Firearm Timeline
Key moments behind the pistols, revolvers, shotguns and rifles covered across the network guides.
1836
Colt Paterson patent
Samuel Colt patents the revolving cylinder design that leads to the modern revolver.
1873
Two frontier icons
The Colt Single Action Army and the Winchester Model 1873 lever action rifle both arrive.
1893
Pump shotgun goes mainstream
Winchester introduces the Model 1893, followed by the Model 1897 slide action shotgun.
1903
Bolt action service rifle
The M1903 Springfield bolt action rifle is adopted by the US Army.
1911
The 1911 pistol
The John Browning designed M1911 .45 ACP pistol is adopted by the US Army.
1936
Semi-automatic service rifle
The M1 Garand becomes the standard US service rifle.
1950
Remington 870
The Remington 870 pump shotgun is introduced and becomes one of the best selling shotguns ever made.
1964
Rimfire and the AR-15
Ruger introduces the 10/22 rifle and Colt begins selling the semi-automatic AR-15 sporter.
1982
Polymer pistols
The Glock 17 striker-fired polymer pistol is adopted by the Austrian Army, then spreads worldwide.
Today
Optics and carry
Pistol red dots, compact carry guns and modular rifles define the modern market.
Each buyers guide in the network carries a deeper timeline for its own type of firearm.