Germany - Forgotten Weapons

RIA: Steyr-Hahn Pistol Variations

June 2, 2016 Ian McCollum 37

The Steyr-Hahn is one of the less glamorized pistols used in WWI, despite being made in quite large numbers (250,000-313,000, depending on who you read). The gun is an interesting mix of features, including bits […]

The StG-44 in Africa

May 22, 2016 Ian McCollum 34

A while back, a video made the rounds of a cache of StG-44 rifles being found in (allegedly) Syria – I commented on it here, in fact. It was pretty much without any context, though. […]

Mauser “Schnellfeuer”, or Model 712 Machine Pistol

May 19, 2016 Ian McCollum 43

The Schnellfeuer, or Model 712, was Mauser’s answer to the Spanish production of selective fire C96 lookalikes. Just over 100,000 of these pistols were made by Mauser in the 1930s, mostly going to China (although […]

Detailed Photos: Walther A115 No. 3

May 17, 2016 Ian McCollum 5

I did a video on this very interesting German prototype semiauto rifle a few weeks ago, and took one or two photographs at the same time. The genesis of the Gewehr 41 gas system is […]

Disassembly photos: Simson Prototype Blowback 9mm

May 10, 2016 Ian McCollum 12

In the late 1920s, the Simson company built a handful of prototype pistols for consideration by the German military. Noises had been made about replacing the Luger with something more cost effective, and several companies […]

German soldiers experimenting with a grenade catapult

Vintage Saturday: Getting Medieval

May 7, 2016 Ian McCollum 31

Somehow I don’t think the binoculars are particularly necessary…

German troops demonstrating use of a WWI flamethrower

Vintage Saturday: Flammenwerfer

April 30, 2016 Ian McCollum 20

Note how this, like many early flamethrowers, was a two-man affair. One carried the tanks and the other aimed and fired the projector.

RIA: Walther/Heinemann Toggle Lock Sporting Rifle

April 27, 2016 Ian McCollum 33

In 1928 and 1929, the Swiss Rheinmetall company produced about 50 examples of a toggle-locked rifle designed by Karl Heinemann. It was tested by the United States among other countries, but never found military acceptance. […]

RIA: 1929 Simson Prototype 9mm

April 23, 2016 Ian McCollum 67

In the late 1920s, German Ordnance hinted at an interest in replacing the P.08 Luger pistols with a less expensive handgun design. This prompted a number of submissions from hopeful companies, including this design from […]

RIA: Saxon Double Barreled Wheel Lock

April 20, 2016 Ian McCollum 39

Wheel locks are one of the less common types of early firearm ignition systems, as the were much more expensive as the contemporary flintlocks. The wheel lock had a major advantage in reliability, though. Many […]