Bolt Action Rifles - Forgotten Weapons

The G40k: A German Experimental Mauser Carbine

April 2, 2020 Ian McCollum 16

This is lot #1635 in the upcoming RIA Premier Auction. It was scheduled for April, but has been postponed – check their web site for upcoming Online Only auctions every month, though! In April 1940, […]

Experimental Remington-Keene: Preventing Magazine Detonations

March 31, 2020 Ian McCollum 14

This is lot #183 in the upcoming RIA Premier Auction. It was scheduled for April, but has been postponed – check their web site for upcoming Online Only auctions every month, though! This is a […]

French Underfolding Paratrooper Rifle: MAS 36 CR39

March 16, 2020 Ian McCollum 10

The CR39 (“crosse repliable”, or folding stock) is the paratrooper version of the MAS 36. The need for a more compact and transportable pattern was recognized almost as soon as the MAS 36 was finalized, […]

Canadian Ross MkIII Sniper Rifle with Warney & Swasey Scope

March 11, 2020 Ian McCollum 5

The Canadian infantry that went to Europe in the early years of World Wa rOne were equipped primarily with the Ross MkIII rifle. The Ross would become quite the scandal, and was replaced in service […]

French Air Force Snipers: the FR-G1 and FR-G2

March 4, 2020 Ian McCollum 0

When St Etienne developed the FR-F1 sniper rifle, all the branches of the French military were given the opportunity to purchase them – and the Army, Navy, and Gendarmerie did. The Air Force, decided that […]

A Unique Partnership: Czech Mausers for Ethiopia after WWII

February 19, 2020 Ian McCollum 13

After World War Two, the Czech economy was in serious need of money to recover from the ravages of war. The arms factory at Brno was not bound by the same restrictions as German manufacturers, […]

RIA Feb 2020 Special: Field-Modified Mannlicher 1888 Carbine

February 14, 2020 Ian McCollum 6

Today’s quick RIA look is a Mannlicher 1888 that was cut down to carbine length and adapted to fit a Type 30 Japanese Arisaka bayonet. Most likely done in China in the teens or twenties, […]

Arming the Lion of Judah: Ethiopian FN Mauser Rifles & Carbines

February 11, 2020 Ian McCollum 11

In 1930, Haile Selassie I became Emperor of Ethiopia (aka Abysinia), and would rule for almost 45 years, with a brief exception when the country was occupied by fascist Italy. During that time, he paid […]

Rifles of Emperor Menelik II: Ethiopian Gewehr 88 and Karabiner 88

February 5, 2020 Ian McCollum 13

In 1889, Emperor Menelik II ascended to power in Ethiopia, and would rule for 20 years, moving Ethiopia (aka Abyssinia) forward into the modern age. He brought railways, sewer systems, telegraph lines, and other modern […]

Royal NW Mounted Police Ross MkI Carbine & MkII Rifle

January 31, 2020 Ian McCollum 10

One of the very early clients of the Ross Rifle Company was the Royal North West Mounted Police (later merged with the Dominion Police to form the RCMP). The Mounties purchased 500 Ross MkI carbines, […]