1. History of Firearms
Forensics

2. The Oldest Gun
Found in the ruins of the Castle of Monte Varino (Italy), which was destroyed in 1341.
Simple design…
Tube shape, open on one end to allow ball and powder to be packed.
Slit cut into the back to allow a hot wire to fit inside.
Most likely took two men to operate.

3. Matchlocks

4. Matchlocks Major improvement over the simple “powder and ball” design.
Addition of a Serpentine, which held a length of string treated with saltpeter.
Serpentine would be cocked, string lit, and trigger pulled.
Can be operated by one man.

5. Flintlocks

6. Flintlocks Simpler way to create a spark.
Attach flint to the serpentine.
Have it strike a piece of steel when trigger pulled.
Very popular… found in all shapes and sizes.
Used during both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars

7. The first bullet
The modern-day bullet was invented by Daniel Wesson around 1851.
First time the gun powder and projectile could be packaged as one.
By 1866, most everyone had switched from flintlocks to modern guns.

8. Daniel Wesson & Samuel Colt

9. Modern Guns
Smith and Wesson paid Samuel Colt a royalty of 15 cents per gun to produced guns that fired their bullets.
Colt exploited the technology even further, created the first revolver.
His revolver, called the Peacemaker, could fire 6 shots in just a few seconds.

10. Colt Peacemaker

11. Military Guns Colt provided the US military with guns
The Mauser brothers created military guns for most of Europe at the end of the 19th century.
Machine guns were invented in 1883 by American, Hiram Stevens Maxim.
The weapon of choice today is the assault rifle.

12. AR-15

13. AR-15