Gun Inventors of the Past

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 8/22/2018 | R Rustin

[w1n1]

There were actually many gun inventors/designers of the past.
However, only some stood out because of their forward thinking, which propelled them to the top to be remembered in our firearms history.
These inventors didn’t just think of creating something that went kaboom, even though that was the fun part.
They usually created a firearm to make it better than an existing one.
Obviously, when it came to war firearms was used as a better way to fight for territory.
Firearms quickly replaced all other weapons of war once the idea became reality.
Looking at the progression of bettering the firearms functionality, we can see breech-loading rifles later giving way to automatic weapons for military use.
Each massive step in the process involved individuals who set their minds to solving the problem of their time.

Dr. Richard Jordan Gatling
The designer of the first successful machine gun, although not the first automatic machine gun. It was, in effect, a gigantic revolver of six barrels operated by a hand crank.

Samuel Colt
Samuel Colt was the original designer of the repeating revolver. He founded Colt’s Patent Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company and was the maker of the Paterson Revolver (made famous by the Texas Rangers). His use of interchangeable parts helped him become one of the first to use the assembly line efficiently.

David Marshall Williams
Carbine” Williams went to prison in 1921 for selling moonshine, when the raid on his still resulted in an officer’s death. Williams swore that he was not guilty, and his trial resulted in a hung jury. However, he then confessed to 2nd degree murder, having fired at a sound without knowing if it was a man or an animal.He was sentenced to 20 to 30 years, but was pardoned after 8 years because, in the prison machine shop, he invented two brilliant principles for the military’s firearms.

John Taliaferro Thompson
Thompson saw in the trench warfare of WWI that infantry needed a “trench broom,” a weapon that could sweep away all the enemy in front of the soldier, in the same way as the pump shotgun, but with even more firepower. Read the full description list of gun inventors here.

[Flag_This]

What? No Eugene Stoner?

[Celerity]

How they worked in metals were always what amazed me about these old guns.

Even revolvers from the 60s. The machining on them is breathtaking.

[caver]

What kind of a list leaves out John Garand?

[yarddog]

Also Peter Paul Mauser. After John Browning, probably the greatest of them all. Also Kalashnikov and Nambu.

[Lurkinanloomin]

No one even comes close to John Moses Browning.

His .50 caliber machine gun is still in use today by the US Army.
The 1911 is the most copied forearm in history.

[Oatka]

James Puckle had 'em all beat. :-)
(Note the cylinder for shooting square bullets against the Turks.)

[Revolutionary]

Eli Whitney. First rifle with interchangeable parts.

[aomagrat]

“The 1911 is the most copied forearm in history.”

I believe that honor goes to Popeye.

[Lurkinanloomin]

LOL,