Hey there folks! Today let’s take a look back in time and discover the fascinating history and evolution of firearms. In this short podcast, Kip Carpenter goes over where firearms originated, their original mechanical designs, and something called a “fowling gun.” Let’s check it out…
Alright, I don’t know about you but I found that information to be quite fascinating. Let’s quickly recap what Kip hit on.
Beginning with the oldest known firearm, Kip went over the matchlock.
This system was effective but had quite a list of problems. Shortly following this system was the flintlock and wheellock. Kip did an excellent job at explaining the differences in these systems. Things stayed the same in the forearms world for around a hundred years or so but something loomed on the horizon that was about to change everything.
Around the early 1800s, the percussion cap or snap cap was born.
This little, seemingly insignificant, object “shot” the firearms industry into its next phase of evolution. Kip discussed Samuel Colt and his role in pistol innovation. Colt truly had a big hand in bringing new life to not only pistols but the industry as a whole.
Piggybacking off the percussion cap, “cartridges” quickly rushed onto the scene in the 1860s.
This is one of the last major advances that we see and one that makes our modern firearms possible.
Mr. Carpenter took a quick side step and filled us in on the history of the shotgun.
This was something that I particularly found to be intriguing. From its humble beginning as a “fowling piece” to the modern Saiga 12, the shotgun has most certainly come a long way.
Overall, I believe Kip did a fantastic job at guiding us through the history of firearms. At the end of the podcast, Kip left us with quite the challenge though. He reminded us that studying firearms history is important. If we can see where we came from we can better see where we are headed, and if we put our minds to it then one of us could be the next John Browning or Samuel Colt.
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