Development of Arms. 27 



about I.'jUO ; the wheel-lock. 157.3; the trig'ger, 1543; the 

 arquebus, or early musket, 1550; and in later centuries, the iron 

 ramrod in 1730, and the needle-gun iu 1827. 



Among the early forms of cannon were the mortar, the can- 

 nun, the cannon on wheels, the culverin, falcon, and serpen- 

 tine. This last consisted of a number of barrels gTouped on wheels, 

 or on a chariot — even as many as forty barrels — and in others the 

 chariot made more dreadful, though hardly more effective, by the 

 addition of spears and pikes. From the early cannon of hoops and 

 rods, to the modern bi'eech- loading- death -dealer, capable of throw- 

 ing hundredweights for miles, is a long journey, which has been 

 covered slowly and g-radually. every generation seeing some small 

 change or development, althoug-h the quickest strides have been 

 the latest. 



The advantages of placing- the smaller cannon tubes on sticks 

 or movable supports, so as to give better and more varied aim, 

 must have been early apparent. Indeed, all the early muskets 

 were supported on crutches, swivels, or rests. The first trace of 

 hand firearms is to be found iu the l-lth century among- the Flemish, 

 and their power in personal contests became apparent in the loth, 

 when it was found that even the strongest armour was unable to 

 withstand their bullets. These hand cannon were rudely made, 

 and supported on a piece of wood, so that they could not be 

 brought to the shoulder, with the touch-hole on the top. The 

 next development was a roug-h stock, so as to enable the weapon 

 to be fired fi-om the shoulder ; then came the arquebus, which had 

 a match-holder and a trigger. This was a great advance ; as was 

 the wheel -lock arquebus, which was not fired by a match, but by 

 sulphurous pyrites, which ignited when caught by the cogs of the 

 wheel, and fired the charge. The uncertainty of the action of the 

 pyrites prevented this form from long continuing, and about 1G4U 

 the flint lock gun was invented by the French. To this Vauban, 

 the great general, added a Ija^-onet. The pistol, the diminutive of 

 the hand gun, was first made at Perugia, in 13G4, where were 

 constructed '• hand cannons the length of a palma," or hand, about 

 D inches. The broad barrel blunderbuss, and the short carbine for 

 cavalry use, were later developments, while the percussion cap 

 gun. like the many improved weapons we now know and use, 

 belong to the 19th century. What the future holds in store, 

 whether electricity is to play its part as an agent uf war. or ter- 



