Owen Guns Trust Museum

New to Owen Guns!
Now we are stockists of SUREFIRE.

We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has watched, shared, commented on and expressed interest in our new KOKODA firearm. The response to our recent testing video has been overwhelming, and we truly appreciate the enthusiasm and support from the shooting community.

We'd just like to clarify that the firearm is currently in the prototype testing and development stage. The purpose of releasing the video was simply to showcase our progress and gauge expressions of interest. At this stage, we are unable to provide an ETA on when the firearm will be available for purchase or acquisition, as there is still extensive testing, refinement and development ahead.

The KOKODA is proudly designed and manufactured right here in Gympie, Queensland, by our team led by Ron Owen. As development is ongoing, our front-of-house staff are unfortunately unable to provide updates or answer technical questions regarding the project.

If you would like to register your interest or have specific questions about the KOKODA project, please contact Ron directly at:

- [email protected]

We'll continue to share updates as we progress through the design, testing and manufacturing process, with our goal of bringing the KOKODA to market during 2026–2027.

Once again, thank you for your patience, encouragement and continued support. It's exciting to see so many people following the journey, and we look forward to bringing you along as the project develops.

–Ron & The Owen Guns Team

This Merchandise Monday we would like to introduce Southern Cross Ammo.
This is a brand new line of Ammo made in Australia. It is sold in boxes of 50 and can be purchased for just under $80

Ballistic Performance Matrix
Velocity, Energy, and Drop Calculations for .223 REM 55GR SP

Range (Yds) Velocity (FPS) Energy (Ft/Lb) Trajectory (Inches)
Muzzle 3200 1251 -1.65
100 2760 931 0.0
200 2365 683 -4.0
300 2015 496 -16.8
400 1705 355 -39.8
500 1435 252 -75.0

Welcome back to another Firearm Friday from Owen Guns, where we take a closer look at the remarkable fi****ms that have shaped history. This week we're shining the spotlight on a revolver that represents an important milestone in C**t's evolution, the C**t New Line .38. Elegant, compact and innovative for its time, the New Line helped bridge the gap between the percussion revolvers that made C**t famous and the metallic cartridge revolvers that would define the next generation of fi****ms.
By the early 1870s, fi****ms technology was advancing at an incredible pace. For decades, Samuel C**t's percussion revolvers had dominated both military and civilian markets around the world. However, the introduction of reliable self-contained metallic cartridges changed everything. Shooters no longer needed loose powder, lead balls and percussion caps, instead loading complete cartridges that offered greater reliability, faster reloading and improved resistance to the elements. C**t recognised that the future belonged to cartridge fi****ms, and in 1874 introduced the New Line series as a modern answer to the growing demand for compact personal defence revolvers.
Manufactured in Hartford, Connecticut, the New Line was offered in several calibres including .22, .30, .32, .38 and .41. Each model was designed as a quality pocket revolver for civilians who wanted a reliable firearm that could be carried discreetly. Businessmen, travellers, shopkeepers and law enforcement officers all found the New Line appealing thanks to its compact dimensions, quality construction and the confidence that came with the C**t name.
The revolver displayed in the Owen Guns Museum is a C**t New Line .38, serial number 14912, manufactured in approximately 1875. Chambered for the .38 C**t black powder cartridge, it is a five-shot, single-action revolver that perfectly illustrates C**t's philosophy of combining simplicity with precision engineering.
One of the most striking aspects of the New Line is its design. Unlike many revolvers of the era that featured open-top frames or more elaborate mechanisms, the New Line was built around a solid frame, providing additional strength and rigidity while maintaining a slim, graceful profile. This robust construction contributed to its reputation for durability and reliability, qualities that C**t had become famous for throughout the nineteenth century.
The revolver loads through a side loading gate located on the right-hand side of the frame. Once fired, each spent cartridge is individually removed using the spring-loaded ejector rod housed neatly alongside the barrel. While slower to reload than later swing-out cylinder revolvers, this was a proven and dependable system that remained common for many years and was also used on C**t's iconic Single Action Army revolver.
Perhaps the feature that immediately catches the eye is the spur trigger. By eliminating the traditional trigger guard, C**t produced an exceptionally compact revolver that could be drawn smoothly from a pocket without snagging on clothing. Combined with the distinctive bird's-head grip, the New Line fits naturally into the hand despite its small size, providing surprising comfort and control for such a compact firearm. The curved grip also helped reduce the felt recoil of the black powder .38 C**t cartridge, making the revolver more manageable than its dimensions might suggest.
Attention to detail was another hallmark of C**t's craftsmanship. The New Line featured a finely fluted cylinder, elegantly shaped frame contours and a beautifully balanced profile that reflected both function and style. Originally, these revolvers left the Hartford factory with a rich blued finish, colour case-hardened hammer and trigger, and hard rubber grips bearing the famous C**t motif. Even today, over 150 years later, the design remains unmistakably C**t and demonstrates the high standard of manufacturing that established the company's worldwide reputation.
Our museum example carries decorative grip panels that differ from the standard factory grips commonly encountered on New Line revolvers. Whether fitted by a proud owner during its working life or supplied through a retailer as an aftermarket option, they provide another chapter in the revolver's story and remind us that many historic fi****ms evolved alongside the people who carried them.
Although production of the New Line was relatively short-lived, its historical significance should not be overlooked. It represented C**t's successful transition into the metallic cartridge era and demonstrated the company's ability to adapt during one of the most important periods of fi****ms development. Many of the engineering principles refined during the New Line's production would influence C**t revolvers for decades to come.
Today, surviving examples are increasingly sought after by collectors for both their historical importance and their elegant Victorian styling. While they may never achieve the same legendary status as the C**t Single Action Army, the New Line occupies an equally fascinating place in fi****ms history as one of C**t's earliest successful cartridge revolvers—a firearm designed not for the battlefield, but for the everyday citizen seeking dependable protection in a rapidly changing world.
Until next Friday, remember that every firearm has a story, and we're proud to help keep those stories alive here at Owen Guns.

