Gun facts
Here are 9 FUN facts about guns!
- The First Firearm Was the Fire Lance The earliest known firearm was the fire lance, invented in China around the 10th century. It was essentially a spear with gunpowder-filled tubes that shot flames and projectiles.
- Mexico Only Has One Legal Gun Store Despite Mexeco's strict gun control laws, civilians can still legally purchase firearms. However, the country has only one legal gun store, located in Mexico City and run by the Mexican military.
- The World's Smallest Gun Fits in the Palm of Your Hand The Swiss Mini-Gun C1ST holds the record as the world's smallest fully functional firearm. Measuring just 5.5 cm (2.2 inches) in length and weighing less than 20 grams (0.9 oz), this tiny gun can fire tiny 2.34mm (0.09 inch) caliber bullets at speeds exceeding 434 km/h (270 mph).
- Firearms Have Been Around Since 1364 The earliest handheld firearms date back to 1364. Known as hand cannons, these weapons were primitive yet powerful, using gunpowder and a wick to ignite and fire projectiles.
- Bullets Were Invented Before Firearms Surprisingly, bullets predate guns. Early projectiles, such as lead balls and stones, were used with slings and crossbows before the invention of firearms.
- Jailers Once Had Keys That Doubled as Guns In the past, some jailers carried keys that also functioned as small, single-shot firearms. These gun-keys allowed them to defend themselves in case of an escape attempt while still serving their primary function.
- The Revolver Was Invented by a 16-Year-Old Samuel Colt revolutionised firearms by inventing the revolver, a gun capable of firing multiple rounds without reloading. Even more impressive? He came up with the idea at just 16 years old while working as a sailor, inspired by the mechanisms of a Ship's wheel.
- A Gun Can Fire in Space Unlike humans, who require oxygen to breathe, guns don't rely on atmospheric oxygen to function. Gunpowder contains its own oxidiser, meaning a gun can fire even in the vacuum of space.
- Guns Have Been Used in Underwater Combat Firearms designed for underwater use exist, including the APS underwater rifle. These weapons fire specially designed ammunition that can function effectively in aquatic environments, making them useful for military divers and special forces.
Heres a video demostrating the fire power of the M240B machine gun