REVIEW

DVD Review: Tales Of The Gun - The Complete Collection

Written by T. Michael Testi
Published January 29, 2008

Tales Of The Gun: The Complete Collection is a 32-disk collection of the History Channel TV series that focuses on the history of guns. Each disk is about 50 minutes in length for a total running time of 26 hours and 40 minutes.

From the early days to modern times, all aspects of the gun are discussed. This series has something for everyone. Weapons from the earliest guns of the middle ages through the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and World War II are examined. Topics ranging from German guns, Israeli guns, million dollar guns, and infamous guns are explored in detail. Because of the wide range of topics that are contained in this set, I have focused on my favorites of the 32 disks.

"The Early Guns" is a chronicle of the drive to prefect the handheld weapon. This video covers over eight centuries of gun technology from the very first hand cannons to the 19th century musket.

"Early Machine Guns" details the development of this weapon from innovators like Richard Gatling and Hiram Maxim to the bloodiest battles of World War I where it was responsible for the death of almost 60,000 men.

"Guns of World War II" shows the origin, evolution, and deployment of the guns that shaped WWII. Experts detail the refinements that made the American weapons the most dependable ever built.

"Million Dollar Guns" examines the most valuable guns ever made. These are the ones that are in the collections of the rich and famous and include pistols created for Catherine the Great.

"Guns of Winchester" tells how Oliver Winchester went from shirt maker to gun maker and shows the details of how his product became so popular.

"Guns of the Civil War" saw the introduction of guns that were far more deadly than any ones before. The Civil War was a proving ground for many a new weapon.

"Guns of Smith and Wesson" examines how Horace Smith and Daniel Baird Wesson pushed the limits of firearms by using technology that rewrote history with their self-contained cartridge and the development of the .38 special.

"Rapid Firepower" exposes the development that revolutionized warfare overnight. Using rare footage of long ago battlefields where the machine gun first proved its worth, to the AK-47, this video examines the heavy duty weapons of war.

"Guns of Remington" looks at the history of the gun maker from its start in 1816 as a small factory in upstate New York, to the company that has built over 35 million fire arms over the years.

"Shotguns" examines the most familiar weapon after the hand gun. These large and powerful guns are able to cover a wide area with the single pull of the trigger.

"The Rifle" shows that the simple development of cutting groves into the barrel of a rifle would cause the projectile to spin, which stabilized its flight. This DVD traces the development of the weapon from the days of the American Revolution to today's M-16s.

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T. Michael Testi is a photographer, writer, software developer and ardent fan of fantasy football and horse race handicapping. He also blogs at PhotographyTodayNet and at All This and Everything Else.
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DVD Review: Tales Of The Gun - The Complete Collection
Published: January 29, 2008
Type: Review
Section: Video
Filed Under: Video: Military, Video: Historical, Video: Documentary, Culture: History
Writer: T. Michael Testi
T. Michael Testi's BC Writer page
T. Michael Testi's personal site
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