It's our fearless leader's birthday today. Also, My Dad.
I often describe him as a mad scientist, the smartest man I know, outspoken on every subject, passionate, big-hearted, messy, persistent, a traditionalist but a rebel.
He made fi****ms his life, alongside providing for his family. I am very grateful to have such a wonderful Dad.
Happy Birthday!

Chester's Pick's keep growing everyday! We have updated our website again, and there are some beauties! We love re-homing guns so if you are in the market for a pre-loved Firearm, look no further than Owen Guns!

Happy Merchandise Monday
This week we have Rubber Buckshot back in stock!
Clever Defensa 12-gauge rubber buckshot are non-lethal, ecological shotgun cartridges. Each shell contains 15 rubber SG pellets and is designed for deterrence, bird scaring, and training. Because they are designed to limit pe*******on, they are primarily used in Australia by farmers, law enforcement, and for localised wildlife control.

The Howa M1100 22LR is an affordable way to get your rimfire fix.
We have them in Walnut, Synthetic, Oryx Chassis and a Walnut scope package.
And they all come with 10-shot magazines.
Made in Japan.

Welcome back to another Firearm Friday at Owen Guns! This week we're taking a closer look at a truly fascinating piece of 19th-century firearm craftsmanship.
a beautifully built German Schützen target rifle that, after extensive research and careful examination, has now been confirmed as a Haenel-made firearm associated with Mannheim, Germany.
At first glance, this rifle immediately stands apart from ordinary sporting arms of its era. Chambered in .32 calibre, it features a heavy octagonal barrel that transitions gracefully to a round profile near the muzzle, a beautifully figured walnut Schützen-style stock, finely crafted double-set triggers, and a precision adjustable rear sight. Every element of the rifle was designed with one purpose in mind: exceptional accuracy in competitive target shooting.
The Schützen tradition dates back centuries in the German-speaking world. Originally formed as civic shooting guilds responsible for local defence, these organisations gradually evolved into highly respected sporting clubs where marksmanship became both a pastime and a matter of pride. By the mid-1800s, Schützen competitions attracted thousands of competitors, and specialist rifles like this one represented the pinnacle of precision engineering. Lightweight triggers, carefully rifled barrels, ergonomic stocks and sophisticated sights allowed skilled marksmen to achieve remarkable accuracy from the standing position.
During our inspection, this rifle revealed a number of remarkable features. The slow-twist rifling, patent-style breech, percussion ignition system and superb workmanship all place its manufacture firmly in the mid-19th century, likely between 1845 and 1865. The barrel bears a worn inscription ending in "MANN.", indicating its association with Mannheim, while further research has confirmed the rifle was manufactured by C. G. Haenel, one of Germany's most respected gunmakers. Founded in 1840 in Suhl, the Haenel company quickly earned a reputation for producing exceptionally high-quality sporting, hunting and military fi****ms. Long before the company became famous for later cartridge arms, Haenel's craftsmen were already building finely made percussion target rifles such as this example, showcasing the precision and attention to detail that would become synonymous with the Haenel name.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of historic fi****ms is that the research can often be just as rewarding as the rifle itself. What began as an unidentified German target rifle led us through proof marks, barrel construction, period gunmaking techniques and historical records before finally uncovering its Haenel origins. Each clue added another piece to the puzzle, transforming an anonymous muzzle-loading rifle into a documented example of German sporting history.
Today, this rifle stands as a wonderful example of the artistry and engineering that defined the golden age of European target shooting. It represents a time when competitive marksmanship was celebrated throughout Germany, and master gunmakers built bespoke rifles capable of astonishing precision more than 160 years ago.
If you'd like to see this remarkable Haenel Schützen rifle in person, be sure to visit the Owen Guns Museum, where it now proudly forms part of our growing collection of historic fi****ms and the stories that accompany them.
Until next Friday, keep your powder dry, preserve our fi****ms heritage, and remember, every historic firearm has a story waiting to be told.