Gun Barons

The Weapons That Transformed America and the Men Who Invented Them

By: John Bainbridge Jr.

Narrated by: Lee Goettl

Love them or hate them, guns are woven deeply into the American soul. Names like Colt, Smith & Wesson, Winchester, and Remington are legendary. Yet few people are aware of the roles these men played at a crucial time in United States history, from westward expansion in the 1840s, through the Civil War, and into the dawn of the Gilded Age. Through personal drive and fueled by bloodshed, they helped propel the young country into the forefront of the world's industrial powers.

Their creations helped save a nation divided, while planting seeds that would divide the country again a century later. Their inventions embodied an intoxicating thread of American individualism—part fiction, part reality—that remains the foundation of modern gun culture. They promoted guns not only for the soldier, but for the Everyman, and also made themselves wealthy beyond their most fevered dreams.

Gun Barons captures how their bold inventiveness dwelled in the psyche of an entire people, not just in the minds of men who made firearm fortunes. Whether we revere these larger-than-life men or vilify them, they helped forge the American character.

©2022 John Bainbridge, Jr. (P)2022 Tantor

A (at the time) New Era of Firearm Technology

"Gun Barons" by John Bainbridge Jr. is not among the most important history books, but Mr. Bainbridge does an excellent job of telling the engaging story of a breakthrough era of American gun making. Mainly, the book covers approximately the second half of the 1800s. Here are the stories of these new guns and of the men that invented and fought over (and with) them. This is an educational book. The narrator, Lee Goettl, is basically flawless and completely undistracting. I would read part II (covering gun making in say, 1900 to 1940) if Mr. Bainbridge would write it.

Nice mix of engineering history and US History

Excellent mix of engineering history - how guns were made, technical development, improved or forgotten mechanisms - and the role they played, mostly military obviously - but also the considerable social history surrounding the multigenerational families that are now brand names - Colt, Wesson, Smith, Remington etc. Only shortcoming is that some pictures and diagrams are needed --- have to Google the stuff ever now and then to get a full understanding - what's a rolling-block action and how does it work ?

Very in depth history of weapons.

Amazing book about the makers of weapons and the history behind the development of Guns. If you guns this is a must listen for you.

History Not Forgotten

I started reading this book on the recommendation of a friend. Due to a schedule change, I changed the audible edition. The amount of information and data in this book is amazing. The reader very pleasant and easy to listen to and understand. Great great experience.

Great stuff!

If you like history or guns or both, this is your next book! Well worth a listen.

Well written history of the arms industry

I greatly enjoyed the pace and tone of this book. Well written detailed history of the development of arms industry.

Good listen

I thought this was a pretty entertaining history of gun manufacturers. They did a good job.

ue.

Great historical perspective on the “inventors & financiers”, as well as how gun technologies tied into the growing pains of a still young USA.

Great Book on Firearms History

If you have any interest in firearms and history this is a must read. One of the premier books I have read on firearms history.

Condescending and Biased at best

I have been trying to get through this extremely condescending view of firearm history....If you are truly interested in firearm history, don't subject yourself to this Biased anti gun history story. So much has been left out to support the authors opinion and support an apparent agenda.