From the first firearms in military history to modern combat, the revolver and rifles remain the most iconic in their times. Probably the first imagery that one gets from a gun is the revolver, which traces its history to the 1800s. Simple, hardy, and easy to handle, this gun has seen uses from pioneers, gunslingers, soldiers, police, and even criminals.
Samuel Colt popularized the revolver. His factory produced 100,000 revolvers during the Civil War-the M1860 Army Colt and the M1861 Navy Colt-which armed both Union and Confederate troops. The Colt Peacemaker or Colt M1873 would go on to become an icon of frontier life and western expansion after the war.
Another company no less important would be Smith & Wesson, which produced its first model in 1857 and since then has become associated with high-quality firearms. One of the cornerstones of their product line has been the Model 10 or Military and Police Model, manufactured continuously since 1899. The .38-caliber Model 10 and its smaller counterpart, the J-frame models like the Model 36 or “Chiefs Special,” probably rank among the most recognizable firearms in history.
Going back to rifles from revolvers, the former has a rifled bore that imparts a spin to the projectile, increasing accuracy much more than smoothbore barrels. Rifles go as far back as at least the 15th century when early models featured straight grooves, which moderated powder residue. The realization that grooves in a spiral fashion improved range and accuracy led to some radical changes in design.
The early muzzle-loading rifles indeed had several problems with loading, since it had to be a tight fit to engage the rifling properly. Innovations that included greased patches and the Minié ball, both of which expand upon firing to engage with the grooves, came into existence. Advancements in rifle technology continued with the introduction of metallic cartridges in the 19th century and further with breech-loading mechanisms.
The bolt-action rifles, for example, the Springfield, Enfield, and Mauser, then became ordinary military rifles by the beginning of the 20th century. Since World War II, however, the assault rifle, which can fire both semiautomatic and fully automatic, has taken over as the primary military rifle. The developments notwithstanding, bolt action rifles remain common for hunting given their efficiency, reliability, and easy maintenance.
Rifles are generally designated by their action type and ammunition caliber. For instance, a .30-30 rifle has a bore diameter of .30 inches and a cartridge case that is designed to hold 30 grains of powder. A rifle’s power and performance are also determined by the weight, shape, and velocity of the bullet it fires. Because of its higher velocity, a .257 Weatherby is considered more powerful and has better performance than a .30-30.
All in all, the very transformation of firearms-from revolvers to rifles-shows graphically the enormous technological advance that was accruing and shaping their application in military and civilian use. These weapons, with their rich history and continuing legacies, remain at the center of discussions on military technology and strategy.