Before the 19th century, rifled guns with grooves in the barrel existed but were specialized and limited in number.
The 19th century saw a significant increase in the rate of fire for handheld guns. In 1836, Johann Nicolaus von Dreyse invented the Dreyse needle gun, a breech-loading rifle that boasted a sixfold increase in firing speed compared to muzzle-loading weapons. In 1854, Volcanic Repeating Arms introduced a rifle with a self-contained cartridge.
In 1849, Claude-Étienne Minié developed the Minié ball, the first projectile designed to easily slide down a rifled barrel. This innovation marked the end of the smoothbore musket era, as rifles became viable military firearms. Rifles demonstrated their superiority during the Crimean War in the 1850s.
In 1860, Benjamin Tyler Henry created the Henry rifle, the first reliable repeating rifle. The Winchester Repeating Arms Company later improved this design, leading to the Model 1873 Winchester rifle in 1873.
The invention of smokeless powder in 1880 marked a significant advancement, gradually replacing traditional black powder. By the early 20th century, smokeless powder became the standard globally, relegating black powder, formerly known as gunpowder, to hobbyist usage.
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Gun Encyclopedia
RandomA firearm, an essential component of modern weaponry, is a portable and hand-held device designed for launching projectiles at high speeds. The primary components include a barrel, which guides the projectile's trajectory, a firing mechanism to init...
