Tales of the Gun

Episode 1

The Making of a Gun

Fri, Aug 13, 1999

In the centuries since the gun was invented, hundreds of innovators, engineers and inventors have brought their vision to its manufacture. As a result, this simple tool has become among the most perfectly produced items made. THE MAKING OF A GUN chronicles the long history of firearm design and construction from the first, primitive weapons to today's computer-controlled, high-tech factories. Hear from people like Tom Valdrose, production manager of Beretta USA, and Roberto Rodriguez, executive director of the American Precision Museum. See rare examples of groundbreaking weapons, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how today's guns are made. From forge to finished, this is a comprehensive look at how guns are made.

Episode 3

Dueling Pistols

Thu, Aug 13, 1998

At the turn of the 19th century, upper-class men of Europe and America fought pistol duels to the death. The pistols created for these duels were some of the most beautiful ever made. This program examines these magnificent weapons which gave this strange ritual its deadly character.

Episode 13

Early Machine Guns

Thu, Aug 13, 1998

Episode 16

Rapid Firepower

Sat, Aug 15, 1998

Episode 20

Guns of Infamy

From the six-shooters of the Old West's outlaws to the weapons used by assassins, this is a dramatic look at the guns that changed history. There are guns that have earned a place in history for their innovations--breakthrough weapons that advanced the science of firearms. There are others, however, that secured fame through their use--the guns that have killed presidents, started wars and starred in legendary showdowns in frontier towns. INFAMOUS GUNS is a dramatic look at the guns that fired bullets that changed the course of history. Explore the stories of the weapons used by the gunmen who killed Kennedy, Lincoln, McKinley and Garfield. Discover which guns started wars, killing the Archduke Ferdinand and firing "the shot heard 'round the world." James Nottage, curator of the Autrey Museum of Western Heritage, shows off significant weapons from the Old West, while collectors and scholars talk of the appeal and allure of the individual guns that are most prized by aficionados. It's a fascinating profile of the INFAMOUS GUNS that blasted their way into history.

Episode 25

Guns of the Russian Military

Wed, Mar 24, 1999

Episode 28

The M-16

Wed, Jan 19, 2000

The M-16 is the most powerful assault rifle ever used in combat. But its significance goes beyond its unrivaled force. And its overwhelming efficiency as a killing machine has put it firmly in the spotlight of the ongoing debate over gun control. Gerald McRaney hosts this fascinating look at the weapon that has become the backbone of countless infantry forces worldwide. Learn of its unique origins as the only military rifle in the 200-year history of the Armory System designed by an outsider. In a rare, archival interview, the inventor, Eugene Stoner, talks about the hurdles he had to overcome to get the Army to try out his gun and the engineering difficulties he solved with its revolutionary design. Then, trace its bizarre evolution a complex and controversial saga of outdated battle strategies, political infighting and well-meaning but disastrous improvements. From the drawing board to the world's battlefields, this is the explosive history of the deadliest gun ever made.

Episode 31

Guns of the Sky.

Thu, Aug 6, 1998

Episode 37

Guns of the Infantry

Wed, Nov 10, 1999