Ian McCollum - Forgotten Weapons

Julia: Shooting a 20mm Lahti L39

September 12, 2016 Ian McCollum 76

The Lahti L39 was the Finnish answer to the need for an anti-tank rifle, developed just before the Winter War. The rifle was created by noted Finnish designed Aimo Lahti, who had pressed for it […]

For Sale: Gras M14 Conversion, Hotchkiss Universal kit, Yugo M92 Krink kit

September 11, 2016 Ian McCollum 8

I have a couple things up for sale, if anyone is interested. Prices include shipping; only for sale in the US (and only where legal in the US). Email me at admin@forgottenweapons.com if you want […]

Book Review: “Star Firearms” and “Astra Firearms” by Leonardo Antaris

September 10, 2016 Ian McCollum 24

Leonardo Antaris has written massive and excellent volumes on two of the major companies in the Spanish firearms industry, Star and Astra. Both of these companies made a wide range of military and commercial handguns, […]

CETME-LC (the short one): Safety PSA

September 9, 2016 Ian McCollum 78

As you may or may not be aware, I recently built a semiauto CETME-LV rifle using a parts kit imported by Apex Gun Parts and an 80% flat from Hill & Mac Gunworks. Now, the […]

RIA: Odd Iver Johnson Prototype .32s (Video)

September 8, 2016 Ian McCollum 22

These unique and unmarked prototype .32 ACP pistols are apparently Iver Johnson prototypes – and I can’t find any information on them beyond that description from their consignor. One is a simpler example in the […]

RIA: H&K SL8, The Civilian G36 (Video)

September 7, 2016 Ian McCollum 37

The SL-8 was Heckler & Koch’s civilianized version of the G36 military rifle. There was, unsurprisingly, a major interest in semiautomatic civilian copies of the G36, but H&K was in a difficult position to meet […]

RIA: Danish 1865/97 Pinfire Conversion Revolver (Video)

September 6, 2016 Ian McCollum 34

The Danish artillery was an early adopter of metallic-case handguns, taking on this pinfire 6-shot solid-frame revolver in 1865 – when most of the world was still using percussion firearms. The thousand guns made served […]

RIA: Russian M1870 Galand Revolver (Video)

September 5, 2016 Ian McCollum 40

The Galand was an innovative revolver design created by Frenchman Charles Francois Galand and patented in 1868. It is most notable for using a long lever system to eject cartridges by throwing the cylinder and […]

RIA: Beretta Model 1931 (Video)

September 4, 2016 Ian McCollum 12

With the development of the Model 1931, Beretta had nearly arrived at the first really popular pistol (the 1934/5). The 1931 was the result of taking the exposed-hammer 1923 design, shrinking the frame down to […]

RIA: Experimental Semiauto Springfield 1903 Primer-Actuated Rifle (Video)

September 3, 2016 Ian McCollum 74

During the 1920s, a lot of experimental rifle development work was being done in the US. The military was interested in finding a semiautomatic rifle, and plenty of inventors were eager to get that valuable […]