NRA Museums Guns of the Week

Recently used for filming of the upcoming third season of NRA Gun Gurus, this .44-40 Model 1892 likely fired far more 5-in-1 blanks when it was used in True Grit by legendary actor John Wayne. During filming for NRA Gun Gurus, senior curator Phil Schreier showed that a classic Winchester, marked with Wayne’s Batjac studio marking, can still fire with the best. Watch for the new season of NRA Gun Gurus on Outdoor Channel in January 2016.

The Hall rifle was the first breechloading rifle employed by our military and was offered either in flintlock or percussion form. The loose tolerances for the gap between block and barrel often resulted in a fiery blast of gases during firing - sometimes singeing eyebrows and hands. But as a faster loading shoulder arm, the .52 caliber Hall enjoyed a military production run from 1817 well into the 1840s. Early Hall rifles were counterbored at the muzzle to allow for slower muzzleloading if required.

In 1858, Indian Army General John Jacob raised a battalion of 1,000 men to be armed with a double rifle of his design that fired a conical projectile with flanged studs and included a 2000-yard rear sight. Explosive nose plugs could be fitted into the bullet for long range detonation of ammunition carts. In the event of close-quarters combat, these .52 caliber rifles were also fitted with a broadsword pattern bayonet. Despite all this innovation, General Jacob died of exhaustion in late 1858 and his plan never came to fruition.