Antiques - Forgotten Weapons

Whitney-Beals Walking Beam Pocket Revolver

February 15, 2017 Ian McCollum 13

This revolver, designed by Fordyce Beals (how cool of a name is that?), was developed while Colt’s patent on using the hammer to index the cylinder was still in effect. To avoid that patent, this […]

Frank Wesson’s Rimfire Carbine (Video)

February 14, 2017 Ian McCollum 12

First patented in 1859 and sold as a sporting rifle before the Civil War (in calibers 32, 38, and 41 rimfire), Frank Wesson added a military model with a 24 inch barrel and chambered for […]

Sharps & Hankins Navy Model Carbine

February 9, 2017 Ian McCollum 10

Designed by Christian Sharps (or Sharps rifle fame), the Sharps & Hankins carbine was a light and handy rimfire carbine intended for military use. It was a single-shot weapon with an unusual action to lever […]

Gahendra: the Nepalese Martini (or not)

February 8, 2017 Ian McCollum 14

Long a mysterious unknown member of the Martini family, the Nepalese Gahendra rifles finally became available in the US and Europe after IMA purchased Nepal’s cache of historic arms. The Gahendra is a uniquely Nepalese […]

Custom Cut-Down Walch 10-Shot Pepperbox Revolver (Video)

February 4, 2017 Ian McCollum 13

The Walch revolver was a Civil War era design with the unique feature of having superimposed loads – each chamber in the cylinder held not one shot, but two, stacked one on top of the […]

Traditional Afghan Jezail (Video)

February 1, 2017 Ian McCollum 16

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1028/263 The Jezail is the traditional rifle of the Afghan tribal fighter, although it originated in Persia (Iran). Distinctive primarily for its uniquely curved style of buttstock, these rifles still maintain a symbolic importance although […]

Treeby Chain Gun photos

November 2, 2012 Ian McCollum 6

The Treeby chain gun was a .54 caliber percussion rifle that could fire 14 rounds in rapid succession. Designed in 1854, it was unlike anything else available at the time. Only two were ever made, […]

British Breechloader Teaser Video

September 3, 2012 Ian McCollum 11

Unfortunately, when we visit great gun collections there is never enough time to do everything we would like to. We always have to leave great stuff undone, as much as we don’t like to. Well, […]