The complete collection
The journal.
Design, heritage and responsible ownership. Find a story worth your time.
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A field guide to the icons.
Five research profiles. One wider story.
Explore the selection ↗11 stories
Editorial Selections
5 firearm designs that shaped American gun culture
Five entry points into a larger story of design, institutions and cultural memory. An editorial selection—not a best-to-worst ranking.
6 min read Read story ↗
Photo credit
Askild Antonsen · CC BY 2.0 · Resized; WebP conversionResearch Profiles
Colt 1911: a century of design influence
From a military designation to a lasting design vocabulary.
5 min read Read story ↗
Photo credit
Martin1998cz · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized; WebP conversionResearch Profiles
Glock 19: the evolution of a modern icon
Austrian origins. A modern identity across generations.
5 min read Read story ↗
Research Profiles
Winchester Model 1873: the legend behind the lever action
A Western icon, read through the historical record.
5 min read Read story ↗
Photo credit
Sgt. James Stanfield / U.S. Marine Corps · Public domain — U.S. federal work · Resized; WebP conversionResearch Profiles
M1 Garand: an American industrial story
The inventor, the institution and the industrial story.
5 min read Read story ↗
Photo credit
Hmaag · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized; WebP conversionResearch Profiles
Browning Auto-5: the silhouette that became an icon
A transatlantic history behind a distinctive silhouette.
5 min read Read story ↗Craftsmanship
The details behind the design
A closer look at the materials, ornament and human decisions that give an object its character.
4 min read Read story ↗
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Safety & Storage
Responsible storage starts here
A clear starting point for secure storage, controlled access and a more thoughtful household routine.
4 min read Read story ↗Editorial Standards
What counts as evidence?
A specification, an observation and a conclusion are different things. Good editorial work makes the distinction visible.
4 min read Read story ↗Responsible Ownership
A household conversation worth having
Responsibility extends to guests, visiting children and the questions we ask before a visit.
3 min read Read story ↗Heritage
Beyond the legend: reading the historical record
How archives and museum collections help us separate a familiar American story from the evidence behind it.
4 min read Read story ↗No stories found.
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