Handgun - Forgotten Weapons

Two Prototype Webley Automatic Pistols at James D Julia

February 25, 2015 Ian McCollum 18

So, I may have gone a bit overboard and filmed more video at this upcoming Julia auction than I actually had time to publish before the auction takes place (but there were so many amazing […]

Thuer Conversion Colt 1849 at James D Julia

February 24, 2015 Ian McCollum 10

As the self-contained metallic cartridge because popular, a niche industry developed in converting percussion revolvers to use the new cartridges. One of the first of these conversions was designed by F. Alexander Thuer and marketed […]

Shooting Elmer Keith’s Carry Pistol at James D Julia

February 22, 2015 Ian McCollum 59

Elmer Keith should need no introduction here, as one of the fathers of the .44 Magnum, as well as the .357 Magnum and .41 Magnum. Well, his gun collection being sold at the James D. […]

Moore’s Patent Revolver at RIA (Video)

February 14, 2015 Ian McCollum 14

Manufactured in Brooklyn from 1861 until 1863, Moore’s revolver was a 7-shot single-action piece firing .32 rimfire cartridges. What makes it unique is its swing-out cylinder design – the first commercial revolver in the US […]

Shansei .45ACP Broomhandle Mauser at RIA (Video)

February 12, 2015 Ian McCollum 21

During the Chinese civil war in the 1920s and 30s, international arms embargoes made rifles difficult to acquire – which led to a lot of popularity for pistols with shoulder stocks. The C96 “broomhandle” Mauser […]

Fiala Model 1920 Combination Gun at RIA (Video)

February 11, 2015 Ian McCollum 23

The Fiala Model 1920 was a manually-operated repeating pistol in .22LR caliber that was marketed with the backing of famed polar explorer Anthony Fiala. The guns came as a set of one frame, three barrels […]

Lady’s (Ladies?) Home Companion at RIA (Video)

February 10, 2015 Ian McCollum 43

The Ladies Home Companion was a pistol (technically) made by the Cobray company on the same frame as their 12ga “Street Sweeper” shotgun. It had no stock or front grip, and was chambered for the […]

Khyber Pass Martini Pistol at RIA (Video)

February 6, 2015 Ian McCollum 13

The Khyber Pass is a well known center of arms production, with gunmaking there going back at least 100 years. The quality of craftsmanship varies greatly, from excellent and safe weapons to thoroughly unsafe guns […]

Starr DA & SA Revolvers at RIA (Video)

February 5, 2015 Ian McCollum 4

Starr revolvers are one of the less recognized designs used in the US Civil War, although tens of thousands of them were made and issued. Indeed, in many ways they were superior to the much […]

Apache Knuckleduster Revolver at RIA (Video)

February 3, 2015 Ian McCollum 16

The “Apache” was a combination knife, brass knuckles, and revolver made by several companies in Belgium and France, which became associated with a group of street thugs in Paris around the turn of the century. […]