The Coolest Volcanic Ever: A Vintage Scoped Pistol-Carbine

This guide details the Mauser 1878 'Zigzag' Revolver patent model, as presented by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons. It covers historical context, unique features like its zigzag cylinder rotation and bottlenecked cartridge, differences between the patent and production models, and its performance in military trials. McCollum, a recognized expert in historical firearms, provides an in-depth look at this rare piece.

This video provides an expert-level deep dive into the Whitneyville Rolling Block Carbine, specifically the rare variant acquired by the Montreal Police. It details the carbine's unique Whitney-Laidley patent action, its historical procurement by the Montreal Police for riot control, and its distinctive markings. The presentation highlights the differences between Whitneyville and Remington Rolling Block designs and discusses the carbine's limited service life and current rarity as a collectible firearm.

This guide details the disassembly and operation of the Daniels patent turret rifle, a rare 7-shot percussion firearm. Expert Ian McCollum demonstrates the manual indexing mechanism, the under-hammer cocking system, and the importance of flash guards on the percussion nipples to prevent chain fires. The rifle was manufactured by C.B. Allen and patented in 1838.

This guide details the loading technique for the experimental Gras-Vetterli repeating rifle, as explained by Ian McCollum. It highlights the unique Vetterli-style side loading gate and the internal cartridge elevator mechanism, crucial for understanding its operation. The video emphasizes the historical context of repeating rifle development in the late 19th century.

This video provides an in-depth look at the extremely rare Brown/van Choate Trials Rifle, a unique 1871 bolt-action design. Expert Ian McCollum details its internal hammer, double trigger system, and proprietary .45-70 caliber, highlighting its historical significance in US military trials and its significant design flaws, such as the fixed extractor. The analysis emphasizes the rifle's rarity and its place in early breech-loading firearm development.

This guide details the manual cylinder operation of the rare Nichols & Childs Revolving Rifle, as demonstrated by Ian McCollum. It covers the steps to rotate and lock the cylinder, emphasizing the importance of safety checks. The rifle's unique, less practical design is highlighted in contrast to later Colt models.

This guide details the specific technique for separating two MAS-36 rifles that have been inadvertently locked together by their bayonets. It outlines the historical context of this issue, the modification made to the bayonet to resolve it, and the step-by-step procedure for disengagement. The technique requires precise alignment and the use of a pointed tool to access the internal release mechanism, as demonstrated by firearms expert Ian McCollum.

This guide details the loading and firing procedure for the M134 Minigun, as explained by Ian McCollum. It covers manual indexing of the barrel cluster, feeding the ammunition belt, engaging controls, and firing. The guide also touches upon the weapon's spin-down inertia and the function of modern clutch systems. Expert instruction from a recognized firearms historian highlights the technical aspects of operating this powerful weapon system.

This guide details the operational features of the H&K G11 K2, a prototype assault rifle known for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt. It covers the selector settings, magazine capacity, integrated optics, and the internal action designed for recoil management during high-rate-of-fire bursts. Expert insights from Ian McCollum highlight the historical context and technical innovations of this advanced firearm.

This guide details the operation of the German L.Gr.W.36 50mm light mortar, as demonstrated by expert Ian McCollum. It covers assembly, leveling procedures, ammunition handling, and live fire execution, emphasizing the difficulty in visually tracking the projectile. The instruction highlights the importance of proper setup for accuracy.