American Gun: A History of the U.S. In Ten Firearms

  M2 Machine Guns, 161

  M4 Carbines, 246, 247, 248, 250, 255, 256–58, 256, 274

  M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle, 212, 213

  M14 Rifles, 209–13, 212, 238, 239, 241, 245–46

  M16 Assault Rifles

  in Afghanistan, 249

  barrel for, 246

  bayonets on, 248, 274

  cartridges for, 245, 246

  design and development of, 237–41, 274

  early military actions for, 127

  grenade launchers on, 248, 250

  importance of, 244–45

  in Iraq, 250–52, 256–58

  law enforcement and, 252, 254–55

  loading of, 241

  M14 compared with, 241, 245–46

  overview of, 274

  pictures of, 235, 249, 274

  price of, 241

  problems with, 245–46

  rails of, 248, 250

  recoil of, 241

  as replacement for M1 Garands, 211

  revisions to, 246, 247, 248

  scopes for, 250

  sights for, 246, 250

  snipers and, 250–51

  trading for, 250, 251

  in Vietnam War, 235–37, 237, 241–46, 243, 248

  weight of, 241, 250

  M16A1 Assault Rifles, 246, 248, 274

  M16A2 Assault Rifles, 246, 274

  M16A3 Assault Rifles, 246, 248, 274

  M16A4 Assault Rifles, 246, 274

  M25 Rifles, 211

  M60 Machine Guns, 204

  M231 Assault Rifles, 274

  M249 Machine Guns, 256–57

  MA-1 Survival Rifles, 238

  MacArthur, Douglas, 196

  Maccabee, Paul, 180

  machine guns

  Army Ordnance Department and, 169, 174

  of Browning, 153

  design and development of, 169–74

  in Korean War, 161

  MP5 family of, 190

  squad-level, 190, 271

  weight of, 174

  in World War I, 131, 132, 133, 134, 143, 144, 147

  in World War II, 158

  See also specific manufacturer or model

  magazine-feeder rifles, 55

  Maguire, Russell, 184

  Makin Island: World War II battle on, 186

  Marine Corps, U.S.

  in Afghanistan, 249

  in “Banana Wars,” 157–58

  “Carlson’s Raiders” of, 186

  Colt M1911 Pistols and, 151, 157–58

  in Iraq, 250

  in Korean War, 209, 210

  and Kyle-Marine gun trade, 251

  Lapua rounds and, 139

  M1 Garands and, 201–2, 209, 210

  M16 Rifles and, 246, 274

  official sidearms of, 151

  and Springfield M1903 Bolt-Action Rifles, 201

  Tommy guns and, 176, 186, 187, 190

  in World War I, 129, 130, 131–36, 135

  in World War II, 158, 186, 187, 201, 204

  Marlin 30-30 Rifle, 94

  Marm, Joe, 244

  Marsh rifles, 36, 40, 42

  Marsh, Samuel, 36

  Marshall, John, 22

  Mason, William, 267

  Masterson, Bat, 100

  Mauser .338 Magnum SR93, 139

  Mauser guns

  as bolt-action rifles, 123, 124

  bullets for, 123, 126

  influence on Springfield M1903 Rifles of, 124, 125, 269

  as model for Japanese Arisaka Type 99 rifles, 196

  Ordnance Corps decisions about, 123

  smokeless powder of, 118

  U.S. copies/improvements of, 123, 124, 125, 127

  in World War I, 127, 128, 128

  See also Lugers; specific model

  Mauser K98 Karabiner rifle, 204

  Maxim guns, 172, 173

  Maxim, Hiram, 172

  McAuliffe, Anthony C., 206

  McCafferty, Keith, 99

  McCall, Jack, 77

  McClellan, George, 41

  McGivern, Ed, 79–80

  McLaury, Frank, 77–81, 82, 83

  McLaury, Tom, 77–81, 82, 83

  McLemore, Theo, 209

  McMillan stocks, 137, 139

  McNamara, Robert, 241

  McQueen, Steve, 141

  Meade, George, 48

  Mechanicsville, Battle at, 45

  Merrill, Frank, 186

  Mexican-American War (1846–48), 29, 65

  Mexico

  Pershing raids in, 127, 156–57

  Texas Wars and, 23–25, 27–29

  See also Texas wars

  MG 42 Machine Guns, 204

  Mike, Jason, 256, 257

  Military and Police Revolvers (Smith & Wesson Model 10), 223–24

  military, U.S.

