Rifles - Forgotten Weapons

Taiwan’s Retro Gas Piston AR: the Type 65

August 21, 2023 Ian McCollum 5

When Taiwan decided to move from the M14 platform (the Type 57 in Taiwanese service) to a 5.56mm rifle, they decided to develop a domestic gas-piston version of the AR. Development began in 1973, with […]

Original FG42: A Detailed Comparison of the 1st and 2nd Patterns

August 16, 2023 Ian McCollum 52

Today we are looking at examples of the 1st pattern (Type E) and second pattern (Type G) FG42, comparing their construction and disassembling both to get a close look at the internal differences. Despite sharing […]

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, […]

Yugo-Albanian “Marksman’s” Mystery AK

August 2, 2023 Ian McCollum 10

This rifle was brought back to France from the Balkans (probably Kosovo) by a French military team in the late 1990s. It’s a neat example of a mix-master build (what is “bubba” in Albanian?), with […]

Al Kadesih: Iraq’s Exceptionally Rare Dragunov Copy

July 26, 2023 Ian McCollum 11

The Al Kadesih (also sometimes spelled Al Kadesiah or Al Qadisiyah) is an Iraqi copy of the SVD Dragunov DMR/sniper rifle. It is not an exact copy, though, as it uses an AK-style stamped receiver […]

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 […]

Slovenian Modularity: Perun X16 “PDW” in .300 Blackout

July 15, 2023 Ian McCollum 3

I was first introduced to the Tinck Arms Perun X16 at Lynx Brutality 2022 in Slovenia, and it is an interesting system emphasizing modularity and simple disassembly. I opted to use one (a 5.56mm carbine) […]

The Rarest Chassepot: Rifle for the African Cavalry

July 14, 2023 Ian McCollum 8

“Chassepot to FAMAS: French Military Rifles 1866-2016” is in stock and shipping now: https://www.headstamppublishing.com/purchase The rarest pattern of factory-made Chassepot is the fusil modèle 1866 pour la cavalerie d’afrique – the Model 1866 rifle for […]