Specialist History Museum

NRA National Firearms Museum

An official NRA museum publication identifies an 1851 Colt Navy revolver carried by Civil War Medal of Honor recipient Byron M. Cutcheon during the pursuit of Morgan’s Raiders, together with Cutcheon’s later-design Medal of Honor. The artifacts were described as part of the Norm Flayderman family donation; the dated article does not establish their precise 2026 case location.

MOH-MUS-000113Evidence reviewed 2026-10-10Open to the public

Interior collection galleries at the NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia.Photo: Ajay Suresh; CC BY 2.0 · CC BY 2.0 ↗ · Source ↗

Historical context

About this institution

The NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax organizes centuries of American firearms development in themed galleries, with particular attention to objects connected to historical figures and military campaigns. Collection provenance can sometimes be traced to prominent private donors, and several displays connect antique weapons with uniforms, decorations, and the people who carried them.

Why it matters to Medal of Honor research

A museum-organization source associates a documented original firearm and later medal design with one Civil War recipient. This is valuable object provenance and helps distinguish medal revisions from separately awarded valor decorations.

Collection guide

What to look for

The following highlights summarize the strongest verified reasons to include this institution in the archive. They are a planning guide, not a promise that every object is on view at all times.

Cutcheon-associated Colt Model 1851 revolver from an NRA-documented donation

Cutcheon revised Medal of Honor illustrated in museum publication

Fifteen galleries with extensive military firearm history

Verified connections

Medal of Honor relationships

2 total1 original medal

Weapon or equipment

Byron M Cutcheon

An official NRA journal documents the actual Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver Cutcheon carried while serving with the 20th Michigan Infantry in 1863. The historic firearm entered the NRA museum collections through a named donor family.

Record: Byron M Cutcheon .36-caliber Colt Navy revolver

Verified 2026-10-10 · Current, display status not specified

Evidence sources and scope

NRA museum official journal — Byron Cutcheon Colt 1851 and medal donation ↗NRA America’s 1st Freedom

Artifact association in 2017 magazine, not 2026 visibility.

Original Medal of Honor

Byron M Cutcheon

The 2017 NRA collection feature identifies Cutcheon’s revised-design Medal of Honor among donated pieces alongside his historical sidearm. Museum holdings should not be mistaken for current exhibit-case availability.

Record: Byron Cutcheon revised-design original Medal of Honor

Verified 2026-10-10 · Historical

Evidence sources and scope

NRA museum official journal — Byron Cutcheon Colt 1851 and medal donation ↗NRA America’s 1st Freedom

2017 original/revised medal reported in museum collection; current possession and display not refreshed in 2026.

Collection focus

Historical specialties

Civil War small arms and provenanceByron Cutcheon historical Colt revolverOriginal and revised Medal of Honor designs

Service connections

U.S. Army

Visitor planning

Visit the Fairfax firearm-history galleries for hundreds of historical weapons and exhibits. Ask museum staff whether Byron Cutcheon’s documented revolver and medal remain currently exhibited before making a special trip.

11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, Virginia, 22030
United States

Open location in OpenStreetMap ↗Official website ↗Current visitor information ↗Collection or exhibit information ↗

Public museum is located inside the NRA Headquarters complex; follow current visitor guidance and check for unusual access restrictions.
The 2017 magazine item verifies associated historic objects, not whether both are currently visible in the galleries.

Admission prices, opening schedules, installation rules, and object availability are left to the institution because they can change.

Access status

Open to the public

Map point: 38.862816, -77.335517 · Verified Primary Building Photo Location

Institution sources

NRA National Firearms Museum — official facilities and opening information ↗NRA Museums · Priority 1
NRA museum official journal — Byron Cutcheon Colt 1851 and medal donation ↗NRA America’s 1st Freedom · Priority 1

Archive standard

“Original Medal of Honor” relationships require direct source evidence. A location record is not described as a current public display unless the institution confirms display status.