Brian Dale
Member
Where's my Ray Gun? I WANT My Ray Gun!
RWK, w/r/t the sequence of revolution, then evolution, followed by revolution again - I think that the term you want is "Punctuated Equilibrium" - a set of notions developed by Steven J. Gould and his gang in the context of biological evolution theory, and let's set our opinions on biological evolution aside, please, if you don't mind. I'd be wrong if I started an OT flame war.
My point is the following, skipping a lot of steps along the way. Ancient firearms got better, and then people created flintlocks, which got better until caplocks came along, which were improved until they were replaced by cartridge weapons. Revolvers, lever-actions, bolt actions, semiautos and machine guns. Polymer pistols. Caseless ammo. Next?
{a whole bunch of fun examples of technological Punk Eek from other areas deleted; I can be too long-winded}
Better metallurgy and manufacturing techniques enhanced the existing firearms at many of these stages, and then these techniques allowed the creation of new types of firearm actions that were not invented until enabling technologies existed. Not only were there no Glocks in the early 1900's (OK, pipe down, SAA and 1911 fans), but inventors did not have any practical data to use in generating ideas about what they might design with materials such as polymers.
Want to make a fortune? Put some financial backing behind the guy or gal that comes up with the next energy-storage technology. Yep, you got it right away: the hard part is telling which device or method it'll be that represents the revolutionary change. All we know for sure is that the changes will occur. Ain't it fun?
RWK, w/r/t the sequence of revolution, then evolution, followed by revolution again - I think that the term you want is "Punctuated Equilibrium" - a set of notions developed by Steven J. Gould and his gang in the context of biological evolution theory, and let's set our opinions on biological evolution aside, please, if you don't mind. I'd be wrong if I started an OT flame war.
My point is the following, skipping a lot of steps along the way. Ancient firearms got better, and then people created flintlocks, which got better until caplocks came along, which were improved until they were replaced by cartridge weapons. Revolvers, lever-actions, bolt actions, semiautos and machine guns. Polymer pistols. Caseless ammo. Next?
{a whole bunch of fun examples of technological Punk Eek from other areas deleted; I can be too long-winded}
Better metallurgy and manufacturing techniques enhanced the existing firearms at many of these stages, and then these techniques allowed the creation of new types of firearm actions that were not invented until enabling technologies existed. Not only were there no Glocks in the early 1900's (OK, pipe down, SAA and 1911 fans), but inventors did not have any practical data to use in generating ideas about what they might design with materials such as polymers.
Want to make a fortune? Put some financial backing behind the guy or gal that comes up with the next energy-storage technology. Yep, you got it right away: the hard part is telling which device or method it'll be that represents the revolutionary change. All we know for sure is that the changes will occur. Ain't it fun?
