S1 E1: The Kentucky Long Rifle And The Revolutionary War
The early history of the United States, and a look at the Kentucky Long Rifle and it's use during the Revolutionary War.
22 minutes
American Guns
- Age 14
Nearly 400 years has passed since European settlers travelled across the Atlantic, carrying a wheel-lock carbine single-shot musket, now known as the Mayflower Gun, to the new world. This 13-part series explores the history of firearms.
S1 E2: U.S. Armories And The War of 1812
Early US arms manufacturing relied heavily on federal funding and armories as customers.
22 minutes
S1 E3: Breechloaders and Jacksonian Democracy
As manufacturing in the US grew under Andrew Jackson, the gun became an essential tool for settlers in the western territories
22 minutes
S1 E4: Trouble In Texas and Samuel Colt
The Battle of the Alamo, the weapons used, and American innovator Samuel Colt's rise as a titan in the gun industry.
22 minutes
S1 E5: Prelude to War and Increased Fire Power
As the Civil War loomed, American guns were only becoming more powerful, more accurate, and easier to reload.
22 minutes
S1 E6: Guns of the American Civil War
The Civil War brought with it the Gatling Gun and the Sharps Rifle, while after the war, Smith and Wesson introduce the revolver
22 minutes
S1 E7: The Six Shooter and America's New Industrial Age
Smith and Wesson, Remington, Colt, Winchester, and Parker Bros all experience a gun manufacturing golden age during America's Guilded Age.
22 minutes
S1 E8: The Long Gun
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.
22 minutes
S1 E9: Dawn of Modern Firearms: Browning And The Spanish-American
Modern style hand guns and semi automatic rifles begin to enter production around the time of the Spanish-American War.
22 minutes
S1 E10: Guns of World War I and Gangsters
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.
22 minutes
S1 E11: Guns of World War II
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 WW II.
22 minutes
S1 E12: Guns of Korea, Vietnam and The 21st Century
As war evolved, the weapons did as well - with the M1 Garand, the Browning Automatic Rifle, fully automatics, and advanced sniper rifles.
22 minutes
S1 E13: Guns for Hunters, Sport and Protection
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.
22 minutes