<P> The Puckle gun ( also known as the Defence gun ) was a primitive crew - served , manually - operated flintlock revolver patented in 1718 by James Puckle ( 1667 -- 1724 ) a British inventor , lawyer and writer . It was one of the earliest weapons to be referred to as a `` machine gun '' , being called such in a 1722 shipping manifest . However , the Puckle gun was never used during any combat operation or war . Production was highly limited and may have been as few as two guns . </P>
<P> The Puckle gun ( also known as the Defence gun ) was a primitive crew - served , manually - operated flintlock revolver patented in 1718 by James Puckle ( 1667 -- 1724 ) a British inventor , lawyer and writer . It was one of the earliest weapons to be referred to as a `` machine gun '' , being called such in a 1722 shipping manifest . However , the Puckle gun was never used during any combat operation or war . Production was highly limited and may have been as few as two guns . </P>
when was the first rapid fire gun made
when was the first rapid fire gun made
1718
1718