Video - Forgotten Weapons

Q&A #9: Gas Impingement, Reading List, Squeeze-Bores, and More (Video)

February 18, 2017 Ian McCollum 18

And if you would like to help support Belt & Holster, you can find his site at http://www.beltandholster.com . I have no financial involvement in this project; I just like the idea. Today’s questions: 1:06 […]

Whitney-Beals Walking Beam Pocket Revolver

February 15, 2017 Ian McCollum 13

This revolver, designed by Fordyce Beals (how cool of a name is that?), was developed while Colt’s patent on using the hammer to index the cylinder was still in effect. To avoid that patent, this […]

Frank Wesson’s Rimfire Carbine (Video)

February 14, 2017 Ian McCollum 12

First patented in 1859 and sold as a sporting rifle before the Civil War (in calibers 32, 38, and 41 rimfire), Frank Wesson added a military model with a 24 inch barrel and chambered for […]

Astra 700 Special: Failed Copy of the FN 1910

February 12, 2017 Ian McCollum 9

The Model 700 Special was an attempt by Astra to piggyback on the popularity of the FN Model 1910 automatic pistol. Astra took their Model 100 (a renamed Ruby pistol of WWI lineage) and changed […]

Guns in the Movies (Video)

February 10, 2017 Ian McCollum 25

Today we have not so much an examination of a specific firearms, but rather a look at how Clint Eastwood’s film portrayal of Dirty Harry Callahan drove a huge wave of popularity of the Smith […]

Sharps & Hankins Navy Model Carbine

February 9, 2017 Ian McCollum 10

Designed by Christian Sharps (or Sharps rifle fame), the Sharps & Hankins carbine was a light and handy rimfire carbine intended for military use. It was a single-shot weapon with an unusual action to lever […]

Gahendra: the Nepalese Martini (or not)

February 8, 2017 Ian McCollum 14

Long a mysterious unknown member of the Martini family, the Nepalese Gahendra rifles finally became available in the US and Europe after IMA purchased Nepal’s cache of historic arms. The Gahendra is a uniquely Nepalese […]

Yeah, the AR15 is Now Becoming C&R Eligible

February 7, 2017 Ian McCollum 15

Given the status of the AR15 as the preeminent military rifle still today, it comes as a surprise to many people to learn just how old the gun really is. Civilian production of the SP-1 […]

Ishapore SMLE MkI** India Pattern (Video)

February 6, 2017 Ian McCollum 9

While many people are familiar with the Ishapore 2A1 rifles chambered in 7.62mm NATO (largely thanks to their importation and sale in the US in large numbers), production of Indian Enfield rifles actually dates back […]

Swift Model B: For Training and Pranks (Video)

February 5, 2017 Ian McCollum 17

As World War 2 exploded in Europe, rifle training suddenly because a very important topic in Great Britain. Typical solutions are small bore rimfire training variants of service rifles, but the British also wanted an […]