WHAT'S IN THE BOX? Opening a Crate of Ethiopian Rifles

This video offers a comprehensive virtual tour of the Austrian Museum of Military History in Vienna, led by firearms expert Ian McCollum. It covers a vast timeline of military artifacts, from early multi-barrel guns and Turkish arms to WWI and WWII weaponry, including significant items related to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and unique artillery pieces. McCollum's deep knowledge provides historical context and technical details on many rare and important firearms.

This Q&A session from Forgotten Weapons features Ian McCollum discussing various historical firearms and their development. Key topics include the dominance of Browning-style enclosed slides, the AR-15 as a superior modern rifle for WWI, the failure of turret revolvers due to chain fire, recommendations for affordable collectible firearms, and sources for rare parts. McCollum's deep expertise in firearms history and mechanics is evident throughout.

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.