France - Forgotten Weapons

The FAMASenning: All the FAMAS from Airsoft to Centerfire

August 12, 2026 Ian McCollum 3

The military FAMAS has spawned several clones, and we are taking a look at each one of them today. First up is the Cybergun AEG airsoft FAMAS – a normal commercial production piece, but this […]

Origins of Tiger Stripe: British Windproof and French Lizard Camouflage

August 1, 2026 Ian McCollum 1

Reserve your copy of “Tiger Stripe: The Vietnam Camouflage Story” on Kickstarter today: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/headstamp/tiger-stripe?ref=evt699 Today I am speaking with Owen Thornton (author of Headstamp’s new book on Tiger Stripe camo) about the origins on Tiger […]

MAT 54 SB: A Semiautomatic SMG for Banks and Cash Trucks

July 3, 2026 Ian McCollum 4

The MAT 54 SB is a variation of the MAT 49/54, which was in turn the police model of the French MAT 49 submachine gun. Chambered for 9x19mm Parabellum, it uses MAT 49 magazines and […]

MAC 34T Aviation: Interwar French Turret-Mount Aircraft Gun

June 15, 2026 Ian McCollum 13

During World War One France used the Lewis gun as a flexible aircraft armament, and it was replaced by the Darne in 1922. This was an adoption of convenience, and by 1926 the Chatellerault Arsenal […]

Prototype MAS 1925M Pistol: Cartridge Counting in 7.65 French Long

June 3, 2026 Ian McCollum 12

After World War One the French military created a plan to replace basically all of its small arms, including the array of handguns it had in use. The trials to adopt a single new replacement […]

SIG Manurhin 543 Semiauto: I Really Like This Rifle

May 23, 2026 Ian McCollum 6

SIG introduced the 540 series of rifles in 1973, which included the full-length 540 in 5.56mm, the 541 in a number of experimental calibers for the Swiss military, the 542 in 7.62mm NATO, and the […]

Guatemalan Contract St Chamond 70mm Mountain Gun

May 2, 2026 Ian McCollum 0

Available from Morphys here: https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_D__TREMENDOUS_HIGH_CONDITION_WWI_ERA_70MM_ST_CHAM-LOT657316.aspx Despite the French Army adopting a 65mm mountain gun in 1906, several French companies – including St Chamond and Schneider – developed their own mountain gun designs in the years […]

St Chamond 75mm Field Gun: From Mondragon to WW1 Tanks to Israel

April 13, 2026 Ian McCollum 6

Available from Morphy’s here: https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_D__EXCEPTIONAL_CONDITION_ST_CHAMOND_75MM_FIELD_GU-LOT657326.aspx The design for the St Chamond 75mm field gun was initially created by Mexican small arms designer Manual Mondragon, who worked extensively in artillery as well as small arms. As […]

Rare & Unique Sightings From 100 French FR-F2 Sniper Rifles

January 12, 2026 Ian McCollum 5

Today I had a chance to dig through no less than one hundred FR-F2 snipers brought in by Navy Arms. I found a number of interesting and unusual things in the process, including a number […]

GIGN’s Unique Bren 2 in 7.62×39: Counterterrorism and Hostage Rescue

October 13, 2025 Ian McCollum 21

GIGN – the “Group d’Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale” (Intervention Group of the National Gendarmerie) is the tip of the spear for French counterterrorism and major crime response. They are a relatively small (a few […]