The Galleries
- Robert E. Petersen Collection
- Ancient Firearms - 1350 to 1700
- Road to American Liberty - 1700 to 1780
- A Prospering New Republic - 1780 to 1860
- A Nation Asunder - 1861 to 1865
- The American West - 1850 to 1900
- Innovation, Oddities and Competition
- Theodore Roosevelt and Elegant Arms - 1880s to 1920s
- World War I and Firearms Innovation
- WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Beyond - 1940 to Present
- For the Fun of It
- Modern Firearms - 1950 to Present
- Hollywood Guns
Bennett & Haviland Many Chambered Revolving Rifle
An early repeating rifle designed by Epenetus A. Bennett and Frederick P. Haviland, this prototype percussion underhammer "Many-Chambered Gun" received U.S. Patent No. 603 on February 15, 1838. Each of the twelve rectangular brass chambers were loaded with powder and ball and capped individually. As each shot was fired, a fresh chamber could be brought into line with the breech by rotating the knob on the underside of the receiver. Fewer than ten examples were produced.