Arming the Dragon: Now Hardback, and Available Standalone!

Ian McCollum announces his new book, 'Pistols of the Warlords', detailing Chinese domestic handguns from 1911-1949, published by Headstamp Publishing via Kickstarter. The book categorizes unique Chinese designs, Mauser C96 copies, FN 1900 copies, and other European/American pistol copies, featuring extensive high-resolution photography. It aims to document obscure firearms from a complex historical period with scarce existing records.

This video provides an update on the production and shipping status of the "Pistols of the Warlords" book. The printing and binding operations in China are complete, and the books are en route to the US via multiple shipments, with an estimated arrival in the first week of August. "Arming the Dragon" is also fully printed and undergoing binding in the US. Ancillary items like maps, cocktail sheets, and patches are already in the warehouse. Shipping to customers will commence upon the first shipment's arrival and is expected to take 2-4 weeks due to the large volume of orders. The creator expresses gratitude for the audience's patience, highlighting the magnificent quality of the finished books.

This YouTube video is the seventh update for the 'Pistols of the Warlords' project, focusing on Yan Xishan, the 'Model Governor' of Shanxi. The description highlights the successful achievement of a stretch goal to profile Yan Xishan and mentions the next goal is live-fire testing of pistols. It also notes the rapid success of the Kickstarter campaign, with all initial stretch goals being met quickly.

This video is the 6th update for "Pistols of the Warlords," announcing the achievement of two new Kickstarter stretch goals, exceeding $900,000. This update includes a new Warlord profile for Zhang Zuolin and additional maps illustrating territorial changes during the Warlord Era in the 1920s. With only two stretch goals remaining, the final one is teased as being particularly exciting. The update also reminds viewers of a celebratory livestream scheduled for Friday, June 18th, and encourages continued support for the Kickstarter campaign.

This video provides an update on the 'Pistols of the Warlords' Kickstarter campaign, announcing the achievement of two stretch goals. The first met goal involves an appendix featuring profiles of six major Chinese arsenals from the Warlord era. The second met goal is a profile on Wu Peifu, a prominent Warlord of the 1920s. The creator encourages viewers to continue supporting the campaign to reach the remaining stretch goals, highlighting the value of these additions to the book.

This Q&A session covers a range of firearms-related topics, starting with a critical look at the 6.8x51 cartridge. The discussion spans optics like Aimpoint, health concerns such as blood lead levels, and the intersection of historical firearms with hobbies like scuba diving. Other points include rifling twist rates for 5.56mm, the effectiveness of different pistol designs like the Calico drum and Remington Model 51, and historical firearm development like the RK 62 and M3 Carbine. Emerging technologies like polymer-cased ammo, rail guns, and Gauss rifles are also explored, alongside discussions on cartridge development, magazine capacity, and the influence of designers like Maxim and Browning. The video also touches on practical aspects like practicing for competitions and the market for high-end pistols.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.