Documentary Narrator

This is Sam Cummings, and this 57-year-old is the biggest private military weapons dealer in the world.

This is Sam Cummings, and this 57-year-old is the biggest private military weapons dealer in the world.

Every morning, Cummings uses a telex to keep in touch with his military customers and branch offices. A telex comes in from Sudan, offering surplus military equipment.

Every morning, Cummings uses a telex to keep in touch with his military customers and branch offices. A telex comes in from Sudan, offering surplus military equipment.

Cummings' military weapons are shipped and stored at Inner Arms House in Manchester, England. At any given moment, there are a quarter of a million guns here. And on little notice, Cummings says he would have no trouble equipping a fair-sized army.

Cummings' military weapons are shipped and stored at Inner Arms House in Manchester, England. At any given moment, there are a quarter of a million guns here. And on little notice, Cummings says he would have no trouble equipping a fair-sized army.

Can you believe this kind of thing was going on in the 50s and 60s? Sam Cummings has sold or bought arms from almost every country in the world. Interarms has supplied Africa, and his company's weapons have shown up in Egypt. His guns were used at the Bay of Pigs by Fidel Castro and in Nicaragua under Somoza. But Cummings' best customers are countries in Asia.

Can you believe this kind of thing was going on in the 50s and 60s? Sam Cummings has sold or bought arms from almost every country in the world. Interarms has supplied Africa, and his company's weapons have shown up in Egypt. His guns were used at the Bay of Pigs by Fidel Castro and in Nicaragua under Somoza. But Cummings' best customers are countries in Asia.

Cummings has sold tens of millions of guns to armies and sportsmen.

Cummings has sold tens of millions of guns to armies and sportsmen.

But, okay. He asked us not to take pictures of his wife or his college-age daughters for security reasons.

But, okay. He asked us not to take pictures of his wife or his college-age daughters for security reasons.

As a young arms buff, Cummings got his start at the CIA. His assignment was to buy surplus weapons in Europe. At the age of 23, he left the spy agency and started his own business.

As a young arms buff, Cummings got his start at the CIA. His assignment was to buy surplus weapons in Europe. At the age of 23, he left the spy agency and started his own business.