13 Historical Firearms That Really Hit The Mark

The AK-47 is the best. You must use it to kill everyone in the room; accept no other weapon.

Ordell Robbie (Samuel Jackson) inJackie Brown Jackie Brown gives a brief summary of the Kalashnikov rifle's lasting appeal. Mikhail Kalashnikov created this weapon.Mikhail KalashnikovAs a Soviet veteran, general, and engineer, Mikhail Kalashnikov inspired the AK-47's design from his WWII experiences. The Automat Kalashnikov 47 entered military service in 1949 after successful trials, aiming for a reliable assault rifle in combat.

The AK-47 delivers. It is cheap to make now; you can score one for just $148. It stays reliable in all conditions and needs no maintenance. Replacing or using another rifle is usually cheaper than fixing one.$148It works in all conditions and needs no maintenance. You usually save money by swapping or using another rifle instead of fixing this one.

Other versions followed. The Kalashnikov rifle spread widely, including use by the Viet Cong in the Vietnam War and by some American special forces.Vietnam Warand by someAmerican special forcesIts tough build meant it faced fewer jungle problems than the American M-16.American M-16.

Tens of millions of Kalashnikov rifles exist. They appear in conflicts globally. Whether used for liberation, terrorism, or crime depends on your view, but its cultural impact is clear. Many other rifles appear on national flags.national flags?

WWI saw many brutal weapons. Some thought the Winchester Model 1897, modified for US military use, was effective in close quarters, leading the Germans to make a diplomatic protest against its use.a diplomatic protestagainst its use.

The so-calledTrench GunThis pump-action shotgun let you add a bayonet for more killing in trenches. Accuracy mattered little in tight trenches. Winchester and its versions first saw fighting in April 1918. Germans felt terrible about the weapon and tried to useArticle 23(e) of the Hague ConventionThe Germans protested the weapon by threatening to execute any Allied soldier captured with it.

American officials and the press mocked the protests and threats. Because Germany used deadly gas in the same war, the weapon countered German stormtroopers deployed late in the war.German stormtroopersThe protests held little weight. They came too late; by that time, the war was almost over, even if the Allies felt sympathy.

The machine gun was not new. Many past experiments tested rapid-fire weapons, showing varying degrees of success.varying degrees of successHiram Maxim’s weapon marked a huge step in warfare. It became the first truly automatic rapid-fire machine gun. Its 500-600 rounds per minute rate of fire and reliability made it strong military gear immediately.

The Maxim gun got its patent in 1884. Soon, it shipped overseas to give imperial powers an edge in fighting. A few Maxims carried by British forces killed thousands of warriors in theFirst Matabele Wararea now known as Zimbabwe.

Those colonizing powers faced their downfall in WWI. Maxims and other machine guns caused massive damage in battles likethe Sommemachine gun fire hurt the packed infantry waves scrambling over no man’s land.

TheM1910 variantThis variant is still in service. The Ukrainian army uses it to defend against the Russian invasion that started in February 2022.

The Springfield Model 1861 was the main weapon in the American Civil War. It likely took more American lives than any other firearm.Model 1861The Union Army adopted the Model 1861 musket over the Model 1842 during the conflict. The newer version showed big design upgrades, especially therifled barrel.

This new design made it much more accurate than the smooth bore Model 1842. The Model 1861 reached 200-400 yards, but skilled marksmen could hit targets up to 500 yards. Though muzzle-loading meant a slow rate of fire, theMinié ballsThese ammunition had a deadly effect. Any limb hit by one was meant for the amputation saw.

With such a deadly weapon used while line infantry tactics persisted, the American Civil War remains America’sdeadliest conflict.

You cannot picture the words “Uzi 9mm” in any other voice thanArnold’s. The infamous Israeli submachine gun came from Arnold’s design.Uziel “Uzi” GalUziel “Uzi” Gal, an officer in the Israel Defense Force after theArab-Israeli War of 1948. His unique weapon beat other designs because it was cheap to build and performed well.

The Uzi's main innovation is putting the magazine in the pistol grip, allowing fast reloading in any situation. The early model had a wooden stock; later designs used a folding metal stock. The Uzi's high rate of fire makes it great for close fighting and urban settings. Special forces used it a lot, and it is stillwidely usedand is stillwidely used around the world today.

