Germany - Forgotten Weapons

Shooting the H&K MP5K Operational Briefcase

December 22, 2018 Ian McCollum 32

Heckler & Koch’s “Operational Briefcase” is a clever system for covert carry of a submachine gun without the need to conceal such a large type of weapon under bulky clothing. By putting the gun into […]

Pre-Production FG-42 (Type C)

December 3, 2018 Ian McCollum 29

Thanks to the generosity of a collector in the Association of Maltese Arms Collectors and Shooters, we have a chance today to take a look at a pre-production FG-42, serial number 015. This is one […]

H&K VP-70M on the Range: How Useful is the Burst Fire?

December 1, 2018 Ian McCollum 72

After looking at the history and mechanics of the VP-70 yesterday, we are heading out to the range to try it out (and thanks to Trijicon for generously offering use of their range!). I am […]

H&K VP-70M: Polymer Framed Cutting Edge Machine Pistol from 1973

November 30, 2018 Ian McCollum 47

The VP-70 was designed by Heckler & Koch cofounder Alex Seidel, and introduced in 1973. It was made with the idea of being a gun easily mass produced for arming a civilian resistance in case […]

4mm Zimmerstutzen Parlor Conversion for a Mauser 1914

November 27, 2018 Ian McCollum 17

This Mauser pistol and 4mm conversion kit failed to sell at Rock Island on November 30, 2018. This 4mm “Zimmerstutzen” conversion kit was patented by one Karl Weiss in 1921, and produced by the RWS […]

Germany’s WW1 Zeiss Bifocal Scope: the Glasvisier 16

November 24, 2018 Ian McCollum 6

This rifle sold for $4,600 at Rock Island on December 2, 2018. The Zeiss 2.5x Glasvizier 16 optic is one of the most unusual and interesting of the German sighting systems used on rifles during […]

Wehrmannsgewehr – German Shooting Competition After WW1

November 19, 2018 Ian McCollum 16

This rifle failed to sell at Rock Island on December 1, 2018. Introduced by a Dutchman in 1897, the Wehrmannsgewehr was a type of 3-position shooting competition using military pattern rifles in a sporting caliber […]

Roth Haenel Model 1899 – The First Semiauto Sporting Rifle?

November 14, 2018 Ian McCollum 37

This rifle sold for $10,925 at Rock Island on December 2, 2018. While Karel Krnka and Georg Roth were in the process of developing the M1907 pistol, they diverted slightly to apply their patents to […]

Evolution of the Karabiner 98k, From Prewar to Kriegsmodell

November 7, 2018 Ian McCollum 27

These rifles sold at Rock Island on December 1 and 2, 2018: prewar S/42G ($3,450), 1944 bcd ($1,955), and 1945 byf (sold with a G43 for $4,025). The Mauser Karabiner 98k began production as an […]

Sport Systeme Dittrich Semiauto BD-38 (MP-38)

November 3, 2018 Ian McCollum 28

Sport Systeme Dittrich in Germany is a manufacturer of a remarkably wide range of reproduction German World War Two small arms (including the FG42, StG-44, G43, MP-3008, MP-35, and VG1-5 as well as the MP-38). […]