Handgun - Forgotten Weapons

Train Company Makes Guns: Union Switch & Signal M1911A1

July 11, 2026 Ian McCollum 3

Of the five companies that made 1911 pistols during World War Two, Union Switch & Signal was the last to be awarded a contract and the smallest mass production producer. A subsidiary of the Westinghouse […]

Russian Current Service Pistol: the PYa / MP443 Grach / MP446C Viking

July 6, 2026 Ian McCollum 45

The current Russian service pistol is the PYa, or MP-443 “Grach”, and it is (or was) made for civilian sales as the Baikal MP-446C “Viking”. The gun was adopted by the Russian Federation to replace […]

S&W Model 52-1: A Magnificent Target Pistol for .38 Special Wadcutters

June 26, 2026 Ian McCollum 31

The Model 52 is a purpose-built target pistol that Smith & Wesson built on the Model 39 frame. It is chambered for a very specific flush-loaded 148gr .38 Special wadcutter loading, to be used in […]

Prototype MAS 1925M Pistol: Cartridge Counting in 7.65 French Long

June 3, 2026 Ian McCollum 12

After World War One the French military created a plan to replace basically all of its small arms, including the array of handguns it had in use. The trials to adopt a single new replacement […]

BUG Match: Beretta 1934 (in .380)

May 29, 2026 Ian McCollum 20

Given the influx of very inexpensive Beretta M1934 pistols into the US market – and the fact that I have a fine Carabinieri hat – it is a no-brainer to run the monthly Back Up […]

RIA 5.0E: A Very Nice Pistol, But For Whom?

May 22, 2026 Ian McCollum 33

Rock Island Armory is best known for its Philippine-made 1911s, but expended into US pistol production with a novel design a couple years ago. The call it the 5.0, and it uses an interesting vertically-traveling […]

Iver Johnson Prototype .25ACP Blow Forward Pocket Pistol

May 13, 2026 Ian McCollum 16

This is a one-of-a-kind prototype of a .25ACP blow forward pistol made by Iver Johnson. It was patented in 1916 (patent applied for in 1912) by William O. Barnes of Massachusetts, and assigned to Iver […]

Custom-Order Walthers: Model HP and P38 in 7.65mm Parabellum

May 8, 2026 Ian McCollum 23

Available from Morphys here: 7.65 P38 – https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_C__RARE_EARLY_WALTHER_P38_7_65_SEMI_AUTOMATIC_PIS-LOT658919.aspx 7.65 Walther HP – https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_C__WALTHER_HP__30_LUGER_SEMI_AUTOMATIC_PISTOL_-LOT658893.aspx When Walther first developed the P38, it was designated the Heerespistole – “Army Pistol”. Only after getting official Wehrmacht adoption did it […]

Singer M1911A1: The Rarest WW2 1911

May 6, 2026 Ian McCollum 19

Available from Morphys here: https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_C__OUTSTANDING_SINGER_MODEL_1911A1__45_ACP_SEMI_A-LOT660708.aspx The Singer Manufacturing Company, best known for its iconic sewing machines, received an Educational Contract to product 500 M1911A1 pistols on April 17, 1940. They set up production for the […]

The First Military Luger: Swiss Model 1900 s/n 01

April 27, 2026 Ian McCollum 3

Available from Morphy’s here: https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_C__IMPORTANT_FIRST_EVER_PRODUCED_DWM_1900_SWISS_L-LOT658702.aspx The first nation to adopt the Luger was Switzerland, which began testing in late 1898 and formally accepted the Luger in May 1900. Their guns were the first Lugers to […]