All Episodes 1996

This first episode of the series The Story of the Gun: The Complete History of Firearms probes the earliest history of the weapon with a lively discussion of who actually invented gunpowder and an examination of the earliest cannon and handheld weapons.

This episode of the series The Story of the Gun: The Complete History of Firearms examines the effects of the Industrial Revolution on the manufacture of firearms. Particular attention is paid to the innovations of American gunsmiths, which led to the mass adoption of firearms as the weapon of everyday people, not just as the intricate and expensive toys of the landed elite.

This third episode of the series The Story of the Gun: The Complete History of Firearms concentrates on the changes in gun design during the 19th century. Of special note is the perfection of the revolver under the auspice of inventor and businessman Samuel Colt. Also considered is the role the gun played in the expansion of the United States into the West and the continued implications of that expansion on the American psyche.

This fourth episode of the series The Story of the Gun: The Complete History of Firearms investigates the technological advances of the 20th century and the effects they have had on the evolution of the firearm. This century brought the machine gun and the modern assault rifle, placing automatic fire in the hands of individuals. The implications of that are examined in some detail, as is the future of the firearm. Are we on the verge of eliminating gunpowder altogether?