TEXT: BA03201: Grim Tales      ISBN: 0-9720416-9-9      Copyright 2003, Bad Axe Games, LLC      www.badaxegames.com
  Web Enhancement
  Firearms: A Primer
  by Steve Trustrum
  Additional Writing & Design
  Benjamin Durbin
  Illustrations
  John O’Connor
  Jeremy Mohler
  Jim Zubkavich
  Graphic Design & Layout
  Don Rosso
  
  2
  “And it was a great pity, so it was
  That villainous saltpeter should be digg’d
  Out of the bowels of the harmless earth,
  Which many a good tall fellow had destroyed
  So cowardly; and, but for the vile guns,
  He would himself have been a soldier.”
   
  - Shakespeare, Henry IV, act I, scene ii.
  This work is not intended to be THE definitive work on the 
  history and development of firearms. Far too many weapons 
  of importance, large and small, exist for such a claim to be 
  said of a work of this insignificant size. Instead, the following 
  includes enough information to provide the reader with a 
  reasonable road map of the rise of black powder weaponry 
  from its meager, nigh-mythological beginnings to reach its 
  current prevalent and orthodox worldwide acceptance in 
  modern militaries, citizenry, and entertainment media.
  Glossary of Terms
  This list of terms is by no means exhaustive, but should provide 
  the reader with enough information to make sense of the 
  materials provided within this article.
  Action
  The moving parts within a gun involved with the weapon’s 
  operation, including loading, unloading, and firing, along with 
  the ejection of the cartridge, if applicable. Weapons without 
  moving, internal parts, such as a hand cannon, have no action.
  Action, Automatic
  Also known as “fully automatic,” such a weapon fires the 
  currently chambered cartridge, ejects the empty cartridge, and 
  loads a new cartridge into the chamber in a continuous cycle 
  so long as the trigger remains pulled.
  Action, Bolt
  A sliding bolt controls the weapon’s action. This bolt has to be 
  manually maneuvered in order to load a round of ammunition 
  and prepare it for firing, as well as to expel the spent casing 
  afterward. The action is of either the turnbolt or push-pull 
  variety. Bolt-action firearms are generally longarms, and are 
  considered among the most accurate of all firearms.
  Action, Crank
  Turning a crank fires the weapon and also removes a spent 
  cartridge while moving another into alignment with the barrel.
  Action, Double
  A firearm where squeezing the trigger serves two functions: A) 
  cocking the hammer back in preparation of B) being released 
  when the trigger is squeezed to its full extent, thus firing the 
  weapon.
  Action, Lever 
  Manipulating an external lever, which usually doubles as 
  a trigger-guard for the sake of convenience, performs the 
  mechanics of chambering a new round of ammunition and 
  expelling a spent round. The most famous version of this 
  system is B. Tyler Henry’s Volcanic Repeating Arm, the system 
  used in both the Henry and Winchester rifles. Lever-action 
  is generally reserved for longarms, though exotic lever-
  action handguns have been seen in the hands of legendary 
  gunfighters.
  Action, Pump
  A sliding pump, usually mounted beneath the barrel, performs 
  the mechanics of chambering a new round of ammunition and 
  expelling a spent round.
  Action, Semi-Automatic
  Pulling the trigger causes the currently chambered cartridge 
  to be fired, ejects the empty case, and loads a new cartridge 
  into the chamber. This occurs with each pull of the trigger. This 
  mechanic is performed by utilizing the recoil energy of the 
  fired cartridge.
  Action, Single
  In a single action firearm, squeezing the trigger serves a single 
  function: releasing the hammer in order to fire the weapon. 
  This means that the hammer has to be readied by some other 
  means, almost always manually. 
  Fans of old westerns are probably familiar with single-action 
  firearms from the many scenes wherein the hero “fans” the 
  hammer of his pistol with the heel of his hand while keeping 
  the trigger depressed, enabling him to fire multiple shots in 
  rapid succession.
  Ammunition
  Ammunition, also called ammo, is measured in units called 
  rounds. The term may be properly applied, in modern firearms, 
  to the entire cartridge, but the term always includes the 
  projectile itself. Ammunition is required to fire a gun, and the 
  ammunition used must match the firearm.
  Anti-Materiel Rifle
  A man-portable firearm designed for shooting at hard targets, 
  such as armored personnel characters and structures. Earlier 
  models, especially those of World War II, were called simply 
  “anti-tank guns” because they were designed to kill the far 
  more primitive armored vehicles of that time.
  Barrel
  The cylinder, containing the bore, through which the projectile 
  travels when the weapon is fired.
  Belt-Fed
  The weapon fires linked ammunition fed through its chamber 
  one at a time. 
  Firearms: A Primer
  
  3
  Bore
  The hollow space inside a weapon’s barrel. The width of the 
  bore, rather than the term “caliber,” was used in early artillery 
  pieces and firearms to describe the size of ammunition used.
  Breech
  The portion of a gun containing the action, trigger (or other 
  firing mechanism), magazine, and chamber.
  Breechloader
  A weapon that is loaded from its breech, usually from the rear 
  and directly into the chamber.
  Bullet
  The generally spherical or cylindrical projectile that, hopefully, 
  strikes the target after being fired from a firearm. Cartridges 
  are often mistakenly called bullets; the bullet, however, is only 
  one component of the cartridge. 
  Buttstock
  More commonly referred to as the “butt” or “stock,” this is 
  the part of the weapon that is placed against the shoulder or 
  arm to allow the user’s body to absorb the recoil of firing. This 
  innovation greatly improved accuracy.
  Caliber
  A bore’s diameter, typically measured in hundreds or thousands 
  of an inch, e.g. a .50 caliber weapon fires ammunition one-
  half inch in diameter. Modern calibers are measured in both 
  diameter of the round and the length of the cartridge, such as 
  the 7.62mm x54R (the “R” denotes that the cartridge’s base 
  has a rim.)
  Carbine
  A lightweight firearm with a shortened barrel originally 
  designed with cavalry and naval forces in mind.
  Cartridge
  A single package containing both the propellant and bullet for 
  a single shot.
  The first type of cartridge was merely a paper cylinder that 
  was torn open so that the bullet and powder could be poured 
  into the barrel, requiring an external percussion cap.
  Later followed a cartridge of linen or paper that would be 
  placed in the weapon intact. Firing the weapon, which still 
  required a separate percussion cap, would incinerate the linen 
  or paper upon firing. This made for more residue in the barrel, 
  however.
  Both of these cartridges were vulnerable to being torn open, or 
  damaged by water.
  Next came the metal cartridge still in use today. The bullet 
  is gripped by the cartridge’s tip and a percussion cap is built 
  into its rear. Between the percussion cap and bullet is the 
  propellant. Once the round has been fired, however, the 
  cartridge must be ejected or moved so that another round may 
  be readied for firing. These cartridges are also waterproof.
  Caseless Ammunition
  This unconventional ammunition seals the bullet in a block 
  of solid propellant with a primer rather than within a metal 
  cartridge containing propellant. This innovative design allows 
  all the wasted space of a magazine that is left by round, metal 
  cartridges to be filled by the rectangular, caseless ammunition, 
  thus allowing for more power. This also allows for more rounds 
  per magazine at a lighter weight. What’s more, no case is 
  left after firing, a situation that was ideal for special forces 
  operations.
