NRA Museums Guns of the Week

Model 1816 muskets were the first standard U.S. military longarm to be produced at both Springfield and Harpers Ferry Armories. Nearly 700,000 of these muskets were manufactured at the arsenals over a 28 year period, making this the largest production total of any U.S. flintlock musket. This example, dated 1818 and manufactured in Springfield, is a Type I variant. The War of 1812 prompted military interest in musket development. By the time military officials were satisfied with a new design, the war was over. Between 1816 and 1835, three types of this model are said to have been made: 1816, 1822, and 1831. These varied but little, except for finish. Type II muskets were browned, while the other two types, including this specimen, were finished in “National Armory Bright,” which still remains brilliant almost 200 years later.

This carved ivory flintlock pistol has the Swiss coat of arms and Templar markings atop its barrel and has a bulbous end which could serve as a club. A gilded flashpan is just part of the embellishments for this single-shot arm. In the past, this ornate .40 caliber handgun was part of the Martin Redding collection and was also featured in the Harold’s Club collection, which was sold in 1993.

This Bissell .56 caliber flintlock pistol was used by the 42nd Regiment of Foot, a Scottish infantry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was officially known as The Royal Highland Regiment, but colloquially as The Black Watch. It was active from 1661 to 1881. During the American Revolutionary War, The Black Watch was involved in the battles of Long Island, Harlem, Fort Washington, Piscataway, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and the siege of Charleston. The regiment refused to officially recognize any battle honors won during the American War of Independence because it was decreed that no battle honors should be granted for a war with kith and kin.

One unique benefit of managing a firearms company is represented in this firearm. This embellished Savage 99 lever-action rifle is chambered for the .300 Savage cartridge, but the deluxe checkering and gold inlays catch the eye faster. This presentation rifle has deep relief engraving with a golden elk on one side of the receiver and a stalking cougar on the other. This rifle was given to Joseph V. Falcon from his friends at Savage in December of 1967. Falcon was the president of Savage in 1956 and just eleven years after he received this rifle, he was to donate it to the National Rifle Association.

Noted sharpshooter Annie Oakley used this gold-plated rimfire pistol, fitted with mother-of-pearl grips for exhibition and trick shooting. Annie became a crack shot as a young girl to help feed her family with wild game. As the featured performer of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show she achieved international acclaim, toured two continents, and may be considered America’s first female superstar.

Did you do a double take when you looked at this rifle? Your eyes aren’t fooling you... this is both a double barreled AND a bolt action repeating firearms. Radical in design, this rifle loads two cartridges at the same time and is the world’s only magazine-fed double rifle design. There are ejection ports on both sides of the frame to spit out spent brass to the right and the left. Incorporating titanium components to reduce weight, this .416 Remington Magnum rifle has an eight-shot capacity, with a massive magazine assembly mounted under the receiver. It is decorated with exquisite engravings of the “Big Five” of African game - rhino, lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo. Hungarian inventor Joseph Szecsei developed his innovative design after being charged simultaneously by three elephants in 1989.

Lancaster, who manufactured four barrel rifles, pistols, and shotguns, produced this .440 bore or 28 gauge piece offering double the firepower of a standard side-by-side. Charles Lancaster started as a barrel maker in London's Drury Lane in 1811, producing barrels for Joseph Manton and others. By 1826, his firm had moved to 151 New Bond Street and had received a royal appointment to Albert the Prince Consort.