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The History and Evolution of Guns as Told Through Pictures

Mar. 12, 2013 8:52am

This article is part of a series on Guns in America that explores the use of firearms in our country and the debate over gun control. This is an editorially independent series sponsored by Tactical Firearms Training Secrets.

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While people on both sides of the Second Amendment debate are consumed by the contemporary legalities surrounding guns, few have taken the time to pause and consider the unique history of firearms — a robust and colorful timeline that dates back centuries. Regardless of where one stands on the legislative front, it’s hard not to appreciate the unique developments that have been ingrained in the protection and progression of our society.

Firearms have been around for quite some time. Believe it or not, guns were being used as early as 1364. Obviously, the weaponry being employed in early days is nothing like what we have today, but understanding this expansive history offers a fascinating lens into the past. From primitive guns to modern-day automatic weapons, the evolution is noteworthy.

This Is the History of Firearms From 1364 Until 1900 | Guns

Medieval hand cannon from around 1350 (Photo Credit: National Firearms Museum)

 

THE WORLD’S FIRST GUNS

It was in 1364 that mankind first recorded the use of a firearm. These weapons, called “hand cannons,” were the first step in the creation of guns. Just 14 years later, handguns were already making their way across Europe.

Guns, in their infancy, were very different from today’s multifaceted weapons, as PBS notes. Originally, a wick was tied to “touch hole” inside of the barrel of guns. Then, when one lit the wick, the powder would inevitably be ignited inside, creating the reaction needed to launch the projectile.

This Is the History of Firearms From 1364 Until 1900 | Guns

19th century matchlock musket (Photo Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art)

It wasn’t until the matchlock gun arrived in the 1400s that guns began to evolve. This particular firearm was the first gun that used mechanics to release a bullet. Finding early examples of these guns is difficult, as they are rare. The NRA’s National Firearms Museum provides more information about how these weapons worked:

The first gun to combine all three components was the matchlock, in the early 1400′s. Many early hand cannons were ignited with a “slow match” – a length of slender rope or cord that had been chemically treated so that an end could be ignited and would continue to burn or smolder, much like a 4th of July punk used to shoot fireworks.  Obviously it was awkward to hold both gun & slow match while trying to dip the match to the touch hole of the hand cannon.

The matchlock solved this problem by using an arm called a serpentine on the gun to hold the slow match.  By mechanical linkage, a trigger on mounted on the bottom of the lock could be pressed to lower the match to the touch hole, which now included a small pan of fine gun powder that would be ignited first, transmitting the fire through the hole to fire the main charge in the barrel.

This Is the History of Firearms From 1364 Until 1900 | Guns

16th-17th century matchlock musket (Photo Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art)

 

THE GUN’S FIRST MAJOR EVOLUTION

In 1498, the gun experienced its first major evolution with the discovery of rifling (putting grooves in the barrel of a gun to improve accuracy). The National Firearms Museum explains the concept:

Archers had found that if the fletching feathers on the rear of their arrow were at a slight angle, causing the arrow to rotate in flight, their ability to hit the target was improved. This concept was applied to gun barrels by cutting slowly twisting grooves down the interior length of the barrel, imparting a spin to the bullet as it left the muzzle.  These grooves were called rifling, and “rifled muskets” or “rifles” so equipped were found to be much better at hitting their mark over further distances than “smooth-bore” muskets.

And just a few years later in 1509, the creation of the wheel lock made for an even more intriguing and advanced weapon. Contrary to the matchlock, which required a wick to ignite the gun for usage, the wheel lock was a steel wheel that created the spark needed to ignite the gun.

This Is the History of Firearms From 1364 Until 1900 | Guns

Wheel lock gun (Photo Credit: Small Arms of the Bavarian National Museum, Munich/Nick Michael)

As PBS notes, the wheel lock technology was extremely expensive, leading some to still choose the matchlock despite improvements (the latter was half the price of the former).

