Antiques
Frank Wesson’s Rimfire Carbine (Video)
First patented in 1859 and sold as a sporting rifle before the Civil War (in calibers 32, 38, and 41 rimfire), Frank Wesson added a military model with a 24 inch barrel and chambered for […]
Video
Semiauto pistol
Astra 700 Special: Failed Copy of the FN 1910
The Model 700 Special was an attempt by Astra to piggyback on the popularity of the FN Model 1910 automatic pistol. Astra took their Model 100 (a renamed Ruby pistol of WWI lineage) and changed […]
Commentary
Guns in the Movies (Video)
Today we have not so much an examination of a specific firearms, but rather a look at how Clint Eastwood’s film portrayal of Dirty Harry Callahan drove a huge wave of popularity of the Smith […]
Antiques
Sharps & Hankins Navy Model Carbine
Designed by Christian Sharps (or Sharps rifle fame), the Sharps & Hankins carbine was a light and handy rimfire carbine intended for military use. It was a single-shot weapon with an unusual action to lever […]
Antiques
Gahendra: the Nepalese Martini (or not)
Long a mysterious unknown member of the Martini family, the Nepalese Gahendra rifles finally became available in the US and Europe after IMA purchased Nepal’s cache of historic arms. The Gahendra is a uniquely Nepalese […]
Semiauto Rifles
Yeah, the AR15 is Now Becoming C&R Eligible
Given the status of the AR15 as the preeminent military rifle still today, it comes as a surprise to many people to learn just how old the gun really is. Civilian production of the SP-1 […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Ishapore SMLE MkI** India Pattern (Video)
While many people are familiar with the Ishapore 2A1 rifles chambered in 7.62mm NATO (largely thanks to their importation and sale in the US in large numbers), production of Indian Enfield rifles actually dates back […]
Trainer
Swift Model B: For Training and Pranks (Video)
As World War 2 exploded in Europe, rifle training suddenly because a very important topic in Great Britain. Typical solutions are small bore rimfire training variants of service rifles, but the British also wanted an […]
Artillery
SMLE Rifle Grenade Launcher (Video)
While rifle-launched grenades date back hundreds of years, they first came into widespread use during World War One, on all sides of the conflict. The first years of the war saw the use of rod […]
Antiques
Traditional Afghan Jezail (Video)
https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1028/263 The Jezail is the traditional rifle of the Afghan tribal fighter, although it originated in Persia (Iran). Distinctive primarily for its uniquely curved style of buttstock, these rifles still maintain a symbolic importance although […]