Bolt Action Rifles - Forgotten Weapons

Adventures in Surplus: Mid-war “CE44” German Kar 98k

June 5, 2020 Ian McCollum 29

Today’s rifle is a German Karabiner 98k, made by JP Sauer in 1944 and marked with the appropriate receiver code, “ce”. This is from the final year of JP Sauer production of the K98k, before […]

French FR-F1 Sniper Rifle at the Range

June 4, 2020 Ian McCollum 5

The FR-F1 was adopted in 1967 as the French Army’s marksman or sniper’s rifle. It was based roughly on the MAS-36 bolt action system, but with a heavier receiver and 10-round detachable box magazine. It […]

Adventures in Surplus: Chromed Argentine 1891 Parade Rifle

June 3, 2020 Ian McCollum 9

When I got this Model 1891 Argentine rifle, I assumed it was the unfortunately result of someone’s experimenting with chrome plating parts. All the small parts are chromed and then heavily worn, while the barrel […]

Adventures in Surplus: A WW1 & Weimar Police Kar98a Carbine

June 2, 2020 Ian McCollum 10

I have been wanting one of these rifles for a long time, and with this example I think I have found a fantastic example. This is a Kar98a carbine made in 1918 and used in […]

M38 Carcano: Best Bolt Rifle of World War Two?

May 26, 2020 Ian McCollum 109

During the 1920s, Italy was concerned about insufficient lethality with their 6.5x52mm cartridge, and began experimenting with larger bore diameters. By the late 1930s they settled on a new 7.35x51mm round, based closely on the […]

Trials Soviet M91/30/43 Mosin – Semin’s Folding Bayonet

May 20, 2020 Ian McCollum 19

As World War Two developed, the Soviet Union found that bayonets were frequently lost from its M91/30 Mosin Nagant rifles. The standard bayonet, as adopted all the way back in 1891, was a long spike […]

Special Troops M91 Carcano Carbine and the M91/24 Carbine

May 19, 2020 Ian McCollum 12

“Special Troops” does not mean Special Forces; it means all the various service branches that need neither a full length rifle nor a permanently attached bayonet. This included artillery, engineers, naval troops, and more. The […]

Carcano Moschetto 91 Carbine and its Folding Bayonet

May 12, 2020 Ian McCollum 26

Following rapidly on the heels of the M91 rifle, the Italian military adopted the Moschetto M91 in 1893 as a carbine to equip a variety of forces. They were issued to cavalry, Bersaglieri, Carabinieri, and […]

Ethiopian Modified Gewehr 88 Carbine

May 11, 2020 Ian McCollum 15

This rifle began life as a German Gewehr 88 rifle in German military service. It was sent to Ethiopia, marked in Amharic, and then at some point cut down to carbine length. The shortened gun […]

PGM Precision Hecate II at the Range

May 9, 2020 Ian McCollum 17

Today, we are taking the PGM Precision Hecate II out to the range. It is a rifle designed for use out to 1800m, but I have neither the skills myself nor the range facility to […]