  When fired, all elements of the primer and propellant are 
  consumed and, although earlier versions had a problem with 
  “cooking off” within a hot barrel, later improvements to the 
  design reduced this chance, making caseless ammunition less 
  likely to succumb to this malfunction that standard, metal 
  cartridges. There is a tendency for the barrel to be fouled over 
  time by residue from the large quantity of unsealed propellant, 
  however, but regular maintenance makes this problem a non-
  issue under most conditions.
  Because of its superior design, composition, and performance 
  in the weapon’s action, caseless ammunition tends to have a 
  flatter trajectory over great distance while still being able to 
  deliver an impressive impact.
  Unfortunately, a weapon using caseless ammunition must be 
  specifically designed for its use.
  Centerfire
  A metal cartridge with the percussion cap is located in the 
  center of the base. The firing pin strikes the percussion cap 
  when the trigger is pulled, firing the weapon.
  Chamber
  The rear part of the barrel that contains a cartridge and 
  aligns it for firing. When the breech is closed, the cartridge is 
  supported so that its primer aligns with the igniter (usually a 
  firing pin), while the bullet points down the bore towards the 
  muzzle.
  Choke
  This is an element of a shotgun’s construction located near the 
  muzzle. The purpose is to regulate the dispersal of pellets upon 
  leaving the barrel.
  Clip
  A device that holds the cartridges in place prior to being 
  inserted into the magazine. A clip is not the same as a 
  magazine. 
  Corned Powder
  A process wherein the powder’s ingredients are mixed and then 
  wet into clumps to prevent the ingredients from separating, 
  as they were want to do over time previous from previous 
  methods of mixing gunpowder. The wetted sections are then 
  broken into smaller “kernels”, hence the name.
  The higher breech pressure created by igniting corned powder 
  meant that most of the arms currently in use when the powder 
  was first introduced could not use it, restricting it to artillery 
  pieces and newer firearms built to accommodate the pressure.
  
  4
  Though no longer called as such, what gunpowder that is still in 
  use today is of the corned variety, though the process has since 
  been much refined.
  Cylinder
  The rotating magazine of a revolver or similar weapon. The 
  action rotates the cylinder upon its access to allow the next 
  cartridge to be aligned for firing. Cylinder’s are usually of two 
  primary varieties: those that are intrinsically built into the 
  weapon and those of the “swing out” variety, with the latter 
  being the type popularized in modern media.
  Firearm
  A gun. Firearms use a chemical mix, typically gunpowder, to 
  propel a projectile towards the target. Firearms are typically 
  divided into longarms and handguns. 
  Flash Pan
  The reservoir mounted upon the side of the gun where the 
  priming powder is stored. Once ignited, the flash pan’s powder 
  would ignite the powder charge within the weapon, firing it.
  Flintlock
  The mechanism used a piece of flint attached to a spring-
  loaded arm that would snap forward to strike the flint against 
  a metal striking, producing a spark that would ignite the pan’s 
  powder. The primary difference between the flintlock and its 
  predecessor, the snaphaunce, is that the striking plate and the 
  plate covering the flash pan were a single piece, bent in the 
  middle. This meant the device was simpler to make and use 
  and much cheaper.
  Fowling Piece
  The predecessor of the modern shotgun, this is a light weapon 
  designed for shooting birds and small animals. It is essentially a 
  muzzleloading or breechloading shotgun.
  Fully-Automatic
  Each pull of the trigger fires a series of bullets commonly 
  referred to as a “burst,” rather than just one bullet.
  Gunpowder
  A chemical mixture or compound that burns rapidly with or 
  without the presence of oxygen to produce pressurized gases 
  capable of propelling a bullet. The earliest gunpowder was 
  called black powder and was made from a mixture of charcoal, 
  sulfur, and potassium nitrate. This powder produced a cloud of 
  smoke and left behind considerable burnt residue that required 
  frequent cleaning of the firearm. Smokeless powder was 
  eventually discovered that burned hotter, with less smoke and 
  residue.
  Hammer
  Powered by a mainspring, this component rotates upon an 
  axis to drive the firing pin into the primer to ignite the 
  ammunition’s propellant.
  Handgun
  Handguns are designed with a grip that enables the firearm to 
  be held in the hand and fired from an outstretched arms. This 
  includes pistols and revolvers. 
  Iron Sight
  A simple sighting system typically consisting of a foresight and 
  backsight, neither of which contains any lens or other means of 
  magnification.
  Longarm
  Longarms are designed to be fired while in contact with the 
  shoulder of the shooter. This primarily includes firearms with a 
  buttstock, such as rifles and shotguns. 
  Machine-gun
  A weapon that fires successively at incredible speeds, throwing 
  a volley of ammunition at its target. Because of the amount 
  of ammunition such a weapon can consumer in a short 
  period, machine guns are usually fed from a large reservoir, 
  or “hopper,” of ammunition, or by ammunition that has been 
  linked to a string that is then fed into the weapon.
  Magazine
  The firearm’s reserve ammunition store from which ammunition 
  is fed into the weapon’s chamber.
  Magnum
  A cartridge that is deliberately packed with more gunpowder, 
  to propel the bullet with greater force than a similar cartridge 
  of the same caliber.
  Matchlock
  The Matchlock used a lighted wick in a moveable arm that 
  would move down to ignite the priming powder in the flash pan 
  once the trigger was depressed. Although this increased the 
  chances of a misfire due to sparks blowing around from the lit 
  wick, the matchlock allowed the user to keep both hands on 
  the weapon, thus steadying it for better aim.
  Maximum Effective Range
  The maximum range at which the firearm will reliably strike 
  the target and deliver the desired effect. 
  Muzzle
  The mouth of the barrel; the hole from which the bullet exits 
  once fired.
  Muzzleloader
  The weapon is loaded down the front of the barrel and the 
  round and powder rammed down to keep it in place.
  Muzzle Velocity
  The speed of the bullet as it leave the muzzle of the gun. This 
  is measured in feet or meters per second. The muzzle velocity 
  of a longarm is generally two to four times that of a handgun.
  Needlefire
  A thin needle is driven forward the through cartridge’s base 
  and powder charge and into the primer, which is located 
  directly behind the bullet.
  Notch-and-Post Sight
  Now more commonly known as the combat sight, this involves 
  a small protrusion at the weapon’s rear with a notch in its top, 
  
  5
  which is used to line up with a post at the tip of the weapon’s 
  barrel in order to aim.
  Optical Sight
  A sighting system consisting of a means of magnification using a 
  lens and/or other technique for improving visibility.
  Percussion Cap
  Instead of a flash pan, this mechanism consists of a simple 
  tube that leads directly into the gun barrel. An explosive cap 
  is placed at the tube’s opening so that when the hammer 
  strikes it, the small explosion travels down the tube to ignite 
  the barrel’s powder, firing the weapon. The cap was almost 
  entirely certain to explode when struck, thus vastly improving 
  the chance of avoiding misfires.
  Later weapons would put the percussion cap within the base of 
  the cartridge itself, thus saving the user from having to both 
  load a round of ammunition and place the percussion cap.
