There is a vast amount of information on the Internet and elsewhere on firearms. Unfortunately, not everything is accurate, a lot is (poorly) copied, and there is very little for the serious user (law enforcement, the military, collectors). This blog intends to provide factual information about firearms and, primarily, their makers. It is set up as many posts. The search function is the key to finding in these posts what is needed.

What it is not

Unlike most blogs, this is not meant to be a collection of opinions and more or less educated guesses. Users are invited to add knowledge and evidence-based facts. It is also not a collection of personal stories: one can post a comment to a post, but we may use the information from the post and edit the original post accordingly (giving the poster the credits, of course). Professional users should not have to read through many comments to a post to arrive at the information they want. It is also not a collection of images and specs of firearms. Identifying firearms is primarily done through markings found on guns and related items. They are the best and quickest way to correctly identify an item, its maker, and possibly its history. For example, a confiscated pistol may be a “Luger” to most people; an expert describes it as a semi-automatic pistol type 08, manufactured by Mauser in 1941, in 9mm Parabellum calibre, used by the East German Volkspolizei after the war and later sold by a German dealer to a US importer who also marked it. A thorough and truly professional examination of a firearm for forensic purposes should contain all the information a firearm has to offer.

Visual

The information here is categorized through the text form and the characteristics of these markings. Often firearms and related items do not provide sufficient information for identification through their maker’s text-markings alone. In these cases, one has to search for other markings that may identify it.

These markings often come as pictures, monograms, or other characteristics. When markings are text, it is simple: type in the text and do a search. When they are graphics, this site provides a means to search specific categories that describe these pictures. So, search by typing keywords. For example, see a buffalo in a circle. search for “buffalo circle” or just “buffalo”.

Your expertise is essential

This site is not finished, it is not complete, and it certainly is not without errors. Users are urgently invited to add their expertise to posts by commenting. This site can only grow and improve if experts contribute their experience and knowledge. We aim for this site to be a place where peer review validates and improves knowledge.

Adding posts

You cannot add a post, only comment on an existing one. This is done to protect the quality of information. Mail us if you want an item added (info@fidet.eu), or use the form on the site. If we add it, your name will be on it. We are constantly adding new posts ourselves.

Is that all there is?

Yes, for now. We are working on several new functions. Most important, however, is to let this site grow into a place where real experts meet and exchange information.

Values

This site contains no information on the values of firearms. Undoubtedly, values are important, primarily in a cultural or historical sense. Guns can be rare or important from a historical perspective. The best info on values can be found on the sites of the major auction houses; see the credit page of this site for this. We urge you to check the financial and historical value of the items you identify. Too often, important and precious items have been destroyed out of ignorance.

Finally: this is not a place to engage in love-or-hate gun discussions. Many places on the Internet offer that opportunity. So, if you feel tempted to do that, please go elsewhere.