From Presidents to Outlaws: The Most Impressive Gun Collections in the U.S.

The United States is home to a staggering portion of the world's civilian-owned firearms—approximately 46% of them, according to the Small Arms Survey.

Meanwhile, a June 2023 survey by Pew Research finds that about four in ten U.S. adults (42%) say they live in a household with a gun, and roughly 32% say they personally own one.

Some people take gun ownership far beyond the basics, amassing both antique and modern weapons into vast private collections. Across the country, from Oklahoma to Washington, D.C,. you'll find some of the most impressive firearms collections, whether in private homes or museums. These troves often include historical pieces once owned by figures like Eli Whitney or artifacts from the Wild West. In rare cases, even former presidents or high-level politicians feature in the provenance of certain weapons.

To compile this list of remarkable gun collections, 24/7 Tempo reviewed many display videos from YouTube, cross-referenced information from organizations like the National Rifle Association and Military.com, and checked FBI sources where relevant.

• Location: Claremore, Oklahoma
• Number of Firearms: Over 12,000

The number one entry on this list of the most impressive gun collections is the J.M Davis Collection. Owned by John Monroe Davis, he started collecting as a young boy when he refused to take his medicine. His father bribed him with a small shotgun so he'd drink it. The rest is history.

This collection has guns of all types in cases hanging on the walls and out on display. There are also non-firearm artifacts, including beer steins and Old West saddles. Altogether, there are 12,000 guns, making it possibly the world's largest.

• Location: Springfield, Massachusetts
• Number of Firearms: 11,000

Easily one of the biggest gun collections ever, the Springfield Armory Museum is very impressive, which makes sense since it started way back in 1777. This collection has many different firearms in a variety of models and styles. There are muskets, rifles, and prototypes of guns that never became a reality.

It also included guns you won't find anywhere else, including an Erskine Allin's M1873 Trapdoor, the Springfield Model 1816, the M60 machine gun, and more. You can also check out a large selection of weapons used by both the Allied and Axis forces.

• Location: Cody, Wyoming
• Number of Firearms: 7,000

The Cody Firearms Museum has had many reiterations over the years, but it remains the place to see just about any firearm you can imagine. There are many historical weapons here, including the personal collection owned by inventor Eli Whitney, Jr., as well as the firearms of past presidents, including Vice President Dick Cheney and Presidents Regan and Roosevelt.

You can also see firearms that go back to the legacy of Buffalo Bill. There are also air guns and miniature firearms. The guns are nicely laid out and categorized by factory collection, historical period, and more.

• Location: Washington, DC
• Number of Firearms: About 7,000

For one of the largest and most prestigious gun collections in the country, head to the Smithsonian in Washington. This is a repository of some of the oldest firearms in the country. While the collection officially has close to 7,000 guns, if you go there, you'll find that most of them are packed away, and only about 150 are on display.

Still, it's an incredible collection of guns and gun-related memorabilia, including small arms and ammunition of all types. Many engraved firearms once owned by famous faces, including one presented by Joseph Stalin, are in the collection.

• Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Number of Firearms: 3,500

This museum isn't dedicated exclusively to firearms, but it does have close to 3,500 on display as part of the 4.5 billion total items within its walls. There are many guns from around the world, including some from Japan, India, and more. You can also see nineteenth-century muskets, guns that prospectors in the Great Basin used for protection, and Henry and Colt rifles.

Included are educational materials to inform on the development of guns between 1650 and 1940. The set also has many guns from World War I and so much more.

• Location: Rock Island, Illinois
• Number of Firearms: 1,790

If you want to learn everything you could ever know about guns, stop by this collection in Illinois, which has 1,202 of the almost 1,800 firearms on display. This museum, located on an active army base, is overseen by the U.S. Army.

The 1,200 guns on display are encased in glass cabinets, and files are available for each gun so you can learn all about them. Many of the guns were used throughout history by Cheyenne and Sioux warriors. They also have the Flapper Rifle prototype, invented by John Moses Browning.

