Handgun - Forgotten Weapons

RIA: The Jager Pistol and its Complex Reassembly

June 15, 2016 Ian McCollum 14

The German military used a lot of different small-caliber pistols during World War One, and the Jäger is one of the most interesting of them. Its unique design was the result of needing to build […]

RIA: Alkar Cartridge-Counting Pistol

June 13, 2016 Ian McCollum 23

Alkartasuna SA was a company formed in 1914 by a handful of disgruntled Astra (well, Astra was still called Esperanza y Unceta at that time) employees. This was a difficult time for the Eibar gun […]

RIA: Webley 1905 Pocket Automatic

June 12, 2016 Ian McCollum 25

William Whiting was an engineer who spent his entire adult career with the Webley company, and was responsible for all of their in-house self-loading pistol designs. This work initially focused on a behemoth of a […]

RIA: Pond .32 Rimfire Revolver (Video)

June 10, 2016 Ian McCollum 19

Lucius Pond was one of 4 major manufacturers successfully sued by Rollin White on behalf of Smith & Wesson, for infringing on White’s patent (exclusively licensed to S&W) of the bored-through cylinder. Pond had designed […]

RIA: Smith & Wesson Model 1913 Automatic Pistols (Video)

June 9, 2016 Ian McCollum 30

Smith & Wesson’s first venture into the autoloading pistol market was done under the leadership of Joe Wesson, Daniel Wesson’s son. He was quite the automatic pistol enthusiast, and made an agreement to license patents […]

RIA: Little Tom – the World’s First DAO Automatic

June 8, 2016 Ian McCollum 36

The Little Tom pistols designed by Alois Tomiška are notable for two particular features: their unusual reloading system and for being the first commercial DAO automatic pistols. Made in both .25ACP and .32 ACP in […]

RIA: Star Model 1920

June 7, 2016 Ian McCollum 13

The Model 1920 was Star’s first locked-breech pistol, basically a combination of features from the Colt 1911 and their traditional Eiber blowback .32 pistols. It was tested by the Spanish Army in 1920, with inconclusive […]

RIA: Dutch Police Revolver (with safety!)

June 4, 2016 Ian McCollum 39

This Dutch police revolver is an interesting example of technology being used as an element of police policy and procedure. The Dutch police administration in the late 1800s/early 1900s decided that officers should carry a […]

RIA: Steyr-Hahn Pistol Variations

June 2, 2016 Ian McCollum 37

The Steyr-Hahn is one of the less glamorized pistols used in WWI, despite being made in quite large numbers (250,000-313,000, depending on who you read). The gun is an interesting mix of features, including bits […]

Detailed Photos: Hamada Pistols (7.65mm and 8mm)

May 31, 2016 Ian McCollum 12

The Hamada pistols were two of the few examples of Japanese military arms made by private companies rather than government arsenals. Hamada ran a shop making sporting arms before the war (and after), and converted […]