  Peyton Powder
  More commonly known as “smokeless” powder, this propellant 
  is not truly smokeless. As its development progressed, it went 
  through various degrees in the reduction of smoke. However, 
  the primary reason for its development was to reduce the 
  amount of powder residue left in the bore by firing the 
  weapon. This meant that a weapon using Peyton powder would 
  be more accurate and have a higher rate of fire, as the user 
  didn’t have to clean the weapon as often. 
  The powder is comprised of nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, and 
  ammonium picarate.
  Pinfire
  A metal cartridge with a metal pin sticking through it. The 
  weapon’s hammer strikes the pin, slamming it into the 
  explosive cap within the cartridge, firing the bullet.
  Pistol
  Strictly speaking, any handgun that is not a revolver.
  Primer
  A small explosive charge that is sensitive to impact; the 
  percussion cap. 
  Propellant
  The substance that is fitted in the barrel behind the round so 
  that, when it is ignited, the release of its explosive force will 
  propel the round outwards.
  Recoil
  The sudden rearward push or “kick” of the firearm when it 
  is fired. The heavier the bullet and the higher the muzzle 
  velocity, the more recoil is felt. 
  Revolver
  A handgun that carries its cartridges within a rotating cylinder. 
  The cylinder rotates to bring the next cartridge into alignment 
  with the barrel for firing.
  Rifled
  Spiral grooves are cut into the bore, making for a tighter fit for 
  the bullet, which is caused to spin when it is fired. Both factors 
  contribute to a more accurate weapon.
  Rimfire
  A metal cartridge where the priming compound is located 
  inside the rear rim. Pulling the trigger caused the weapon’s 
  firing pin to crush the rim, thus exploding the primer and firing 
  the weapon.
  Round
  A term referring to a single load of ammunition. Initially used 
  because the earliest bullets were round spheres, the term later 
  developed into its current usage, that of including a single, 
  complete cartridge.
  Selective Fire
  The weapon, usually by means of a switch, may alternate 
  between a semiautomatic or fully-automatic state of firing.
  Self-Loader
  A firearm that utilizes the energy of its firing to eject the 
  spent cartridge case and load a fresh round.
  Semi-Automatic
  The weapon contains more than one round of ammunition. 
  Each pull of the trigger fires the currently readied round and 
  readies a new round to be fired at the next pull.
  Serpentin
  The armature, or “cock,” that holds a matchlock’s match. 
  When the trigger is pulled, the serpentin (named for its “S” 
  shape) would rotate down to ignite the priming powder in the 
  flash pan once the trigger was depressed. This increased the 
  chances of a misfire due to sparks blowing around from the lit 
  wick, but its advantages outweighed this risk.
  Shotgun
  A smoothbore weapon originally meant to fire shells containing 
  small pellets, the size of which vary by the ammunition’s 
  purpose and the weapon’s gauge. Because the pellets disperse 
  when fired, the shotgun is an excellent firearm for shooting 
  small moving targets at close range.
  Smoothbore
  The bore’s inner surface is unmarked and plain (though saying 
  it was smooth would give too much credit to the manufacturing 
  techniques of earlier weapons), resulting in a gap (the 
  windage) between the ammunition and the bore. This results 
  in a less stable shot that tends to tumble, and is thus less 
  accurate than a rifled weapon.
  Snaphaunce
  The snaphaunce, the precursor of the flintlock, used a piece of 
  flint attached to a spring-loaded arm that would snap forward 
  to strike the flint against a metal plate, producing a spark that 
  would ignite the pan’s powder. The pan was covered with an 
  additional metal plate that would slide aside before the arm 
  would snap forward.
  
  6
  Springel
  A dart, based upon the same principles as used in the crossbow 
  bolt, which was fired from a harquebus.
  Striker
  This is a linearly operating device that uses a mainspring to 
  detonate the primer instead of using a rotating hammer.
  Trigger
  The mechanism that, when pressed or pulled, releases the 
  hammer or striker to fire the weapon.
  Submachine gun
  A light, and typically short, fully-automatic weapon. It is 
  usually fired from either the hip or shoulder and is designed 
  with close quarters combat in mind.
  Wheel Lock
  Pulling the trigger spins a spring-loaded metal wheel, against 
  which is pressed a piece of flint attached to a striker arm that 
  swings the flint into position. As the wheel is spun, the flint 
  would strike it,  and the resulting sparks would in turn ignite 
  the powder in the flashpan.
  Gunpowder & Firearms Timeline
  The discovery of gunpowder is a rather controversial topic, as 
  some believe its origins lie in the east, with China, while other 
  scholars feel that the Arabs of the Middle East. The validity of 
  either claim may be simultaneously disparaged and bolstered 
  by written, anecdotal, and historical proofs that are often as 
  contrary as they are informative.
  Here then is a timeline of important events, both proven 
  and supposed, regarding the discovery and development of 
  gunpowder, its components, and the weapons that would 
  be developed to harness this simple powder’s destructive 
  potential. Due to the difficulty of finding and keeping such 
  records, some dates are necessarily rough in their estimation 
  of the event, while others vary by source. In the latter case, 
  the general consensus or majority opinion (when it isn’t 
  contradictory) is used. 
  Note: Whenever the composition of gunpowder is given, such as 
  4/1/1, the composition, by parts, is listed as Potassium Nitrate 
  (saltpeter)/Sulfur/Carbon.
  Early History (India & Asia)
  Historical accounts tell of “thunderguns” and “fire weapons” 
  being used in these regions for as long as such chronicle. 
  Materials described in the manufacturing of these weapons 
  varied from wood to paper to straw. If these accounts are to 
  be believed, it is entirely possible that Alexander the Great did 
  indeed encounter fire-weapons in India.
  275
  Julius Africanus mentions the use of “shooting powder.”
  668
  Some sort of explosive powder was used during the siege of 
  Constantinople.
  c. 1200 (Middle East)
  Saltpeter shows up in the writings of the Arab, Abd Allah. 
  c. 1233 (Orient)
  Evidence of paper (and, in some places, bamboo) tubes being 
  used for explosive missile throwing.
  1268 (England)
  Friar Roger Bacon describes in his work, Opus Minus, an 
  explosive “elixer.” The alchemical composition of this elixer 
  was not to be explained for years to come. Bacon’s historical 
  claim to be the father of modern gunpowder is largely disputed 
  by all European nations, save England. His listed composition 
  for his elixir is 7/5/5.
  c. 1270 (Europe)
  Simple mortars began to see use on the battlefield to fire rocks 
  at the enemy. What was learned from these weapons would 
  lead to the principles later employed in firearms.
  c. 1275 (Middle East)
  Marcus Graecus, in his work, Liber Ignium (The Book of Fire), 
  describes the use saltpeter and some manner of incendiary 
  composition other than gunpowder as an explosive and means 
  of propulsion. Speculation circulates as to the authenticity of 
  
  7
  the Liber Ignium, and the existence of “Marcus Graecus.” It is 
  also possible that the work had been altered by agents of the 
  Catholic Church upon its arrival from the Middle East during 
  the Third Crusade.
  This, and other instances of gunpowder being mentioned leads 
  many modern scholars to believe gunpowder is of Arabic, and 
  not Chinese, origin.
