Belgium - Forgotten Weapons

Unique Prototype FN FAL in .30 Carbine

November 2, 2026 Ian McCollum 3

This one-off rifle was produced at FN in 1950 as a testbed for testing different locking systems and manufacturing methods for the Light Automatic Rifle which would eventually become the FAL we know today. It […]

Precursor to the High Power: FN’s 1923 Prototype Model Stocked Pistol

October 16, 2026 Ian McCollum 33

The FN High Power pistol began with a request for a new French Army pistol. The initial design was done by John Browning, with later iterations and improvements from his protege Dieudonne Saive at FN. […]

The Very First FAL Prototype (in 8mm Kurz)

August 22, 2026 Ian McCollum 21

Dieudonne Saive at Fabrique Nationale began developing the FAL to submit for the British post-war program to adopt new small arms. He built the first example in the German 8x33mm Kurz cartridge, as this was […]

FN Evolys: A New Ultralight Squad Automatic Weapon in 5.56mm & 7.62mm

August 5, 2026 Ian McCollum 42

FN’s new Evolys machine gun is designed to fill an interesting role not already help by either the MAG or Minimi – it is intended as an automatic rifle in the mold of the BAR […]

FN MAG Tactical with Long Rail Upgrade Kit

June 20, 2026 Ian McCollum 20

The full version with shooting footage is available on Pepperbox and to Forgotten Weapons Patrons: https://www.patreon.com/posts/160428945/ https://www.pepperbox.tv/video/13546 The FN MAG is one of those guns that is so durable and well designed that it continues […]

FN’s New ARKA: Revamping the SCAR for Military Tenders

June 10, 2026 Ian McCollum 2

The ARKA is essentially FN’s SCAR rifle on the inside but with more AR-style controls and handling. It was developed in response to a number of military and security service tenders which required specifically an […]

French Trials FN CAL: Adding Rifle Grenade Capability

September 10, 2025 Ian McCollum 10

Check out Headstamp Publishing’s extensive catalog of excellent books! In the 1970s when the French Army was looking for a new rifle 5.56mm, they tested a number of foreign rifles alongside development the FAMAS at […]

Valmet M78 vs FN-D (w/ John Keene)

July 12, 2025 Ian McCollum 46

If you had to pick one, would you take a Valmet M78 (in 7.62mm NATO) or an FN-D (in .30-06)? Both are reliable and well-made machine guns and they use essentially the same caliber. The […]

German Occupation FN High Power Pistols

April 28, 2025 Ian McCollum 28

When Germany occupied Belgium in the summer of 1940, the took over the FN factory complex and ordered production of the High Power pistol to continue. It was put into German service as the Pistole […]

Herman Brevete: A Pepperbox Hidden in Your Bicycle Handlebars

April 18, 2025 Ian McCollum 21

In the 1890s, there was a lot of interest in small caliber, simple revolvers for self-defense by cyclists, primarily against dogs. This led to the creation of a whole category of “velodog” revolvers, and a […]