Weapons have accompanied humankind since time immemorial in various forms. It all started with a simple stone axe and spears with stone or wooden tips. There was, in principle, no significant difference between a hunting weapon and a military weapon for a long time.
From the stone axe to weapons of mass destruction
Over time, however, far more effective weapons began to be added to the arsenal, such as slingshots, bows, swords of various shapes and sizes, halberds, and of course crossbows, which enjoyed great popularity. The reason was simple. Bolts fired from crossbows reached higher speeds, which made them more penetrating and caused more serious injuries to the enemy or game.
Well, all these weapons were widely used until black gunpowder made its way into Europe. With the advent of firearms, things took a fairly rapid turn. We all know the result very well, because weapon development has progressed to such an extent that today we have no trouble destroying life on the planet in an instant with massive bombs.
Well, what can we say, man is truly an inventive creature. Weapons of mass destruction are, however, a chapter of their own, and in the following lines we will rather look at some facts about handheld weapons.
1. Do you know when the first firearm appeared?
The first firearms practically appeared as early as the 14th century. They were loaded from the front through the muzzle of the barrel, and that is why they got their fitting name – muzzle-loaders. However, don't imagine some kind of modern weapon. Muzzle-loaders consisted only of barrels and had neither a stock nor any type of lock.
They were fired by applying a heated piece of iron or a burning wick to the gunpowder placed in a groove (touch hole) on the outer surface of the barrel. The groove was connected to the barrel itself, which was filled with powder. The gunpowder ignited in the groove also ignited the powder charge in the barrel, and this is how the shot was fired.
Muzzle-loaders could be attached with hooks to a wall or to the edge of a wagon in order to lessen the strong recoil of the weapon. Firing these weapons was, of course, no small feat. Loading took a long time and firing was slow. And we probably don't even need to discuss the accuracy of shooting at that time. In the beginning, however, the mere roar of firearms was enough to cause confusion in the enemy's ranks.
2. What was the pistol named after
The word pistol probably originated from the name of the Hussite weapon called the píšťala. Although some sources speculate that the word is derived from the Italian city of Pistoia, the first alternative is probably more likely. The barrels of the first handheld firearms were forged from iron or cast from bronze and had only a smooth bore.
The impulse for the expansion of pistols was the development of the wheellock in the 16th century. Pistols soon became part of the cavalry's equipment. Development progressed, stocks became lighter, and pistols were equipped with flintlock and later percussion ignition. At the end of the 18th century, and then especially in the 19th century, pistols were popularly used in duels. The Russian poet A.S. Pushkin also died from the consequences of a gunshot wound suffered in a duel.
3. A shotgun already in the 16th century?
Ingenuity is inherent to us humans. As early as the 16th century, it was mainly hunters who tried to increase the probability of a hit by loading several ball cartridges into the barrel bore. At first, cut lead was used, and a few decades later shot was produced by pouring molten lead into a container of water and oil. Naturally, there can be no talk of such shot having a uniform shape.
More perfect shot did not become available until the 19th century, when shot was produced in shot towers. As for higher probability of a hit, it must be said that shooting accuracy was increased by mechanical sights, which were gradually improved. Rifle scopes were already being used in the USA in the second half of the 19th century. Since then they have been commonly used in hunting, and even snipers cannot do without them.
4. The Kentucky rifle in the hands of Buffalo Bill worked wonders
Did you know that the Kentucky rifle, which you may have seen in the films The Last of the Mohicans or The Patriot, was made famous by the renowned sharpshooter William Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill? If you have so far thought this was a fictional character like Winnetou or Old Shatterhand, you are mistaken. Buffalo Bill really did roam the prairies of North America, and thanks to the excellent accuracy of the long-barreled Kentucky rifle, he reportedly managed to bring down as many as 4,280 bison in six months. The rifle had a total length of 110.5 cm and weighed only 1,745 grams. But let's stay with hunting for a while longer.
5. Hunting archery
If you thought that bows are a thing of the past when it comes to hunting, we will prove you wrong. Hunting archery is completely legal in Slovakia too, and with modern archery equipment and quality clothing, it is possible to hunt practically any game in accordance with hunting rules.
The absence of noise when shooting is also a bonus that hunters with firearms can only dream of. Hunting with a bow is of course much more demanding. The archer must camouflage himself in order to get much closer to the game than a hunter with a firearm, who can hunt game from distances of 100 meters. In hunting archery, shots are most often taken from a distance of 25 meters.
TIP: How to camouflage yourself in nature? Read our complete guide.