  1320 (Germany)
  Berthold Schwartz, a monk, manufactures gunpowder after 
  studying Friar Bacon’s writings. Even though he is but one of 
  the many disputed inventors of gunpowder, it is beyond dispute 
  that Schwartz discovered some previously unknown properties 
  of the mixture.
  1325
  An illustration of a gun appears in the Oxford manuscript De 
  Officiis Regum
  1326
  First known illustration of a cannon made.
  c. 1335-1375 (Europe)
  Simple cannons and mortars are becoming far more common. 
  Military commanders begin to form units and develop tactics 
  that utilize the weapons.
  Bellmakers were typically used to make the first cannons and 
  firearms because they possessed the necessary facilities and 
  skills, and gunmaking was not yet a proven industry requiring 
  its own specialists.
  1344 (England)
  Gunpowder and cannons see use in the country for the first 
  time.
  1346 (France)
  Battle of Crécy, the first reported use of hand gonnes in battle.
  c. 1350 (England)
  The English standard composition of gunpowder is altered to 
  6/1/2.
  1354 (Germany)
  Berthold Schwartz is said to have invented the first firearm 
  in this year. It is commonly held as fact that Scwartz was the 
  inventor but the year is highly speculative considering that 
  gunpowder mills are known to exist in Germany as early as 
  1340 and guns showed up earlier than this. A paradox, to be 
  sure, but when where both sides of the matter are held to be 
  true.
  1377 (Korea)
  Ch’oe Mu-son, an official in the Korean Koryo court convinces 
  the court to begin the production of gunpowder weapons. 
  Cannons and rockets (more so the latter, especially those 
  meant to be used by cavalry) rather than firearms were the 
  preferred weapons and remained so until the 16th century.
  1379 (Venice)
  First recorded use of cannons mounted upon ships.
  c. 1380-90
  The harquebus is invented begins to see use.
  1381 (Germany)
  First use of a hand cannon in Germany.
  1392 (Spain)
  The army start issuing hand gonnes whose wooden component 
  ended in a curving knob so that it could be placed against 
  the shoulder rather than the torso. This was the first step to 
  developing the buttstock.
  Latter 14th Century
  Firearms begin to see use aboard ships.
  c. 1410 (China)
  Made with hardwood barrels invented by the Vietnamese, the 
  Chinese build and employ arrow-firing firearms.
  1411 (Spain)
  An early version of the matchlock, the serpentin is introduced.
  1412 (China)
  The first Chinese book detailing proportions for black powder is 
  written by Huo Lung Ching.
  1415 (France)
  The Battle of Agincourt, made famous in Shakespeare’s play, 
  “King Henry V,” occurs. Although the battle is famed for the 
  effect of the English archers, stories concerning the use of 
  English hand gonnes also exist.
  1426 (Burgundy)
  The first known use of notch-and-post sights. The Burgundians 
  mounted them on their hand gonnes and arbalests.
  1427 (Bohemia)
  The pistala, meaning “pipes,” is developed. These long-
  barreled handguns are so named because of their resemblance 
  to whistles/pipes.
  c. 1429 (Europe)
  Corned powder is developed and mentioned in the Fire Book of 
  Conrad von Schongau.
  1448 (Kossovo)
  After their archers were slaughtered in battle by Hungarian 
  firearms, the Ottoman Janissaries switched from bows to hand 
  cannons and hand gonnes.
  c. 1450
  Introduction of the matchlock.
  c. 1495
  The first known rifle is made by William Renwick. 
  
  8
  Early 1500s
  The breechloader is invented, although several manufacturers 
  claim to be the first and many different designs, all of which 
  have their own unique advantages and flaws, are patented.
  c. 1517 (Nuremberg)
  Johann Kiefuss invents the wheel lock.
  1522
  In an effort to reduce the continuing fear surrounding 
  the “black magic” of guns and black powder, a Bavarian 
  necromancer states that rifles are more accurate than 
  smoothbores because the spinning bullet doesn’t allow a 
  demon to gain purchase upon it.
  c. 1540
  The matchlock was improved with the addition of a cover plate 
  over the flash pan. The plate would automatically retract as 
  the trigger was pressed.
  1547
  The Archbishop of Mainz has two members of a shooting club 
  compete at 200 paces, one using lead balls and the other balls 
  of silver blessed by the Church and etched with cross. The 
  silver balls all missed the target while the lead balls scored hits 
  on 19 out of 20 shots. This “disproved” the theory put forth 
  by the Bavarian of 1522 and caused the Church to declare that 
  round bullets could indeed be controlled by demons.
  c. 1570
  Invention of the snaphaunce.
  1586
  Invention of the cartridge.
  c. 1612
  Invention of the flintlock.
  1616 (Italy)
  Giuliano Bossi invents the double-barreled gun.
  1653 (France)
  Considering the early flintlock to be untrustworthy (rightfully 
  so), Louis XIV forbids his troops from employing such weapons. 
  He later made their use by his soldiers punishable by death.
  c. 1675 (North America)
  First powder mill on the continent is opened in Milton, 
  Massachusetts. 
  c. 1700
  Experiments in using a fulminate to make powders that explode 
  by use of a fulminate rather than needing to be ignited begin. 
  Many early experiments are disastrous (and indeed all such 
  mixtures, including gunpowder, using chlorate of potash and 
  sulfur is allowed in England), and so it is largely left unused. 
  In fact, nobody at this point is even considering it for use with 
  firearms.
  1746 (France)
  The steel ramrod is introduced.
  1774 (France)
  The chief army physician to Louis XV discovers fulminate of 
  mercury.
  1774 (Prussia)
  Composition standard is changed to 8/1/1 in the search for 
  better consistency and, as a result, effectiveness. The result, 
  along with improvements in the metallurgy used to craft the 
  firearms, improves accuracy and ignition reliability, while also 
  lowering the instances of misfires.
  1788 (France)
  C. L. Berthollet discovers “fulminate of silver” by acting 
  ammonia upon precipitated silver oxide He begins to write 
  essays on the use of fulminate with firearms.
  1789
  The first patent for a single trigger for double arms is issued to 
  James Templeman.
  Single trigger pistols with side-by-side and over-under style 
  barrels are also introduced.
  1795 (USA)
  Springfield Armory is established.
  c. 1800
  The black powder standard now tends to be either 15/3/2 or 
  15/2/3. This offered two key advantages: being able to use 
  powder from a variety of sources, including those taken from 
  captured enemy weapons and supply caches, and allowing for 
  more standards to be implemented in the manufacturing of 
  firearms, specifically regarding the strength of the weapon’s 
  chamber.
  Reliable experimentation into ballistics also starts being 
  accepted as valid, allowing for yet more improvements on 
  bullet, powder, and firearm manufacturing and development 
  techniques. Such techniques would lead to, among other 
  things, the development of standardized sights.
  The swivel ramrod also appears.
  1804 (USA)
  Ire’ne’e DuPont (yes, that DuPont) near Wilmington Delaware 
  and endeavors to create a powder that is better than the 
  much-preferred powder imported from Britain.
  1807 (Aberdeenshire)
  Reverend John Forsyth invents the percussion cap.
  1810 (USA)
  DuPont becomes the leading producer of gunpowder in the US, 
  laying the foundation for his economic and scientific legacy.
  1811 (USA)
  John H. Hall files the patent for the first effective breech-
  loading rifle, which he sells to Harpers Ferry Armory.
