The Model 1816 musket was one of the most widely manufactured and utilized firearms in early American history, serving as the standard-issue infantry musket for the U.S. military for nearly three decades. Produced primarily at Springfield Armory and Harpers Ferry Armory, the Model 1816 saw extensive use from the 1820s through the early years of...
Category: Rifle/Long Guns
The Winchester-Lee Model 1895: America’s Forgotten Straight-Pull Rifle
The Winchester-Lee Model 1895, commonly known as the Lee Navy Rifle, was one of the most advanced military firearms of its era. Designed by James Paris Lee, the inventor of the detachable box magazine, and manufactured by Winchester Repeating Arms Company, this straight-pull bolt-action rifle was a significant departure from the conventional turn-bolt designs that...
The Evolution of Sharps Rifles: From Christian Sharps to The Sharps Rifle Company
Christian Sharps was one of the most significant firearm designers of the 19th century, responsible for revolutionizing breech-loading technology at a time when muzzle-loading firearms still dominated the battlefield and frontier. Born on January 2, 1811, in Washington, New Jersey, his innovations helped shape the future of American firearms, leaving a lasting impact on both...
The Historical and Tactical Legacy of the MAS-49: A Deep Dive into France's Seminal Service Rifle
In the pantheon of military firearms, France's service rifle stands as an often-underappreciated marvel of engineering and ingenuity. Developed in an era when most nations had already made significant strides toward adopting semi-automatic rifles, it distinguished itself as a robust and reliable weapon that performed admirably across diverse battlefields, from the humid jungles of Indochina...