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Lesson 3

This lesson covers the historical development of firearms, highlighting key pioneers such as John Moses Browning, Samuel Colt, and Hiram Maxim. It outlines significant dates and innovations in firearm technology, including the introduction of the percussion system and the development of automatic weapons. Learners will gain an appreciation for the evolution of firearms and the contributions of influential figures in the field.

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Cdt. Baring, Jimmy Jr. C
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18 views5 pages

Lesson 3

This lesson covers the historical development of firearms, highlighting key pioneers such as John Moses Browning, Samuel Colt, and Hiram Maxim. It outlines significant dates and innovations in firearm technology, including the introduction of the percussion system and the development of automatic weapons. Learners will gain an appreciation for the evolution of firearms and the contributions of influential figures in the field.

Uploaded by

Cdt. Baring, Jimmy Jr. C
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Course Code : FOR006

Course Title : Forensic Ballistics


Module 3/Lesson 3
Lesson 3

The Evolution of Firearms

Learning Objectives

After finishing this lesson, the learners should be able to:


1. Trace the historical development of firearms;
2. Identify and appreciate pioneers in the development of firearms; and
3. Discuss significant dates in the evolution of firearm.

Introduction
Just like any other fields of study, it is important to trace its beginning. It
is by knowing the origin of something that we could better appreciate its
existence and its importance. This lesson will focus on discussing significant
dates in the development of firearms and some important personalities that
pioneers the making of firearms.

Learning Content

I. MAN BEHIND FIREARMS


1. John Moses Browning - Wizard of the modern
firearms and pioneered the breech loading single shot
rifled which was adopted by Winchester. Browning is
regarded by many as the biggest weapons pioneer to ever
live, and reasonably so. The firearms inventor was
perfecting repeating guns throughout his life and is
responsible for some of the most significant guns in
history. While Browning may have begun his career
working with revolvers, he left his mark on nearly all types of firearms,
including shotguns, lever-action rifles, automatic machine guns, and modern
semi-auto pistols. As the godfather of auto-loading firearms, he would go on
to develop the first telescoping bolt, pistol slide, and gas-operated weapon.
2. Samuel Colt - Colt was inspired by the clear need for a
firearm that could fire more than one shot before needing a
timely reload. The result was the legendary 1836
percussion cap revolver and the Gun that won the West --
“the Peacemaker” , the first patented practical revolver and
famous revolver in the history.

3. Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim - An American gun maker who began


constructing his machine gun back in the early 1880’s, but it wasn’t truly
commissioned until 1886. He was able to make this revolutionary designs
while working in London. Although many
people consider the Gatling Gun to be the
first machine, it was still not truly automatic,
though it was capable of unleashing
approximately 200 rounds/minute. Unlike
Maxim’s Machine Gun, the Gatling Gun was
hand-powered from a crank.

4. Alexander John Forsyth - a Scottish Presbyterian clergyman who first


successfully invented a fulminating substances that would ignite the
gunpowder which became the foundation of percussion ignition. He was able
to get patent of his invention around 1807. He is known as the Father of the
percussion powder.

5. Major Uziel Gal - a German-born Israeli gun designer, best remembered


as the designer of the Uzi (Israel) sub-machine gun in the year 1950. He was
the first person to receive the Israel Security Award due to his work on UZI.

6. Col. Calvin H. Goddard - a forensic scientist, army


officer, academic, researcher and a pioneer in forensic
ballistic, who examined the bullet casings in the 1929 St. Valentine's Day
Massacre using a bullet comparison microscope. He is known as the Father
of modern Ballistics.

7. John C. Garand - Designed and invented the Semi automatic U.S. Rifle
Cal. 30. M1 garand.

8. George Hyde - A well-known expert in the field of SMG, (also known as


grease gun) developed in 1941. M3A1 (USA).

9. Michael Kalashnikov - (Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov) was a Soviet


and Russian lieutenant general, who is most
famous for developing the (Automat
Kalashnikova) AK-47 assault rifle and its
improvements, the AKM and AK-74, as well as
the PK machine gun and RPK light machine gun
adopted by the Russian Army in the year 1951.

10. Horace Smith - Founded the great firm of Smith and Wesson and
pioneered in making breech loading rifles.

11. Eugene Stoner - Designed the U.S. M16 Armalite under licensed by Colt
Company from July 1959 onwards.

12. L.C. Smith - Developed shotgun bearing his name now the Ithaca gun
Company.

13. John T. Thompson - Developed in the course of WW1 the Thompson


M1A1 and model of 1928 A1 (USA). Pioneered the making of Thompson sub-
machine gun.

14. Daniel B. Wesson - Associates of Horace Smith in the making of


Revolver.
15. David “Carbine” Williams - Maker of the first known Carbine.

16. Oliver Winchester - One of the earliest rifle and pistol maker.

II. IMPORTANT DATES IN THE EVOLUTION OF FIREARMS


1242 A.D. Roger Bacon published the “De MirabiliPotestateArtis et
Naturae” (On the Marvelous Power of Arts and Nature), which noted
Black powder formula.
1498 Introduction of the rifling and sights became better and
breech loaders were attempted although never succeeded yet even
multi shots arms due to lack of good ignition system.
1500’s The development of the Wheel Lock, operates in the same
principle as the modern day cigarette lighter. At mid of 1500’s
“snaphaunce” was developed.
1575 Paper Cartridge was developed. Ball and powder charged were
wrapped in chemically treated paper to allow the carrying of
numerous pre-measured charges or pre loaded rounds.
1750 The development of Breech-loading firearms leading to the
making of FERGUSON Rifle of Major Patrick Ferguson, COLLIER
Rifle, which is a flint lock repeating rifle operated on a revolving
principle and, the HALL Rifle patented in 1811 by Col. John Hall and
was the 1st breechloader adopted by the U.S. Army.
1805 The Percussion System. Alexander John Forsyth
discovered a compound that would ignite upon blow that would ignite
the powder charge. In 1840, it replaces the flintlock ignition and was
adopted in 1838 by the British and in 1842 by the American.

1835 The first real cartridge was developed “The Flobert Cap”
same as the BB and was considered the forerunner of .22 short
cartridge.
1835 Samuel Colt patented the first revolver and marketed in 1872, a
breech loading revolver.
1836 Pin fire Cartridge, was developed by Le Faucheux. A
much real pin fire cartridge was also developed in the same year by
Houiller.
1845 Rim fire cartridge, Flobert developed the BB (bullet breech)
cap, which was considered the forerunner of the .22 cal cartridge. In
the same year, New Havens Arms Company owned by Oliver F.
Winchester, through the effort of Tyler Henry developed a .44 cal rim
fire cartridge for Henry Rifle.
1846 Smokeless powder was discovered. It was used in
shotgun first in the year 1864 by Capt. Eschultze of Prussian Army
and in Rifle by the year 1884 by Paul M. Vieille of France.
1873 Colt Peace Maker, model 1873, .45 cal. The most famous
revolver in history and legend was manufactured.
1884 Automatic Machine Gun. Hiram Maxim developed the first fully
automatic gun.

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