American Guns: A History of US Firearms

The early history of the United States, and a look at the Kentucky Long Rifle and its use during the Revolutionary War

Early US arms manufacturing relied heavily on federal funding and armories as customers

As manufacturing in the US grew under Andrew Jackson, the gun became an essential tool for settlers in the western territories

The Battle of the Alamo, the weapons used, and American innovator Samuel Colt's rise as a titan in the gun industry

As the Civil War loomed, American guns were only becoming more powerful, more accurate, and easier to reload.

The Civil War brought with it the Gatling Gun and the Sharps Rifle, while after the war, Smith and Wesson introduce the revolver

Smith and Wesson, Remington, Colt, Winchester, and Parker Bros all experience a gun manufacturing golden age during America's Gilded Age

The spirit of innovation kept the major gun manufacturers trying to outgun one another, and even some non-competition agreements. But one such agreement between Colt and Winchester would not last, as the rifle became too big of a market for Colt to ignore.

Modern style hand guns and semi automatic rifles begin to enter production around the time of the Spanish-American War

Bolt actions, repeaters and machine guns take center stage during the War to End All Wars. But once the war is over, the guns land in the hands of the criminal underworld as tools to carry out their bidding.

The M1 rifle and M1 Carbine were the American guns that did most of the heavy lifting during WWII.

As war evolved, the weapons did as well - with the M1 Garand, the Browning Automatic Rifle, fully automatics, and advanced sniper rifles.

The ownership of guns in America for hunters and enthusiasts has been a long standing tradition, and gun culture continues to be part of the fabric of American life.