Gunsmithing - Forgotten Weapons

“Alk” – A Unique German Target Pistol

March 27, 2023 Ian McCollum 15

This is a unique and interesting German proofed .22 rimfire target pistol. It uses a simple blowback slide, which locks open after each shot. It is striker fired, with a 12-inch barrel and a quite […]

Iceland’s Domestic Guns: The Drífa and Others

December 2, 2022 Ian McCollum 7

Today I have the very cool opportunity to bring you a history of Icelandic domestic firearms manufacturing, courtesy of the Veiðisafnið – the Hunting Museum of Iceland: https://www.hunting.is/english/ The first documented record of a firearm […]

Modular Guns: Assembling a SIG USW-320

November 29, 2022 Ian McCollum 6

Today I’m at SIG Sauer Parts (soon to be ModGuns) to play around with assembling a SIG 320. I’ve always been interested in stocked pistols, and so I’m going to take this opportunity to put […]

Lindner’s Improbable Tube-Fed Striker-Fired Caseless Ammo Revolver

December 6, 2021 Ian McCollum 23

Edward Lindner was a Bavarian-born gunsmith who spent much of his professional life in the United States. He was granted no less than 13 firearms patents, and was involved in some very forward-thinking designs. Among […]

Ethiopian Oddities: Strange Smallbore Gewehr 71 Carbine

November 30, 2021 Ian McCollum 23

Today’s Ethiopian Oddity is a Gewehr 1871 carbine – remarkably still with its matching bolt – rechamsbered for a small bore, smokeless powder cartridge. It is a quite interesting example of an Ethiopian armorer’s work…

Unique L-35 Lahti Target Pistol with Stock & Bipod

November 29, 2021 Ian McCollum 16

The Lahti L-35 pistol was adopted by the Finnish military with the intention of it replacing the Luger, although production was never great enough to accomplish that goal. Early in its production, a couple of […]

Ethiopian Oddities: A Long Lee / SMLE Hybrid

November 23, 2021 Ian McCollum 3

Today’s Ethiopian Oddity is a rifle that began its like as an early Lee Enfield MkI made by London Small Arms. It has the original buttstock, early style safety, volley sights, and magazine cutoff from […]

Dodge Patent Prototype Rolling Block Rifle

November 11, 2021 Ian McCollum 28

William Dodge and his brother were inventors in Washington DC who in the 1870s patented a bunch of different improvements to the Remington Rolling Block, among other guns. This particular one I cannot identify with […]

Miniature Fully Functional Taiwanese Preproduction Sten Gun

October 28, 2021 Ian McCollum 22

In the mid 1950s, the Nationalist government on Taiwan was in serious need of small arms, and decided to set up production of the Sten gun. They had the facilities of the 44th Arsenal outside […]

Confederate Gillam & Miller Rolling Block Transformation

October 26, 2021 Ian McCollum 6

Most people think about the Remington Rolling Block as a purpose-built rifle, but it was also used as a way to transform muzzleloaders into more modern breechloaders. Remington did this commercially, and small gunsmiths did […]