Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-03-23
Weapons Of Earlier Days.

THAT gunpowder was used by the Chi |
nese early in the seventh century is among |
the things not generally known. 1t was |
in the form of Greek fire, and was mainly |
used by the Celestials for the blasting of
rocks. In the year 66S it was first en-
ployed in warfare, though in what way
there is no record to show. Judging from
other evidences of scientific progress in
China at that early period, it is not i'm
probable that some rude kind of firearm
was devised and kept secret among the
dwellers within the Great Wall, through
the centuries that interviewed before the
use of gunpowder in Europe. We do not
hear OF cannon being used before the year
1897, when Edward LII. employed them in
his first campaign against the Scots. The
French also used cannon in the battle of
Cressy, about twenty years later: At that
time they were formed of an iron tube,
strengthened by large rings of the same
material, which, being driven on while red
hot, formed, by contraction, gun of great
strength and firmness. In the reign of
Henry V. bolts and "quarrels were shot
from cannon. These were succeeded by
stones, and stones in turn gave way to
iron bullets. In the meantime hand guns
had been invented. They were introduced
into England by Henry ~, when
he landed at Davenspur, in 1471. The
invention of hand guns is ascribed to
the Germans, and probably dates half
a century prior to their use in this coun-
try. A Birmingham gunmaker informs
us that at first the hand gun was simple
barrel, with an uncovered touch-hole at
the top, mounted on a straight stock, and
was fired from a rest by means of match.
A few years afterward the stock was
bent, and the match lock was introduced.
The wheel-lock, an Italian invention,
which lessened the danger of firing, was
introduced in the reign of Henry VIII,
and continued to be generally used for a
century and half. Firearms, however,
were not at that period greatly relied upon
for the purposes of war. The awkward
ness of the guns, together with the great
difficulty and expense of procuring gun
powder, led to prevailing preference for
old appliances, and as late as Elizabeth S
times archers were the strength of the
English army. Sir James Turner states
that the pistol was invented at Pistoja, in
Tuscany, by Camille Vitelli, in the six
teenth century; and another great au.
thority, M. de Ia None, remarks that
"The Reiters first brought pistols in gen.
eral use, which are very dangerous when
properly managed" These Reiters, OF
more properly Ritters, were the German
cavalry, who gave such ascendency to the
!, pistol as to occasion in France, and subse
quently, in England, the ediscontinuance Of
the lance. Bayonets were first made al
, Bayonne, about the middle of the seven
teenth century.
Poniards were the earliest weapons O
this class, and were made with wooder
handles fitting to the bore of the gun.
: socket, by which it was fixed to the muz
q zle, was added subsequently,, and in thi
e improved form bayonets were used by tn
e French in the reign of William Ill, to tn,
:, intense astonishment of our Twenty-fiftl
!. Regiment of Foot. The flint-lock is o
e Dutch origin, and was invented in tn
: reign of Charles III. 1t has undergon,
s little essential alterations until within tn
last thirty years, during which latter perio'
O its notifications have been numerous AM
# important. Oddly enough, the idea G
Il igniting gunpowder by the application G
v a Illuminating substance first occurred to
q clergyman, Rev. Mr.. Forsyth in the yea
# 1907. Although the subsequent exper
# ments of Mr.. r orsyth did not succeed az
d cording to his expectations, the idea sc
a other minds at work, and few years late
one Joseph Egg invented the percussio
:. cap. This was in 1916; but, strange
~ ~ say, it was not until 1880 that they wei
y y used in the military service of England
S ;s and they were not adopted by the Frenc
10 - until the following year. 1t is popularl
u, supposed that the rifed barrel is moder
"a "a invention. This is a mistake. Barre
e le were grooved by the Germans as early 6
IL the fifteenth century, and spiral groove
giving the ball rotary motion, were mac
1r at Nuremburg in the year 1920. I'll
lie Poles were probably the first to use riff
E. in military service, but it was not until Il
r American war in 1776 that they We
to placed in the hands of English soldiers
e, Mechanics Magazine.