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The History of Repeating Guns


Guns have been with mankind pretty much since the point where we got tired of using sticks and stones to take down beasts for food and to tame enemies that wanted our hunting territory. And once the gun was invented, someone decided that they needed a repeater to reduce that time consuming need to stop and reload. History tells us that the first repeating or rapid-fire firearm was a wheel-lock design drawn by famed inventor Leonardo da Vinci. Seems that soon after these wheel-lock guns hit the market, politicians wanted them banned. (sound familiar?) About 15 years after wheel-locks were available Emporer Maximillian I in Austria outlawed the use, manufacture or sale of wheel-locks.

Those wanting to escape such nonsense as gun control soon boarded ships and sailed to the New World (we know this as the good ole USA!!!). Here in 1818 a flintlock repeater was patented by Elisha Collier with a manually rotating cylinder and thus revolvers were available. In 1835 Samuel Colt patented a revolver with a cylinder that rotated by cocking the hammer. The taming of the West began. The new world of guns was underway, and of course right behind were hoards of politicians trying to ban guns. (When will they ever stop?)

The good news is that there are a lot of places that sell firearms today, and you have many choices. If you are looking for something exciting to do on a cold winter afternoon, visit a gun store and take a look at new guns. If you want to add to the excitement, visit a range and rent and try a handgun. Today we can thank manufacturers like Smith and Wesson, Ruger, H&R, Beretta, and others for keeping us supplied. Da Vinci would be proud of how far his ideas have gone, but would frown upon all those politicians who want to prevent others from inventing and having fun.