To know Winchester may be to know Smith & Wesson, as NRA Museums Senior Curator Phil Schreier remarks in the opening of this video, but to know Winchester is also to know a key part of American history, and the history of the frontier. From the original designs behind the scenes with Smith & Wesson, to the industry-changing firearms that actually came to production, this video explores the deep-rooted history of Winchester, and their gradual metamorphosis of the lever gun design from the original Model 1866, to the classic Model 1886 in 45-70, to the wildly popular Model 1894. If you’re a fan of American history, the history of the firearm industry, or even someone more technically minded, interested in how a design evolves over time, make sure not to miss this segment from American Rifleman TV.
Video—ARTV: Winchester 150, Part 1
by
Support NRA American Rifleman
DONATE
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
More like this from around the NRA
Latest
Taurus Celebrates 20 Years of the Judge
A custom edition celebrates two decades of Taurus' Judge revolver.
Preview: DefGrip USA Performance Firearm Grips
Holding a firearm consistently and correctly results in more hits than misses on target, and one of the easiest-to-install grip-enhancement products comes from DefGrip USA.
Review: GForce Arms GF9 Rapture
In a market filled with Glock 19 clones, the GForce Arms GF9 Rapture decided to be a Glock 26 clone instead.
New for 2026: Rost Martin RM1F Pistols
Rost Martin offers a larger version of its RM1-series pistols with the RM1F and RM1F Tactical.
Gun of the Week: Springfield Armory Hellcat in .380 ACP
Springfield's latest Hellcat chambering makes the small pistol easier to shoot.
New for 2026: Stoeger M3000 Sporting Shotgun
Stoeger adds a new sporting model to its M3000 semi-automatic shotgun line.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
