Video - Forgotten Weapons

Armatix iP1 Smart Gun at the BackUp Gun Match

September 24, 2022 Ian McCollum 32

Yesterday we looked at the history and the functioning of the Armatix iP1 “smart gun”, and today I’m taking it out to a BackUp Gun Match. How will it perform? Will it cycle reliably? Will […]

Armatix iP1: The Infamous German “Smart Gun”

September 23, 2022 Ian McCollum 27

The Armatix iP1 is a pistol created by former H&K designer Ernst Mauch that was released – or almost released – in the US in late 2013 and early 2014. It is a .22LR caliber […]

Ask Ian: Why Does the AR15 Have a Buffer Thingie?

September 22, 2022 Ian McCollum 42

From Arvid on Utreon: “Why does an AR-15 need a buffer thingy? Why can’t it just have a spring like every other normal gun?” The Ar-15 really doesn’t need the buffer and tube, but it […]

A Path Less Traveled: IM Metal’s Tavor-Based Prototype for the VHS-1

September 21, 2022 Ian McCollum 3

Today we are continuing to trace the development of the IM Metal / HS Produkt VHS rifles. During this period, Croatia briefly considered adopting the Israeli Tavor rifle. Part of the adoption would have included […]

Ask Ian: Why No German WW2 50-Cal Machine Guns? (feat. Nick Moran)

September 20, 2022 Ian McCollum 40

From Nathaniel on Patreon: “Why didn’t Germany or Axis powers have a machine gun similar to the American M2?” Basically, because everyone faced the choice of a .50 caliber machine gun or 20mm (or larger) […]

Star Megastar: Spain’s Massive 10mm Autopistol

September 19, 2022 Ian McCollum 30

In the late 1980s, the Spanish gunmaker Star decided to join the new hot trend of 10mm semiauto pistols. The cartridge was getting a lot of press, and Star saw this as an opportunity too […]

Genesis of the VHS: IM Metal Gets a FAMAS

September 14, 2022 Ian McCollum 26

After their abortive effort at designing a bullpup AK conversion, IM Metal (later to become HS Produkt) decided to make another try at developing a rifle for the Croatian Army. This time, they decided to […]

CETME-L Handguards: The Poor Early Model and the Later Better One

September 13, 2022 Ian McCollum 1

The early production CETME-L (and CETME-LC) rifles used a thin, fragile, full-length handguard. It was redesigned fairly early in production with a much more durable version that provided better hand insulation. The Spanish Army updated […]

Germany Copies the Soviets: L23 & L27 Silencers

September 12, 2022 Ian McCollum 4

The German L23 silencer was essentially a copy of captured Soviet Bramit silencers, complete with the attachment system locking around a rifle front sight. Two hundred of these made for the K98k rifle for German […]

The CZ-2000 as a 9mm SMG Prototype

September 10, 2022 Ian McCollum 14

There have been several examples of the AK being used as the basis for a pistol-caliber SMG or PDW. The Russians made the Vityaz, the Hungarians made the KGPF-9…and the Czechs actually made a version […]