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850
Gunpowder Invented
Alchemists in China stumbled upon the explosive properties of gunpowder (a combination of potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal). This mixture of chemicals was then used in firearms to launch projectiles. -
1364
Chinese Fire Lance
Originating in China, the Chinese fire lance is a bamboo tube that used gunpowder to fire a spear, invented in the 10th century, it is regarded by historians as the first gun ever made. -
1380
Handguns in Europe
Handguns are now known across Europe but are hard to use because of the process of firing the gun. Guns were fired by holding a burning wick to a "touch hole" in the barrel igniting the powder inside. A shooter uses one hand for firing, and a prop to steady the gun. -
1475
The Matchlock Gun
The matchlock is a mechanically firing gun. The powder is held in a flash pin. and ignited by a match or a wick. This allows the user to hold the gun with both hands, vastly improving their aim. -
1489
Rifling Principal is Discovered
Rifling is the arrangement of spiral grooves inside a rifle barrel. This spiral makes the bullet spin, increasing its accuracy over a distance and making the guns more effective. -
1509
Wheel Lock (Rose Lock)
The wheel lock generates a spark mechanically. This is an improvement from keeping the wick lit with the matchlock. In turn, this made the firearms more reliable. -
1550
Rifling Appears in Firearms
Gaspard Zeller or Zollner, of Nuremberg, Germany, cut spiral grooves in the barrels of guns; increasing their accuracy and distance. -
Flintlock Design
In the late 1500s, a lid was added to the flash pan design. The lid had to be moved manually to expose or protect the powder. The flintlock mechanism was designed to push back the lid and spark a flint simultaneously. This improved the functionality of the firearm and got rid of extra steps. -
The American Revolution
Local gunsmiths began to manufacture their own versions of the European-made muskets. This led to many different firearm designs. -
Percussion Caps
A percussion cap is a type of single-use percussion ignition device for muzzleloader firearm locks enabling them to fire reliably in any weather condition. -
The Colt Revolver
Its design allowed several shots to be fired in succession without reloading. This design was one of the first non-muzzle-loaded firearms. -
Pin-fire Cartridges
The priming compound is ignited by striking a small pin that protrudes radially from above the base of the cartridge. They were quicker and easier to load than percussion weapons with loose black powder, percussion caps, and bullets. They were also much more likely to fire reliably when wet. -
The Gatling Gun is Invented.
The Gatling gun is a rapid-firing multiple-barrel firearm invented in 1861 by Richard Jordan Gatling. It was the first gun to solve the problems of loading, reliability, and the firing of sustained bursts. -
The Winchester Rifle
Winchester Repeating Arms Company introduced the first semi-automatic rimfire and centerfire rifles designed especially for the civilian market. -
Semi-automatic Pistols
Semiautomatic pistols were an important step in the firearm industry because they could hold more ammunition in their magazines than revolvers could in their cylinders and they had a superior rapidity of fire.