This Is the History of Firearms From 1364 Until 1900 | Guns

Double-barreled wheellock pistol circa 1540-1545 (Photo Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art)

 

THE EMERGENCE OF THE FLINTLOCK

The next major advancement in gun technologies came in 1640, when the first true flintlock emerged. As PBS notes, this particular technology solved a problem that had been hampering shooters for quite some time. For much of the gun’s existence up to this point, a lid was used to protect or expose powder — a tool that had to be moved manually.

This Is the History of Firearms From 1364 Until 1900 | Guns

U.S. model 1816 flintlock pistol (Photo Credit: NRA Blog/American Riflemen)

The flintlock solved this annoyance by being designed to both push back the lid and spark a flint simultaneously. The development was so profund, in fact, that it lasted for two centuries without any major alterations. Here’s how HowStuffWorks.com describes the technology:

The basic goal of the flintlock is simple: to create a spark that can light the gunpowder stored in the barrel of the gun. To create this spark, the flintlock uses the “flint and steel” approach. The idea behind flint and steel is straightforward. Flint is an amazingly hard form of rock. If you strike iron or steel with flint, the flint flakes off tiny particles of iron. The force of the blow and the friction it creates actually ignites the iron, and it burns rapidly to form Fe3O4. The sparks that you see are the hot specks of iron burning! If these sparks come near gunpowder, they will ignite it.

This Is the History of Firearms From 1364 Until 1900 | Guns

A diagram showing the parts of the flintlock technology (Photo Credit: HowStuffWorks.com)

Before guns there were swords (known as rapiers). Men would carry these weapons and use them for self-defense and duels. But around 1750, PBS notes that people began carrying guns rather than rapiers.

While a variety of firearms were initially used, around 1777, a more standard practice of using a flintlock was being employed. These pistols were used in this fashion until the mid-1800s when dueling was no longer a fad.

This Is the History of Firearms From 1364 Until 1900 | Guns

Lavish flintlock pistols from England circa 1800-1801 (Photo Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art)

 

PERCUSSION-CAP GUNS

The flintlock’s technology finally peaked around 1825 when the percussion-detonating principle was in general use. About.com claims that percussion-cap guns, invented and patented by the Rev. John Forsyth in the early 1800s, no longer required a flash pan. By the time the Civil War rolled around, both the Union and Confederate forces were using the newfound technology.

HowStuffWorks.com further explains the intricacies behind the technology:

The percussion cap was made possible by the discovery of a chemical compound called mercuric fulminate or fulminate of mercury. Its chemical formula is Hg(ONC)2 – it is made from mercury, nitric acid and alcohol.

Mercuric fulminate is extremely explosive, and it is shock sensitive. A sharp blow, or even too much finger pressure, can cause it to detonate. By putting a small amount of mercuric fulminate in a pre-made cap (a tiny cup about the size of a pencil eraser) and affixing the cap to a nipple and tube leading into the barrel, the cap can ignite the gunpowder in the barrel.

This Is the History of Firearms From 1364 Until 1900 | Guns

Colt Third Model Dragoon Percussion Revolver (Photo Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art)

 

THE COLT REVOLVER

The first multi-shot, revolving firearms that were mass produced came from Samuel Colt. Colt produced a gun that enabled people to fire multiple shots without reloading — a development that forever changed warfare. By mass producing these weapons, the inventor made them more affordable and, as PBS Notes, their accuracy and reliability made them useful among hunters and soldiers, alike.

The first Colt revolver emerged in 1835. The Colt web site has more about this fascinating history:

Sam Colt’s success story began with the issuance of a U.S. patent in 1836 for the Colt firearm equipped with a revolving cylinder containing five or six bullets. Colt’s revolver provided its user with greatly increased firepower. Prior to his invention, only one- and two-barrel flintlock pistols were available. In the 163 years that have followed, more than 30 million revolvers, pistols, and rifles bearing the Colt name have been produced, almost all of them in plants located in the Hartford, Connecticut, area.

