History Of Firearms
The history of firearms begins in China in the 9th century AD.
Timeline
- 9th century - Gunpowder is invented in China
- 12th century - Gunpowder first used to fire projectiles from barrels.
- Early 1400s - Matchlock invented
- Circa 1470 - Shoulder stock invented
- Circa 1500 - Leonardo da Vinci produces a drawing of a wheellock.
- 1503 - Firearms play a role at the battle of Cerignola in Italy.
- 1526 - Beretta is manufacturing firearms in Italy. They are still in business.
- Mid 1500s - Handguns begin to come into use.
- Mid 1500s - Rifling in use.
- Mid 1500s - Sights first applied to rifles.
- Circa 1560 - Snaphaunce lock in use. This was a primitive type of flintlock.
- Circa 1580 - The Miquelet system improves upon the Snaphaunce.
- Circa 1610 - Flintlock perfected.
- 1700s - Pennsylvania Long Rifles, AKA Kentucky Rifles and Ohio Rifles, made in America.
- 1794 - U S Government establishes arsenals.
- 1795 - Production of firearms begins at Springfield Armory in Massachusetts.
- 1800 - Production of firearms begins at Harper's Ferry West Virginia.
- 1807 - Percussion ignition invented by Alexander John Forsyth.
- 1808 - Self contained (but not entirely metallic) breech loaded, "pin fired", cartridge and firearm invented by Samuel Johannes Pauly, AKA Jean Samuel Pauly.
- 1822 - Percussion cap invented.
- 1826 - Gunsmith Eliphalet Remington produces gun barrels for the government. Remington Arms is still in business.
- 1828 - Casimir Lefaucheux invents pinfire metallic cartridge. (Patented in 1835)
- 1833 - Hall Carbine becomes the first caplock and the first breech loader adopted by the US Army.
- 1835 - Samuel Colt patents his first revolver.
- 1839 - Percussion Cap widely adopted by US Army.
- 1841 - German military adopts the Dreyse Needle Gun becoming the first army to field a bolt action rifle.
- 1845 - First "modern" metallic cartridge produced by Louis Nicolas Flobert
- 1849 - Claude-Étienne Minié invents the Minié Ball allowing fast muzzle loading of rifled bores.
- 1866 - US Army first issues center fire cartridge, the 50-70 Goverment
Some books on Firearms History.
Many thanks to all the men and women who serve, or have served, in the armed forces of the United States of America.
Freedom isn't free. We owe you one.
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