“1866”

It was 150 years ago that the name “Winchester” was first stamped on a rifle. But Winchester’s narrative began well before that, and it is a tale tied to the American West, to the wars of the 20th century, to big personalities such as John Browning and John Olin, and to the manufacture of billions of cartridges and millions of rifles and shotguns beloved by generations of Americans.

One of the most prominent early American firearm manufacturers, Winchester Repeating Arms has a footprint in the very roots of U.S. history. Here are 10 things about the 153-year-old company that may surprise you.

In this, its 150th year in business, the history of Winchester firearms is well known. After all, “The gun that won the west” was a Winchester, the Model 1873. The Winchester Model 70 is known as the “Rifleman’s Rifle” and the Model 1894 is perhaps the most successful sporting rifle in history. The company also shook up the scattergun market with classic shotguns like the Model 1897, Model 21 and Model 12. The raw truth, however, is that none of these guns could have made their mark in history without ammo to shoot out of them. It’s kind of the red-headed stepchild in terms of glory and glamor, but Winchester has been in the ammo business as long as they have been in the gun business.

On April 26, 1877 a Single Action Army revolver, serial number 36xxx was shipped from the Colt factory in Hartford, Conn. to the Colt Patent Fire-Arms Mfg. Co., London Agency, London, England.

The New Original Henry Rifle is true to Henry’s 1860 patterns and patents, and virtually identical aside from adjustments required to adapt to the .44-40 Win. and .45 Colt centerfire rounds that replaced the long-obsolete rimfires.

To celebrate Winchester's 150th anniversary, we've assembled 10 facts about the company's long history that may surprise you.

Smith & Wesson's origins can be traced to 1850, when Horace Smith and D B. Wesson first became acquainted while working as subcontractors supervising the manufacturing of different firearms at the Robbins and Lawrence Company in Windsor, Vermont. Now, after more than 160 years in existence, the company created by their eventual partnership is one of the most well-respected of its kind. As you might imagine, a lot can happen—and be forgotten—during such an expansive history. With that in mind, here are 10 things you probably didn't know about Smith & Wesson.

The relationship that exists between hunting and firearms throughout history is in some ways more crucial to our American identity than anything else, and there are probably more connections between the two than we realize.

Holding on for more than a century, the 16-gauge is seeing renewed interest, thanks to an inflow of new shotguns and technological advancements in ammunition and components.