cannon - Forgotten Weapons

Hotchkiss Model 1886 3-pounder Quick Firing Gun

September 26, 2025 Ian McCollum 15

Small fast boats with torpedos (or other explosives) have always been a threat to large warships. One of the weapons the British Royal Navy adopted to counter that threat was the Hotchkiss Model 1886 “Quick […]

Solothurn 20mm S18-1000 Wheeled Carriage

October 18, 2018 Ian McCollum 16

This Solothurn with its carriage is being sold by Morphys on October 30, 2018. Before they became obsolete, antitank rifles were a way to bring substantial firepower to small infantry teams – but they were […]

Four Fun Facts about the Oerlikon 20mm Antiaircraft Cannon!

April 13, 2017 Ian McCollum 57

The 20mm Oerlikon automatic cannon was a mainstay of United States naval air defense during World War 2, and today we will look at a few of the characteristics and questions that apply to this […]

Dolf Goldsmith and his 37mm Bofors

December 17, 2012 Ian McCollum 3

Dolf Goldsmith is one of the coolest old-timer gun folks we’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. Not only is he a bona fide expert on a wide range of firearms and a prolific author […]

Afghan Heavy Weapons

November 30, 2012 Ian McCollum 11

A reader named Robert sent us a few photos of captured weapons in Afghanistan – and we always enjoy seeing this sort of thing. First up, a Chinese Type 77 .50-cal machine gun. This uses […]

Vintage Saturday: Danish Technical

September 22, 2012 Ian McCollum 11

Yep, it’s a 20mm Madsen automatic cannon – circa 1936. And check out that bull bar in front!

Oerlikon 20mm manual

March 30, 2011 Ian McCollum 23

The Oerlikon 20mm anti-aircraft cannon was widely used by naval and air forces during World War II, by countries on both sides. It is a fairly well-recognized weapons, with a characteristic offset 60-round drum magazine. […]