Who invented the first gun

Guns have had played both an indirect yet also tangible role in the rise and progression of global powers and industrial development over the course of history. In modern times, guns and the American gun culture hold an ambiguous role, from being a topic for dinner conversations to heated debates between aspiring politicians.

A gun is a device designed to propel a projectile using pressure or explosive force. Solid projectiles may be free-flying as with bullets and artillery shells or tethered as with Tasers , spearguns and harpoon guns. A large- caliber gun is also called a cannon. The means of projectile propulsion vary according to designs, but are traditionally effected pneumatically by a high gas pressure contained within a barrel tube gun barrel , produced either through the rapid exothermic combustion of propellants as with firearms , or by mechanical compression as with air guns. The high-pressure gas is introduced behind the projectile, pushing and accelerating it down the length of the tube, imparting sufficient launch velocity to sustain its further travel towards the target once the propelling gas ceases acting upon it after it exits the muzzle. Alternatively, new-concept linear motor weapons may employ an electromagnetic field to achieve acceleration, in which case the barrel may be substituted by guide rails as in railguns or wrapped with magnetic coils as in coilguns. The first devices identified as guns or proto-guns appeared in China from around AD

Who invented the first gun

The Renaissance era saw the rise of the first guns in Western Europe, and they changed the face of warfare forever. This is their story of fire and steel. Although gunpowder first emerged in ancient China as an alchemical health treatment, its application in warfare shattered the medieval world. In many ways, it was the quintessential substance of the rapidly approaching modern era, with cultural exchange, scientific experimentation, and mass warfare all bound up with its history. Here, we shall examine the development of the first guns, personal firearms that created altogether different conventions from the sword and the horse. The critical ingredient for the rise of the first guns in the Renaissance era was gunpowder. The other three were the compass, paper, and printmaking, which were all also key components of the technological revolution which characterized Renaissance Western Europe. Gunpowder was, therefore, the archetypical technology of its time. Chemically, gunpowder is a mixture of sulfur, carbon, and potassium nitrate usually known as niter or saltpeter. It is a low explosive, as distinct from a high explosive, that burns comparatively slowly by modern standards. But to medieval people, this must have been the very crux of alchemy itself — the creation of fire, smoke, and violent force from the application of a small flame to some inert powders.

Having a deeper understanding of where guns come from you can now hold a better understanding of where they are now, and perhaps more importantly, where they are going.

The first firearms were created in China after the Chinese invented black powder in the 9 th century. The earliest depiction of a gun dates back to the 12 th century and the oldest existing firearm is from around Before firing mechanisms were created, early firearms needed to be manually ignited by holding a burning wick to a touch hole. Once the first firearms were introduced, gun technology advanced quite rapidly as various empires waged war. Since guns are widely collected, their history and early examples have been well-documented. This list contains some of the oldest and best examples of various early guns.

A gun is a device designed to propel a projectile using pressure or explosive force. Solid projectiles may be free-flying as with bullets and artillery shells or tethered as with Tasers , spearguns and harpoon guns. A large- caliber gun is also called a cannon. The means of projectile propulsion vary according to designs, but are traditionally effected pneumatically by a high gas pressure contained within a barrel tube gun barrel , produced either through the rapid exothermic combustion of propellants as with firearms , or by mechanical compression as with air guns. The high-pressure gas is introduced behind the projectile, pushing and accelerating it down the length of the tube, imparting sufficient launch velocity to sustain its further travel towards the target once the propelling gas ceases acting upon it after it exits the muzzle. Alternatively, new-concept linear motor weapons may employ an electromagnetic field to achieve acceleration, in which case the barrel may be substituted by guide rails as in railguns or wrapped with magnetic coils as in coilguns.

Who invented the first gun

Guns have had played both an indirect yet also tangible role in the rise and progression of global powers and industrial development over the course of history. In modern times, guns and the American gun culture hold an ambiguous role, from being a topic for dinner conversations to heated debates between aspiring politicians. The history of guns rides right along with the evolution of our armies and play a key role in changing the way wars were fought. This dates back to the early days of the 10th century and all the way up to modern times. During this time guns have experienced intense technical advances and economic developments that have increased the practicalness and also the lethality of guns. The first gun and gunpowder are widely regarded, although still disputed, to come from China during the 10th and 9th centuries, respectively. Huo Yao was an ancient Chinese invention that was actually used historically as a cure for indigestion. While Chinese alchemists were actually seeking the elixir of immortality they accidentally discovered the volatile and explosive elements of this black powder. The fire-spurting lances were used during the Jin-Song wars within the Song dynasty era that began in to These fire-spurting lances are recorded as the devices that were the first guns and also the first known use of gunpowder, in war or otherwise.

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Johnson, Norman Gardner. Military commanders would set the machine guns up on either side of the battlefield and aimed the guns where the enemy would be to unleash an endless array of bullets into the flanks of their enemies. The rate of fire of handheld guns began to increase drastically. The AR The semi-automatic rifle, the AR, rose to fame in when Armalite sold the design to Colt Manufacturing and has since grown to become one of the most common guns throughout the continental United States. Pulling the trigger allows the hammer or striker to fly forward, striking the "firing pin," which then strikes the "primer," igniting an impact-sensitive chemical compound historically, first fulminate of mercury, then potassium chlorate, now lead styphnate which shoots a flame through the "flash hole" into the cartridge's propellant chamber, igniting the propellant. If you manage to get rid of guns altogether people would just go back to killing each other with bows and arrows and edged weapons or even sticks and stones. This conceptualization resulted in what is the first known hand-held gun and is referred to as the Hand-Cannon. Percussion caps were invented shortly after the discovery of fulminates in , which were compounds like mercury and potassium that were discovered to explode on impact. A gun is a device designed to propel a projectile using pressure or explosive force. Society , safety , industry , and laws. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe.

The American Revolution was fought—and won—with guns, and the weapons have become ingrained in U.

Hitherto, all of these early firearms had been lit by some external source of ignition — either a taper dropped into a touch-hole, or a slow match clamped in a trigger mechanism. However this "classic" design changed very little for almost years and cannons of the s show little difference and surprising similarity with cannons later in the s. Military historian, Boston University. They've existed for more than 1, years and have affected warfare — and society in general — in ways perhaps no other invention can match. The earliest example is the Heilongjiang hand cannon, discovered in , and dated no later than CE. This article has an unclear citation style. Houillier patented the first metal cartridge that would be ignited and fired from the smacking of the hammer from a percussion cap ignition. Interaction with the outside world and adaptation in Southeast Asian society — Greener While rifled guns did exist prior to the 19th century in the form of grooves cut into the interior of a barrel, these were considered specialist weapons and limited in number. The earliest depiction of a gun dates back to the 12 th century and the oldest existing firearm is from around In many ways, it was the quintessential substance of the rapidly approaching modern era, with cultural exchange, scientific experimentation, and mass warfare all bound up with its history. Most modern firearms have rifled barrels. This typically involves ejecting a used cartridge and moving a new one into the firing chamber.