In a gallery dense with firearms, this section explores the tremendous growth in the arms industry following the Civil War. Learn about the development of the bolt-action rifle and cartridge technology, as well as the production boom of inexpensive firearms at the turn of the 20th century. Manufactured for protection, sport, recreation, and backyard hunting, these pistols and rifles were simple in design and made of inexpensive materials. Focus on early target competition at Creedmoor, Sea Girt, and Camp Perry National Matches.

Significant Firearms in Gallery VIII:

• Bren Ten pistol -- the first 10mm combat arm
• Webley-Fosbery revolver
• The first .44 Magnum handgun
• Ruger #1,000,000 .22 pistol
• Diverse collection of prototypes
• Rifles made by Maynard and Ballard, and re-barreled by H.M. Pope
• Schuetzen rifles
• Sharps Creedmoor rifle
• Remington Creedmoor rifle
• Sharps-Borchardt Long Range rifle (used to shoot the first perfect score at Sea Girt)
• National Match M1903 Springfield rifle
• National Match M1 Garand rifle
• National Match M1911A1 pistol
• Colt pistol owned by Ad Topperwein
• Gold-plated "Swamp Angel" revolver