The United States has the highest rate of civilian gun owners worldwide, with 46% of the world’s firearms belonging to U.S. citizens. According to a Pew Research Center survey, four in ten adults state they live in a home with a gun, and 32% claim to own one. But for those who delve much deeper into ownership, amassing weaponry both old and new, it has led to some of the most impressive gun collections ever curated.
The gun collections on this list are located across the country, from Oklahoma to Washington, D.C. Many are private collections, while others are located in museums. Many of these collections have thousands of firearms that run the gamut from old and historical guns, previously owned by notables like inventor Eli Whitney to those used during the Wild West. Some collections contain weapons that politicians, including Dick Cheney and President Regan owned.
To determine the most impressive gun collections ever curated, 24/7 Tempo scoured the internet, viewing videos many gun collectors show off on YouTube and checking other online sources, including the National Rifle Association, Military.com, and the FBI. (Don’t miss the iconic guns that won the Old West.)
J.M. Davis Collection
- 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.
Springfield Armory Museum
- 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.
Cody Firearms Museum
- 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.
National Firearms Collection of the Smithsonian
- 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.
Milwaukee Public Museum
- 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 1650-1940. The set also has many guns from World War I and so much more.
Rock Island Arsenal Museum
- 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.
Remington Firearms Museum
- 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.
Collectors Firearms
- 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.
John M. Browning Firearms Museum
- 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.
Waldo Wilson Colt Collection
- 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.
Henry M. Stewart Antique Firearms Collection
- 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.
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
- 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.
Institute for Military Technology
- 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.
Greg Martin Colt Gallery at the Autry National Center
- 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.
The National Firearms Museum
- 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 more.
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. Want to learn more about that time? Check out this gallery of pictures that show what life was like in the Wild West.