Firearm Inventions

 

  • 1000 Gunpowder invented in China
  • 1232 Rocket launcher in China
  • 1250 China first manufactures guns
  • 1364 – First recorded use of a firearm.
  • 1380 – Hand guns are known across Europe.
  • 1400s – The matchlock gun appears
  • 1425 Matchlock (“arquebus”) introduced
  • 1498 – Rifling principle is discovered
  • 1500 Damascus barrel developed
  • 1500 Spring air guns invented
  • 1509 – Invention of Wheel Lock
    – Some believe Leonardo da Vinci was the inventor
  • 1540 – Rifling appears in firearms
  • 1570 Snaphaunce first appeared – early form of the Flintlock
  • 1600 Pneumatic air guns introduced
  • 1612 – The Flintlock was developed in France
  • 1630 – The first true flintlock
  • 1637 – First use of firearms proof-marks
  • 1640 – The bayonet was introduced by the French
  • 1670Flintlock Revolving Rifle
  • 1680 – A ring attachment was added to the bayonet
  • 1710 – The socket bayonet appeared and adopted by the British
  • 1718 May 15, 1st machine gun patented by James Puckle
  • 1742 – Brown Bess Musket (German words “braun buss” meaning “strong gun”)
  • 1750 Kentucky rifles
  • 1750-1765 – pistols for duelling purposes became general as the practice of carrying the rapier or small sword died out
  • 1775 John Wilkinson builds boring machine, bored rifle barrels possible.
  • 1776 – American Revolution
  • 1776 First rifles were issued with the mark “U.S.”
  • 1805 – The Percussion Cap ignition system developed
  • 1814 copper percussion cap was invented
  • 1822 Percussion cap patented
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