Machine Guns - Forgotten Weapons

Montigny Mitrailleuse Photos

January 29, 2014 Ian McCollum 42

The Mitrailleuse was one of the first pseudo-machine guns – the first ones were developed prior to the Gattling, but they continued to be purchased by military forces through the 1870s. There were several versions, […]

Andrews Machine Carbine

January 24, 2014 Ian McCollum 77

I’m flattered to say that we received another research question from the Pattern Room, and a bit dejected to say that once again it was something I couldn’t provide a good answer to. However, the […]

Vintage Saturday: Spare a Rifle?

January 18, 2014 Ian McCollum 12

Lots of Mosin-Nagant rifles, and we’re guessing also Swedish Mausers. Plus, of course, the two Chauchats and a Maxim 1910. Thanks to Dave for the photo!

Vintage Saturday: Borrowing from Neighbors

January 11, 2014 Ian McCollum 32

German soldiers training with a Czech CZ30(t) machine gun, a refined Vickers gun used mostly for air service. Thanks to Beryl for the photo!

German Machine Gun Nomenclature

January 8, 2014 Ian McCollum 27

One would think that Germany, of all places, would have a logical and consistent system for identifying service machine guns. Any yet we see things like the WWI MG08/15 and the WWII MG15. What gives? […]

Vintage Saturday: Before SWAT

January 4, 2014 Ian McCollum 27

New York City policemen on an Indian motorcycle, with a Colt 1895 machine gun mounted rather ad-hoc on the sidecar (May 18, 1918). Thanks to Patrick for the photo!

MG17 Belt Feed Mechanism

January 3, 2014 Ian McCollum 21

The MG17 is one of the lesser-known German machine guns used in WWII, used for aircraft armament. Mechanically, the MG17 is basically the same as the MG15 ground gun, but with some aircraft-specific features like […]

Vintage Saturday: Kiwi Rambo

December 28, 2013 Ian McCollum 19

Since we were just looking at Bren drums yesterday, here’s a New Zealand trooper in the desert somewhere with a pair of them…

Shooting a Bren 100-Round Drum

December 27, 2013 Ian McCollum 13

A friend of mine went to a local machine gun shoot recently, and came back with some footage of a pair of Bren guns being fired with a 100-round drum magazine. These drums were designed […]

Vintage Saturday: Strange Bedfellows

December 21, 2013 Ian McCollum 22

Soviet troops with M38 Mosin carbines and Breda Model 37 heavy machine guns (presumably captured from the ill-fated Italian ARMIR expedition in 1942/43). Thanks to Leszek for finding the photo at Waralbum.ru!