This Is the History of Firearms From 1364 Until 1900 | Guns

Civil War-era Colt revolver (Photo Credit: North Carolina Museum of History)

 

GUN TECHNOLOGIES VASTLY IMPROVE

It was the second half of the 19th century that gun technologies monumentally expanded. In 1840, the pinfire cartridge was introduced (more about this here). And by 1850, true shotguns were in use. As PBS notes, guns were given new life, again, in 1860, with the introduction of the Spencer repeating carbine:

Introduced at the start of the Civil War, Spencer repeating guns were technically advanced, used cartridges (a recent development), and could fire 7 shots in 15 seconds. But the Army didn’t want a repeating gun, fearing that soldiers would fire more often, constantly need fresh ammunition, and overtax the supply system. But in 1863, President Lincoln test-fired a Spencer. His approval led to the purchase of 107,372 Spencer repeating carbines and rifles (of 144,500 made), and the Spencer became the principal repeating gun of the Civil War.

This Is the History of Firearms From 1364 Until 1900 | Guns

Spencer Repeating Rifle (Photo Credit: North Carolina Museum of History)

While most guns in use until the mid-1800s were muzzle-loading (from the front of the barrel), breech-loading (from the back of the barrel) firearms were in common use by 1861. To provide some context, most guns originally required the former system of loading bullets.

From the matchlock phase through the percussion era, muzzle loading was the norm. Through this system, the projectile and powder were dropped down the muzzle at the front of the gun’s barrel and rammed to the rear prior to firing a shot, the National Firearms Museum claims. Eventually, breech-loading took precedence.

 

MACHINE GUNS COME TO FRUITION

This Is the History of Firearms From 1364 Until 1900 | Guns

Photo Credit: National Firearms Museum

In 1861, the Gatling Gun came on the scene — a magnificent technology, considering its usefulness. About.com provides a snapshot of its capabilities and history (it is considered the precursor to the modern machine gun):

In 1861, Doctor Richard Gatling patented the Gatling Gun, a six-barreled weapon capable of firing a (then) phenomenal 200 rounds per minute. The Gatling gun was a hand-driven, crank-operated, multi-barrel, machine gun. The first machine gun with reliable loading, the Gatling gun had the ability to fire sustained multiple bursts.

Richard Gatling created his gun during the American Civil War, he sincerely believed that his invention would end war by making it unthinkable to use due to the horrific carnage possible by his weapons. At the least, the Gatling Gun’s power would reduce the number of soldiers required to remain on the battlefield.

The 1862 version of the gatling gun had reloadable steel chambers and used percussion caps. It was prone to occasional jamming. In 1867, Gatling redesigned the Gatling gun again to use metallic cartridges – this version was bought and used by the United States Army.

This Is the History of Firearms From 1364 Until 1900 | Guns

Gatling gun at the National Park Service at Fort Laramie in Wyoming (Photo Credit: Matthew Trump)

 

THE WINCHESTER RIFLE EMERGES

In 1873, the Winchester Rifle emerged, distinguishing itself as an immensely-popular firearm. In 1887, the first repeating shotguns were released by the company and, in 1903, Winchester again made history when it created the first automatic rifle.

This Is the History of Firearms From 1364 Until 1900 | Guns

Winchester Model 1873 rifle, which was produced in 1897 (Photo Credit: National Firearms Museum)

And in 1892, as PBS notes, the first automatic pistol was created by Joseph Laumann. Just just one year later — in 1893 — the Borchardt pistol emerged, complete with a separate magazine. Within eight years, automatic weapons were in regular use.

This Is the History of Firearms From 1364 Until 1900 | Guns

A Borchardt Pistol from 1893 (Photo Credit: National Firearms Museum)

According to the National Firearms Museum, the first truly fully automatic machine guns (firearms that fire continuously while the trigger is held down) emerged in the 1880s when Hiram Maxim perfected the technology. Then, John Moses Browning followed these weapons up with the .30 caliber Model 1917 and the .50 caliber M-2 “Ma Deuce” — the latter of which is still used today.

