Video - Forgotten Weapons

M79: The Iconic “Bloop Tube” 40mm Grenade Launcher

December 4, 2020 Ian McCollum 66

Combat experience with the bazooka rocket launcher in World War Two and its larger versions in the Korean War convinced the US military that a better weapon was needed to give front-line troops a direct-fire […]

Colt Tries DA/SA: The Colt Double Eagle (in 10mm)

December 3, 2020 Ian McCollum 14

The Double Eagle was Colt’s foray into the DA/SA pistol market in the 1990s. It was effectively just a standard 1911 with a Seecamp-type double action trigger mechanism and a modernized (for the time) trigger […]

Czechoslovakia Recycles Mosins: The vz.54 Sniper

December 2, 2020 Ian McCollum 57

Czechoslovakia adopted a whole new slate of small arms in the 1950s, including the vz.52 pistol vz.52 rifle, and vz.52 light machine gun. They also adopted a new sniper rifle, developed by a Moravian designed […]

S&W’s Pistol-Carbine for the South Australian Police

December 1, 2020 Ian McCollum 29

In 1880, the South Australian Police service was introduced to the Smith & Wesson No3 New Model revolver at the Melbourne Exhibition. They took a liking to the design, and promptly ordered 250 of them, […]

Loading Tool for a .31 Caliber Volcanic Repeater

November 30, 2020 Ian McCollum 11

One thing I have not really though about before is how best to carry extra cartridges for a Volcanic repeater. They are self-contained, but still rather fragile compared to today’s ammunition (and they were originally […]

Glock Meets 1911: The Alchemy Arms Spectre

November 28, 2020 Ian McCollum 25

Alchemy Arms was a company formed in 1991 making parts and accessories for both the Glock and 1911 platforms. Its founder, William McMoore, got the idea to combine elements of both pistols to make the […]

Korriphila HSP-701: A Masterful Bespoke German Pistol

November 27, 2020 Ian McCollum 23

The Korriphila HSP-701 is a boutique luxury pistols designed by Edgar Budischowsky in the late 1970s, which entered production in 1984. It uses a fixed barrel and roller-delayed blowback action with a single roller below […]

Lebeda 4.5mm Pocket Watch Gun

November 26, 2020 Ian McCollum 18

Made by one Francis Lebeda, this is an Elgin classic pocket watch with the internal mechanism removed and replaced with a single-shot pistol mechanism. It fires a 4.5mm BB using just a No.11 percussion cap, […]

Colt’s First Double Actions: The 1877 Lightning & Thunderer

November 25, 2020 Ian McCollum 19

Samuel Colt disliked the idea of a double action revolver, considering the idea to be wasteful of ammunition and likely to be fragile. However, he passed away in 1862, and by 1873 double action Webley […]

Teenagers vs the British Empire: Smith Bateman’s Hall Rifle

November 24, 2020 Ian McCollum 16

On May 20, 1826 the United States Congress formally presented Model 1819 Hall rifles with personalized silver plaques to the 20 members of Aikin’s Volunteers, for their “Gallantry at the Siege of Plattsburg”. The Volunteers […]