Issue 09 Preview – Visit – Springfield Armory National Historic Site Jay Grazio Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More Established by George Washington, This Tribute to the American Industrial Era Has an Incredible Collection of Machinery and Weapons Springfield Armory. What image do these two words conjure in your mind? For some, it’s synonymous with the polymer-framed, striker-fired handguns imported from Croatia. Others might equate the name with 1911-style pistols. Many might recall the line of accurate semi-automatic rifles that sprang from the M14. That’s the modern Springfield Armory, Inc., a commercial enterprise based in Illinois and founded in 1974. The original Springfield Armory was established in Springfield, Massachusetts, during the Revolutionary War to store armaments. In 1794, President Washington paved the way for small-arms manufacturing in addition to the storage of weapons. An arsenal had become an armory, and a legend was born. There’s now a museum on the site where the armory once produced firearms, and we took a visit one sunny Friday to step back in time. Richard Colton, the resident historian, was kind enough to take time out of his schedule to walk us through the exhibits. His enthusiasm for the museum’s exhibits and extensive knowledge made the visit come alive. We were permitted a quick look upstairs at the “super-secret” items, in this case a “rapid-fire” .54-caliber weapon developed for suppressive fire at the time of the Civil War. This particular model was manufactured by Billinghurst-Requa and has a serial number of 1. It’s slated for display at the museum in the future, but you’re seeing it here first! The museum is divided into two sections — “Industry” and “Weapons.” The industry side focuses on the processes and people involved in the design, creation, and production of firearms. It covers the evolution of firearms production, as the processes changed from hand-crafting each firearm to the use of machines powered by water, steam, and electricity. Machinery used to create firearms is featured prominently, from stock-making machines to rifling machines to lathes and other pertinent devices. Design and production from various periods are given as examples, with wooden mockups of percussion actions and M1 receivers with machining tolerances sketched in grease pencil getting equal attention. For the rest of this article, subscribe digitally here: RECOIL Issue 9 Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