  
  9
  c. 1814
  Invention of the copper percussion cap. The patent wasn’t filed 
  until 1923.
  1825
  It is learned that varying the size of the corns of black powder 
  produces different effects; some were more appropriate for 
  use in either the lower or heavier caliber weapons, and some 
  for cannons, while other sizes were best used in the priming 
  pan.
  1831
  Adolph Moser invents the needlefire cartridge.
  1835 (France)
  Flobert invents the rimfire cartridge.
  1836 (USA)
  Having filed the patent for the world’s first revolving cylinder 
  weapon, Sam Colt opens his first arms factory in Paterson, New 
  Jersey.
  c. 1845
  The principles that would lead to the expansive cartridge begin 
  to develop.
  1847 (France)
  The pinfire cartridge is invented by the Parisian gunsmith, 
  Houiller.
  c. 1850
  The fowling piece, later to be known as the shotgun, begins to 
  be viewed as a separate entity than muskets.
  1852
  Charles Lancaster invents the centerfire cartridge.
  Mid 1800s
  The hammerless gun is invented.
  1860 (USA)
  The Spencer carbine is the first effective magazine repeating 
  rifle.
  1861-1865 (USA)
  Combined between the Union and Confederate States, several 
  billion cartridges are manufactured for use in the American 
  Civil War.
  The centerfire cartridge, as we know it today, is patented by 
  George Henry Daw, although there remains the claim that it 
  was actually invented by M. Pottet of Paris and improved upon 
  by M. Schneider before Daw’s patent was filed.
  c. 1862
  Metal cartridges begin to see wide and accepted use.
  1866 (UK)
  Pape invents choke boring.
  1871 (USA)
  The National Rifle Association is founded.
  Theophilus Murcott invents the first hammerless firearm.
  1874
  J. Needham introduces the cartridge ejection system to double 
  guns in the form of a system designed for drop-down style 
  breechloader shotguns.
  1879
  James Paris Lee patents his box magazine design.
  1883 (USA)
  The Maxim machinegun is invented by Hiram Maxim, who 
  proceeds to sell the design across Europe. Some of the buyers 
  included Russia and Germany who would go on to make their 
  own versions.
  1887 (Germany)
  The Maxim machinegun is adopted by the army.
  1889
  Colt makes its first swing out cylinder revolver.
  1893
  The first automatic pistol, the Borchardt, appears.
  1894 (USA)
  In order to increase the efficiency and fighting ability of 
  their soldiers, the US military ceases to use black powder and 
  instead switches to smokeless powder.
  1905 (Germany)
  The pointed (Spitzer) bullet is introduced, improving long-range 
  performance.
  1914 (Europe)
  Though the machinegun had already seen use on the 
  battlefield, it wasn’t until its mass deployment by German 
  forces in World War I that the world’s various militaries began 
  to take it seriously. Machineguns were the primary weapons of 
  the first tanks before light cannons began to see use.
  1943 (Germany)
  The MP43, the first assault rifle, is made.
  1955 (USA)
  Dixie gun works begins production on black powder replica 
  firearms.
  1969 (Germany)
  Caseless ammunition developed by Heckler & Koch.
  1970 (USA)
  Pyrodex is developed as a possible substitute for black powder 
  as a propellant. 
  1976 (USA)
  The Accelerator cartridge is invented by Remmington.
  
  10
  1993 (Austria)
  Vores begins selling caseless 
  ammunition that is ignited by an 
  electrical charge.
  1999 (USA)
  A federal jury finds 9 firearm 
  manufacturers liable in gun related 
  shooting deaths, and 15 manufacturers 
  negligent in their marketing and 
  advertising practices.
  The Weapons
  Hand Cannon
  The earliest form of firearm known, 
  though it would more suitably be 
  known as a small artillery piece, the 
  hand cannon existed in several forms, 
  the most common of which was merely 
  a hollow, iron cylinder fastened to the 
  top of a length of wood that was then 
  held aloft or planted in the ground at 
  an angle towards the target. Like the 
  earliest black powder artillery pieces, 
  lighting a burning ember or wick to 
  the weapon’s touch hole would then 
  fire the hand cannon. These weapons 
  were often posed as much danger to 
  the operator as it did the enemy. They 
  had so little power that they had little 
  effect beyond 30 yards or so.
  Hand Gonne
  A small evolution of the primitive 
  hand cannon, the hand gonne 
  resembled a small cannon built into 
  a supporting length of wood fastened 
  to its rear. The weapon would have to 
  be supported up and braced against 
  the user’s chest to fire by touching 
  a flame to its touch hole. A metal 
  spike or hook was driven through the 
  wooden stock’s top, allowing it be 
  braced against an obstacle, such as a 
  wall, in order to absorb the recoil.
  Later permutations would see the 
  entire weapon made of a single 
  piece of iron, with the hook or spike 
  attached. Tapering down the end to 
  reduce weight and adding an iron loop 
  at the end for carrying the weapon 
  were also later innovations.
  Harquebus
  From “arca bouza”, meaning “bow with a hole,” the harquebus 
  (also seen without the “h”) was the first progression from 
  the simple hand gonne. These smoothbore matchlocks used 
  a crossbow stock and trigger with the barrel attached to the 
  top and was the first firearm to be fired from the shoulder. 
  They were usually so heavy that it would be rested in a forked 
  support that would also help absorb some of the recoil once 
  fired. The harquebus would later be upgraded to wheel locks 
  before the introduction of the musket.
