Book Review: Gun Barons | The Weapons That Transformed America And The Men Who Invented Them

by
posted on June 13, 2022
** 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. **
Gun Barons

It’s more likely than not that American gun owners have at least one firearm bearing a famous name from the industry giants of the 19th century. Samuel Colt, Oliver Winchester, Eliphalet Remington, Horace Smith, Daniel Wesson. Today their names live on in the form of iconic designs, whether they’re family heirlooms or fresh off the assembly line, but before the guns, there were the men themselves. John Bainbridge, Jr. does the firearm community a service in shedding light on the lives of these men, of whom we know little, outside of their monikers.

Gun Barons, despite what appears on the cover, is less about the guns themselves and more about the men and machinations that led to their being, as well as their use in battle. In more than 350 pages, Bainbridge delves into the private lives of these designers, giving us insight into their upbringing, character and innovative spirit. Through Bainbridge’s artful telling, readers plunge into scenes of the 19th century, whether it’s a circus in Manchester, Conn., the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London or the battlefields of the Civil War. The tales are so immersive it seems almost impossible that such details are available to us today, nearly 200 years later in some cases, but Bainbridge’s well-cited source material at the end is illustrative of the remarkable amount of work that’s gone into bringing these facts to the fore.

Gun Barons is a great read for every firearm enthusiast, providing us with a glimpse into what some consider to be the “golden era” of arms development.

Latest

Finnish LMG Foxhole 1939
Finnish LMG Foxhole 1939

Winter Warrior: The Finnish Lahti-Saloranta M/26 LMG

A little-known light machine gun from the inter-war era, the Finnish Lahti-Saloranta M/26 garnered a poor reputation during its service in World War II, but a closer look and some context reveals how innovative it was for its time.

Federal Ammunition Honored By National 4-H Shooting Sports

Federal Ammunition was recently honored with the 2025 4-H Shooting Sports Pioneer Award, which recognizes individuals or companies that have made significant contributions to the 4-H Shooting Sports program at a national level.

I Have This Old Gun: Polish Vis 35 Radom

One of the lesser-known designs from the 1930s, the Vis 35 Radom is widely considered to be one of the best of the pre-World War II handguns.

Rifleman Q&A: Colt 1860 12-Notch Conversion

"At a gun show, I saw a Colt 1860 Army Richards Conversion with 12 cylinder notches instead of the usual six. The dealer was not sure whether this was original to the gun. Were these extra notches a factory variation or just some frontier gunsmith’s backroom project?"

July 2025 Sees Lowest Gun Sales Numbers In Nearly Six Years

Following a nearly six-year, record-setting run, according to the latest NICS and NSSF reports, firearm sales have dropped just slightly below a million during the month of July.

Review: Extar EP9 Carbine

Sporting polymer construction, partial compatibility with America's rifle, a unique bolt assembly and a no-lubricant-required design, American Rifleman staff decided the Extar EP9 Carbine, in 9 mm, deserved closer inspection.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.