Prototype - Forgotten Weapons

Story of the Alar: A Simple Student-Made SMG

August 14, 2023 Ian McCollum 5

The Alar is an interesting very rare Croatian domestic SMG. It is called the “Alar” after it’s designer, Stipe Alar. He first came up with the design in 1971 and built one illegally – which […]

Prototype Hungarian 33M Bolt Action Rifle

August 4, 2023 Ian McCollum 2

When Hungary separated from the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War One, it began to slowly rebuild its military equipment. The eventually led to carbine conversions of old M95 rifles using the new 8x56mm rimmed cartridge, […]

Chatellerault Experimental SMGs: MAC48 & 48LS

June 12, 2023 Ian McCollum 10

Continuing our look at the French submachine gun designs from the Chatellerault Arsenal, today we have the MAC48 and MAC48LS (lightened and simplified). In the development program that would eventually lead to adoption of the […]

Project Lantan: Poland Designs a Modular AK in 7x41mm

May 31, 2023 Ian McCollum 30

In the early 1970s, Poland wanted to replace their 7.62x39mm Kalashnikov rifles. The Soviet Union was developing the 5.45mm AK-74, but the Poles wanted to make a more ambitious advance in small arms systems. They […]

Biofire: The First Worthwhile “Smart Gun”?

April 13, 2023 Ian McCollum 51

Note: The New Jersey law that would ban sale of regular guns once “smart guns” were deemed commercially viable is no longer on the books. 0:00 – Introduction 4:12 – Electronic elements 6:50 – User […]

Prototype Silenced Sten for Paratroops: the Mk4(S)

March 24, 2023 Ian McCollum 0

The Sten Mk4 was developed experimentally in 1943 for use by British paratroops. It used a remarkably awful folding stock along with a shortened receiver and barrel to make a very compact package – albeit […]

Prototype Birdshead Grip S&W No.3 Russian

March 6, 2023 Ian McCollum 12

This revolver appears to be one of the pre-production prototypes S&W made for the Russian No.3 revolver contract. Its frame has been expertly converted to a birdshead style. It handles very nicely, but was apparently […]

Roth Theodorovic Prototypes: From Very Awkward to Mostly Ungainly

February 17, 2023 Ian McCollum 32

Today we are going to take a looks at a series of six prototype Roth Theodorovic pistols. These were a design that competed in Austrian pistol trials around the turn of the century, and eventually […]

Bechowiec: Polish Teenager Makes a Resistance SMG

January 25, 2023 Ian McCollum 16

The Bechowiec (or Beha) is a fascinating SMG produced in small numbers in southern Poland under German occupation during World War Two. It was made for use by the Bataliony Chłopskie (Peasant Battalions) by a […]

Marko Vukovik’s Prototype Machine Pistol: the V.M.18

January 11, 2023 Ian McCollum 24

Today we continue our series on the development of Croatian pistols towards the XD line. Last week we saw Marko Vukovic’s first design, and today we are looking at his second. This was the V.M.18, […]