- 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
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