  Renwick 24 bore Rifle
  This is the earliest firearm known to have used rifling. This, 
  the first known rifle, was made for the Holy Roman Emperor, 
  Maximilian I, by William Renwick. The purpose of rifling the 
  barrel was not meant to improve accuracy, rather it was 
  meant to provide a place for the spent powder ash to gather 
  so that the weapon could be used for longer periods between 
  cleanings. Only by trial and error in later firearms was the 
  Name
  Date
  Action
  Type
  Caliber
  Hand Cannon
  c. 1290
  NA
  Muzzleloader
  Various bores
  Hand Gonne
  c. 1340
  NA
  Muzzleloader
  Various bores
  Harquebus
  c. 1475
  Single
  Muzzleloader
  Various bores, 
  including 
  springels
  Renwick 24 bore rifle
  1495
  Single
  Muzzleloader
  24 bore
  Puckle Gun
  1718
  Crank
  Magazine
  1.2
  Brown Bess Musket
  1722
  Single
  Muzzleloader
  .75
  Kentucky Rifle
  c. 1730
  Single
  Muzzleloader
  Various; .32 or 
  .50 common
  Nock Volley Gun
  1779
  Single
  Muzzleloader
  .52
  Baker Rifle
  1800
  Single
  Muzzleloader
  0.625
  1836 Paterson Colt 
  Revolver
  1836
  Single
  Cylinder
  .36
  1851 Colt Navy Revolver
  1850
  Single
  Cylinder
  .36
  Whitworth Rifle
  1857
  Single
  Muzzleloader
  .44 (special)
  1860 Colt Army Revolver
  1860
  Single
  Cylinder
  0.44
  Spencer Carbine
  1860
  Lever
  Magazine
  .52
  Henry Rifle
  1862
  Lever
  Magazine
  .44
  Gatling Gun
  1862, 1866
  Crank
  Magazine
  .58
  Winchester Rifle
  1866
  Lever
  Magazine
  .44
  45-70 Springfield Trapdoor 
  rifle
  1868
  Single
  Breechloader
  .45-70
  “Mousetrap” Shotgun
  1871
  Lever
  Breechloader
  12 gauge
  Maxim Machinegun
  1883
  Automatic
  Belt
  7.62mm
  Borchardt Self-Loading 
  Pistol
  1894
  Semi-Auto
  Magazine
  7.65mm
  M1894 Krag-Jorgensen rifle
  1894
  Bolt
  Magazine
  .30-40
  M1895 Lee Pattern
  1895
  Bolt
  Magazine
  6mm US Navy 
  M1895
  1898 Mauser Automatic 
  Pistol/Carbine
  1898
  Automatic
  Magazine
  7.63mm
  Model 1911 .45 ACP
  1911
  Semi-Auto
  Magazine
  .45 ACP
  Thompson Model 1921 
  Submachine Gun
  1920
  Automatic
  Magazine
  .45
  Browning HP35
  1926
  Semi-Auto
  Magazine
  9mm Parabellum
  Maschinenpistole 43
  1943
  Automatic
  Magazine
  7.92x33mm Kurz
  Kalashnikov AK-47
  1946
  Automatic
  Magazine
  7.62x39mm 
  M1943
  M16 Rifle
  1956
  Automatic
  Magazine
  5.56x45mm
  Heckler & Koch 
  Maschinenpistole 5 (MP5)
  1966
  Automatic
  Magazine
  9mm Parabellum
  HK G11 Caseless Rifle
  1978
  Automatic
  Magazine
  4.7x3 mm DE11 
  Caseless
  
  11
  benefit of rifling discovered with concern to the weapon’s 
  accuracy.
  Puckle Gun
  The first weapon to truly address the designs that would 
  lead to the modern machinegun, the brass and iron, tripod-
  mounted, flintlock Puckle Gun, also known as the “Defense,” 
  employed a single barrel fed by a hand-crank that would turn 
  the cylinder magazine and its nine chambers so that each 
  consecutive round could be fired. Once all its rounds were 
  spent, a new cylinder could be fitted. The design never caught 
  on, however.
  Originally designed with naval use in mind, for the intention 
  of repelling boarders, the gun’s inventor, James Puckle, never 
  truly understood its worth in land warfare. Interestingly, two 
  versions were made: one that fired ball ammunition to be used 
  against Christian foes, and one that fired square ammunition 
  to be used against heathens because it was believed that the 
  square ammunition would cause fiercer wounds and greater 
  pain.
  Brown Bess Musket
  The most famous musket of the Colonial period, the Long Land 
  Pattern Service Musket (the Brown Bess’ official designation) 
  came in both long (62 in.) and carbine (39 in. “Indian Pattern”) 
  models. So named for the Dutch word “buss,” meaning barrel, 
  which equated to “bess” in English, and for the browning 
  of the barrel, the Brown Bess was a smoothbore flintlock 
  made famous by the British Red Coats. A 14 inch bayonet was 
  standard.
  By the time of the American Revolution, the standard Brown 
  Bess was now the Short Land Musket, the 58-inch model 
  introduced in 1768.
  Kentucky Rifle
  Actually designed by German gunsmiths in Pennsylvania, this 
  weapon acquired its name from the song, “The Hunters of 
  Kentucky” during the War of 1812, despite already having 
  seen heavy use in the Indian and French Wars, as well as the 
  American Revolution.
  The Kentucky Rifle is a heavy, long weapon produced in various 
  calibers. The rifle was renowned for its accuracy, even at 
  extreme ranges, but its weight, the weight of its ammunition, 
  and the amount of effort needed to ram the round and its 
  powder home made it better suited for sporting rather than the 
  frontier and military roles that it ended up fulfilling.
  A later version, the Pennsylvania Rifle, reduced the weight 
  and slimmed it down, but added another foot to the barrel 
  to maintain the range. This rifle, designed purely to be a 
  workhorse, functional weapon, saw much use in maintaining 
  and expanding the American frontier.
  Nock Volley Gun
  Invented by James Wilson, this seven-barreled weapon 
  consisted of seven barrels, with six circling one. The outer six 
  had their breeches sealed with a vent from the inner barrel’s 
  hollow spigot leading to each. When the powder in the spigot 
  was ignited, it would fire the center barrel and use the vents 
  to fire the other six barrels.
  Named for the contracted manufacturer, the volley gun was 
  made primarily for the British Royal Navy so that marines 
  could fire down on the decks of enemy ships during boarding, 
  peppering the enemy crew. Its weight and the need to load all 
  seven barrels made it an impractical weapon beyond this use. 
  A lighter version was made to make the weapon easier to use, 
  but that further reduced accuracy and range.
  Baker Rifle
  The Baker Rifle was the first such weapon to be adopted into 
  the British Army. Much shorter and lighter than the standard 
  issue Brown Bess musket, the slow-twist of the Baker’s 7 rifle 
  grooves spun the ball faster than its counterparts, providing 
  the Baker with improved accuracy but increased the chance of 
  fouling.
  1836 Paterson Colt Revolver
  Invented by Samuel Colt, this is the first weapon was the 
  first where cocking the hammer revolved and then locked 
  the cylinder into firing position. The Paterson held 5 rounds 
  and used black powder. Despite the praise that it received, 
  especially after having seen action in the west against the 
  Indians, the weapon was ahead of its time and was not widely 
  produced.
  The ball and powder had to be fed into the cylinder from the 
  muzzle-facing end. The cylinder’s rear was sealed, unlike the 
  modern revolvers still used today.
  1851 Colt Navy Revolver
  Far better than the 1846 Dragoon revolver crafted to fulfill 
  the needs of the Mexican War, even though it was first made 
  in 1850 Colt first displayed this weapon at the 1851 Great 
  Exhibition in London where it was extremely well received. In 
  fact, it was one of the best-received and most produced pistols 
  in history. It was a particular favorite with Colt himself, as well 
  as cowboys and gunfighters.
  So named for the its intended use by naval forces (although 
  it was also used by the army), this muzzle loading pistol was 
  light enough for easy use but still heavy enough to deliver 
  an impressive kick of firepower. Its design made for a sturdy, 
  durable weapon that carried over and improved upon many of 
  the Dragoon’s better features, such as its solid axis pin, the 
  supporting lug, and a chamber that fit the rounds so snugly 
  that neither dampness or flash from previous shots could get 
  into a chamber.
  Whitworth Rifle
  Widely reputed (and tested) to be the most accurate 
  muzzleloader ever made, the long Whitworth shined in the 
  hands of Confederate sharpshooters during the American Civil 
  War. Requiring special bullets to fit its twisting hexagonal bore, 
  the shape allowed the special round to gain full use of the spin 
  caused by the oddly shaped rifling. The rifle was invented by 
  Sir Joseph Whitworth of England.
  Sharpshooters were known to make kills up to 1,000 yards with 
  this weapon, 1,500 yards when equipped with a scope.
  This would be considered a masterwork weapon.
