1st firearms were created in China, black gunpowder invented in the 9th century. Early firearms had to be manually ignited by holding a burning wick to a touch hole. Once the 1st firearms were introduced, gun technology advanced quite rapidly, as various empires waged war.
Heilongjiang Hand Cannon
Year Created: c.1288
Country of Origin: Banlachengzi, Heilongjian Provinces, China
Gunsmith: Unknown
Believed to be the oldest existing gun in the world.
Emperor Charles V’s Wheellock Pistol
Year Created: c. 1540 – 1545
Country of Origin: Munich, Germany
Gunsmith: Peter Peck
Double-barrelled wheel-lock pistol made for King Charles V is one of earliest surviving pistols created by Peter Peck of Germany. Also made fine watches.
Tanegashima
Year Created: c.1543
Country of Origin: Japan
Gunsmith: Yaita – first commissioned by Lord Tanegashima Tokitaka
300,000 Tanegashima guns were produced, changed the nature of Japanese warfare.
Georg von Reichwein’s Revolver
Year Created: 1597
Country of Origin: Nuremburg, Germany
Gunsmith: Hans Stopler
Decorated with brass, bone and Mother of Pearl. Unlike modern revolvers, this gun had to be manually rotated.
King Louis XIII’s Flintlock Gun
Year Created: c.1620
Country of Origin: Lisieux, France
Gunsmith: Pierre Le Bourgeois and Marin Le Bourgeois
1st true flintlocks were created in France, 17th century. Owned by King Louis XII.
Puckle Gun
Year Created: 1718
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Gunsmith: James Puckle
1st weapons to be called a “machine gun”. It was a tripod-mounted, single-barrel flintlock weapon with a manually operated revolving cylinder.
Musket Modèle 1777
Year Created: 1777
Country of Origin: France
Gunsmith: Charleville armoury
Most widely used weapon in continental Europe. Created in 1777 for French Army.
Colt Revolver
Year Created: 1836
Country of Origin: United States of America
Gunsmith: Samuel Colt
1st truly successful revolver. 1st patent for his revolving mechanism in Britain & US.
Gatling Gun
Year Created: 1862
Country of Origin: United States of America
Gunsmith: Dr. Richard J. Gatling
Awesome….