United States - Forgotten Weapons

Elmer Keith’s Revolver No. 5 at James D Julia

March 1, 2015 Ian McCollum 15

Elmer Keith’s No.5 Single Action Army is arguably the most famous custom revolver ever made. Keith had it built in 1928 after developing a friendship with Harold Croft, another revolver enthusiast. Croft had shown Keith […]

Thuer Conversion Colt 1849 at James D Julia

February 24, 2015 Ian McCollum 10

As the self-contained metallic cartridge because popular, a niche industry developed in converting percussion revolvers to use the new cartridges. One of the first of these conversions was designed by F. Alexander Thuer and marketed […]

Winchester 94 with Maxim Silencer at James D Julia

February 23, 2015 Ian McCollum 13

The Winchester Model 94 is one of the most iconic American sporting rifles ever made, and this particular one is chambered in the equally iconic .30-30 cartridge. It is a takedown version, made in 1907, […]

Shooting Elmer Keith’s Carry Pistol at James D Julia

February 22, 2015 Ian McCollum 59

Elmer Keith should need no introduction here, as one of the fathers of the .44 Magnum, as well as the .357 Magnum and .41 Magnum. Well, his gun collection being sold at the James D. […]

Sharps-Borchardt M1878 at RIA (Video)

February 18, 2015 Ian McCollum 13

The M1878 was the last new rifle produced by the Sharps company before it went out of business in 1881. It was the invention of none other than German gun designer Hugo Borchardt, better known […]

Winchester 1893 & 1897 Shotguns at RIA (Video)

February 13, 2015 Ian McCollum 11

The Winchester 1897 was the gun that really set the standard for the now-ubiquitous pump action shotgun. It was designed by John Browning, but was not the first pump action designed and sold. That credit […]

Fiala Model 1920 Combination Gun at RIA (Video)

February 11, 2015 Ian McCollum 23

The Fiala Model 1920 was a manually-operated repeating pistol in .22LR caliber that was marketed with the backing of famed polar explorer Anthony Fiala. The guns came as a set of one frame, three barrels […]

Lady’s (Ladies?) Home Companion at RIA (Video)

February 10, 2015 Ian McCollum 43

The Ladies Home Companion was a pistol (technically) made by the Cobray company on the same frame as their 12ga “Street Sweeper” shotgun. It had no stock or front grip, and was chambered for the […]

Standard Arms Model G Rifles at RIA (Video)

February 9, 2015 Ian McCollum 16

Right at the beginning of the 20th century, there were 3 options on the market for semiauto commercial sporting rifles in the US: the Remington Model 8, the Winchester 1905/1907 Self-Loader, and the Standard Arms […]

Roper Repeating Shotgun at RIA (Video)

February 7, 2015 Ian McCollum 12

Sylvester Roper was a great example of the classic American inventor – he had a wide range of interests, and impacted technological development in more than one industry. This shotgun is a design he patented […]