In 1900, the historical firearms period came to a close and contemporary technologies abounded. You can read more about modern gun advances in the National Firearms Museum web site.

(H/T: PBS)

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Comments (62)

1 2
  • The Rear Guard
    Posted on March 13, 2013 at 6:10am

    Way before the ’73 winny(winchester), we had the Henry repeating rifle which introduced during the Civil War, You skip several firearms in made history, apparently yr researchers just hit on the highlights. This’s not a definte history of anything, just show & tell w/o Penn. ():-)

    Report this comment

    The Rear Guard  
    • Quester55
      Posted on March 13, 2013 at 7:07am

      Yet with all of this history, Isn’t it strange, that this earth is still over-crowded? I mean, If the LIBERAL/
      SOCIALIST DEMOCRAT’S words were true about People with GUNS are Killing Each other, Thus Culling down the Population, Why do we have so many people still alive today?
      Seems to me that we’ve had the GOOD, BAD & LIBERAL, Enough years that this planet would be a dried up old Cinder by now?
      I Guess the real Truth is, GUNS DON’T KILL PEOPLE, PEOPLE & LIBERALS, KILL PEOPLE!!!

      Report this comment

      Quester55  
  • Hotrod25
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 9:39pm

    Guns are a direct result of science and technology. Libs say, “if there were no guns, their would be no gun crimes”. That may be true but its the stupidest thing I ever heard. If there were no cars, there would be no car wrecks. If there were no medications, there would be no overdoses…etc. Once something has been invented, there is no putting that genie back in the bottle. anyone that knows the science behind the way guns work can build their own. They might not be as pretty as those bought in the store but hunans are creative and will figure it out. all you need is a sealed tube with something flamable behind a projectile and a way to ignite it and DONE. Fourteen year old kids have even figured it out. Kids have been making potato guns for my whole life. Just use strongrer materials with explosive material and a metal projectile and you have a weapon just as deadly as any gun. And it can be built in someones back yard.

    Report this comment

    Hotrod25  
  • RinkyDink34
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 4:28pm

    Never Foget; Guns Don’t Kill People, BULLETS DO !

    Report this comment

    RinkyDink34  
    • Myron_J_Poltroonian
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 7:09pm

      Yes, they do. But only when sent on their way by a “People”.

      Report this comment

      Myron_J_Poltroonian  
    • Airborne11B
      Posted on March 15, 2013 at 2:50am

      I am reminded of a very old quote, that i do not want to mis-attribute, so i will let others find the source if they are interested-

      “Guns do only one of two things- function or fail to function. Violence comes from the heart of man.”

      Report this comment

      Airborne11B  
    • 3-Blue
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 7:58pm

      No, fingers kill people. I’ve got one of those for Liberals.

      Report this comment

      3-Blue  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 3:51pm

    The elbow loaded machete repeating assault club was perfected first time out. If we lose out right to firearms, this tool may become the weapon of choice for criminals everywhere. Second to the GUNS that most criminals of distinction will STILL carry of course.

    Report this comment

    Ghandi was a Republican  
  • SwampFoxHiggy
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 3:08pm

    this only scratches the surface of weapon advancements.. one could write an entire book covering the advancements since the advent of the firearm. considering that the bill of rights was included in 1791 I think, 400+ years after firearms’ conception, It’s an absolutely ridiculous argument to say that the founders were to naive to foresee advancements and vast improvements in the future of weaponry.

    Report this comment

    SwampFoxHiggy  
  • zgomer
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 3:06pm

    I love guns…

    Report this comment

    zgomer  
  • orion1958
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 2:48pm

    I own flintlock rifle and I own and the only thing I hunt wit is a .50 cal Muzzleloading percussion-rifle that are accurate up to 150 yards. I also have a 8′ & 12″ Barrel 1858 new Army Remington .44 cal. Revolvers that I would keep loaded to use for home protection. They to are accurate to 25 yards.

