Firearms Exhibit

This is a 12-gauge Rev-O-Noc double-barreled shotgun, manufactured by H.S.B. & Co. in 1896. Donated by Fred and Russell Johnson, 1957 MCHS Collections #1957-3-2

This online firearms exhibit was created for the Morrison County Historical Society by Saint John’s University/College of Saint Benedict writing intern Ray Mulvey in fall 2020. All firearms are from MCHS’s collections.

Thank you to the Minnesota Military Museum for its assistance in providing information on these firearms.

Firearms Exhibit

The right to bear arms is considered by many people to be one of the cornerstones of the American Constitution. Going back many years, ownership of a firearm was an important part of being a U.S. citizen, because in the early years of west-ward expansion, owning and being able to effectively use a rifle or shotgun was needed to protect what you cared about, or to provide for your family. This concept was evident not only on the individual level, but also the governmental scale, as men left to fight in wars abroad and brought back medals, scars, and perhaps the firearms they or their enemies used. In this exhibit, we will give a few examples of some of these historical firearms that have been donated to the museum over the years, each with its own unique story seeped into the wood and tarnish.

Gun 1

This is a muzzle-loaded rifle. According to the history that was submitted with this firearm, this is a “frontier rifle” that was used by A.W. Cook, the father-in-law of the donor, while he was working as a member of a U.S. surveying crew. Donated by Ole Christenson, 1947 MCHS Collections #1947-33-1(a)
This is a muzzle-loaded rifle. According to the history that was submitted with this firearm, this is a “frontier rifle” that was used by A.W. Cook, the father-in-law of the donor, while he was working as a member of a U.S. surveying crew.
Donated by Ole Christenson, 1947
MCHS Collections #1947-33-1(a)

Gun 2

This is muzzle-loaded double-barreled shotgun, used during the 1870s. Since this was donated together with the frontier rifle, it’s possible that both were originally owned and used by A.W. Cook. Civilian guns like these were kept by people such as farmers, or surveyors in this case, and used for activities like hunting or for personal protection. Donated by Ole Christenson, 1947 MCHS Collections #1947-33-1(b)
This is muzzle-loaded double-barreled shotgun, used during the 1870s. Since this was donated together with the frontier rifle, it’s possible that both were originally owned and used by A.W. Cook. Civilian guns like these were kept by people such as farmers, or surveyors in this case, and used for activities like hunting or for personal protection.
Donated by Ole Christenson, 1947
MCHS Collections #1947-33-1(b)

Gun 3

This is a 12-gauge Rev-O-Noc double-barreled shotgun, manufactured by H.S.B. & Co. in 1896. Donated by Fred and Russell Johnson, 1957 MCHS Collections #1957-3-2
This is a 12-gauge Rev-O-Noc double-barreled shotgun, manufactured by H.S.B. & Co. in 1896.
Donated by Fred and Russell Johnson, 1957
MCHS Collections #1957-3-2

Gun 4

This is an Arisaka Type 99 bolt-action rifle. It bears the marking for the Kokura Arsenal, formally named the Tokyo Arsenal, and was manufactured in Japan between 1938 and 1945 to be used for World War II. It once had an engraving of a chrysanthemum, which was the personal seal of Emperor Hirohito. After this rifle was surrendered to U.S. forces, the Imperial Seal was ground off, thereby removing its connection to the Emperor of Japan. Donated by Adam Trafas, 1953 MCHS Collections #1953-29-1
This is an Arisaka Type 99 bolt-action rifle. It bears the marking for the Kokura Arsenal, formally named the Tokyo Arsenal, and was manufactured in Japan between 1938 and 1945 to be used for World War II. It once had an engraving of a chrysanthemum, which was the personal seal of Emperor Hirohito. After this rifle was surrendered to U.S. forces, the Imperial Seal was ground off, thereby removing its connection to the Emperor of Japan.
Donated by Adam Trafas, 1953
MCHS Collections #1953-29-1

Gun 5

This is an Arisaka Type 99. This particular rifle is fitted with a monopod to steady the rifle while the soldier using it was laying down on the ground. The purpose of this monopod was to enable the rifle to more accurately hit U.S. aircraft, thus acting as a sort of makeshift anti-aircraft weapon. Donated by Dr. David Fortier, 1956 MCHS Collections #1956-4-4
This is an Arisaka Type 99. This particular rifle is fitted with a monopod to steady the rifle while the soldier using it was laying down on the ground. The purpose of this monopod was to enable the rifle to more accurately hit U.S. aircraft, thus acting as a sort of makeshift anti-aircraft weapon.
Donated by Dr. David Fortier, 1956
MCHS Collections #1956-4-4

Gun 6

This is a Springfield Model 1884 Trapdoor breech-loading rifle, manufactured in 1888. The Springfield was used as the official rifle of the U.S. Army, and this particular rifle was owned by the Minnesota National Guard in 1917. This model of the Springfield was obsolete by the beginning of the 20th century, but had been used by the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War, some even travelling as far as the Philippines. Donated by the “Veterans of Foreign War” organization, 1938 MCHS Collections #1938-34-4AB
This is a Springfield Model 1884 Trapdoor breech-loading rifle, manufactured in 1888. The Springfield was used as the official rifle of the U.S. Army, and this particular rifle was owned by the Minnesota National Guard in 1917. This model of the Springfield was obsolete by the beginning of the 20th century, but had been used by the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War, some even travelling as far as the Philippines.
Donated by the “Veterans of Foreign War” organization, 1938
MCHS Collections #1938-34-4AB