Handgun - Forgotten Weapons

RIA: James Reid No.2 Revolver

April 2, 2016 Ian McCollum 20

James Reid was a New York gunsmith best known for his “My Friend” knuckleduster revolvers, but before he devised the idea for those he was working in New York City making traditional style revolvers. This […]

Ross Model A-2 Pistol Photos

March 23, 2016 Ian McCollum 27

A reader named Paul sent me these photos of a very odd pistol that was allegedly found in Germany during WWII. In fact, this is a very rare Ross automatic pistol, patented in 1903 by Charles […]

A Few Historical Weapons in Libya

March 22, 2016 Ian McCollum 40

Armament Research Services (ARES) has a database of Conflict Material (CONMAT), logging arms and munitions documented within the illicit sphere in conflict and post-conflict zones. I have been working on co-athoring a report with N.R. Jenzen-Jones covering Libyan […]

Savage .25ACP Automatic Pistol

March 21, 2016 Ian McCollum 33

Savage made more than a quarter-million pocket pistols in .32 and .380 caliber, but never commercially marketed a .25ACP design. They did design such a “baby” pistol, though, beginning in about 1912. Despite a significant […]

Smill & Welson Spanish Counterfeit Revolver

March 18, 2016 Ian McCollum 31

This revolver looks like it is a Smith & Wesson DA from the early 20th century, right down to the S&W grips. However, it is actually a Spanish Eibar-made copy, and you can tell when […]

Hand-Fitted Parts Firsthand: French Modele 1874

March 17, 2016 Ian McCollum 31

We often hear the phrase “hand-fitted” in regards to either really finely made guns, or ones made before the the advent of truly interchangeable parts. Well, I recently had a firsthand experience with hand-fitted parts, […]

Today’s New Tech: Red Dot Handguns

March 14, 2016 Ian McCollum 75

https://youtu.be/U3ogBYjTQqk I am often asked what is the coolest new thing in firearms technology…and the answer isn’t anything having to do with the actual gun design. Our guns today are mechanically the same as they […]

James D. Julia: Confederate Cofer Revolver

March 12, 2016 Ian McCollum 23

T.W. Cofer was a Virginian gunsmith who made revolvers for the Confederate cause during the Civil War – although he never had a formal contract with the CSA. His pistols were sold privately to individual […]

James D. Julia: Presentation Colt 1851 w/ Canteen Stock

March 11, 2016 Ian McCollum 10

One of the less common accessories for Colt percussion pistols is the original factory shoulder stock. And far less common still is the factory stock made with a canteen inside it! The stocks were made […]

James D. Julia: An Assortment of James Reid “My Friend” Knucklers

March 10, 2016 Ian McCollum 14

James Reid was a Catskills gunsmith who emigrated form Ireland by way of Scotland. He made a number of different revolvers, but is best known for his line of “My Friend” knuckleduster pepperboxes (or “knucklers”, […]