The first handgun dates back to 15th-century Korea. The세총통The se-chongtong, or “narrow gun,” acts like a pistol. It resembles modern pistols little. This flintlock pistol, popular in the 18th century, served as a good weapon for self-defense and fighting up close. Pistols gained fame outside of battle; they replaced swords in duels.

Deaths occurred.Pistols could and did.A duel's purpose was usually defending honor, not killing. Aristocrats carried ornate pistols. These weapons featured ivory, gold, and steel, presented to the Russian Empress.Catherine the GreatShe later gave these weapons to the King of Poland.

The Land Pattern Musket, known as “Brown Bess,” was theweapon of choiceThe British Army and colonies used this weapon for more than a century. Both sides used it in the American Revolutionary War.American Revolutionary WarThe design changed over time, but its main traits stayed the same. It remained a smoothbore, muzzle-loaded musket with a flintlock firing system.

By the 18th century, theflintlockThe flintlock replaced the matchlock as the gun's firing system. Flint provided the spark to ignite gunpowder and fire the weapon. The old matchlock used a burning cord, making it much less reliable.

The French version of the Brown Bess, theCharleville musketThis weapon was similar but had a smaller caliber. This meant the British could use stolen French ammo in a pinch, but the reverse was not true. France joining the Revolutionary War brought many Charleville muskets to the colonies.

What about that strangenickname? Some theories exist, but many can be dismissed. People did not name it after Queen Elizabeth I, as some claim. In the 18th century, Bess was a common nickname for lower-class women and carried negative meanings. Brown does not point to its color or inventor; it meant something ordinary then. Elizabeth I had many descriptions, but she was certainly not a sex worker.Queen Elizabeth IBess was a common nickname for lower-class women in the 18th century and carried negative undertones. Brown does not refer to its color or inventor; it meant something ordinary and mundane. Elizabeth I could be described in multiple ways, but she was certainly not a sex worker.

The most likely idea is that it was just the 18th-century way of naming weapons after women.

The Red Army made manymilitary mistakesThe Red Army made many military mistakes leading up to WWII. One major error was dropping submachine guns in 1939. The harsh lessons from the Winter War with Finland caused an immediate change in that plan.Winter WarFacing Finland, the action reversed that strange move. The German invasion of the Soviet Union started before the rollout of thePPSh-41The Soviets started using limited numbers of the inferiorThe Soviets used limited numbers of the inferior PPD-40 in the interim.Fortunately for the Red Army

Fortunately for the Red ArmyThe PPSh-41 built easy and cheap; Soviets quickly made over 3,000 per day. This weapon featured a 71-round drum, a high fire rate, and a design that cleaned easily and stayed tough. It served well in intense urban fighting.The PPSh-41 served well in intense urban fighting.This style fits the Eastern Front. This weapon might lack the accuracy of other WWII SMGs, but quantity mattered in combat. Cheap weapons that fired many bullets were perfect for defending the Motherland, given the low survivability of Soviet troops.

The first true firearms started in medieval China.The first true firearms started in medieval China.The earliest known specimen dates to around the end of the 13th century. The earliest known specimen is the Heilongjiang hand cannon.The Heilongjiang hand cannon.Experts unearthed the Heilongjiang hand cannon in 1970, dating it no later than 1288. The example pictured here comes from the later Mongol period.The Yuan dynasty.The Yuan dynasty conquered and ruled China from 1279 to 1368. The Mongols adopted new ideas from conquered peoples, and firearms were no exception.

The first 'guns' lacked reliability and accuracy but created a strong psychological effect on enemy soldiers. These crude weapons were heavy; two men needed to operate them.The concept later spread to Europe.Designs gradually shrank and became more practical in Europe.

Sniper is a term popularized during the First World War.Sniper is a term popularized during the First World War.Snipers also fought in the American Civil War. The Confederacy could not match the North's industry, so it heavily relied on imported weapons for its army. The British, despite being neutral, profited from arms deals with the South.

One prized import was the Whitworth rifle.The Whitworth rifle.The Whitworth rifle was likely the world’s first long-range sniper rifle. Field tests in Britain showed the Whitworth hit targets from 2,000 yards with regularity—a huge distance for small arms then. Although its range beat others, its expense and maintenance issues stopped it from becoming the British Army's standard weapon.The expense of the Whitworth rifle.The expense and difficulty maintaining the Whitworth rifle meant it did not become the standard weapon of the British Army.

