Two of the most iconic names in American firearms history — Winchester and Smith & Wesson — share a single origin point. Not a common era or a common city, but a single failed company that produced handguns so underpowered they generated roughly the muzzle energy of a modern air rifle. The Volcanic Repeating Arms...
Category: Historical Stories
The Historical Stories of Firearms, the people that used them, and the companies that built them, have played an inseparable role in shaping global history. From their early conception in the form of primitive cannons in the 13th century to the technologically advanced weapons of the modern era, firearms have influenced geopolitical power structures, revolutionized warfare, and significantly impacted societal development. They were the driving forces behind colonial conquests, the realization of national independence, and the outcome of global wars.
The evolution of firearms paralleled the technological and industrial advances of societies, underscoring the intricacies between scientific progress and societal change. The use and regulation of firearms have also been central to societal debates concerning personal freedom, self-defense, and state power, highlighting their relevance in shaping cultural identities and legal frameworks. Thus, the history of firearms is not simply an account of technological innovation; it is a reflection of the world’s social, political, and cultural evolution.
The Mauser C96 Broomhandle: The Pistol That Won Wars
The Mauser C96 Broomhandle is one of the most recognizable firearms ever made, and also one of the least understood. That boxy frame, the long barrel, the integral box magazine ahead of the trigger, the round wooden grip that earned it the nickname "Broomhandle" -- there is nothing else that looks like it. It was...
The Browning Hi-Power: It Armed Both Sides of WWII
John Moses Browning designed more successful firearms than any other person in history. The M1911, the Browning Automatic Rifle, the Browning machine guns, the Auto-5 shotgun, the Winchester lever-actions -- his catalog reads like a history of 20th-century small arms. But the last handgun design he worked on may be the most consequential of all:...
Judge Roy Bean: The Law West of the Pecos
If you wanted law and order in the desolate stretch of West Texas along the Rio Grande in the 1880s, you got Judge Roy Bean. You also got his saloon, his pet bear, and whatever brand of justice he felt like dispensing that afternoon. Bean was a saloon-keeper, a justice of the peace, and one...
The Lincoln County War: Blood, Power, and Guns
The Lincoln County War wasn't a war in any traditional sense. It was a vicious, drawn-out power struggle in southeastern New Mexico Territory that ran from 1878 to 1881, driven by greed, political corruption, and personal vendettas. It turned ranchers into gunmen, merchants into targets, and a teenage drifter named Henry McCarty into the legend...
The Lamson, Goodnow & Yale Special Model 1861
I was in a gunshop recently and spotted a rifle-musket in a display case right at the front of the store. The owner encouraged me take it out and look it over. It is a Lamson, Goodnow & Yale Special Model 1861, lock dated 1864, .58 caliber, 40-inch barrel. About nine and a half pounds....
The Columbus Armory Carbine: Lost Confederate Icon
The annals of American Civil War history are punctuated by stories of innovation, desperation, and regional pride—few artifacts encapsulate this convergence as powerfully as the elusive Columbus Armory Carbine. As one of the rarest Confederate-produced carbines, this weapon offers a compelling glimpse into the South's ambitious but embattled wartime manufacturing efforts. In this definitive guide,...
The H&R DOE 9mm AR Pistol: A Retro Cold War Revival
In the shadowy world of Cold War-era federal security operations, few firearms reflect the convergence of tactical necessity, government contract secrecy, and evolving firearm design quite like the Colt Model 633—a compact 9mm submachine gun built for the U.S. Department of Energy’s security teams. Now, four decades later, its spirit lives on in a faithful...
Breech-Loading Carbines in the American Civil War
When the American Civil War erupted in 1861, the U.S. Army’s standard-issue firearm remained the ponderous muzzle-loading rifled musket. But for the Union cavalry—the fast-moving eyes, ears, and strike force of the army—a different kind of weapon was needed. One that could be reloaded quickly, even from the saddle. One that could keep pace with...
Beretta: History of the World's Oldest Gunmaker
Beretta’s ability to innovate while maintaining traditional craftsmanship is what makes it unique. Whether it’s the Beretta M9, the 92FS, or the cutting-edge Beretta APX, the company continues to shape the world of firearms with military, law enforcement, and civilian firearms that set the standard for quality, durability, and performance.With a legacy dating back to...