Few cartridges have achieved the legendary status of the .50-90 Sharps, a round synonymous with the great buffalo hunts of the American West. This black powder powerhouse was designed for one purpose—delivering devastating firepower at long range. Hunters, frontiersmen, and riflemen of the 19th century depended on its brute force to take down massive game,...
Category: Black Powder
Civil War Rifle-Muskets: Evolution, Impact, and Legacy
The Civil War was a turning point in military history, marking the last major conflict where muzzle-loading rifle-muskets dominated the battlefield. These firearms, the result of centuries of development, shaped combat tactics, strategy, and the outcome of the war itself. Understanding the role of muskets in the Civil War requires tracing their evolution, analyzing their...
The U.S. Model 1795 Musket: America’s First Standard-Issue Military Firearm
The U.S. Model 1795 Musket holds a pivotal place in American military history as the first standard-issue musket produced within the United States. Designed in response to the nation’s pressing need for a domestically manufactured, standardized firearm, the Model 1795 marked the beginning of America’s independent firearms industry. Inspired by the French Charleville Model 1763/66,...
The Starr 1858 Army Revolver: A Forgotten Powerhouse of the Civil War
The American Civil War was a proving ground for firearm innovation, producing some of the most well-known and widely used revolvers in U.S. history. Among them, the Starr 1858 Army Revolver stands as an often-overlooked but historically significant weapon that played a crucial role in arming Union cavalry forces. Manufactured by the Starr Arms Company,...