Gun collection gets even bigger with a World War II era oversized Browning Automatic training rifle

That was all Senior Curator Doug Wicklund had to say. Something big. I had no idea it would be something so humongously big.

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Sharing history by way of a Family's Hawken Rifle on NRAblog Rewind

Back in 2010, right around Thanksgiving, the Dieckmann family of Kansas presented the curators of the National Firearms Museum with one of their heirlooms ... an 1850s era Hawken Plains Rifle.

Here's what happened:

Fairfax, Virginia - A rare Hawken rifle is joining a display at the NRA's National Firearms Museum. Inside the The Prospering New Republic gallery, the rifle will find it's place inside the case that depicts a scene in the Hawken family's famed frontier gunshop.

Even among these galleries of historic firearms, this new addition stands out. The gun is a family heirloom dating back generations to when it was purchased by Florenz Dieckmann from the Hawken gunmakers in 1850s St. Louis. Dieckmann went on to fight in the Civil War for the Union forces, and lived in Union, Missouri. The gun was passed down from father to son, time and again, all the way to his great-great-grandson David Dieckmann.

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Vote for your favorite guns as the top eight count down to #1

Fairfax, Virginia - Like a wise man once said, the firearm is like a vehicle — there's always a right one for the job.

But when put to the test, when it's one or the other, which one will you choose. That's just the question they're asking on the National Rifle Association's main Facebook page.

Now you'll probably be able to figure out which firearm is going up against which, but just in case — here's the rundown:

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British flintlock musket known as the "Brown Bess" ignites thrills

Fairfax, Virginia - These are the calls you love to get at the NRA.

Folks from the National Firearms Museum called up this morning to say that they'll be tied up all day. Sorry, can't be helped, but we're shooting guns for American Rifleman all day. Really? Can I come along?

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Forbes Financial calls Ruger a Great American Comeback

Now this was a cool conversation.

Earlier this morning, a 212 area code phone call came into the office. Sure enough, it was a reporter. Well, a Managing Editor, but that usually means there's a reporting background in there some where.

Anywho, Dan was calling from Forbes Magazine. Seems Forbes is running a piece in their November issue about Sturm, Ruger & Company. He wanted to know if I'd like to run a portion of it. Would I!

So, without any further adieu, here's Abram Brown on the resurgence of Ruger.

Behind America's Gun Boom: Inside The Comeback At Sturm, Ruger

Leaning forward, Mike Fifer squeezes off a round from a small-caliber, double-action revolver, piercing the quiet, autumnal New Hampshire countryside. Thin and compact, the CEO of Sturm, Ruger & Co. is at home on the firing range, where he routinely tests new guns prior to mass production. “These new products are why we’ve left the basement of this industry,” says Fifer, 55. “Any executive should be intimately familiar with their products. Fortunately for us, it’s easy and quite a bit of fun to use ours.” Two of Ruger’s top lieutenants are, like Fifer himself, ex-military guys.

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NRA Museum Director Jim Supica and Colt's Timothy Looney holding Colt's 175th Anniversary Revolver

Fairfax, Virginia - Every twenty-five years, Colt's Manufacturing Company celebrates their longevity and success with the creation of a commemorative firearm. Now what do you do when you've got yourself a one-of-a-kind handgun? How about putting it on display at the NRA National Firearms Museum?

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The Springfield 1903 Theodore Roosevelt used during his 1909 African Safari

Fairfax, Virginia - Why is National Firearms Museum Director Jim Supica smiling so? Because the rifle in his hands, a 1903 Springfield bolt-action rifle, is yet another addition to the NRA Museum's President Theodore Roosevelt exhibit.

"That is Theodore Roosevelt's Springfield 1903 rifle, serial number 6000," Supica beamed. "It's one of the most historic Roosevelt rifles. It was one of his primary arms in the 1909 African Safari."

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The NRA is auctioning off the Arietta shotgun featured in this week's episode

Fairfax, Virginia - This week's edition of Curator's Corner is one of the rare occasions a National Firearms Museum curator isn't actually featured. Tonight, Cliff Burgess from NRA Office of Advancement introduces us to Manny & Kristy DeLaCruz with GunAuction.com and the NRA Firearms for Freedom program.

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Fairfax, Virginia - When Girls Guide to Guns CEO Natalie Foster swung by NRA Headquarters last month, we thought she might appreciate more of a 'behind the scenes' look at the building. One of her favorite stops was inside the National Firearms Museum offices. That's where she experience a first hand look at two very special guns.

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