Bolt Action Rifles - Forgotten Weapons

Mosin 91/30 PU: Soviet Standard WW2 Sniper’s Rifle

February 23, 2024 Ian McCollum 8

The Mosin M91/30 PU is the most recognized Soviet sniper rifle of World War Two, but it was not their first. It was preceded by the Model 1931 PE, the Model 1936 PEM, and also […]

M91/30 PU Sniper at the Range

February 17, 2024 Ian McCollum 2

Today we are out at the range with a 1943 Izhevsk M91/30 PU sniper rifle to see how it shoots… For more, check out the 9 Hole Reviews video taking a 91/30 PU on their […]

M98kF1 ZF41: Norway Recycles Germany’s Worst Sniper Rifle

January 29, 2024 Ian McCollum 6

When Germany capitulated at the end of World War Two, several hundred thousand German soldiers were stuck in Norway (thanks to the efforts of the Norwegian Resistance preventing them from moving south to reinforce against […]

Hammerli FK-31: Diopter Competition Rifles for the Haganah

January 15, 2024 Ian McCollum 2

In 1949, Israel was still fighting its war of independence, and purchasing arms internationally was difficult to do. The recently-formalized IDF wanted sniper rifles, and looked to Hammerli in Switzerland for a variant of the […]

Chinese Mystery Mauser: Fake FN Model 30

September 8, 2023 Ian McCollum 6

“Arming the Dragon” by Dolf Goldsmith is now available and shipping! One of the most common rifles in Warlord-era China was the Mauser Model 98 short rifle. Various Chinese armies bought large numbers of them […]

A Sneaky Swiss Sniper for Israel: the ZK-31

September 6, 2023 Ian McCollum 12

In 1949, Israel was still fighting its was of independence, and purchasing arms internationally was difficult to do. The recently-formalized IDF wanted sniper rifles, and looked to Hammerli in Switzerland for a variant of the […]

Argentina’s Slightly French Model 1909 SOM Sniper

August 11, 2023 Ian McCollum 6

Argentina was one of the first countries to adopt Mauser rifles, with the Model 1891. These were replaced by newer Model 1909 rifles a couple decades later, and in 1913 they bought 500 telescopic sights […]

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, […]

Otterup Model 69: From German Sword to Danish Plowshare

July 21, 2023 Ian McCollum 9

The Schultz & Larsen company in Otterup, Denmark was a venture formed by a gunsmithing shop and a very successful target shooter to make precision rifles. In 1919, they are able to purchase a bunch […]

No Clip, No Problem! Ethiopian Gunsmithing Solutions (Berthier)

July 19, 2023 Ian McCollum 8

While helping to unpack a new shipment of French rifles at IO Inc / Royal Tiger Imports, I came across several examples of Berthiers that were modified to not use clips. There were a couple […]