Video - Forgotten Weapons

Kohout & Spol 7.65mm Mars Pistol

July 15, 2020 Ian McCollum 19

The “MARS” pistols made in Czechoslovakia began with the “Slavia” line, designed by one Antonin Vilímec in 1920 or 1921. Those were basically simple copies of the vest-pocket Browning pistols, and were made until 1935. […]

Buying a Machine Gun with a C&R License

July 14, 2020 Ian McCollum 17

I am often asked how a C&R license (Curio & Relic, also called a Type 03 Federal Firearms License; not to be confused with “Class 3”) affects the purchase of a machine gun. So, I […]

Calico Liberty 100 Carbine on the PCC Evaluation Course

July 11, 2020 Ian McCollum 33

Before I even started filming this video, the Calico’s muzzle brake fell off…not an auspicious beginning! But we will push on without it, and see if the Calico can even finish the course without malfunctioning…and […]

No, It Doesn’t Take Glock Mags…and Sometimes That’s Better

July 9, 2020 Ian McCollum 17

Sometimes it makes sense to use convenient existing magazines. Sometimes it doesn’t. Like all things in firearms design, magazine features are all compromises. Single feed vs double feed, polymer vs steel, and straight vs curved…one […]

WW1 French Contract Colt 1911 for Tank Crewmen

July 8, 2020 Ian McCollum 28

France was in an interesting position during World War One of being a primary supplier of rifles and machine guns to its allies, but a major importer of handguns. In addition to a great many […]

The Gras in Ethiopia: Carbines of Emperor Menelik II and Empress Taytu

July 7, 2020 Ian McCollum 9

Ethiopia is a fascinating and unique example of an African nation that was able to uphold its sovereignty through force of arms, and resist become a possession of any of the European powers during the […]

Russian FN 1905 Vest Pocket Officer’s Pistol

July 6, 2020 Ian McCollum 7

In the years before World War One, the Imperial Nicholas Military Academy in Russia purchased several thousand handguns from FN for resale to its officer candidates and graduates. These were mostly FN 1900 and FN […]

AJ Ordnance “Thomas” at the Backup Gun Match

July 4, 2020 Ian McCollum 14

Today, I’m taking the AJ ordnance “Thomas” .45 to the Backup Gun Match to try it out on the clock. The Thomas was designed as a concealed carry pistol, with no external controls and a […]

AJ Ordnance “Thomas” – A .45 Locked by Grip Alone

July 3, 2020 Ian McCollum 36

Designed by one Frank Thomas Jr. in the 1970s, this pistol was produced by the AJ Ordnance company of Covina California, and named after its creator. It was designed to be a concealed carry pistol […]

Optics for Machine Guns: The Spuhr B.A.M.

July 2, 2020 Ian McCollum 12

I have been thinking about machine gun optics for a while, as I am on the waiting list for a Lage Max 11/15A1 5.56mm upper for my M11A1 (registered and legal) machine pistol. I am […]