  assault rifles as standard weapons for, 236

  bureaucracy of, 122

  Colt .45 Pistols as official sidearm of, 151

  Glock pistols and, 230, 232

  M1911 Pistols as standard sidearm for, 141, 158

  NATO M9 Beretta as standard sidearm of, 162

  prejudice against repeating rifles in, 93

  Tommy gun and, 184, 186–89

  See also specific branch

  Miller, Charlie, 162–63

  Minié-ball bullets, 32, 34, 35

  Minié‚ Claude-Etienne, 32

  Miquelet lock, 24

  MK11 rifle, 251

  MK12 Special Purpose Rifles, 251, 274

  MK13 sniper weapons, 138–39

  MO-44 Assault Rifles, 237

  Mooar, J. Wright, 99

  Moore, Harold, 235, 236, 241–45

  Morgan, Daniel

  in Carolinas, 13–16, 18–22

  at Cowpens, 15–16, 18–22, 23

  role in Revolutionary War of, 12

  at Saratoga, 8, 9, 13

  Moro tribesman, 149

  movies

  gangster, 167, 168, 181

  Glock weapons in, 230, 232

  of Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, 83

  snipers in, 141

  snub-nosed revolvers in, 226

  Springfield M1903 Rifles in, 140–41

  .38 Special in, 215, 226

  Tommy guns in, 167, 168, 181

  Winchesters in, 108, 268

  MP5 Submachine Guns, 190

  MP40 gun, 159

  Murphy, Timothy, 1, 2–3, 6, 8, 10–12, 23, 138, 255, 262

  muskets

  accuracy of, 7

  barrel of, 3

  bayonets on, 8, 19

  “blunderbuss,” 24

  of British, 7

  bullets for, 7, 32

  in Civil War, 41, 41

  cost of, 41

  Enfield, 33

  firing of, 6–7

  flintlock, 7, 24, 32

  percussion lock, 32

  in Revolutionary War, 7, 10, 16, 18, 19

  Revolutionary War-era, 53

  rifles compared with, 3, 53

  smooth-bore, 6–7, 32, 35–36

  Spanish-style, 24

  in Texas Wars, 24

  See also type of musket

  Muth, Lawrence, 157

  muzzle-loading guns, 33, 51, 55, 96, 98, 122. See also specific manufacturer or model

  National Firearms Museum (Virginia), 98

  National Rifle Association, 109

  NATO M9 Beretta: as standard military sidearm, 162

  Navaro, John, 54–55

  Navy Mk12 Special Purpose Rifles, 251

  Navy revolvers, Colt, 67, 223, 224

  Navy, U.S.

