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
• 1670 – Flintlock 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