Commentary - Forgotten Weapons

Recognizable Features

August 13, 2013 Ian McCollum 12

Identifying guns is a bit like learning a language. Once you understand enough different words, you become able to decipher the meanings of brand new ones by breaking down the syllables, figuring out their basic […]

Recent Developments in Auto-Loaders (1922)

August 7, 2013 Ian McCollum 20

Today’s guest author is none other than Julian Hatcher – although he didn’t give me permission to use his article on account of having passed away 20 years before I was born. I was looking […]

Digging for WWII Relics

August 6, 2013 Ian McCollum 45

I expect this is a subject more familiar to our European readers than folks here in the US – the idea is tromping out to the sites of WWII skirmishes or battles with a shovel […]

Rifle Collecting on a Budget: Think Turkey

July 30, 2013 Ian McCollum 33

We all love seeing (and pawing through, when given the opportunity!) the fantastic collections built up by gun collectors who have had the twin resources of time and money on their side, but few of […]

Gunnie Grafitti, and RIA Loot Has Arrived!

July 23, 2013 Ian McCollum 16

Thanks to Rock Island Auctions, it’s been Christmas in July here. An extended Christmas, because with the amount of care they put into packaging things it took me a while to get all my loot […]

Controls Long Past

July 16, 2013 Ian McCollum 70

Guns are like vodka. The better and better new ones get, the more indistinguishable they become, as they get closer and closer to that Platonic ideal design. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, really – […]

Independence Day!

July 4, 2013 Ian McCollum 12

We’re taking the day off today in recognition and celebration of Independence Day. To many people it’s the Fourth of July, a day for grilling and beer and firecrackers, and while I have nothing against […]

AAR: After Auction Report

July 2, 2013 Ian McCollum 32

The Rock Island regional auction this past weekend was, in fact, my first experience actually participating in a gun auction – and it was a pretty interesting experience. I’ve been aware of such auctions for […]

Rock Island’s Upcoming Auction

June 25, 2013 Ian McCollum 20

The auctions that Rock Island is really known for are its Premier Auctions, which happen a few times per year and have really phenomenal goodies. But in between those are smaller regional auctions, which are […]

Introduction to Collecting Seminar

June 11, 2013 Ian McCollum 28

So, I was doing a bunch of driving this past weekend and had lots of time to think (a dangerous thing). Well, the thought occurred to me that folks might be interested in an “Introduction […]