How many times in history has one man’s vision changed the course of warfare? As short as that list may be, there is no more unlikely story than Ronnie Barrett…a photographer, with no background in building firearms…who dreamed of a shoulder-fired rifle that could handle the awesome .50 caliber Browning Machine Gun cartridge. The Barrett [...]
How does the oldest family owned corporation in the world teach itself new tricks? If the name is “Beretta,” founded in 1526, about the time Pope Clement VII was creating the Inquisition, the answer is “very well.” And since 1985, when Beretta’s flagship 9mm beat out the legendary 1911 .45ACP, the M9 9mm pistol has [...]
There are many images that come to mind when you mention the Cold War. Nuclear arms race, The Soviet Union, the Berlin Wall… East and West, divided. For many, it is the image of the AK 47. Thousands of Soviet troops, marching in-step with a rifle that literally defined communism on the battlefield. But, if [...]
In the early 1980s, Gaston Glock, who knew nothing about firearms but was an expert in advanced synthetic polymers, assembled a huge group of experts to help him create the ideal military handgun. The result of that meeting was ultimately the Glock 17, which virtually overnight became the single best-selling pistol in history… Aired first [...]
Over this first season of Gun Stories, we’ve covered the history, design and even the future of twelve firearms that have been influential not just in gun design, but society itself. Today, we want to take you through somewhat of a crash course in the guns we’ve covered. Episode Premiere. Air Times on Outdoor Channel: [...]
It can be said that the first shotguns — simple iron tubes filled with gunpowder, rocks and pieces of scrap iron — used on a 15th Century battlefield in northern Italy put an end to the Age of Chivalry. Since that time the shotgun has been a companion in both war and peace. But of [...]
It is arguably the most recognized firearm in the world, and the longest serving US infantry rifle ever fielded. It has been copied by numerous countries, and its civilian counterpart is produced by virtually every firearms manufacturer out there. Yet, when it was first introduced, many people immediately began writing its obituary because of the [...]
How did the perfect revolver for its time end up in second place? We look at the Smith & Wesson Top Break, a classic American revolver used by Frank and Jesse James, Annie Oakley, Bill Tilghman and Buffalo Bill . Gun experts you’ll meet in this episode: Larry Potterfield, Jim Supica, Jason Schubert, Dr. Jack [...]
Faced with trench warfare, WWI troops needed a portable weapon with enough firepower to change to course of a battle. John Browning stepped up and came up with what was then the perfect answer – the Browning Automatic Rifle. Gun experts you’ll meet in this episode: Stephen Hunter, Lance Olson, Alex Rose, Gene “Evil Roy” [...]
The Winchester Model 94 are written in large letters across American history. This rifle redefines the meaning of success. Gun experts you’ll meet in this episode: Alex Rose, Gene “Evil Roy” Pearcey, Dick Williams, Buz Mills, George Harris, Ken Hackathorn, Bill Laughridge, Philip Shreier, Dr. Jack Atwater, Larry Potterfield, Gary Paul Johnston, Frank James, Jason [...]
