Video—Preserving the Skills: Gunsmithing at Colonial Williamsburg

by
posted on December 23, 2018
** 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. **
Most folks know Williamsburg to be one of the premiere living-history sites in the nation. What few perhaps realize, however, is in an effort to preserve that history to its most intricate detail, the majority of trades and skills being demonstrated at Williamsburg are done for real. The blacksmiths there are actually forging tools, the wheelwrights are making wheels and the gunsmiths, well, they're making firearms. In this edition of the Preserving the Skills video series, check out the fine art of gunsmithing at Colonial Williamsburg

Additional Reading:
Making the American Rifle at Colonial Williamsburg
The Guns of the Colonial Williamsburg Collection 

Colonial Williamsburg Fire a Flintlock Musket Program  









Latest

smith & wesson performance center model 19 carry comp moss
smith & wesson performance center model 19 carry comp moss

Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers

The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 6, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

FEMA Notes Decline In Disaster Preparedness

A recent report from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) noted a decline in local government preparedness for natural disasters, putting increased pressure on individuals to prepare themselves for emergencies.

Army Announces Type Classification Of New Infantry Rifle, Machine Gun

In May 2025, the U.S. Army’s Soldier Lethality Project at the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey announced the official type classification of SIG Sauer’s M7 rifle and M250 automatic rifle, previously known as the XM7 and the XM250, respectively.

RXR22: Savage Arms Redefines The Budget Rimfire Rifle

Savage Arms has a long history of producing affordable and accurate rimfire rifles, but with its RXR22, the company is bringing a new level of affordability and modularity to rimfire rifle fans.

SARCO: A Lifetime Covered Up With Surplus Firearm Parts

When it comes to selling gun parts and gun-related military surplus, Charles “Cholly” Steen has been at it for longer than almost anyone. It all started when, as a 5-year-old, he began stashing odds and ends in the drawers of his clothes dresser.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.