    Report this comment

    orion1958  
    • hutch1200
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 11:08pm

      Correct me if I’m wrong, but in the pic above billed as a “Civil War-era Colt revolver”……looks more like your 1858 new Army Remington .44 cal. Revolvers. No? I defer to you as my knowlege base goes to about 1900.

      Report this comment

      hutch1200  
    • tlhonmey
      Posted on March 13, 2013 at 3:00am

      Hutch1200: The Colts are the ones without the topstrap. They rely on the center-pin of the cylinder to hold the gun together when fired. Remington introduced the modern revolver frame, and it became immediately popular. While Remingtons are rather more prone to “fouling out” and jamming if you load and fire the same cylinder repeatedly, the solid frame design allows for the rapid switching of spent cylinders for freshly loaded ones, allowing rapid reloading nearly on a par with modern semi-automatics. (Cylinders are considerably heavier than magazines however.)

      Interestingly enough, Colt Dragoons such as the one pictured were the most powerful mass-produced, repeating handgun in the world from 1849 until the introduction of the .357 magnum. And the .357 doesn’t beat it by all that much energy-wise. The Dragoon throws roughly as much power down range as a .357 with a 4″ barrel.

      Personally I have a replica 3rd model which is great for target shooting. The sights aren’t worth beans since the halves of the gun shift every time it’s fired, but for point-shooting it hits where you expect it to.

      If you find yourself carrying cap-and-ball for self-defence, I recommend plastic cap-gun caps. They seal tightly enough to withstand even limited submersion in water. Prime the nipples with a bit of 4f for reliability however as quality control on children’s toys isn’t always the best, and don’t expect rapid reloads as they tend to melt in place and need extra time

      Report this comment

      tlhonmey  
  • TSUNAMI_22
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 2:30pm

    What item is more dangerous:

    1. The gun.
    2. The pen.

    This is a trick question because both are tools that can be used to foment abuses onto people who JUST WISH TO BE LEFT THE HELL ALONE !!!!!

    Report this comment

    TSUNAMI_22  
  • Krutch
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 1:14pm

    It doesn’t take that much effort to create a weapon.
    The idea that a ban on guns will keep them from our use is idiotcy. We’ll make them from everyday items. Plus we’ll take them from those left to keep them, ie government. If only government people have guns then that’s where we’ll have to procure them.
    This government couldn’t beat 5th century camel screwers in two countries and had to retreat. Here, where will they retreat to?

    Report this comment

    Krutch  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 12:41pm

    More knowledge is always good!

    Report this comment

    banjarmon  
  • A Hoosier Says
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 12:34pm

    My Dad has a Winchester 1887 repeating shotgun that belonged to his Grandfather. As the story goes, he bought it to take out West with him to Montana in the late 1880′s. He tried to strike it rich in silver, but came back home empty handed. It’s in perfect condition. I can’t wait to inherit it!

    Report this comment

    A Hoosier Says  
    • DeavonReye
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 12:57pm

      DUDE!!!!!

      Nothing else needs to be said!

      Report this comment

      DeavonReye  
    • Tom21773
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 3:06pm

      I’m just glad I didn’t raise a son to wish me dead so he could have my gun. If I had a son like that, I’d make sure he didn’t get anything but an apology for his bad upbringing.

      Report this comment

      Tom21773  
    • DeavonReye
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 4:54pm

      Tom, . . . I’m sure Hoosier didn’t mean it that way. My parents have a few guns that I will get, . . . but I hope they live for MANY more years.

      Report this comment

      DeavonReye  
    • donwann
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 10:16pm

      Colt Model 1911!!! Over one hundred years of perfection!!!

      Report this comment

      donwann  
    • A Hoosier Says
      Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:18pm

      Lol, Tom! I didn’t think of it that way. Do you really think someone would be crossing their fingers in excitement waiting for their father to die in order to inherit a shotgun? You’re insulting my father more than me by insinuating that he didn’t raise me right.

