Ian McCollum - Forgotten Weapons

New Reproduction Colt 4x AR-15 Scope by Brownells

May 26, 2024 Ian McCollum 7

In the 1970s and 80s, Colt offered a 4×20 fixed power scope for its commercial AR (the SP-1). These replaced the earlier 3x scopes, and were designed to fit directly to the rifle’s carry handle. […]

BUG Match Pickelhaube Edition: German 1883 Reichsrevolver

May 25, 2024 Ian McCollum 5

Today I took a Model 1883 Reichsrevolver out to the monthly BackUp Gun Match. This is an 1894-manufactured gun (made at the Erfurt Arsenal). It is a single action only, six-shot revolver chambered for the […]

Cartridge History: The .451 Detonics Magnum is a Supercharged .45 ACP

May 24, 2024 Ian McCollum 11

Detonics was founded as a company in the 1970s, making high-end 1911 pistols. Their first product that really put them on the map was their 3″ micro-compact 1911; something that just wasn’t available on a […]

Sten MkI & MkI*: The Original Plumber’s Nightmare

May 22, 2024 Ian McCollum 15

The Sten gun was designed by RSAF Senior Draftsman (sorry, Draughtsman) Harold Turpin in December, 1940. He sketched out a simple trigger mechanism on December 2, showed it to Major Reginald Shepherd the next day, […]

McCann Industries MAS 49/56 in the Elbonian Royal Air Service

May 20, 2024 Ian McCollum 38

Elbonian Royal Air Service merch: https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/forgotten-weapons-royal-air-service-elbonia-t-shirt-cotton/78756 In the early 2000s, the Elbonian Royal Air Service was looking for an aerial interdiction rifle – something to arm snipers in dirigibles, for shooting down light aircraft and […]

Modernizing Le Clairon: the FAMAS Valorise

May 20, 2024 Ian McCollum 1

The FAMAS was the best bullpup rifle of its era, but it was a difficult platform to modernize with optics. In 1995, the “FELIN” (Fantassin à Équipement et Liaisons INtégrés; Integrated Infantry Equipment and Communications) […]

The Truth Behind the One Chinese Red Dot Factory

May 19, 2024 Ian McCollum 13

At SHOT Show this year Ian took some time to speak with Mike Branson of Gideon Optics (formerly of Primary Arms and Swampfox). Mike’s a friend and a true optics nerd, and I figured he […]

Enjoying Black Powder Episode 1: The Trapdoor Springfield

May 18, 2024 Ian McCollum 18

For the full episode with the hand loading instructional section, click here: https://forgottenweapons.vhx.tv/videos/trapdoor-app-cut Black powder military rifles of the 1860s-1880s are a really enjoyable group of guns. A lot of them are relatively reasonably priced, […]

Last Day: Rifles of the Danube Discount & Special KS Edition!

May 17, 2024 Ian McCollum 0

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/headstamp/rifles-on-the-danube?ref=64v2l6 Today is your last chance to join the preorder for Rifles on the Danube! Until the end of today, you can still join the Kickstarter for “Rifles on the Danube: Hungarian Kalashnikov Firearms 1959-2002”. […]

SA-85S: FEG Adapts the Hungarian AK for American Import

May 15, 2024 Ian McCollum 3

Get your copy of “Rifles On The Danube” today – only 2 days left! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/headstamp/rifles-on-the-danube?ref=3cc2en Hungary began importing semiautomatic civilian versions of FÉG’s AK-63D into the United States in the 1980s. As more restrictions were […]