The video opens with the hosts joking about how difficult one of the pistols is to rack because of its slick, oddly shaped slide, with one of them saying his hand keeps slipping off it. They tease Ian about doing a dramatic hair shake, calling the whole thing a "Top 5 peace summit" rather than a real fight. The conversation then resets to a more formal intro as they explain they have just wrapped up IWA 2024 and start sharing overall impressions. James explains that he loves IWA because it has a very different flavor from SHOT Show: at SHOT, you often end up talking to marketing reps who may not be serious shooters, whereas at IWA he was able to interview the CEO of Walther, who was personally working the booth, moving gear, and getting people water. That level of professionalism, he says, makes him act more professionally in return. Ian responds that the show was fine but not perfectly aligned with his interests; there is a lot of new product for the European commercial market, while he tends to look for mechanically unusual and historically oriented designs, which he didn’t expect to find in large numbers. Another host chimes in that he had a very positive experience both this year and last, describing IWA as much larger, cleaner, and friendlier than SHOT, even if SHOT is a bit easier to navigate. They laugh about the heavy drinking culture at the show, mentioning taking shots before interviews and being offered drinks at booths like Grand Power, and joking that one of them is basically blacked out and won’t remember filming. With the tone set, they explain the premise: each host has independently picked a personal Top 5 from IWA 2024, none of them know the others’ lists, and they will present them head to head so viewers can decide in the comments whose list wins. James is asked to start by revealing his picks from number five up to number one.
The countdown continues with a customized AUG SD concept from Corvvis Defensio, an integrally suppressed AUG that began as a 3D-printed Inconel prototype and is planned in titanium. The hosts discuss promised weight savings and performance, treating it as an ambitious, still-developing project. Attention shifts to the Alysian, a high-end, Gucci-style CZ75 Shadow 2 variant with magnetized accessories and extreme aesthetic detailing. Limited to 100 units around €5,000 and an ultra-limited seven-unit run near €10,000, it is framed as a luxury showpiece rather than a practical competition or carry gun. In contrast, the Bull Ultralight Pro (formerly Bull SAS2 Ultralite) is praised as a genuinely practical concealed carry 2011-style pistol, with improved optics mounting, added porting, and incremental refinements that led it to outperform a Glock 43X in personal testing. The segment’s top highlight is the HK G29, a short-stroke piston 300 Blackout next-gen carbine with folding stock, adjustable gas, gray finish, and typical HK build quality, though the hosts express skepticism about civilian availability and likely high pricing.
The focus shifts to Ian’s list, starting with A.E.A. underwater dart guns based on a concept from German YouTuber Jörg Sprave. These unusual weapons fire darts underwater, emphasizing niche utility and creative engineering. The discussion broadens to AX Maritime PCP air guns designed for diving, including compact two-shot dart-firing pistols and a cut-off side-by-side shotgun configuration. These are praised more for their cool maritime application than for groundbreaking technology. The Italian Revo Arms pistol then takes the spotlight, notable for its extremely low bore axis and an unconventional locking system reminiscent of the Arsenal Strike 1 and Laugo Alien. However, the hosts voice concern that it may be vaporware, since similar prototypes appeared two years earlier without clear market release. A sponsored segment highlights Sonoran Desert Institute’s online gunsmithing and firearms courses, stressing shipped tools and hands-on projects for hobbyists seeking careers. Returning to hardware, they examine a new Spuhr Aimpoint T2 mount with a front-mounted magnifier and a compact rail section for a laser under the red dot, followed by praise for the Allesian pistol as an artistic, exclusive “swag gun” rather than a serious competition or carry option.
The hosts delve deeper into the high-end CZ75-based pistol that uses magnets instead of screws, emphasizing its role as a deliberately aesthetic, exclusive, and expensive showpiece. It is positioned as a collector’s “swag gun,” not intended for duty, carry, or competition, but to showcase craftsmanship and design flair. They then introduce the Dentler DR21, a creatively engineered bolt-action rifle that visually resembles a bullpup by placing the magazine behind the trigger guard. The rifle is designed for easy field-stripping and sits in the roughly €4,000–€5,000 price range. Next is the Victrix Armament Corvo, a .50 caliber Italian precision bolt gun with extremely tight tolerances, a fully adjustable stock, and a price around €9,000 without its suppressor. A distinctive carry handle with a notch-and-ring system is intended to stabilize the rifle for shooting from a helicopter. The segment closes with the Huglu Mohack 9mm PCC from Turkey, praised for its surprisingly high build quality at a targeted $650 price, featuring a full aluminum upper and lower, fully ambidextrous controls, and an exceptionally smooth bolt, with plans to bring it to the U.S. market within about a year.
The discussion continues with further praise for a Turkish-made rifle around $650, highlighting tight tolerances, full aluminum upper and lower receivers, fully ambidextrous controls, and a notably smooth bolt, which impresses the hosts given its origin and budget price. They move to the Grand Power P24L pistol, emphasizing its extremely slim profile, very low bore axis, excellent trigger feel, and comfortable grip, with an expected price near $700 that positions it as a strong value. The Peroon X7 is named as a top pick, building on earlier X16 and X17 models. The hosts commend its ease of disassembly, robust rail system, overall bolt feel, and hybrid piston system, while acknowledging it still needs long-term proof; one mentions owning a short-barreled Peroon 16 in .300 used in competition. Honorable mentions include the Revo Arms IS-9, potentially offering an even lower bore axis than the Strike One/Speed One and a modular design around $700. The Tanfoglio Duty series is welcomed as a more practical sub-$1,000 polymer option but criticized for its triangular slide, slide-inside-frame layout, and difficulty racking due to limited gripping surface.
The final segment wraps up the Top 5 discussion with an additional honorable mention for the Tink Arms Peroon, reinforcing interest in that family of hybrid piston rifles. The hosts joke about one participant not strictly following the “firearms only” rule for the list, playfully pointing to Ian from Forgotten Weapons as someone whose status and distinctive presence allow him to bend the guidelines. They tease each other about who actually “won” the Top 5 fight, ultimately reframing the showdown as more of a “Top 5 peace summit” among friends and colleagues. There is lighthearted acknowledgment of a newer personality sharing the stage with more established professionals, underscoring the collaborative tone. To close, they invite viewers to share their own top five picks and opinions about IWA 2024 in the comments. The hosts also promote related coverage and footage available on Forgotten Weapons, TFB Showtime, and TFBTV, encouraging viewers to explore more in-depth looks at the featured firearms and additional guns from the show.
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