Disciples of the Great Gospel of Firearms

  • Black and white portrait of a man with a beard and curly hair, sitting in a Victorian-style chair, holding a revolver in his right hand.

    Samuel Colt

    July 19, 1814 – January 10, 1862

    Creator of Colt Manufacturing and the modern revolver action

    Colt 1851 Navy, Colt Walker

    Arguably the company’s most famous revolver was introduce after his death in 1873 the Colt Peacemaker

  • Black and white photo of a man in a suit and hat holding a rifle.

    John M. Browning

    January 23, 1855 – November 26, 1926

    Inventor of such guns as the M2 Heavy Machine Gun, M1911 service pistol, and the Browning A-5, along with countless more

    Inventor of such ammunition as .45ACP, .380ACP, .32ACP, .25ACP all still in use today

    Arguably the most prolific firearms inventors of all time.

  • Black and white portrait of a serious man with white hair, wearing a dark suit and tie, with arms crossed.

    Gaston Glock

    July 19, 1929 – December 27, 2023

    Creator of Glock firearms manufacturing, and innovator of the modern polymer framed striker fired pistol.

    Glock 17, Glock 19 etc.

    His design in 1980 of the original Glock 17 (AKA: P80 introduced in 1982) is still the base line for most modern pistols today.

  • Black and white portrait of an elderly man with white hair, wearing a dark suit and bow tie.

    Horace Smith

    October 28, 1808 – January 15, 1893

    Co-founder of Smith & Wesson and Volcanic Repeating Arms

    Volcanic Rifle

    His help in the design of the Volcanic rifle paved the way for modern lever action rifles and their tubular magazine. His legacy is continued through Smith&Wesson and Winchester Repeating Arms (aquired New Haven Arms previously Volcanic Repeating Arms)

  • Black and white portrait of an older man with a beard and mustache, wearing formal attire.

    Daniel B. Wesson

    May 18, 1825 – August 4, 1906

    Co-founder of Smith & Wesson and Volcanic Repeating Arms

    Volcanic Rifle, .38 Military & Police (model 10 in 1957)

    He helped design the first repeating rifle, volcanic rifle, and helped design the first self contained cartidge revolver. His legacy is continued through Smith&Wesson, Dan Wesson (made by his grandson) and Winchester Repeating Arms (aquired New Haven Arms previously Volcanic Repeating Arms)

  • Black and white portrait of a man with short hair, wearing glasses and a suit, smiling.

    Eugene M. Stoner

    November 22, 1922 – April 24, 1997

    Inventor of the gas impingement system and Co-founder ARES Incorporation.

    AR-10, AR-15, Stoner 86, SR-25 (AKA MK 11) and many more

    His work at Armalite and Knights Armament made serious strides in firearm design and make up the mass majority of firearms used by military, police and Civilians world wide today.

  • A young man in a military uniform standing at a desk with a Periscope at a military training or work environment.

    Mikhail T. Kalashnikov

    November 10, 1919 – December 23, 2013

    Inventor of the AK-47, AKM, and RPK

    His design of the AK-47 was influenced by the M1 Garand rifle and was put into service in 1947. This rifle later redesigned as the AKM to be cheaper to produce, has been the most prolific firearm in modern history. No other rifle is in more nations and even on a county’s flag (Mozambique).

  • Black and white portrait of a distinguished man with a beard and mustache, wearing a tuxedo with a bowtie.

    Peter Paul von Mauser

    June 27, 1838 – May 29, 1914

    Founder of Gebr Mauser

    Inventor of such guns as the C96 pistol, Gewehr 98 rifle and many more

    Inventor of the 7.65x53mm Mauser and 7x57mm mauser rounds

    He redesigned the bolt-action design and the Mauser action is still in use today for many bolt-action rifles.

  • A black-and-white photo of an elderly man with a mustache, dressed in a suit, wearing medals on his chest.

    Georg J. Luger

    March 6, 1849 – December 22, 1923

    Inventor of the Luger pistol and the 9x19 parabellum cartridge

    He is most known for the Luger pistol he also helped design the Borchardt C-93.

    His biggest contribution to the Gospel of Firearms would have to be the cartridge he invented for the Luger pistol, the 9x19mm Parabellum round used in most handguns today.