-
Jan 1, 1350
First Gun: Hand Cannon
The first firearm didn't look like a firearm. It in fact, it was a smaller version of a full size cannon. It was first used by Europeans and Chinese. The Hand cannon was originally casted out of iron. Later versions used iron and wood. http://www.medievalwarfare.info/weapons.htm#handcannons -
Oct 4, 1500
Gun improvements: The Matchlock
Hand cannons weren't accurate or easy to use. So they invented The Matchlock rifle in the 15th century in Europe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy3Oct1-AWY -
Oct 4, 1515
Gun Improvments: The Wheellock
The Wheellock answered a lot of problems that the Matchlock had, it was easier to load, could be loaded with one hand and could be carried loaded. The Wheellock used a spinning wheel which cut down on reload time and was the first gun to use iron pyrite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8q4DicVBws -
Gun Improvements: The Flintlock
The Flintlock was more reliable than the Wheellock and you could find flint always anywhere. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpeeQMYaM44 -
Gun Improvements: The Percussion Rifle
The Percussion rifle was better than the flintlock because you didn't have to deal with putting powder onto the pan of the rifle. You simply had to put on the percussion cap. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1LkuOeciq0 -
Gun Improvments: Revolvers
Similar to the repeating rifle, revolvers had a cylindrical magazine that rotated after every shot was fired. Basically the pistol version of the repeating rifle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtnK2ejPMPs -
Gun Improvments: Self-Loading Cartiridges
Originally Cartridges had to have an external primer to shoot the bullet. Now the cartridge had the primer inside. Making reloading faster and soldiers could carry more ammo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbtLCStdesw -
Gun Improvements: Rifling
Early uses of rifling had turned the barrel into a hexagon and the bullet was a hexagon, this gave greater accuracy. Eventually this barrel was added spirals that went down the barrel. When the gun was fired the bullet would expand to the rifling and was very accurate. -
Gun Improvments: Repeating Rifles
Once again, repeating rifles were used to speed up reloading, but with repeating rifles it's different. They had a magazine to where you could fire multiple time before your next loading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH6Q163ggoo -
Gun Improvements: Breechloaders
'"Breechloader" simply means that the rifle was loaded from the back instead of the front. This is another way that reloading was faster because you didn't have to go all the at to the muzzle to load your rifle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORP-r79m1Z4 -
Gun Improvements: Semi-Auto Pistols
Now pistols could be fired multiple time with just a pull of the trigger. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2PX-76I4qY -
Modern Guns
Today, every country has some kind of military and most militaries use firearms. Firearms today usually change to incorporate other accessorizes or be more comfortable for the user.
