“national firearms museum”

Few are taught, however, that a tangible link to that first Thanksgiving—a gun to be precise—is still here as a reminder that American’s from the first days had firearms for self-defense.

15 Acres of guns & Gear

The wheellock represents a major first in technology—and became the world’s first banned pistol.

While semi-automatic pistols are in common use throughout the world today, the semi-automatic revolver is a much rarer item.

Henry Deringer of Philadelphia was already well known for his rifles and larger handguns when he turned his efforts toward manufacturing smaller pocket pistols.

When a museum gets a bequest, sometimes the gift winds up being much more extensive than anticipated.

Peter Paul and Wilhelm Mauser wanted to create a revolver that would really stand out from the competition at the 1879 German military handgun trials—and with their Model 1878, dubbed the “Zig-Zag,” they had succeeded.

A .45-cal. recreation of a classic American flintlock long rifle with a 42-inch barrel is on display.

Aside from being the smallest semi-automatic pistol ever made, the diminutive Kolibri also claimed the title for the smallest center-fire handgun cartridge.