But unlike Henry VIII's lever action and revolver guns, the breechloader became widespread well before the 19th century. "[M]any specimens" of breechloaders "may be seen in museums of ancient arms." ...

Technically French inventor Clement Pottet wasn’t really a gun designer, but his contribution to firearms remains truly significant. At the beginning of the nineteenth century even trained ...

1540 - Rifling appears in firearms. 1607 - Settlers arrive in Jamestown, Virginia. 1630 - The first true flintlock. ... In the second half of the 18th century, musket design branched out.