      My father is a loving husband, and father of four. He busted his ass to raise his family right. He’s a 1st battalion 5th marine regiment combat veteran who served in Vietnam in 1966. He worked 2nd and 3rd shift in an oil refinery for 40 years to provide for his family. He’s the smartest, most humble, most giving, and most caring man I know. I would never wish death upon him.

      Report this comment

      A Hoosier Says  
    • A Hoosier Says
      Posted on March 13, 2013 at 10:31pm

      DeavonReye-

      Thanks- You should see this beauty. After my Grandfather returned home from Montana, he put the shotgun in a closet, and it stayed there until it was given to my Dad. I think it was only shot a few times, if even that. The barrel is full length (many of the 1887′s were cut down), and the lever action is smooth. No rust or corrosion anywhere on it.

      Report this comment

      A Hoosier Says  
  • DeavonReye
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 12:31pm

    You gotta love the 1873 Winchester!

    Report this comment

    DeavonReye  
    • Maji
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 12:43pm

      If you like this stuff…vist the NRA firearm museum !
      Be prepared to spend at least two to three hours….
      you will get sucked into the history!!

      I love this Place! The ingenuity on display will make your
      mind tick!

      Report this comment

      Maji  
    • DeavonReye
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 12:56pm

      I will do that. One opening close to me soon. :-)

      I have a [made in 1957] Marlin 39a coming to be this week. That has some pretty impressive engineering. I think it is the longest design still being produced. It will go well with my 1958 Ruger Single Six.

      Report this comment

      DeavonReye  
    • hutch1200
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 11:15pm

      Indeed. Above is a pic of a “Spencer Repeating Rifle”. It appears to me that it’s a Sharps. Could you clarify if I’m wrong? You seem to know more about the pre 1900 stuff than I do.

      Report this comment

      hutch1200  
  • Gargent_Furball
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 11:38am

    Thumbs up, Gimmi More.

    Report this comment

    Gargent_Furball  
  • SciPro
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 11:15am

    Interesting … thanks for the research, .. Billy Halloway

    Report this comment

    SciPro  
  • TRSFrancisco
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 11:00am

    Your right to muzzle loading muskets shall not be infringed! Oh wait, that’s not how it was written? Wouldn’t know that if you listen to libs. The Revolution era musket was the original “assault rifle.” So who is going to be the modern day red coat? I feel like this would make a great geico commercial, like “Happier than Paul Revere with a cell phone.”

    Report this comment

    TRSFrancisco  
    • pawneefork
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 7:34pm

      What our forefathers had was PARITY. The British regular didn’t have that the Americna Patriot didn’t also have. Libs love equality of outcome… tools… opportunities… access… possessions… but not power. Because it threatens their monopoly!

      Report this comment

      pawneefork  
    • hutch1200
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 11:29pm

      Our “rifled barrels” gave much more accuracy than the Brits smoothbore Muskets. We had a more deadly weapon that could be used at greater distances also. This also changed the manner of fighting a much greater, numerically, force. Hence, guerrilla tactics, shooting officers etc..So yes, our Forefathers did have a clear advantage, weapon wise. I guess the modern day equivilant would be us w/AR-15s and the Brits w/bolt action rifles??

      Report this comment

      hutch1200  
  • horsehockey
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 10:35am

    Good one, Blaze, you ask “What Early American Icon is this?” in your headline which is linked to an article by a different title and includes the same picture id’d as a mid-14th century handcannon. You guys aren’t much for accuracy, are you?

    Report this comment

    horsehockey  
  • handsmcml
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 9:53am

    What was not mentioned was how slow the military was to accept new technology. The British army still used muskets when the American colonists were using privately owned Kentucky Rifles. The Gatling Gun and Repeating Rifles were rejected by the military, though some of the generals purchased them using their own money. The iconic German Luger was turned down by the USA and UK before being accepted by the Germans. On a side note, the first US gun ban was found to be constitutional because it was “not a military style” weapon, a short barrel shotgun.

