Greatest invention in firearms history

[Bill_in_TR]

This came up in a discussion between my son and I. What would you consider to be the greatest invention in firearms history? It doesn't necessarily have to be something you own or even like. As a matter of fact I would rather your answer not be based on likes or dislikes at all.

My candidate is the 1911 and I have never owned one so don't know if I like it or not.

 

[Hartkopf]

The spring.

 

[GEM]

Gunpowder
Primers
Metallic Cartridges

Then you discuss guns.

Revolvers
Lever actions
Bolt guns
Semis

 

[rabid wombat]

Broader than individual firearm… Powder, rifling, caps to primers, breach loading, … where to start?

 

[1KPerDay]

Gotta go with gunpowder.

 

[Anchorite]

Rifling.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

Good points in that it doesn't have to be an actual gun. But what of those choices would you put at #1?

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Gotta go with gunpowder.

Yeah, seems a no-brainer.

 

[dogtown tom]

Uhhhhh..........the first firearm?
After that first one its just improvements.

I do know the greatest firearm accessory of all time........the Maglula.
Loads single stack, double stack, .380/9mm/.40/.45........how do it know?

 

[GEM]

Forums!

Folks like to say the 1911 but it was invented then and usage really languished until WWII. Then it was really the 9 mm that made semi auto handgun development take off with the DA/SA guns and then the strikers (Glock). Sure 1911 patterns sell but it's an enthusiast gun really.

In the revolver world, the 38 caliber rounds led to the modern handguns, with that pattern being adopted for other calibers. Yeah, we are having a resurgence of 32s, pretty much pushed by the snubby world SMEs.

 

[lysanderxiii]

After gunpowder, without which there would be no firearms - the self-contained metallic cartridge.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Metallic cartridge that sealed the breech.

Both coil and "V" spring were known in the muzzle loading era.

Beatened by lysanderxiii by 18 minutes.

 

[Mycin]

My first thought was "smokeless powder", but agree that metallic cartridge beats it.

 

[Frulk]

3-line deep massed volley (at least until around the end of the 18th century).

 

[rabid wombat]

After gunpowder, without which there would be no firearms

compressed air? Or am I tripping over the definition of firearm? …..

 

[codytrucker]

Non-corrosive primers .

 

[Chief TC]

Metallic cartridges

 

[230RN]

Someone beat me to "rifling." Without it, we'd be stuck with arrow stability in our individual weaponry, although some modern artillery uses arrow stability.

Nearly tied for first in my opinion would be the various short-recoil lockup system concepts, which allowed for powerful ammo to be fired in an autoloading manner in both handguns and rifles.

To me, the most "artistic" sample of that would be the Luger toggle link. Not the bestest or efficientest, but the most... "artistic" somehow.

https://youtu.be/9adOzT_qMq0 (0;54)

Ah, yesss,... yess, baby, yesssssss. I love you...

Terry, 230RN

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

Mass production of firearms for civilian markets. Thank You

 

[lysanderxiii]

compressed air? Or am I tripping over the definition of firearm? …..

I would like to see someone make a compressed air cannon that can hurl a 32 pound projectile a thousand yards . . .

When we speak of "firearms", we tend to think of small arms or individual weapons, but it does encompass artillery as well.

 

[WestKentucky]

My vote is iron. Iron becomes steel when alloyed. Gunpowder gets honorable mention. Without iron gunpowder would be little more than fireworks. Without iron you don’t have good barrels, springs, locks, frizzens, durable trigger mechanisms… without iron you have brass, bronze and various natural organic media, which can produce a gun but the soft metals can’t handle heavy loads without being obnoxiously heavy and hard to wield.

But you have to have fire to smelt iron… so maybe fire first, then iron, then steel, then gunpowder.

 

[Hartkopf]

Wood, coal, flint and that wind blowing thingy for the fire?

 

[Targa]

 

[Howland937]

Gotta go with gunpowder.

Smokeless? Since black powder pre-dates firearms, does it count as a firearm invention?

blowing thingy for the fire

Bellows

I've got to go with steel, since it's not naturally occuring. I'm taking the question in the literal sense, as in something man devised. After steel I'd say rifling , followed by holsters, slings and scabbards.
Though I'm watching something about the Mexican Revolution and gotta say, those criss-crossed bandoliers are pretty sweet.

 

[Mk-211]

The finger!

Without them, firearms would've never been made, never be fired...