Lisa sent me a link today concerning the 11 most important guns in history.
I agree with most of it except for the new grenade launcher (too new to make that judgement) and the fact they left out the Kentucky Rifle.
Other than that, it's pretty much spot on.
You can find the list HERE
No .30-.30, no Thompson Sub, no Sharps, No shotguns... not too impressed with what this author thinks is "important" at least he got the 1911 in there...
ReplyDeleteForget the cannons and grenade launchers. The Hawkin or Kentucky long rifle, Remington 870 pump shotgun, and the Derringer need to be in that group.
ReplyDeleteBTW: FUCK OBAMA
At least they got a picture of a real 1911 and not an A1.
ReplyDeleteA vote here for the Thompson over the UZI, but I'd argue the Win 97 over the Remington 870, the 97 has the advantage of holding the trigger and chopping away at the target while pumping.
Even though it wasn't included in the list, the Henry or Winchester rifle was equally important in history, but just to be technically correct, the Volcanic pistol blazed the trail for the action on the rifles.
Even though it wasn't the first, the Broomhandle Mauser was probably the first really successful autoloading pistol. I would have included it.
SKS over the AK, and really the STG 44 before either one.
There were some squawks in the comments about no Springfields or K98s on the list, and as important as they were, there were several rifles that predated them both like the 30-40 Krag.
Were they really going for importance in design or trail blazing? I don't think the author knew either.
Gun lists are usually like movie or music lists, everyone has their favorites and there's no pleasing anyone.
The author implied the only metal in the Glock was in the barrel, completely ignoring the slide. A bit of a maroon, this guy.
ReplyDeleteThe Kentucky rifle - as opposed to the unrifled muskets - was an important innovation. The Sharps (I've got a Shiloh in 45-110) went from a breech-loading percussion blackpowder rifle to a cartridge-loaded (still blackpowder, initially) rifle in the space of a few years, but the same maker, helping to usher in the era of cartridges. So it needs to be included.
I would also argue that the AR - love it or hate it - was an important innovation in the development of a light combat rifle designed to utilize lighter, smaller caliber ammunition at high velocity (as opposed to the M1 carbine, which fired what is basically a pistol cartridge). It has gained such popularity - as has the Glock - that I think it needs to be on the list as well.
Forgot the Mauser bolt action rifle!
ReplyDeleteThe Kentucky/Pennsylvania rifle, both as innovation and one of the few items of an original American art form.
ReplyDeleteThe AR, even if I don't like the gas system. Modular and multi-caliber; compact and lightweight but with reduced recoil and sight disturbance, free-floating forend, etc.
--anonnymouse