  1860 Colt Army Revolver
  Successor to the Third Model Dragoon, this weapon was the 
  most often used sidearm for both sides during the American 
  Civil War. Essentially, it combines the frame of the 1851 Navy 
  with the .44 chamber of the Dragoon to create a pistol that, 
  
  12
  while still heavy, was lighter than the Dragoon but could still 
  deliver an impressive punch. A percussion pistol, the paper 
  cartridges are rammed directly into the cylinder. Because it 
  was so popular amongst the cavalry, the option for a wooden 
  stock was added.
  The civilian version of the Colt Army Revolver is the renowned 
  Colt Peacemaker. This weapon was modified from the Army 
  revolver for better balance and had a far shorter barrel. They 
  were also far more ornate. The Peacemaker remained in 
  production until 1941.
  Spencer Carbine
  The Union staple firearm during the American Civil War, this 
  lever action, breechloader granted the Northern soldiers 
  a distinct advantage over their Confederate counterparts, 
  proving to be a key element in many Northern victories. The 
  simple lever action, combined with the magazine, enabled 
  Spencer-equipped troops to provide a far superior rate of fire. 
  More than 200,000 of these were employed by Union soldiers 
  throughout the war, the less than 100,000 were actually 
  purchased by the Army.
  Henry Rifle
  About 14,000 of these weapons were constructed by the New 
  Haven Arms Company, utilizing the Volcanic Repeating Arm 
  system and the metal .44 rimfire cartridge the latter being 
  entirely designed by Benjamin Tyler Henry while the former 
  was a perfected version of the defective system designed by 
  Hunt. The lever both expunged the spent cartridge and loaded 
  the next from the tubular magazine under the barrel. Although 
  pricey, the Henry rifle was rapidly accepted by Union troops 
  during the American Civil War, although most had to purchase 
  the weapon themselves.
  Gatling Gun
  Though other rapid-fire weapons had been used in the past, 
  such as the Ripley “Revolving Battery Gun” and the Ager 
  “Coffee Mill Gun,” both of which saw action during the 
  American Civil War, it wasn’t until Dr. Richard Jordan Gatling 
  introduced his design that the machinegun was truly born. 
  Far more reliable and accurate than any of the so-called 
  “revolving” weapons, or even the “organ guns” of centuries 
  earlier, the principles used in the Gatling gun would set the 
  ground work for all machineguns that would follow.
  The Gatling gun used six barrels rotating around a central shaft 
  by the motive power of a hand crank to produce a rate of fire 
  of 600 rounds per minute. Fed from a gravity fed hopper, the 
  rotating barrels allowed the weapon to cool, and thus keep 
  firing, at a rate that would have fouled a single barrel.
  The improved model Gatling gun was adopted by the US Army 
  in 1866.
  .45-70 Springfield Trapdoor Rifle
  So named for the “trapdoor” opening at the top of breech, 
  through which the cartridge would be loaded, its precursors 
  were actually converted muzzleloaders from the Civil War. 
  The single shot 1868 Trapdoor rifle by Springfield was then 
  manufactured to replace the conversions. The main problem 
  with the Trapdoor was that it still used black powder rather 
  than the newer, smokeless powder.
  The 1889 model, which underwent some minor modifications 
  and switched from a triangular bayonet to a rod bayonet, was 
  heavily used during the Spanish-American War.
  Winchester Rifle
  Based on Henry’s patents, the Winchester improved upon 
  the Henry rifle by adding a side gate that allowed cartridges 
  to be fed directly into the tubular magazine, speeding up 
  the reloading process to an incredible degree. The weapon 
  included a number of other improvements over the Henry, 
  making it popular with the Army and Plains Indians alike, 
  placing alongside the Colt Peacemaker as one of the weapons 
  that tamed the Wild West.
  “Mousetrap” Shotgun
  So named for the noise that the locks made upon being fired, 
  the “Mousetrap” was designed by Theophilus Murcott of 
  London. This hammerless gun was cocked by manipulating a 
  lever that wrapped around the trigger guard. It is the first 
  weapon to utilize this type of action. The Mousetrap was very 
  popular because it was easy to operate and incredibly relaible.
  Maxim Machinegun
  The Maxim was the first automatic machinegun and was also 
  the first to utilize linked ammunition fed into the weapon 
  upon a “belt.” Maxim sold his weapon across Europe, though 
  most nations replaced them as lighter counterparts became 
  available.
  Able to reach the believed impossible fire rate of 600 rounds 
  a minute, the Maxim would rapidly become too hot. The 
  temperatures were somewhat regulated by a water-cooling 
  system, and later air-cooling, but temperature remained a 
  problem during prolonged use. In fact, the Maxim underwent 
  various upgrades and alterations, usually concerning its 
  mounting and materials of construction, in effort to improve 
  the design and reduce its weight.
  This machinegun was the first airplane-mounted weapon. Some 
  countries continued to use the Maxim long after World War II.
  Borchardt Self-Loading Pistol
  The precursor to the world recognized Luger, the Borchardt 
  was the first commercial success at the attempt to apply the 
  principles used in the Maxim machinegun to a handgun. The 
  gun’s designer, Hugo Borchardt, modeled the ingenious action 
  after the human knee, but the system made the gun too 
  unwieldy and heavy for easy use with one hand. To alleviate 
  the problem somewhat, a wooden stock could be attached so 
  that the pistol could be used as a carbine. Luger would later 
  take Borchardt’s toggle action principles, improve upon them, 
  and create the much better Luger pistol.
  M1894 Krag-Jorgensen Rifle
  Developed Ole Krag and Erik Jorgensen at Norway’s Konigsberg 
  Arms Factory, this bolt-action rifle was adopted by the US in 
  1892 to replace their single-shot Trapdoor rifle. This process 
  had been delayed until the US had learned how to make 
  smokeless powder, a carefully guarded secret kept by the 
  French.
  The reasons for changing rifles were: the Krag possessed a 
  5-round magazine, it fired on a flatter trajectory for greater 
  accuracy, its ammunition was lighter so a soldier could carry 
  
  13
  more of it, and it used smokeless powder. On the other hand, 
  the Krag’s stopping power was significantly lower.
  The rifle would see further improvements, especially to its 
  action and magazine, in 1896, 1898, and 1903.
  M1895 Lee Pattern
  The first weapon to use Lee’s straight-pull bolt action, this 
  proved to be problematic because the action wasn’t very easy 
  to work. In fact, working the action threw off the steady aim 
  of the shooter between shots, ruining the military effectiveness 
  of an otherwise acceptable weapon. Still, the M1895 is credited 
  as being the first magazine rifle in the United States not to use 
  clip loading.
  Several changes were to appear in later models, but the design 
  was eventually dropped following the M1917 as better weapons 
  were adopted.
  Mauser 1898 Automatic Pistol/Carbine
  Although initial models first appeared in 1896, it underwent 
  improvements to become the 1898 model. Although the 
  hammer had to be cocked back manually for the first shot, the 
  short recoil system would then automatically cock the hammer 
  and load the next round from the 10-round magazine. When all 
  the rounds were fired, the magazine platform was held open 
  by the bolt to let the operator know that a new magazine was 
  needed. This pistol was the first weapon to use such a system.
  A wooden stock, which also served as the holster, could be 
  attached for greater stability, effectively transforming the 
  weapon into a carbine.
