Handgun - Forgotten Weapons

Berger Repeating Pistol at James D Julia

October 1, 2015 Ian McCollum 13

The 1880s saw a brief explosion of experimental manually-operated repeating handguns, mostly throughout Europe. The most common weapon of this type known in the US is the Volcanic pistol, forerunner to the Winchester lever-action rifles. […]

Bren Ten: The Most Tactical Pistol!

September 30, 2015 Ian McCollum 64

The Bren Ten is an interesting story of handgun development and business failure. The gun was first developed by Dornaus & Dixon, with the consulting help of the iconic Col. Jeff Cooper. It was intended […]

6.5mm Mannlicher 1894 at James D Julia

September 26, 2015 Ian McCollum 26

The Mannlicher 1894 is one of a small number of firearms designed with a blow-forward action, and also the first of these guns. It was the creation of Ferdinand Mannlicher, a brilliant and prolific Austria […]

Confederate Dance Revolver at James D Julia

September 24, 2015 Ian McCollum 5

The Confederate States of America didn’t have very much capacity for manufacturing small arms, and was happy to purchase guns from anyone who could make them. Among others who got into the gun-making business during […]

Adler Pistol at James D Julia

September 20, 2015 Ian McCollum 29

The Adler is a unique little pocket pistol built in pre-WWI Germany.Not much is known about it, as only about a hundred were manufactured and they failed to be a commercial success. The design is […]

BSA’s Experimental .34 Caliber Pistols at James D Julia

September 18, 2015 Ian McCollum 20

During World War One, Birmingham Small Arms (aka BSA) grew into a massive arms manufacturing facility to supply the previously inconceivable military appetite for rifles. When the war ended, they were left with a bit […]

Confederate Revolvers at James D Julia: Leech, Rigdon & Ansley

September 17, 2015 Ian McCollum 10

There was not much industrial production the the Confederate States of America during the US Civil War, and Confederate-made revolvers have been very collectible for a very long time. Today we’re taking a look at […]

RIA: Ithaca Auto & Burglar

September 10, 2015 Ian McCollum 19

Before 1934, there was no legal restriction on short-barreled shotguns, and several companies offered pistol-style shotguns for personal protection. One of the best of these was the Ithaca Auto & Burglar. These were made mostly […]

RIA: Bergmann 1896 / No.3 Pistol

September 7, 2015 Ian McCollum 8

Bergmann was one of the reasonably successful yet relatively unknown manufacturers of early automatic pistols. Originally a delayed blowback patent purchased by Bergmann, the design was refined and simplified by none other than Louis Schmeisser […]

RIA: Colette Gravity Pistol

September 1, 2015 Ian McCollum 13

Colette was a Belgian gun manufacturer that made this interesting parlor pistol. It used a rocketball type of cartridge, in which the powder and primer were encased in the hollow base of the bullet to […]