Download

The History Of Guns

By agotdabeat
  • Period: Oct 6, 1300 to

    history of guns

  • Oct 6, 1380

    First firearms

    First firearms
    cannonThe first firearms were fired by holding a burning wick to a hole, igniting the powder inside. A prime example is the cannon. A burning wick is used to ignite the powder and the cannon ball is forced out of the barrel by the explosion.
  • Oct 6, 1400

    Matchlock rifle

    Matchlock rifle
    matchlockThe creation of the matchlock system by an unknown European. The matchlock rifle added a slow burning wick to a hammer like mechanism that would light the powder in the barrel. The innovation was important because it created the first form of the modern hammer that is still in use today. The rifle would be steadied on a bipod and the user would light the wick and fire the weapon as done with every other gun.
  • Oct 6, 1500

    wheellock

    wheellock
    wheellockMany have been led to believe that the wheel lock rifling mechanism was invented by Leonardo Da Vinci. The wheel lock took away the wick completely with an internal friction wheel mechanism that used a metal wheel that created a spark igniting the gun powder. The combination of the rotating steel wheel and the pyrite in the mechanism caused a shower of sparks which were forced through a small hole making the gun fire.

  • Flintlock rifle

    Flintlock rifle
    flintlockThe French gunsmith Marin le Bourgeoys created the first gun incorperating the flintlock system. The flintlock system incorperated the hammer with a piece of flint on it which when fired, the hammer would fall and move the covering of the pan in which the powder was stored, causing a spark, igniting the powder. The flintlock muskets were used mainly by european armies in the 17th through 19th centuries because of their mobility and ease of use

  • Cartridge

    Cartridge
    cartridge (firearms)With the invention of the cartridge, the separate need for ammunition and powder was made easier by combining the two. The percussion cap, powder, and a bullet were all stored in a weatherproof package that allowed for the perfect amount of powder to fire the bullet at the perfect velocity for optimal fly time. Cartridges are the main method of firing today, it is used by police, military, and citizens.