United States

Model 1867 Trapdoor: A Unique Rifle for West Point Cadets

April 24, 2026 Ian McCollum 0

Available from Morphys here: https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_A__SPRINGFIELD_MODEL_1867_TRAPDOOR_CADET_STYLE_RI-LOT661752.aspx When the US military academy at West Point opened in 1802, one of the things it did was train cadets in rifle drill. The cadets were as young as 14 […]

M26 MASS (Modular Accessory Shotgun System)

April 22, 2026 Ian McCollum 29

Available from Morphys here: https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_N__VERTU_CORP_C_MORE_COMPETITION_M26_MASS_12_GAUG-LOT661207.aspx The M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System (MASS) was designed by C-More Products company as a new shotgun option for the US military. First prototyped in 1999, it was not actually […]

Franchi LF-57 vs Colt SMG (w/ John Keene)

April 17, 2026 Ian McCollum 12

LF-57 Available from Morphys here: https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_N__MARS_EQUIPMENT_CORP_FRANCHI_M1962_MACHINE_GUN_-LOT667044.aspx Today John Keene and I are comparing and contrasting a pair of quite different submachine guns. One is a Franchi LF-57, a rare second generation stamped Italian design very […]

Henry Deringer’s Remarkable Percussion Pocket Pistols

April 15, 2026 Ian McCollum 26

Henry Deringer Jr was born in Easton PA in 1786 to German parents. As a young man he apprenticed to a gunsmith, then spent 1808 working in the Virginia Manufactory making guns, and then open […]

Simplified Warner Revolving Rifle: Caught by Colt’s Patent

April 10, 2026 Ian McCollum 4

Available from Morphy’s here: https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_A__RARE_WARNER_S_PATENT_OPEN_FRAME_GROOVED_CYLIND-LOT665548.aspx James Warner was a gunsmith and owner of the Springfield Arms Company. In the 1850s he produced a series of revolving rifle designs which are interesting, but poorly documented. Only […]

OSS & CIA Special Weapons and Equipment Books

April 7, 2026 Ian McCollum 1

OSS Special Weapons & Equipment: https://www.headstamppublishing.com/purchase/p/oss CIA Special Weapons & Equipment: https://www.headstamppublishing.com/purchase/p/cia As part of the Kickstarter for “Licensed Troubleshooter: The Guns of James Bond” we obtained the rights to reprint H. Keith Melton’s two […]

Carlstrom / Juhasz Concealed Sleeve Gun

April 6, 2026 Ian McCollum 27

Available at Morphy’s here: https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/_N__E__CARLSTROM_SLEEVE_PISTOL__ANY_OTHER_WEAPON__-LOT665729.aspx In 1929 Elek B. Juhasz of Lebanon PA patented this sleeve gun. It is a single-shot, manually cocked firing mechanism with a screw-on barrel and is worn on the inside […]