Single-shot Pistol
Fancy Martini-System Venus Pistole
This is a great example of an interwar single-shot fancy target pistol. It is chambered for basic .22 rimfire, and uses a Martini system of dropping breechblock to operate.
Germany
Semiauto pistol
Politicians Ruin Everything: Dutch Luger Trials
The Dutch military started looking for semiauto pistols to replace its aging revolvers around 1899. They tested all the early models; the Roth, Borchardt, Mauser and Mannlicher – and then they obtained a Borchardt-Luger (aka, […]
Semiauto pistol
Krieghoff: Lugers for the Luftwaffe
One of the scarce, small-production manufacturers of the Luger is Krieghoff – Heinrich Krieghoff to be exact. Kreighoff Waffenfabrik was a smallish arms company that wanted to get into major contracts with the rearming German […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Quebec Papal Zouave’s Ceremonial Gewehr 71/84
Here’s a rifle with an interesting twisting history… This began life as a German military Gewehr 71/84, made in 1888. It was issued to a unit, but eventually replaced by the Gewehr 1888. It was […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Portuguese m/937B Kar98k: Back to the Standard Pattern
In the 1930s, Portugal was looking to update its small arms, and wanted to get some top-shelf K98k Mausers to replace its 1904 Mauser-Vergueiros. The country was on good terms with Germany, and so Portugal […]
Submachine Guns
MP7A1 vs MP7A2: H&K’s Modern PDW
Today we are taking a look at H&K’s PDW, the MP7. Specifically, we’re going to go over the changes made form the MP7A1 to the MP7A2 pattern…
Book review
Book Review: SS Contract Walther PP/PPK
I have done some videos previously with Tom Whiteman from Legacy Collectibles – mostly ones about his area of specialty; German WW2 handguns. Well, he has now published a reference book compiling more than 20 […]
Prototype
Mauser 1912/14 Development in .45ACP
Mauser did not limit their Model 1912 and 1912/14 pistols to just being chambered in 9mm – they also developed a number of prototypes in .45ACP. Today we have a series of three such prototypes […]
Select-fire Rifles
How Russia Captured its First MKb-42(H)
This guest article written by Andrey Ulanov. When a new weapon model gets to the front, there is always a risk of it getting captured by the enemy. Armed forces go to great lengths to […]
Commentary
The Mauser Train: High Adventure in the Last Days of WWII
Only days ahead of the French Army in April 1945, Ott-Helmuth von Lossnitzer and about 250 Mauser engineers and technicians fled Oberndorf with the core of Mauser’s new projects. They had the drawings, components, and […]