  M1911 Colt pistols as official sidearms of, 151

  Spenser Repeaters and, 38, 42

  Tommy guns and, 176

  See also Navy revolvers, Colt; SEALs

  Nein, Timothy, 256, 257

  Nelson, Baby Face (aka Lester Gillis), 180–82, 262

  New Haven Arms Company, 34

  New York City Police Department, 220–21, 225, 226, 232

  New York Times building (New York City): Gatling guns
on roof of, 170–71

  Nielsen, Henry, 239

  9mm automatic guns, 157

  Normandy, 136–37, 159

  North & Cheneys M1799 guns, 58

  North Hollywood, California: Phillips and Matasareanu bank robbery in, 252, 254

  Oakley, Annie, 107

  Okinawa: World War II battle on, 187

  Oswald, Lee Harvey, 232–33

  Owens, Bob, 227, 228

  Para-Ordnance, 149

  Patton, George S., 191, 198, 206, 267

  Peacemaker. See Colt Single-Action Army Revolver

  Peary, Robert, 107

  Pedersen, John D., 195, 196, 272

  Peralte, Charlemagne, 157

  percussion-cap “caplock” guns, 25, 29, 32, 42, 63, 65, 68, 98, 122

  Perot, H. Ross, 229

  Pershing, John J., 115, 127, 129, 131, 156–57

  Petersburg, Battle of, 45

  Petty, William, 221

  Philippine Islands, 149, 150

  Pickett’s Charge, 48, 49, 50

  pistols

  Indian Wars and, 100

  Spanish-style, 24

  in Texas Wars, 24–25

  See also specific model or manufacturer

  Plains rifles. See specific model or manufacturer

  police departments

  early years of, 220–21

  evolution of weapons for, 220–26

  Glock use by, 230, 232

  gun requirements for, 221–22

  and guns as products of their time, 262

  M16 Rifles and, 252, 254

  .38 Specials and, 220–22, 227

  See also law enforcement

  Pony Express riders, 66

  Power, Bill, 87, 90, 91

  Powers, Darrell “Shifty,” 205

  practice, gun, 213, 222. See also training, firearms

  price

  of muskets, 41

  of Sharps rifles, 44

  of Spencer Repeaters, 41

  of Tommy guns, 176

  primers, 32, 68

  “Protecting the Herd” (Remington painting), 94

  Pullen, Ashley, 257

  rails: of M16 rifles, 248, 250

  range. See specific manufacturer or gun

  rapid-fire guns

  development of, 169–74

  See also machine guns; specific manufacturer or model

  Ray, John, 159

  Red Hawk, 104

  Red River War (1874–75), 100

  Remington Arms Corporation, 137, 175. See also specific model

  Remington, Frederic, 59, 94

  Remington .222 Rifles, 240

  Remington 700 Bolt-Action Rifles, 137

  Remington guns: popularity of, 138

  Remington M11 Shotguns, 153

  Remington Rolling Block Rifles, 100–101

  repeating rifles, 93, 94. See also specific manufacturer or model

  Research Armament Industries, 139

  Revolutionary War

  British guns in, 7

  British in, 1–3, 8, 10–12, 13–16, 13

  and British surrender at Yorktown, 22, 23

  Burgoyne surrender during, 12, 13

  Cowpens battle during, 15–16, 18–22, 22, 23

  Currier & Ives painting about, 17

  long rifles in, 1–3, 5, 8, 9, 10–12, 19, 265

  muskets in, 7, 10, 16, 18, 19

  Saratoga and, 1–3, 8, 10–12, 13, 23

  southern battles during, 13–16, 18–22, 23

  See also Cowpens, Battle of; Saratoga, Battle of; specific person

  revolvers

  cap-and-ball, 147

  See also specific manufacturer or model

  revolving rifles, 63

  Richards, Charles Brinckerhoff, 267

  rifle-muskets, 48, 51, 53

  Rifleman (TV), 268

  rifles

  advantages of multiple-shot, 55

  barrel of, 3

  bullets for, 32, 34

  carbines compared with, 44

  muskets compared with, 3, 53

  in Revolutionary War, 16

  See also specific manufacturer, model or type of rifle

  rifling, 3

  rimfire cartridges, 35, 40, 222, 266

  Rio, Frankie, 165–66

  Ripley, James, 40–42, 44, 52, 53, 169

  Rocket balls, 35

  Rocky Mountain Rifles, 98. See also Hawkens guns

  Roosevelt, Franklin D., 184, 186

  Roosevelt, Theodore

  in American West, 109, 110, 111

  Colt revolver of, 119, 120, 267

  comment about Winchesters of, 85

  in Cuba/San Juan Hill, 113–21, 114, 117, 120, 123

  as New York City Police Commissioner, 221

  and Springfield M1903, 124, 126–27

  and Winchester repeaters, 117

  See also Rough riders

  Rosa, Joseph G., 72

  Rose, Alexander, 44

  Rosecrans, William S., 45, 47

  Rough Riders: at San Juan Hill, 112, 113–21, 114, 117, 120, 123, 126–27

  Ruby, Jack, 232–33

  Ruger .38 Police Revolvers, 273

  Ruger Mini-14 Semi-Automatic Rifles, 227

  Rummel Farm: attack on, 49

  Runaway Scrape, 25, 27

  Russell, Ken, 159

  Russians

  AK47s and, 209, 238, 247

  Maxim guns and, 173

  and Smith & Wesson revolvers, 68–69

  Salman Pak, Iraq: attack in, 255–58, 256

  San Jacinto, Battle of, 24, 27–28, 29

  San Jacinto Monument, 29

  San Juan Hill, Battle of, 112, 113–21, 114, 117, 120, 123, 126–27

  The Sand Pebbles (film), 141

  Santa Anna, Antonio L¢pez de, 24, 27, 28, 28

  Saratoga, Battle of, 1–3, 8, 10–12, 13, 23

  Savage Arms, 184

  Saving Private Ryan (movie), 141

  Sawyer, Craig, 212–13

  Schlieffen, Alfred von, 21–22

  scopes

  for assault rifles, 238

  improvement in, 140

  for M14 rifles, 211

  for M16 rifles, 250

  for Mk11 rifle, 251

  night, 212

  on Springfield M1903 Rifles, 136–37

  Scott, Doug, 105

  SEALs

  AR-15 Assault Rifles used by, 251

  CQB rifle of, 212, 213

  Kyle as, 5, 54, 139, 250–51

  and M14 rifles, 212, 213

  M1911 commemorative model for, 149

  and role of special operation forces, 54

  and .38 cartridges, 139

  Second Caco War (1919–20), 158

  Secret Service, U.S., 162, 216, 218–20

  self-loading rifles

  development of, 193, 195

  Spencer repeater as forerunner of, 55

  Selma, Alabama, Battle at, 51–52

  semi-automatic weapons, 153, 155, 163, 193, 195, 209, 228–29. See also specific manufacturer or model

