United States - Forgotten Weapons

M3 Infrared Sniper Carbine at RIA

November 19, 2014 Ian McCollum 32

The first US military night vision system used in active combat was the T3 Carbine system – an infrared light-amplifying scope and IR floodlight mounted on an M1 Carbine. About 150 of these were used […]

Bethlehem Steel 37mm Cannon – Looking for Data

November 18, 2014 Ian McCollum 22

I recently got an email from a young man named Paul who is working on restoring a Bethlehem Steel 37mm cannon as an Eagle Scout project. The gun is sitting outside an American Legion post, […]

Pedersen Selfloading Rifle at RIA

November 18, 2014 Ian McCollum 56

When the US military decided to seriously look at replacing the 1903 Springfield with a semiautomatic service rifle, two designers showed themselves to have the potential to design an effective and practical rifle. One was […]

“My Friend” Knuckle-Duster Revolver at RIA

November 17, 2014 Ian McCollum 21

The “My Friend” knuckle-duster revolver was a defensive weapon sold on the civilian market from the late 1860s until the early 1880s. It functioned both as a revolver (this one is in .22 caliber, with […]

Spencer Rifle Conversion at RIA

November 13, 2014 Ian McCollum 23

The Spencer repeating rifle was a major leap forward in infantry firepower, and more than one hundred thousand of them were purchased by the US military during the Civil War. The Spencer offered a 7-round […]

S&W 320 Revolving Rifle at RIA

November 11, 2014 Ian McCollum 16

The Model 320 Revolving Rifle was one of Smith & Wesson’s least successful commercial products, and as a result has become one of the most collectible of their guns – less that a thousand were […]

Chicago Palm Protector Pistols at RIA

November 10, 2014 Ian McCollum 17

“The Protector” was a very discreet palm pistol developed in the late 1800s by a French inventor, produced in bulk by the Ames Sword Company, and sold by the Chicago Firearms Company. They are mechanically […]

Online-Only Auction at RIA

November 7, 2014 Ian McCollum 17

It is worth pointing out the RIA has added a third type of auction in the last year or so; online-only. The idea is to have a lower-overhead way to sell some of the things […]

Colt Offensive Pistol at RIA

November 6, 2014 Ian McCollum 11

I had the opportunity to visit Rock Island Auction again to check out the guns they have up for sale in their December 2014 Premier Auction, and put together a big batch of videos, which […]

Winchester Lee Navy Safety?

November 4, 2014 Ian McCollum 69

It appears that a fellow in Pennsylvania had an 1895 Lee Navy rifle explode in his hands this past Sunday while out shooting. This sort of thing happens from time to time with all sorts […]