The Rifle That Dropped Jaws

In 1975, the film “Jaws” electrified audiences across the country. The movie centered on the fictional beach town of Amity (portrayed by Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.), which was terrorized when a great white shark began picking off swimmers. While the good ship Orca carried a determined crew of shark hunters who tried a variety of methods to end the shark’s life, in the end success came only with the use of this 1944-vintage Springfield Armory M1 Garand rifle. The rifle is currently on loan to the National Firearms Museum from Mike Papac/Cinema Weaponry and can be viewed in our newly refurbished and expanded “Hollywood Guns” exhibition in the museum galleries.

The NRA National Firearms Museum at NRA Headquarters in Fairfax, Va.; the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Mo.; and the Frank Brownell Museum of the Southwest at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, N.M.; each have fine selections of historic arms on display. Admission to each is free, and donations are gratefully accepted. For more information, visit nramuseums.com, phone (703) 267-1600 or email nfmstaff@nrahq.org.