  Seminole War, 63

  Sharps Manufacturing, 38

  Sharps rifles

  accuracy of, 44, 100–101

  Big 50, 98–99

  “California Joe” with, 43

  in Civil War, 41, 42–45, 43, 52, 98

  price of, 44

  range of, 100–101

  reliability of, 44

  Springfield rifles compared with, 42–43

  Winchester’s purchase of, 95

  sharpshooters

  in Civil War, 37, 43, 44–45

  See also sniper(s)

  Sheetz, Brian, 149

  Shepherdstown, Battle of, 45

  Short Land Pattern Musket, 7

  shotguns

  double-barreled, 80

  See also specific manufacturer or model

  Siege of Cicero (1926), 165–66

  Sig Sauer 516 Rifles, 252, 255

  Sig Sauer pistols, 139, 229

  sights

  on Co
lt Official Police revolvers, 225

  and computer guns, 140

  laser, 250

  on long rifles, 6

  on M1 Garands, 199, 202

  on M14 rifles, 211

  on M16 rifles, 246, 250

  telescopic, 44

  on Winchesters, 91

  simplicity: evolution of firearms and, 32

  Singer Sewing Machine Company, 158

  “six-shooters,” 65

  Smith & Wesson Corporation

  advertising for revolvers for, 223

  Colt as competitor of, 222

  founding of, 222

  police use of weapons from, 229

  snub-nosed pistols of, 225

  .38 Police Revolvers of, 273

  Winchester purchase of, 34

  See also specific model

  Smith & Wesson .342PD revolver, 225

  Smith & Wesson M1 Revolvers, 222

  Smith & Wesson M3 Revolvers, 68, 222

  Smith & Wesson M10 Revolvers (Military and Police Revolvers), 223–24

  Smith & Wesson pistols, 78

  Smith, Horace, 222

  Smith, W.H., 133

  smokeless powder, 224

  sniper(s)

  AR-15 weapons used by, 251

  and Army M24 Sniper Weapon system, 138

  black powder cartridges and, 117

  in Civil War, 44

  and computer guns, 140

  development of weapons for, 138–39

  gauging of accuracy by, 138

  Haskins Rifles for, 139

  in Iraq, 137, 250–51

  Kyle as, 1, 5, 137, 139, 156, 250–51, 253

  long rifles and, 8

  M14 Rifles and, 211

  M16 Rifles and, 250–51

  in movies, 141

  in Revolutionary War, 18–19

  Springfield M1903 Rifles and, 136–37, 141

  in Vietnam War, 211

  Winchester M70 and, 137

  in World War II, 137

  See also sharpshooters

  Soldana, Rafael, 25

  Spanish-American War (1898), 103, 117, 174. See also Cuba/San Juan Hill

  Spanish M1893 Mauser rifle “Spanish Hornet,” 115–16, 116, 117–18, 119, 120, 123, 124, 125, 269

  speedloaders, 228

  Spencer, Christopher, 38, 50–51, 266

  Spencer M1865 Carbines, 39

  Spencer Repeaters

  accuracy of, 40, 47

  in Civil War, 31, 38, 39, 40–42, 45–48, 46, 49–50, 49, 51–52, 53–54, 55, 95

  design and development of, 31–32, 34–38, 40

  firing of, 95

  as forerunner of modern guns, 55

  and guns as products of their time, 259–60

  limitations of, 95

  Lincoln and, 38, 40, 50–51, 52, 266

  loading of, 266

  overview of, 266

  pictures of, 31, 39, 46, 49, 266

  popularity of, 95

  price of, 41

  psychological advantages of, 54, 55

  Spotsylvania, Battle of, 45

  Springfield Arsenal (Massachusetts), 122–23, 197, 269

  Springfield M1842 Rifles, 32

  Springfield M1861 Rifle-Muskets, 34

  Springfield M1873 Trapdoor Carbines, 102–3, 116–17, 123

  Springfield M1903 rifles

  accuracy of, 126