France - Forgotten Weapons

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

June 15, 2026 Ian McCollum 12

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 5

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 […]

Hotchkiss Model 1886 3-pounder Quick Firing Gun

September 26, 2025 Ian McCollum 15

Small fast boats with torpedos (or other explosives) have always been a threat to large warships. One of the weapons the British Royal Navy adopted to counter that threat was the Hotchkiss Model 1886 “Quick […]

FAMAS G1: Simplified for Export

September 17, 2025 Ian McCollum 22

The FAMAS G1 was developed as a lower-cost option for FAMAS export sales. The original F1 model had been offered for international sale, but it attracted little interest largely because of its high price. In […]

French Marine Commando 2-Gun: CETME-B & MAC-50

September 13, 2025 Ian McCollum 1

There is a well-documented incident of the French intercepting a couple hundred CETME-B rifles being smuggled to the FLN in Algeria, and putting them into service with the Marine Commandos. I managed to get a […]