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The NRA National Firearms Museum opened a gallery highlighting a gun collection from Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Petersen, an entrepreneur and avid outdoorsman who started the largest special-intrest publishing company in the U.S. He founded magazines such as Motor Trend, Hot Rod and Car Craft and published Guns & Ammo. Petersen died at age 80 in March 2007. Photo: motortrend.comWhile Petersen’s first love was cars, he was also a dedicated hunter. He hunted in almost every continent and was the first person on record to kill a polar bear with a .44 magnum handgun. His gun collection will take up 2,000 square feet in the museum, but the NRA has given us a sneak peek at some of the guns that will be on display.Annie Oakley’s Stevens PistolVampire Hunter Colt Detective Special complete with sterling silver bullets and a vial for holy water.JFK Colt New Frontier. Note the serial number PT109. This was specially made in 1963 for the President complete with the Presidential Seal, but he was assassinated before it could be presented to him.A Westley Richards for Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s wedding day.Boss 28 gaugeCased .70 cal. great coat pistols.Colt Single Action Army presentation to Al DeJohn, a Colt employee for 43 years. DeJohn was the superintendent for the Colt Custom Shop from 1976 until he retired in 1989.Dirty Harry S&W 44 Mag.Colt SAA revolving carbineFabbri SxS .410 Thomasoni engravedH&H .600 Nitro ExpressWinchester Model 21, 20 gauge. Petersen was the founder of Motor Trend and other iconic American sporting Magazines.Westley Richards .410 SxSHolland & Holland .375 Mag.Maharani’s Rigby double riflePurdey 12 gauge from the British royal family to Shah of Persia.Rigby 12 gauge SxS.Holland & Holland .700 Nitro ExpressRodda double rifle from the early 20th century.Fraser double rifle .600 Nitro ExpressPurdey 12 gauge o-uRodda 16 bore double rifleEngraved Colt Single Action ArmysThe National Firearms Museum is located at 11250 Waples Mill Road in Fairfax, Virginia, and is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no admission fee. For more information, visit NRAmuseum.com.
Alex Robinson is Outdoor Life’s editor-in-chief. He oversees an ace team of writers, photographers, and editors who are scattered across the continent and cover everything from backcountry sheep hunting to trail running.
