Rifles - Forgotten Weapons

American Mausers: The Hopkins & Allen Model 1889 for Belgium

October 11, 2021 Ian McCollum 12

When World War One began, German armies roared through Belgium, occupying all but a small corner of the nation. Belgium still had an army to defend that last bit of territory, but it no longer […]

Ethiopian Oddities: Vetterli-Mauser Hybrid (Sort Of)

October 7, 2021 Ian McCollum 16

Today’s Ethiopian Oddity is a rifle that appears to be a Vetterli action with a distinctly Mauser flair. The bolt is styled after the Vetterli system (including rear locking lugs) but has a non-functional Mauser […]

Finnish m/27rv Cavalry Carbine

October 6, 2021 Ian McCollum 5

When the Finnish Army adopted the m/27 improved pattern of the Mosin Nagant rifle, there was one group of soldiers who were not really satisfied with it. Finland had a cavalry brigade – one of […]

Quebec Papal Zouave’s Ceremonial Gewehr 71/84

October 4, 2021 Ian McCollum 20

Here’s a rifle with an interesting twisting history… This began life as a German military Gewehr 71/84, made in 1888. It was issued to a unit, but eventually replaced by the Gewehr 1888. It was […]

Ethiopian Oddities: The Mo43 Mauser – Handmade or Factory?

September 30, 2021 Ian McCollum 10

Today’s Ethiopian Oddity appears to be a factory-built Mauser short rifle, but embellished with a couple replacement parts (nosecap retainer, stock, bayonet lug) and some truly mysterious markings. The top of the receiver has been […]

Algimech AGM-1: A Short-Lived Italian 9mm Bullpup

September 29, 2021 Ian McCollum 44

In the mid 1980s, an Italian designer named Alphonso Giambelli developed a bullpup pistol-caliber carbine with hopes of selling it to Italian law enforcement. That never happened, but the gun was offered on the commercial […]

Colonies Lead the Way: Charger-Loading Lee Enfield MkI India Pattern

September 27, 2021 Ian McCollum 6

While the Indian Army was looked down upon by much of the British military, it saw much more combat service than its European counterpart. The Indian Army was actually faster than the British to recognize […]

Portuguese m/937B Kar98k: Back to the Standard Pattern

September 22, 2021 Ian McCollum 24

In the 1930s, Portugal was looking to update its small arms, and wanted to get some top-shelf K98k Mausers to replace its 1904 Mauser-Vergueiros. The country was on good terms with Germany, and so Portugal […]

Collette Gravity Guns: A 60-Shot Rifle in 1854

September 21, 2021 Ian McCollum 18

What we today call the Collette Gravity Gun was actually designed by a gunsmith named Jean Nicolas Herman in Liege between 1850 and 1854. He was an employee of Victor Collette (note: spellings vary), and […]

Throwback Thursday: The Nifty Hybrid-Design HAC-7 Battle Rifle

September 16, 2021 Ian McCollum 15

The Halloway Arms Company HAC-7 was a very interesting hybrid design that incorporated elements of the FAL, AR10, and AK designs. It needed a bit more development to really work out the kinks, though, and […]