Imports cost a lot because of the Union blockade, so only a few hundred made it through. Due to the high cost and rarity of the Whitworth, only the best marksmen used it for 'high-value' targets. Major General John Sedgwick was one such target on May 9, 1864.Major General John Sedgwick.On May 9, 1864, he oversaw artillery placements. He ignored his men's warnings to take cover from Confederate sharpshooters. He spoke his last words:

They could not hit an elephant at that distance.

Moments later, a Whitworth bullet struck him, killing him at over 1,000 yards. He was the highest-ranking officer killed by a sharpshooter. Thankfully for the Union, the Confederacy lacked enough Whitworths to make a bigger impact.

Not long into the First World War, German soldiers realized a new breed of soldier emerged.a new breedThe weapon was needed to breach trenches. Standard bolt-action rifles failed up close; they only carried a few bullets. Machine guns seemed impractical for the job, so an intermediate weapon was required.

The MP 18 (Germany) is in the list '13 Historical Firearms That Really Hit The Mark'.The Maschinenpistole is in the list '13 Historical Firearms That Really Hit The Mark'.it was born.

The MP 18 (Germany) is in the list '13 Historical Firearms That Really Hit The Mark'.The Bergmann MP 18 is in the list '13 Historical Firearms That Really Hit The Mark'.(sometimes MP-18) felt heavy when fully loaded. Its 32-round drum magazine weighed 11 pounds, and it misfired often. Despite these early issues, the weapon worked well in combat and proved effective for its time. The Germans got the MP 18 too late; it arrived in August 1918, long after the Spring Offensives failed, and only in small numbers. The right tool arrived too late to change things.

The MP 18 saw improvements during the interwar years. The most recognizable version was theThe MP 40 is in the list '13 Historical Firearms That Really Hit The Mark'.Despite limited use in WWII, the MP 40 remains the weapon of the villains inA film about the MP 18 (Germany) exists.The MP 18 (Germany) is in the list '13 Historical Firearms That Really Hit The Mark' and video games.The MP 18 (Germany) is in the list '13 Historical Firearms That Really Hit The Mark' and video games..

The Johann Nicolaus von Dreyse is in the list '13 Historical Firearms That Really Hit The Mark'.The Dreyse Needle Gun is in the list '13 Historical Firearms That Really Hit The Mark'.The Dreyse Needle Gun changed warfare through its loading mechanism. It used breech loading and a bolt action for the chamber. This cut reload time greatly. Older muzzle-loaded guns fired only 2-3 rounds per minute. The Dreyse gun fired 6-12 rounds in that time. Reloading also did not need a metal ramrod; reloading happened in a safer kneeling or prone position.

A German/Prussian gunsmith designed the Dreyse Needle Gun.Johann von Dreysein 1836, the weapon entered use slowly. It became the Prussian military's standard and played a key part inJohann von Dreyse achieved swift and decisive victories.over Denmark and Austria during the 1860s. However, the gun's peak time was short.

In the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1, the French Chassepot provedThe Dreyse Needle Gun offered vastly superior performance.to the Dreyse gun, but Prussian artillery and new tactics won. The newly unified German Empire quickly adopted theThe Mauser Model 1871 served as its standard weapon.The Mauser Model 1871 was the standard weapon.

Japan got firearms through an accident in 1542-3 when Portuguese traders washed up inThe Tanegashima Gun is in the list '13 Historical Firearms That Really Hit The Mark'.after their ship went off course. Local officials brought them before theThe daimyo used the Tanegashima Gun.(lord) who was interested in the strange weapons. He bought two muskets for a high price and hired a weaponsmith to copy the design—though he could only copy it partially.

A year later, when the traders returned, the smith apparently gave his daughter for gun-making lessons. After that, theThe Tanegashima Gun fired from a small southern island.of Tanegashima became a center for Japanese-made firearms; every matchlock musket made in Japan carried the name.

Muskets arrived while Japan faced internal fighting—theThe Tanegashima Gun belongs to the Sengoku Jidai.They were a welcome addition. This allowed some tolerance for Christian missionaries if it meant getting guns. This lasted for a time.

Matchlocks saw their most notable use at the The Battle of Nagashino.In 1575, Oda Nobunaga's forces used volley fire to shred the Takeda clan's cavalry and win a decisive victory. Japanese people became gun enthusiasts during the 16th and 17th centuries, but then they switched back to swords just as fast.swordsOnce the battle happened,long-term peace followed.Peace had been secured.