The newest episode of History Unloaded takes a step off the beaten trail to explore the lesser-known firearms that shaped the Old West. While most people can identify a Colt Single Action Army or a Winchester Model 1873, Danny and I focus on the guns that history often forgets, including foreign-made copies, surplus arms from the Civil War, and affordable alternatives that made their way across the frontier.
We also redefine what is meant by the “Old West” in the 21st century, expanding historical boundaries from just the 19th into the 20th century. Pushing past lever actions and single actions, we also discuss the popularity of semi-automatics foreign and domestic made.
New episodes are released every Wednesday on all major stream platforms, including Spotify, Apple, and Google.
History Unloaded is a podcast presented by the Cody Firearms Museum (CFM) and Wyoming Public Media. It’s hosted by former Curator of the CFM and Firearms Historian, Ashley Hlebinsky, and the current Curator of the CFM, Danny Michael. Each week, they discuss different historical topics surrounding firearms history, technology, culture, and museums.