• Location: Lion, NY
• Number of Firearms: 2,000

This is one of the biggest gun collections hosted by one of the most famous gun manufacturers: the Remington Arms Company. Although there are 2,000 guns, only about 250 can be seen, but it's a great display and overall collection. The museum is separated into different categories, like revolvers, shotguns, pocket pistols, percussion, rolling-block rifles, and more.

In addition to all the different types of guns, they also have the one millionth and the 10 millionth guns ever manufactured. You can't see the gun collection online. Instead, you must go in person.

• Location: Houston, Texas
• Number of Firearms: Around 10,000

You'll be able to see about 3,500 of the 10,000 guns on display at what is technically a gun store that sells new and used firearms. This place has it all, starting with guns dating back to the year 1500, as well as many modern options.

You'll find just about everything here, including cowboy action revolvers, classic European semi-automatics, cartridge handguns, and more. Even if you don't buy anything in this shop, you can hang out and speak with the owners about all things firearms, and it can be a lot of fun.

• Location: Ogden, Utah
• Number of Firearms: 423

This museum is part of the larger Union Station Museum that's in Ogden, Utah. This big collection has many prototypes of John Browning's classic firearm designs, most of which were not entered into production. Besides that, there are many rifles, shotguns, pistols, gas-operated guns, and more. You won't find many of these weapons anywhere else, like the Winchester 30/30 and various lever action rifles.

• Location: Bartlesville, Oklahoma
• Number of Firearms: 650+

Phil Phillips, the nephew of Frank Phillips, founder of the Phillips Petroleum Company, helped to create this great collection of many different Colt revolvers. Some of the weapons in this large collection include very historical pieces, such as several ​​Colt Pattersons from as early as the 1830s. There's also a pretty sizable collection of Winchesters and other notable firearms to check out during your visit.

• Location: Lexington, Virginia
• Number of Firearms: 800

If you're looking for something new, check out the Henry M. Steward collection at the Virginia Military Institute. Guns from some of the most noteworthy historical moments in world history are included in this collection, like the Walther PPK, which was ordered by Hitler, and the first experimental AR-15.

This is where you can find one of the only three known Artemis Wheeler revolvers, the Browning Harmonica rifle, and Dean & Adams revolvers. It's a great collection worth visiting at least once.

• Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Number of Firearms: 104

Though it's not one of the biggest gun collections, this selection at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is still quite impressive. The 104 guns have been specially chosen out of many others to show the evolution of firearms.

Among their selections, they have Colt-Paterson revolvers from the 1830s, Smith & Wesson, Parkers, and more. To make the display even more exciting, many of the firearms on display from the 1800s are shown in dioramas that depict them with trappers, soldiers, cowboys, and hunters.

• Location: Titusville, Florida
• Number of Firearms: 1,000

Another one of the biggest gun collections is the massive display found at the Institute for Military Technology. This collection was started by C. Reed Knight Jr., who was the President of a firearm manufacturing company and decided to turn it into this institute.

Come here, and you can see four hundred production and experimental rifles on display, plus crew machine guns, field cannons, and more. You can also see other incredible military displays, including restored tanks, artillery and military vehicles, and other weapons and tools that are being restored.

• Location: Los Angeles, California
• Number of Firearms: 100+

This gallery is one of the biggest gun collections that consists mostly of Colt revolvers. This gallery originally opened in 2011 with the idea of showing the public the major impact that the Colt revolver had on the contemporary West and the American frontier.

There are several great pieces on display, including the Colt revolver that was owned by Theodore Roosevelt, the exact gun that Doc Holliday used at the O.K. Corral and the rifle that Billy the Kid once held.

• Location: Fairfax, Virginia
• Number of Firearms: Over 3,000

Our final entry on the list of the biggest gun collections is the National Firearms Museum. There are many contemporary guns to see. However, many people go for the historical artifacts. Some firearms were owned by Dwight Eisenhower, Annie Oakley, and others.

This museum also has what many believe is the oldest gun in history: a cannon that was built in 1350. You can visit this museum and learn a lot about the Old West.