John Farnam: A Brief History of Sharpshooters and Snipers
John Farnam writes :
The American Revolutionary War pitted Colonial frontiersmen against British Regulars. “Regulars” in all armies of the day were issued smooth-bore muskets. Projectiles were round balls, not very accurate (at least by...
The Unlikely Story of the Billinghurst-Requa Battery Gun
The Billinghurst-Requa battery gun is an unusual piece of armament that resulted from an equally unusual partnership between two men from New York: William Billinghurst, a gunsmith, and Josephus Requa, a dentist.
Before Josephus Requa...
A “Cheerful Weapon”: The Allen Pepperbox – Content Contest
(This post is an entry in our spring content contest. If you’d like a chance to win a Beretta APX pistol, click here for details.)
By Dallen Rose
A few weeks ago, while researching weaponry for a game I’m...
Elvis Presley’s Custom Colt Python and Smith & Wesson Model 19-2 Up For Auction
rockislandauctions.com writes:
One of the people in American history least likely in need of an introduction is Elvis Aaron Presley. His life is one of constant dichotomy: down-home country boy and provocative rock-n-roll superstar.
The dusty roads...
Early Caseless Ammo: The Rocket Ball
New York inventor Walter Hunt created many items we're familiar with and still use today. Mr. Hunt patented the lockstitch sewing machine, fountain pen and safety pin. He also attempted to improve ammunition technology in...
Obscure Object of Desire: The Dardick ‘Tround’-Firing Open Chamber Gun
In August 1958, David Dardick received a patent for a magazine-fed revolver. His design featured a cylinder with openings on each exterior edge, creating U-shaped chambers instead of traditional O-shaped chambers. This allowed rounds...
The M1892 Mousqueton: France’s Great War Carbine – Content Contest
(This post is an entry in our spring content contest. If you’d like a chance to win a Beretta APX pistol, click here for details.)
By Jay Gillen
Today, military rifles are built to be lighter, handier, and more...
William Tecumseh Sherman’s Smith & Wesson No. 2
https://youtu.be/a9vez6iZcVk
NRA Blog writes
Sometimes a handgun can impart the resonances of a bygone era, giving a hands-on impression of the past. In the NRA National Firearms Museum collection are many such historical pieces, but...
Secret Service Agent’s Small Revolver Has a Big History
Born in New Jersey in 1926, Frank Slocum’s association with firepower began at Fort Monmouth where he sold newspapers to the troops. When he was 16, he moved to California to live with his...
3 Gun Debates That Will Never Die
Clickbait about clickbait. How meta is that? But again, these posts serve an important purpose. Not only are they entertaining (if we do say so ourselves), they also stimulate debate and discussion. In other...
T12/M3 Gun Motor Carriage Tank Destroyer: Just Thought I’d Leave This Here
https://youtu.be/-L9H8YRDPcM
YouTube caption with links added:
The Army's first motorized tank destroyer, featured here, was the “T12/M3 Gun Motor Carriage,” a modified M-3 half track with a 75mm M1897A4 gun mounted in the rear, an adaptation...
Texas Jack: Everything for the 1870 Cowboy
I grew up in the Texas Hill Country not far from Fredericksburg, about ninety minutes west of Austin. Back then it was an attractive little town, a good place to stop for some pigs-in-a-blanket...