to be disguised as a pair of glasses. It was intended for use by politicians, military officers, and other […]

Overview of South African Gun Laws

July 12, 2018 Ian McCollum 14

Basic gun ownership in South Africa – what does it involve and how does it work? Dedicated collectors, sportsmen, and hunters? Self-dense and concealed carry? Well, when I was in South Africa I figured I’d […]

Dutch Farmers Against the Empire: ZAR Mausers of the Boer War

July 11, 2018 Ian McCollum 21

When the intercepted Jameson Raid made it clear to the governments of the ZAR (Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek; South African Republic) and the Orange Free State that war with Britain was imminent, a hasty armaments program was […]

Forgotten History: World’s Biggest Black Powder Cannon – a 100-Ton Gun

July 10, 2018 Ian McCollum 32

The largest muzzleloading black powder cannons ever built were the Armstrong 100-ton guns which saw service with the Italian Navy and with British coastal fortifications on Malta and Gibraltar. They were purchased by the Italians […]

St Petersburg Cavalry School Mosin Carbine

July 9, 2018 Ian McCollum 15

This is a rather mysterious – or at least poorly documented – Mosin Nagant carbine variation. Made from an assortment of rifles dated from 1896 through 1920, these carbines were designed to fit Gulkevich folding […]

OVP 1918: Italy’s first WW1 Submachine Gun

July 7, 2018 Ian McCollum 34

The original Villar Perosa machine gun was a rather odd combination of features; a double-barreled gun in 9mm Glisenti with spade grips and a blistering rate of fire. This proved to be of limited practical […]

MKb-42(W) – The Sturmgewehr That Never Was

July 6, 2018 Ian McCollum 26

When the German military first requested rifles in the new 8x33mm Kurz cartridge, there were two companies that provided designs. One was Haenel, who would eventually win the competition. The other was Walther, who submitted […]