The first successful self-loader was the Gatling gun, a hand-cranked revolver. It was invented by Richard Jordan Gatling and fielded by the Union forces during the American Civil War.

Mar 17, 2025 · While the hand cannon is not exactly a gun, it was one of the first firearms ever created and is the precursor to modern guns. This particular hand cannon was found during a 1970 …

Sep 15, 2023 · What was the first gun ever made? The Chinese fire lance, a bamboo tube (or metal tube) that used gunpowder to fire a spear, invented in the 10th century, is regarded by historians as …

Jan 26, 2022 · The first true guns, hand cannons, appeared in China around 1280 CE, later spreading to Europe by the 14th century. The arquebus, with its matchlock mechanism and improved design, …

Sep 8, 2025 · The first firearms can be traced back to 10th century China. The Chinese were the first to invent gunpowder, and historians typically credit the first guns as being weapons the Chinese called …

Various guns were used, until a true dueling pistol was officially standardized in 1777, as "a 9 or 10 inch barreled, smooth bore flintlock of 1 inch bore, carrying a ball of 48 to the pound."

Feb 28, 2018 · Cannons and grenades were among the earliest weapons to incorporate gunpowder, followed by primitive handheld firearms, which consisted of a hollow bamboo tubes, packed with …

Dec 12, 2022 · The first gun ever made can be traced back much farther than many think – to the 10th Century to be exact. The first gun was made out of bamboo, and it definitely didn’t look like the guns …

Nov 15, 2024 · The first guns were developed in China during the 10th century, evolving from bamboo tubes that shot fireworks to metal barrels that fired projectiles. These early hand cannons marked the …

Jan 17, 2019 · "When were guns invented?" is a common question when assessing how the history of guns has impacted our society. Get the complete firearm history timeline here.