If you have spent any time in the gun world of YouTube, you have probably scrolled through a Forgotten Weapons video at some point. Basically, the channel is the reigning authority on firearm history, with a focus on military service arms. 

Ian McCollum is a well-versed firearm enthusiast who has garnered the nickname “Gun Jesus” in reference to his long hair and seemingly supernatural knowledge of firearm history.  

I started watching Forgotten Weapons to research odd things that I had come across at local gun shows. The research quickly divulged into 3 a.m. rabbit holes that started encouraging purchases rather than simply expanding my knowledge on guns that I had run across. Here are some of my favorite videos from the Forgotten Weapons channel. 

The First Modern Military Rifle: The Modele 1886 Lebel

I am a bit of a Francophile when it comes to firearm history, as I believe that the French have been on the forefront of military firearm development for much of the modern era. I will easily nerd out for hours on French firearms and the way that they influenced military small arm development in major conflicts over the past 150 years. 

The Model 1886 Lebel was the first smokeless powder rifle to be adopted by a major world military. Smokeless powder is easily overlooked; however, the impact that it had on cartridge development rapidly advanced the effectiveness, accuracy, and range of small arms.  

While the Lebel was quickly dated due to the faster reloading nature of stripper-clip-fed Mauser rifles, the Lebel served for over 50 years through two World Wars. This rifle is iconic, and there is no one more knowledgeable on French firearms than Ian McCollum.
 

Almost Adopted: The HK XM-8 Family

Considering that the Army finally decided to move away from the Eugene Stoner-designed M4/M16, most folks have forgotten the many firearm trials that the Army conducted prior to the adoption of the SIG Sauer XM7 (MCX Spear). 

The HK XM8 has a close place in my heart, as my father worked for over a decade with the Army on Future Combat Systems. I remember as a kid seeing animations and promotional videos of the future military, where all the soldiers were sporting XM8 rifles. 

The XM8 was a well-developed firearm program that unfortunately fell victim to the Army’s ongoing saga of indecisiveness on small arms replacement programs. 
 

Kraut Space Magic: The HK G11

I am sure that I am not the only one who was intrigued by the G11 due to the hours of “Call of Duty Black Ops” that I logged on my Xbox. Luckily, Forgotten Weapons was there to break down the gun version of a very complicated German grandfather clock. 

While the program basically went nowhere, the idea of a caseless weapon is still incredibly intriguing. 
 

Rocket Surgery: Inside the Russian Nikonov AN94

Again, my love for the Russian cartridge 5.45x39mm cannot be kept off this list. The Russian AN94 falls under some of the same principles as the German G11, as there is a complicated burst mechanism that ultimately led to its downfall. 

The AK is often viewed as a simple and rugged design, while the AN94 is the complete opposite. This is a great breakdown of an incredibly complicated design and why it does not lend well to military service. 

Regardless of its failure, the engineering and design principles are incredible, and the practical application of the two-round burst mechanism was continued with main service firearms, such as the AK-12.

Also, if I have not mentioned it before, 5.45 rocks. 
 

Steyr StG 77, aka the AUG

Who else fell in love with the AUG after watching Karl wield one in revenge against John McClane to avenge his brother Hans, in the movie “Die Hard”? 

The Steyr StG 77 is an Austrian firearm of wonder that is widely considered one of the best bullpups ever made. With the bullpup rising in popularity, this is a great back-to-basics look at a classic military rifle that helped establish the legacy of the bullpup design. 

This rifle is not often thought of as one of the more popular military service rifles, but it has a track record of service that is nearing 50 years. 
 

Shooting the Thompsons: Comparing the 1921, 21/28, and M1A1

The Thompson is arguably the most recognizable submachine gun ever made. From John Dillinger to Iwo Jima, this firearm was found in some of the most iconic moments in American 20th century history.

While popular, few people know the ins and outs of the design, and even fewer know the iterations that it went through over the decades. It is an extremely rare occasion to have all the different models with the different fire rates available for testing. Thankfully, the opportunity was not wasted. 

Is it just me, or does this make you want to go rent a full-auto Thompson at your local range as well? 
 

Johnson M1941 Rifle

This is a prime example of a video that influenced my purchasing habits. In the middle of the 2020 COVID pandemic, I watched the breakdown of this forgotten U.S. Service rifle. This prompted me to immediately make an account with Rock Island Auction so that I could bid a 1941 Johnson Rifle. 

Aside from that, this is a perfect example of a forgotten weapon that unexpectedly served the U.S. during WWII and played a role in the eventual design of Eugene Stoner’s AR-15.
 

M1916 Fedorov: Russia's First Assault Rifle?

I would personally like to thank “Battlefield 1” for single-handedly raising the prices of military surplus firearms. Yes, it’s true, I may have made a few purchases that were influenced by a video game. They were investments!

With that being said, I know I am not the only one who was massively intrigued with WWI firearms, such as the M1916 Fedorov, because of the video game. Thankfully, in my moment of need, Ian was there to educate me on all these firearms that I was grinding to unlock on my Xbox. 

In all seriousness, videos like this give an appreciation for history and shine a light on the innovation that came about during desperate times of war. 
 

Conclusion

With a catalogue of over 3,000 videos, it was hard to choose my favorites. With the seemingly endless footage and facts, Forgotten Weapons could be a college level course in firearms history. Luckily, we don’t have to go into debt and sleep in lofted beds to obtain a minor in this subject. 

Even though I am joking about getting a firearms history degree through YouTube, I must give credit to Professor Ian and Forgotten Weapons. I did land a job in the industry thanks to the channel and all those late hours staying up to watch the next suggested video. 

See, mom – video games, YouTube, and my gun collection hobby were not a waste of time after all. In fact, I think I might use my experience with Forgotten Weapons more than my actual college degree.