Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-02-26
The FIRST CANNON
They Were In Use Long Before
Hand Firearms Appeared.
CRUDE GUNS OF EARLY DAYS
Curious Weapons From Which Have
Been Evolved the Modern Deadly En-
sines OF War-Uncie Sans Famous
Collection In the National Museum.

forms of firearms from England.
France, Russia. Japan. Germany and
many other countries, are to be seen
In the small arms exhibition of the
United States national museum. The
exhibit includes some 1,400 individual
pieces and comprises probably the best
general collection In the United States
considering that there are represented
examples Of military rifles, pistols and
revolvers, sporting shotguns and rifles,
target rifles and pistols, and numer-
GUS odd and unusual pieces relating
to the development of firearms.
Although the discovery of gunpowder
Is attributed by some to China. there
Is no positive evidence that the Chi.
nese ever made use of it. At an early
period they produced certain kinds of
fireworks. accounts of which came
through Persia, Egypt and the Moorish
countries in southern Europe, but gun,
powder for use In firearms. it Is be-
heved originated in Italy, Spain or Ger.
many. While cannon of a sort were
built In the early part Of the fourteenth
century, hand firearms were slow to
be adopted on account of their unre-
liability, and 1t was not until about
1881 that they are known to have ap-
peared In Germany. while Europe In
general did not take them up until the
middle of the fifteenth century. when
they became known as hand cannon.
The earliest form of hand gun was
crude affair, fired by the application of
a burning match to the touchhole. The
first improvement was the mounting OF
the match on a springless lock or cock.
which later. upon the addition of a
spring, became known as the match
lock. Examples OF this early weapon
from India, China, Afghanstan, Japan.
Formosa. Arabia, Morocco and Mexico
are In the museum collection.
The next development was the wheel
lock gun. about 1915 or 1917, fred by
spark struck on pyrites by roughened
wheel revolved by a spring Speci.
mems OF this type of gun and pistol
from Greece. Germany and England
are also included in the museum ex-
hibit.
A form of tiintlock, called the snap,
haunce. followed In 1910 This substi,
tuted in place OF the wheel lock.
which held In its jaws a piece of py-
rites and when released hit the cover
of the pan, striking a spark, which ig.
nited the charge of powder. A pair OF
M a nti
pie illustrate the principle we'll Fur
ther improvements in the snaphaunce
resulted in the t1intlock gun. in which
a piece of flint replaced the pyrites.
Examples of this style are more com
mon, and some sixty are included IN
the museum collection, representing
nearly every country and well illustrat-
ing the various changes and improve
ments made.
One of the most interesting and val
uable arms In the collections is the
John Cookson tiintlock breech loading
gun. made in 1886. which has
a magazine In the stock capable of
holding ten rounds of loose powder
and bullets.
One movement of the lever feeds the
into the barrel, cocks the |
hammer and primes the pan. In spite |
Of the English name OF the maker, this
odd piece Is believed to be of Spanish |
origin on account of its general type |
and the style of its decoration. 1t was |
probably brought to Maryland by the
early English colonists. AT least it |
was found In Baltimore and contiscat.
I'd In 1868 and held by the government
Until 1867. when 1t was thrown away.
In 1888 it was purchased for small
SUM and put in its present perfect con
lition by gunsmith OF Baltimore.
rom whom 1t was secured by an
American collector and presented to
he museum.
From a military viewpoint. the de-
,ign of this gun evidences great ad
7ances of its time. for, with the maga
line charging appurtenance, ten shots
'ould be fired in a little more time
han is required for modern maga
line gun. Altogether. the antiquity.
iesign. workmanship and beauty Of
his gun make it a most valuable and
relic.
The collection also contains several
,illock. and the percussion cap guns.
which followed the flint lock, and the
Prussia needle gun. and the French
Ihassepot which appeared somewhat
ater.
The development of the gun and am
nunition in the United States is well
Illustrated by a series Of historical
ases showing the types used in the
ucceeding wars from the French and
indian to the war With Spain. thus
closely history and inven
ion.
While many foreign guns are repre-
ented they are not all Of the latest ]
atent or of the type now In use In
be case of our military rife. however. |
be latest developments are shown.
nd IT IL interesting to note that the
pringield rife. generally known as
be 1903 model. though IT has been i'm
roved upon since. is to be found In
1ree separate series-the target, game
nd military showing that II is suit
Bile, with different sorts of ammunt :
on. to many uses
Some of the museum specimens are 7
be donations of individuals. others are
-om American manufacturers, the
10. and nary d.rarfneufs and the {