After the handgun, it is perhaps the most familiar of all weapons. Large, powerful and able to cover a wide area with a single pull of the trigger, shotguns have an allure?and a danger?all their own. TALES OF THE GUN sets it's sights on this ubiquitous firearm, documenting it's origins, tracing it's development and showcasing extraordinary examples of the gunsmiths? art. The world's first specialized weapon, it was originally used by the British upper class to shoot birds and small game for sport. It is still a favorite of hunters, but SHOTGUNS shows how it's role has expanded dramatically in the centuries since it made it's debut. Filled with interviews with gunmakers, collectors and historians, this is the definitive profile of one of the world's most familiar weapons.