Weapons That Changed the World
TV Show · Documentary

Former Army Ranger and Air Force Pararescueman Wil Willis presents the evolution of military firearms and how the development of each one has changed the face of combat. With exclusive access to top firearms collections, Willis - who teaches Tactical Combat Casualty Care to deploying military units - thoroughly examines, tests, critiques and fires each weapon. In each episode, Willis is joined by historical and technical experts who provide personal insight on the weapon and what makes it unique or separates it from competitors in its class.

2011 · 48m
Starring Wil Willis

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1
    Episode 1
    It's the most influential pistol of the 20th Century: the Colt M1911. Former Army Ranger and Air Force Pararescueman Wil Willis puts this weapon and its predecessors to the test.
    44 min
  • EPISODE 2
    Episode 2
    In combat, your rifle is your best friend. Wil Willis gets into the trenches with an arsenal of rifles, to find out how the musket evolved into a weapon that changed the world.
    44 min
  • EPISODE 3
    Episode 3
    They are some of the most iconic weapons in the world: the Tommy Gun, the Uzi and the Schmeisser. Host Wil Willis explores the evolution of the submachine gun.
    44 min
  • EPISODE 4
    Episode 4
    Wil Willis heads to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the US Army's training ground for fire brigades to see the 428th Field Artillery Brigade launch 155 mm projectiles from the M77 Howitzer.
    44 min
  • EPISODE 5
    Episode 5
    No weapon is more feared than the assault rifle. And no assault rifle has proved more successful than the Soviet AK-47. Wil Willis tracks the history of this revolutionary firearm.
    44 min
  • EPISODE 6
    Episode 6
    How does one man turn a tank into rubble? Find out as host Wil Willis travels to Sweden and California to fire the RPG-7, the AT-4, the Carl Gustav and the SMAW.
    44 min

Related

Cast & Crew

  • W‌W
    Wil Willis
    Actor
  • G‌T
    Gary Tarpinian
    Producer
  • P‌T
    Paninee Theeranuntawat
    Producer
  • R‌S
    Ron Simon
    Producer

About

Weapons That Changed the World

Documentary

Former Army Ranger and Air Force Pararescueman Wil Willis presents the evolution of military firearms and how the development of each one has changed the face of combat. With exclusive access to top firearms collections, Willis - who teaches Tactical Combat Casualty Care to deploying military units - thoroughly examines, tests, critiques and fires each weapon. In each episode, Willis is joined by historical and technical experts who provide personal insight on the weapon and what makes it unique or separates it from competitors in its class.

Information

Studio
TV10
Released
2011
Rated
12
Region of Origin
United States
© 2011 Discovery Communications Inc.

Languages

Original Audio
English (United States)
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)

Copyright © 2025 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

  • Internet Service Terms
  • Apple TV & Privacy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Support
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)