The Galleries
- Robert E. Petersen Collection
- Ancient Firearms
- The Road to American Liberty
- Seeds of Greatness
- The Prospering New Republic
- A Nation Asunder
- The American West
- Innovation, Oddities and Competition
- Theodore Roosevelt, Elegant Arms
- World War I and Firearms Innovation
- WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Beyond
- For the Fun of It
- Firearms Traditions for Today
- William B. Ruger Special Exhibits
- Freedom's Doorway
Dreyse M1860 Needle fire rifle
First cartridge breechloader in German military service, also known as a zundnadelgewehr or needle gun. The needle-fire Dreyse was a repeater that utilized a very thin firing pin to strike a primer inside a paper cartridge. Placing the primer inside the powder charge was done in the hopes of better powder combustion. With the needle striker being so thin, replacement firing pins were added to each packet of cartridges.