Museum Articles
A Royal Shotgun From Saudi Arabia
American TV network executive Sheldon Gilbert received this AYA 12-ga. shotgun, bearing the golden seal of the royal family, as a wedding present in 1965.
A Gun For The Guv
This engraved, ivory-stocked Colt was also owned by several notable collectors over the years including Joseph Hawley, 42nd governor of Connecticut.
Sam Colt’s Canteen Gun Stock
In 1859, Colt received a patent No. for his handgun shoulder stock design that incorporated a canteen.
A Whelen For William Holden
When noted actor and hunter William Holden died, one special rifle remained partially completed at a master gunsmith's shop.
Sherman’s Smith & Wesson
The cased No. 2 Smith & Wesson revolver was presented to General W.T. Sherman in 1869 by members of his personal staff.
5 Years for 2 Pairs
Over the course of five years, from 1958 to 1963, William Diefenderfer crafted two pairs of flintlock and percussion pistols, each made completely from scratch.
Black Jack Ketchum: Train Robber
One of the most notorious outlaws of the era was Thomas Edward “Black Jack” Ketchum, who robbed his last train August 16, 1899, near Raton Pass on the Colorado/New Mexico border.
The Fastest Gun Of The Rat Pack
Spinning six-guns and beating the best at fast draw, Sammy Davis Jr.'s quickness with a Colt .45 was legendary.
Pistols in the Pacific
Two classic pistols in the National Firearms Museum represent two World War II heroes of the Pacific Theater.
Guns On Trial
Despite changing to a new double-action revolver design for lighter recoil and speed in reloading, American military authorities found that these .38 caliber handguns were inadequate in the Philippine Insurrection, where charging Moro guerillas could not be reliably stopped despite multiple hits.
DANGEROUS at BOTH ENDS
During his years as shooting editor for Outdoor Life magazine, Jim Carmichel had the opportunity to encounter many unusual sporting arms, but one of the strangest came to him with a tag attached. The old paper tag read, “Very dangerous“
A Pistol for Polar Bear
The .44 Magnum cartridge was less than a decade old when publishing magnate Robert E. Petersen used it to hunt deer, elk, moose, black bear and a trophy brown bear.
The Roman Candle Rifle
In an age of single-shot arms, repeaters tend to stand out. But few stood out as much as the unusual multishot flintlock rifle invented by Isaiah Jennings of New York City.
Patented Perfection
Sometimes a rifle tells the story of a man and a company. Elmer Ray Stahl worked as a gunsmith for the once renowned Adolph Otto Neidner Rifle Co. in Dowagiac, Mich.
Three Thousand Bullseyes
In early 1926 Sam Moore, an 18-year-old high school shooter from Connecticut decided to attempt to break NRA's Junior Rifle Corps record on shooting consecutive bullseyes using his favorite Winchester Model 52 .22 rifle.
In All Its Glory
John Moses Browning was well-established as a brilliant arms designer when the call came from Colt to prepare prototypes for American military consideration in the Army Ordnance Trials of 1907.
The Birthday Gun
For John Wesley Hardin, the birthday begun in revelry had turned tragic. by NRA Staff
The Guns of Robert E. Petersen
The nation's largest display of Gatling guns and fine double rifles. A renowned collection of high-end double-barrel shotguns. by Michael Ives
Before Colts Were Six Shooters
Sam Colt began manufacturing handguns in Paterson, N.J., and his initial efforts produced single-action, five-shot revolvers considered to be the first successful American-made repeating handguns. by NRA Staff
Smith & Wesson’s First Plastic Fantastic
Almost 12,000 Smith & Wesson No. 1, First Issue revolvers were manufactured from 1857 to 1860, and this spur-trigger model was the company’s first metallic cartridge handgun.
A Gun For Misbehaving
Hidden beneath the bronzed exterior of Captain Malcolm Reynolds' Frontier Model B resides a secret—a Taurus five-shot .38 revolver. by NRA Staff
Good vs. Evil At Nakatomi Plaza
In 1988, the latest action movie hitting theaters was "Die Hard," starring Bruce Willis as New York City Detective John McClane, who was pitted against a team of European villains led by Alan Rickman, playing ringleader Hans Gruber. by NRA Staff
Son of the AK-47
In the early 1970s, the Soviet Union, reviewing its millions of issued 7.62 mm Kalashnikovs, examined the lessons learned by America in Indochina and considered a service rifle in 5.45x39 mm. by NRA Staff
FROM RUSSIA WITH ACCURACY
Keeping 60 shots on target over the course of the two-hour competition requires a special pistol. by NRA Staff
The Name Is BOND
But equally identifiable is the handgun wielded by the British secret agent—a Walther PPK semi-automatic pistol. by NRA Staff
Guns of the Showman Shooter
Two well-used guns in the National Firearms Museum collection proudly tell of a time when exhibition shooting captured the nation's attention. by NRA Staff
Flying Into Limbo
By his side was his Colt .45 Government Model, a privately purchased pistol hand-engraved with his name and regimental information. by NRA Staff
Mad Harry’s Seven-Shooter
by NRA Staff July 15, 1861, was a tumultuous day near our nation’s capital. The Confederate army was drawing close and the first major land campaign of the American Civil War was about to begin. In the midst of all the confusion, a Union officer received the gift of a new revolver at the Fairfax [...]
One Weird Winchester
In 1884, a Winchester Model 1873 .38-40 lever-action rifle was a well-regarded repeating long arm, equally suited for harvesting deer or providing personal protection. by NRA Staff
The Bennett & Haviland Many-Chambered Revolving Rifle
One of the most unusual long arms in the National Firearms Museum collection is a .40-cal., 12-shot repeater made by Epenetus Bennett and Frederick Haviland of Waterville, Maine. by NRA Staff
National FirearmsMuseum.org
The National Firearms Museum's brand new web channel provides an incredibly rich museum experience without leaving home. by Jim Supica, Director, National Firearms Museum
Revolver for a Redcoat
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, once known as the Northwest Mounted Police, were in need of a sturdy sidearm to replace outmoded cartridge Adams and percussion Colt handguns the force had accumulated. by NRA Staff
The Smith & Wesson Schofield
This Schofield .45 bears serial No. 1 and was a revolver that witnessed both military and civilian service. by NRA Staff
Harper Creigh’s Colt Single-Action Revolver
These .44-caliber revolvers are usually carried in holsters emblazoned with gold and silver conchos depicting the SASS logo.
The Colt .45
The most recognized item in any Texas Ranger's wardrobe, outside his circular Silver Star badge, has to be his sidearm.by NRA Staff
Guns West
Firearms used by John Wayne, Jesse James and Annie Oakley sit on display at the National Firearms Museum. by Philip Schreier
John Wesley Hardin’s Colt Revolver
Hardin usually carried more than one Colt revolver, as reloading a cap-and-ball handgun under fire was not a quick or easily completed task. by NRA Staff
Model 1921 Thompson
This Model 1921 Thompson, serial number 6040, had been sold by a small police department in the Milwaukee area and was still brand new. by NRA Staff
National Firearms Museum
The NRA National Firearms Museum is home to the finest firearms collection in the world. Through 15 galleries spanning more than six centuries, this spectacular showcase offers the unique opportunity to view some of America's most significant firearm treasures.
