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
Barnett Model 1853 Rifle
This rifle was used by Colt to develop a prototype that was tested in 1866 at the U.S. Army Board Trials. Several Barnett-produced Enfield rifles were converted by Colt armorers from their original .577 muzzle-loading configuration to accept the .58 caliber Berdan centerfire cartridge. The Army rejected this new arm.