  Model 1911 .45 ACP
  Produced by Colt and employing design improvements over 
  Browning’s 1900 automatic pistol, this is one of the most 
  proliferate automatic pistols ever to be produced. It was the 
  main sidearm of the US Army and Nave from its introduction 
  in 1911 until it was replaced by the lighter 9mm in 1992. The 
  pistol underwent several changes between the time it was first 
  underwent trials in 1905 and the time when it finally settled 
  into the M1911A1 model, after which it remained unchanged.
  Thompson Model 1921 Submachine Gun
  Designed by General John T. Thompson, the “Tommy Gun” 
  was the first submachine gun, having been granted the new 
  classification for two reasons
  it was much lighter than any machinegun being fielded at the 
  time, including similar automatics like the Browning Automatic 
  Rifle, and because it fired the shorter pistol round rather than 
  the long rifle cartridge (though the experimental models used 
  the .22 long cartridge).
  Initially designed without a buttstock, one was added to the 
  1921A model. The experimental models were also comprised 
  of only 11 pieces, a count that rose to 38, screws included, 
  in the production models. The weapon was so simple and its 
  components so few, that practically anyone could unassembled 
  the weapon in 15 minutes without the need for any tools. Tests 
  also showed that it could be reassembled in complete darkness 
  in 30 minutes. The ease of its maintenance, along with its use 
  of the standard .45 pistol cartridge, quickly made the weapon 
  a favorite among North American police forces, and later the 
  US Army and Marine Corps.
  Browning HP35
  Having undergone constant development between 1914 and 
  1926, this was the last pistol designed by Browning before 
  his death. It was then manufactured by Fabrique Nationale 
  d’Armes de Guerre (FN) and was sold in limited numbers 
  to several European countries and China until its factories 
  were taken over by German forces during WWII. The design 
  was smuggled out of Belgium and both Canada and Britain 
  began production. It has since become the official sidearm 
  of over 50 nations around the world, including the latter two 
  Commonwealth states.
  Besides being known for its reliability and impressive 
  performance, one of the greatest appeals of the HP (High-
  Powered) 35 was its 13-round magazine.
  Maschinenpistole 43 (MP43)
  Based off the MKb42(H) model, the MP43 was designed to use 
  the intermediate 7.92mm round. The weapon was initially 
  categorized as a machine pistol (or submachine gun) to 
  bypass Hitler’s orders that the development was to stop so 
  that production of machine pistols could be increased to suit 
  the type of combat that tended to befall German forces at 
  that time. The MP43’s proved itself on the debacle that was 
  the Eastern front, and so Hitler finally allowed the weapon, 
  after several upgrades, to officially be reclassified as StG44 
  Sturmgewehr (assault rifle), which began production in 1944.
  Kalashnikov AK-47
  Variations of this weapon have been the standard assault rifle 
  of Russia since the early 1950s. It is also the most widely 
  sold assault weapon of all time, appearing in the armies of 
  nations of all sizes the world over. The Kalashnikov is especially 
  favored by guerilla forces because of its durability. These 
  weapons are renowned for being able to take punishment such 
  as being buried for years within very little protection and being 
  capable of firing right out of the ground. They are durable, 
  incredibly easy to maintain, and have very few moving parts, 
  all qualities that make up for its comparatively unimpressive 
  range.
  M16 Rifle
  Based off his AR-10 design, Eugene Stoner sold this the M16 
  to Colt. The initial design originally used a modified .222 
  Remington round and went through several changes until 
  its current model, the M16A3, which now uses the standard 
  NATO round. The impressively reliable M16 is one of the most 
  common assault rifles in the world and has an unprecedented 
  number of modifications, both military and civilian.
  Heckler & Koch Maschinenpistole 5 (MP5)
  Using highly successful design elements of the H&K assault 
  rifle series, the MP5 was first introduced in 1966 and was 
  the descendent of the company’s first submachine gun, the 
  HK54. The MP5’s size, dependability, performance, and use 
  of pistol bullets make it the weapon of choice with elite law 
  enforcement and military units the world over.
  The MP5 has birthed a number of variations that have been 
  refined for specific purposes.  These models include, but are 
  not limited to the shortened MP5K, the MP5SD, which employs 
  an integrated silencer, the 10mm MP5/10 and the 40 Smith & 
  Wesson-firing MP5/40.
  
  14
  HK G11 Rifle
  Development began in 1969 to create a weapon with impressive 
  accuracy on a 3-shot burst. To do this, Heckler & Koch sought 
  to speed up the weapon’s action using caseless ammunition, 
  allowing all three shots to be fired before the weapon was 
  significantly moved off target by the burst’s recoil. Despite the 
  problems inherent to the weapon, this goal was achieved with 
  great success.
  The weapon is entirely sealed within a composite case. The 
  magazine, which holds 50 rounds of caseless ammunition, slides 
  in horizontally along the top of the barrel; two such magazines 
  could be simultaneously loaded in the final production version. 
  The weapon suffered all manner of problems, such as the 
  original cartridge propellant had a habit of “cooking off” in a 
  hot barrel. By the time these and other problems were solved, 
  however, the fall of the Berlin Wall and other events had 
  dumped HK into receivership and the G11 became little more 
  than an oddity. An oddity that worked incredibly well in its 
  final production version, but an oddity none the less.
  This would be considered a masterwork weapon.
  Bibliography
  Arnold, Thomas F., The Renaissance at War. Cassell & Co, 
  Strand, London, 2001
  Diagram Group, The, Harding, Dave ed., Weapons: An 
  International Encyclopedia from 5000 B.C. to 2000 A.D., 
  Updated Edition. St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1990
  Fjestad, S.P., The Blue Book of Gun Values - 23rd Edition. Blue 
  Book Publications, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, 2002.
  Frantz, Richard D., A Chronology of Black Powder. Retrieved 
  December 22, 2002, from http://www.rdfrantz.com/rdf/
  shootingsports/history/Chronologies/HistBp.htm
  Greener, W.W., Gun and its Development, Ninth Edition. The 
  Lyons Press, Guilford, CT, 2002.
  Miller, David ed., The Illustrated Book of Guns. Salamander 
  Books, Ltd., 2000
  Norris, John, Artillery: A History. Sutton Publishing, Ltd., 
  Phoenix Mill, Gloucestershire, 2000
  Pollard, Maj. H.B.C. A History Of Firearms. London: Geoffrey 
  Bless, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1927
  Ramage, Ken ed., Gun Digest 2001. Krause Publications, Iola, 
  Wisconsin, 2000
  Svinth, Joseph R., Kronos: A Chronological History of the 
  Martial Arts and Combative Sports 1350-1699 (rev 01/03). 
  Retrieved January 10 – February 3, 2003, from http://
  ejmas.com/kronos/NewHist1350-1699.htm
  Swenson, G.W.P., Pictorial History of the Rifle. Ian Allan Ltd., 
  Shepperton, Surrey, 1971
  Unknown, Gatling Gun Company. Retrieved January 26, 2003, 
  from http://www.gatlinggun.net/history/
  Various, The 1911 Edition Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 
  6, 2003, from http://31.1911encyclopedia.org/O/OR/
  ORDINATE.htm
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Grim Tales/Grim Tales Firearms - A Primer.pdf