United States - Forgotten Weapons

How the USS New Jersey’s 16-Inch Guns Work: Top to Bottom

July 13, 2026 Ian McCollum 16

Join World of Warships today to and use invite code USA250 to get your free rewards: https://wo.ws/FW I had a chance to spend some time on the USS New Jersey, today docked in Camden NJ […]

Train Company Makes Guns: Union Switch & Signal M1911A1

July 11, 2026 Ian McCollum 3

Of the five companies that made 1911 pistols during World War Two, Union Switch & Signal was the last to be awarded a contract and the smallest mass production producer. A subsidiary of the Westinghouse […]

From the .50 M2 to the Mk7 16 Inch Turrets: All the Guns of the USS New Jersey

July 4, 2026 Ian McCollum 4

I had a chance to spend some time on the USS New Jersey, today docked in Camden NJ as a public museum ship. Today we are going to go through all of the weapons systems […]

Pauza P50: A Failed Barrett .50BMG Competitor

June 29, 2026 Ian McCollum 39

Developed in the late 1980s by machinist Robert Pauza, the P50 is a .50 BMG semiauto rifle that was introduced in 1990. It uses a short-stroke gas piston and tilting bolt closely copied (and scaled […]

S&W Model 52-1: A Magnificent Target Pistol for .38 Special Wadcutters

June 26, 2026 Ian McCollum 31

The Model 52 is a purpose-built target pistol that Smith & Wesson built on the Model 39 frame. It is chambered for a very specific flush-loaded 148gr .38 Special wadcutter loading, to be used in […]

US Armament Reproduction DeLisle Commando Carbine (Silenced .45ACP)

June 24, 2026 Ian McCollum 10

The DeLisle Commando Carbine is one of the coolest special operation weapons of the Second World War – an SMLE rebuilt in .45ACP with a ginormous suppressor. It fed form slightly modified 1911 magazines, and […]

RIA 5.0E: A Very Nice Pistol, But For Whom?

May 22, 2026 Ian McCollum 33

Rock Island Armory is best known for its Philippine-made 1911s, but expended into US pistol production with a novel design a couple years ago. The call it the 5.0, and it uses an interesting vertically-traveling […]

H&R T223: In Vietnam Before the HK33

May 18, 2026 Ian McCollum 26

The very first iteration of the HK 33 roller-delayed rifle was included in early US rifle testing in Vietnam. H&K worked with Harrington & Richardson as their US representative, who did final assembly on a […]

Masterpiece Arms MPA-971: Frankengun of the Assault Weapons Ban

May 15, 2026 Ian McCollum 11

The Masterpiece Arms MPA-971 was designed in 2003, at the tail end of the US Federal Assault Weapons Ban. Among other things, the ban prohibited the manufacture or import of magazines holding more than 10 […]

Iver Johnson Prototype .25ACP Blow Forward Pocket Pistol

May 13, 2026 Ian McCollum 16

This is a one-of-a-kind prototype of a .25ACP blow forward pistol made by Iver Johnson. It was patented in 1916 (patent applied for in 1912) by William O. Barnes of Massachusetts, and assigned to Iver […]