Video - Forgotten Weapons

H&K SL-6 and SL-7 Rifles at RIA

December 3, 2015 Ian McCollum 30

The German firm Heckler & Koch spent several decades building firearms all based on the same basic operating system: roller-delayed blowback (often called roller-locked, although they are not technically locked breech actions). The two best […]

M1903 Sniper Rifle with Warner & Swasey M1913 Musket Sight at RIA

December 2, 2015 Ian McCollum 25

When the United States entered World War One, there was no formal sniper school or training in place. However, the US Army had adopted a sniper optic for the M1903 Springfield rifle. It was the […]

German Naval P04 Luger at RIA

December 1, 2015 Ian McCollum 24

Most everyone is familiar with the Luger pistol – it is one of the most iconic handgun designs ever made. Folks who have a passing interest in the guns will probably know about both the […]

First Pattern 1865 Allin Conversion – Trapdoor Springfield at RIA

November 30, 2015 Ian McCollum 35

As the US Civil War drew to a close, it was quite apparent to everyone that muzzleloading rifles were obsolete, and any military force wishing to remain relevant would need to adopt cartridge-firing weapons. However, […]

C93 Borchardt: the First Successful Self-Loading Pistol at RIA

November 29, 2015 Ian McCollum 39

Hugo Borchardt was a brilliant and well-traveled firearms designer. He was born in Germany but emigrated to the United States at a fairly young age, where he became engaged in the gun trade. He spent […]

Union/Reifgraber .32 S&W Autopistol at RIA

November 28, 2015 Ian McCollum 36

The Reifgraber, aka Union Automatic Pistol, is an interesting mechanical design from an inventor with an interesting personal background. Joseph Joachim Reifgraber was born in Austria in 1856, and emigrated to the United States at […]

Allen & Thurber Pepperbox at RIA

November 27, 2015 Ian McCollum 40

If the Colt Paterson was the high-end classy choice for a sidearm in the mid-1800s, the Allen & Thurber pepperbox would have been the simple working man’s alternative. While Colt was working for military contracts, […]

Swiss ZfK-55 Sniper at RIA

November 26, 2015 Ian McCollum 40

The Swiss military began experimenting with scoped sniper rifle during WWII, with the K31/42 and K31/43. These use periscopic optics permanently mounted to the side of the receiver, and were both found less than ideal. […]

Erika 4.25mm Pistol at RIA

November 25, 2015 Ian McCollum 37

Today we’re looking an another early European micro-pistol. This is the Erika, developed by Franz Pfannl and chambered for the 4.25mm Liliput cartridge (which develops approximately 1/4 the energy of the .25 ACP). These pistols […]

Braverman “Stinger” Pen Gun at RIA

November 22, 2015 Ian McCollum 21

The US National Firearms Act includes a category called “Any Other Weapon”, which encompasses a variety of regulated weapons, including firearms which are disguised to look live other everyday objects, such as canes, and pens. […]