The Controversial Reality Series That Can’t Be Watched Anywhere For A Horrifying Reason
During the height of the Discovery Channel’s output around 2010, the network was cranking out hit series with ease, from Mythbusters to American Chopper, and while most are now found streaming on Max, there’s one series that isn’t streaming anywhere, and it’s likely never coming back. Sons of Guns, from the same mold as the aforementioned shows, followed a firearms manufacturer that took on custom requests, walking the audience through the process and ending each episode with an explosive demonstration.
While it was a hit series, Sons of Guns was abruptly canceled after its fifth season in 2014, following the arrest of host and series lead Will Hayden on serious criminal charges. The stark reality of the criminal charges is so dark and disturbing that not only has the series been wiped from existence, but once anyone knows the story, they immediately stop wondering why it’s gone forever.
Sons Of Guns Was An Immediate Success
The Sons of Guns format should have been sustainable forever. Each episode started with a new client coming into the shop, talking to either Will or his daughter, Stephanie, and then the talented team of gunsmiths would set about figuring out how to make it happen. In the first episode, a request for a shotgun silencer was made, while in the third, a World War Two veteran wanted his flamethrower restored.
Honored Veterans And Educated Viewers
After a series of ups and downs, amplified for dramatic effect, the episode ends with a wild demonstration, typically including exploding barrels. Again, the best is the World War Two flamethrower, as the veteran puts it back on and shows off the skills he learned clearing islands in the Pacific theater. Somehow, he makes flames bounce along the ground for distance, but as fun as the series was on screen, behind the scenes, it was a disaster that ran afoul of the federal government.
Why You’ll Never Watch The Show Again
In 2014, Will Hayden was arrested and charged with molestation of a juvenile and crimes against nature. As horrible as that sounds, it gets worse: the accuser was his twelve-year-old daughter. That was enough for Discovery to immediately cancel Sons of Guns; every streaming company removed the show, including Netflix, and every firearm company that had dealt with Hayden cut ties, as overnight, no one wanted anything to do with him.
And that wasn’t the end of the saga. It gets worse.
Will Hayden Will Die In Prison
Stephanie, Will’s older daughter and a prominent part of Sons of Guns, also came forward and accused her father of abuse. In 2017, Will Hayden was sentenced to forty years plus two life sentences, with no eligibility for parole, and will be behind bars for the rest of his natural life. A third life sentence for two more rape charges was added a month later.
But wait, there’s more.
More Allegations Of Abuse
Sons of Guns is already one of the darkest reality shows to ever air thanks to the actions of Will Hayden, but his daughter Stephanie and her boyfriend, Kris Ford, prominently featured on the show, were both arrested for child endangerment. The sweet romance between the two that played out on the camera was a complete lie, as the pair were together before filming began. Ford was arrested again in 2020 for domestic abuse.
The Reality Show To Watch Instead Is Free To Stream
While Sons of Guns was a success, with the cast appearing in a cross-over episode with Mythbusters at one point, once you know the disturbing back story, it’s easy to see why it’ll never be available again. For those who love firearms and history, check out the History Reality competition, Top Shot, available through The History Channel and Pluto. Sometimes, canceling and banishing a series to the Phantom Zone is the right thing to do.
