The American Longrifle -- Browning Automatic Rifle -- Browning Semi-Automatic Shotgun -- Calico Light Weapons Systems -- Colt Model 1860 Army -- Colt Model 1911 -- Colt Detective Special -- Colt Dragoon -- Colt Model 1878 Frontier -- Colt Lightning -- Colt M16 Assault Rifle -- Colt Navy Model 1851 -- Colt Single-Action -- The Derringer -- The Gatling Gun -- Hall Breech-Loading Rifles -- Harper's Ferry Model 1841 Mississippi Rifle -- Henry Rifle -- Ingram Mac 10 -- M1 Carbine -- M2 Machine Gun -- M3A1 "Grease Gun" -- The M14 Rifle -- M60 Machine Gun -- Marlin Model 1894 -- Mossberg Shotgun -- The Plains Rifle -- Remington Rolling Block Rifle -- Remington Army Revolver -- Remington Model 12 Slide-Action Rifle -- Richmond Rifle -- Ruger M14 Carbine -- Schoyen Target Rifles -- Sharps Carbines and Rifles -- Smith & Wesson Model 2 Army Revolver -- Smith & Wesson Model 3 -- Smith & Wesson Model 29 -- Spencer Repeating Carbine -- Spiller & Burr Revolver -- Springfield Model 1861 Rifle -- The Springfield Allin Trapdoor Rifle -- SPringfield M1903 -- Thompson Submachine Gun -- Wells Fargo Shotgun -- Winchester Repeating Shotguns -- Winchester Model 1866 -- Winchester Model 1873 -- Winchester Model 1894 -- Winchester Model 1895 -- The Zouave Rifle.
Summary:
The history of the United States is, like it or not, interwoven with the history of firearms. The young colony needed technologically advanced arms to hunt for food for survival and to maintain a secure base in the face of Native American opposition to European settlers. As the Vikings discovered several centuries earlier, the Indians were tough opponents expert in the use of bladed weapons and bows. The advent of firearms gave European settlers an advantage, although it was only a matter of time until the Native Americans gained access to firearms themselves. Ironically, this was often through unscrupulous white traders. Because these superior weapons gained them their freedom, the principle of the right to bear arms remains etched into the American psyche to this day.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.