    Report this comment

    handsmcml  
  • 00100111
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 9:37am

    “History of guns” but yet they started in the 1800s and ended before they got to the 1900s. Come on, Blaze. That’s not a “history of guns”, that’s a “century of guns”.

    Report this comment

    00100111  
    • siguy62
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 9:49am

      I read this article and saw 1364 -1917. What article did you read?

      Report this comment

      siguy62  
    • red_white_blue2
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 12:38pm

      Plus it is an article in a series. The odds there is another one to come to pick up where this one left off? Pretty good, I’m thinkin’

      Report this comment

      red_white_blue2  
  • woodyee
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 9:34am

    Come to think of it, The Blaze, having interviewed John Lott (I keep confusing him with John Locke, he-he!), should invite Mr. Lott to write a series of articles on The 2nd Amendment for The Blaze;

    it would be quite an eye-opener, and maybe even open a few of the concrete-encased Leftist minds that often come here trolling for fools…

    Report this comment

    woodyee  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 9:28am

    Interesting….thanks Blaze

    Report this comment

    Stoic one  
  • Southernsoul
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 9:24am

    That list is obviously far from complete. Where was the Pop Tart gun?

    Report this comment

    Southernsoul  
  • woodyee
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 9:24am

    The Spencer rifle played a major role in the Tullahoma Campaign and Battle of Chicamauga during the Civil War; fascinating read – http://www.aotc.net/Spencer.htm

    Just think – in those days of common sense, the iron didn’t get blamed for crime and criminals were thwarted.

    Today, in a world often dominated by politicians with evil intent and civilians lacking common sense, criminals are hardly blamed for crime, and the ability to defend oneself is often thwarted.

    Any of the firearms listed above could be had by anyone with the money to buy it, including the machine guns. Personally, I find the English silver attractive, but I’d much prefer the double-barreled wheelock – that is one fine looking piece of workmanship!

    Report this comment

    woodyee  
  • BaldingEagle1776
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 9:16am

    Wow, GUNS! I love this new gun site called The Blaze where I can read only the good news about guns and also look at pictures of guns. I’ve even seen pictures of people HOLDING guns! The Blaze is a GREAT gun site! Wow, GUNS!!! I”M SO EXCITED!!

    Report this comment

    BaldingEagle1776  
    • 00100111
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 9:36am

      This article scared you, didn’t you? Admit it, you just lost control of your bladder. You sad little coward.

      Report this comment

      00100111  
    • BaldingEagle1776
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 9:54am

      You don’t know who you’re talking to. Thanks for proving what an ignoramus you are.

      Report this comment

      BaldingEagle1776  
    • dugbru
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 11:17am

      Here’s what liberal trolls like you don’t get, he doesn’t need to know who you are, to know what you are…

      Report this comment

      dugbru  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 11:31am

      BALDINGBEAGLE, When you present yourself in that manner, just how do you expect to appear?

      Report this comment

      RJJinGadsden  
    • WillG
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 11:35am

      Well stated Dug. I am sure 00100111 is quivering as we type.

      Report this comment

      WillG  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 1:00pm

      Heh, ad hominem and sneering. How new and fresh from a Leftist.

      Report this comment

      GhostOfJefferson  
  • FlagWavingPatriot
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 9:08am

    Great stuff. Reminded me of Steve Lee’s song…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TC2xTCb_GU

    Report this comment

    FlagWavingPatriot  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 11:41am

      Thanks for posting that. I had not seen it before. I bet that most of here feel the same way.

      Report this comment

      RJJinGadsden  
  • jettson
    Posted on March 12, 2013 at 9:05am

    You left out Smith and Wesson

    Report this comment

    jettson  
    • wilbstal
      Posted on March 12, 2013 at 9:38am

      SW are Liberals and do not count as American they are traitors in MA I know I live there

      Report this comment

      wilbstal  
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