History of Firearms

Forensics

Found in the ruins of the Castle of Monte

Varino (Italy), which was destroyed in 1341. Simple design… Tube shape, open on one end to allow ball and

powder to be packed. Slit cut into the back to allow a hot wire to fit

inside. Most likely took two men to operate.

The Oldest Gun

Matchlocks

Major improvement over the simple “powder

and ball” design. Addition of a Serpentine, which held a length

of string treated with saltpeter. Serpentine would be cocked, string lit, and

trigger pulled. Can be operated by one man.

Matchlocks

Flintlocks

Simpler way to create a spark. Attach flint to the serpentine. Have it strike a piece of steel when trigger

pulled. Very popular… found in all shapes and sizes. Used during both the Revolutionary and Civil

Wars

Flintlocks

The modern-day bullet was invented by Daniel

Wesson around 1851. First time the gun powder and projectile could

be packaged as one. By 1866, most everyone had switched from

flintlocks to modern guns.

The first bullet

Daniel Wesson & Samuel Colt

Smith and Wesson paid Samuel Colt a royalty

of 15 cents per gun to produced guns that fired their bullets.

Colt exploited the technology even further, created the first revolver.

His revolver, called the Peacemaker, could fire 6 shots in just a few seconds.

Modern Guns

Colt Peacemaker

Colt provided the US military with guns The Mauser brothers created military guns for

most of Europe at the end of the 19th century. Machine guns were invented in 1883 by

American, Hiram Stevens Maxim. The weapon of choice today is the assault

rifle.

Military Guns

AR-15

AR-15