What was the most important weapons development in firearms history?

[lasbrg]

Crusader hit the nail on the head. It was the socket bayonet.

The socket bayonet made it possible to arm entire infantry units with firearms. Prior to the bayonet, an infantry formation consisted of roughly 25 percent musketeers and 75 percent pikemen, the latter necessary to protect the musketeers from cavalry while they reloaded between volleys. As muskets became lighter, and musketeers more mobile, this couldn't be exploited because formations were slowed down by heavily burdened pikemen. It was the socket bayonet that changed everything. It increased both the maneuverability and firepower of line infantry, making firearms matter and creating an incentive for further military firearms development.

Great explanation marysdad! (Except it was me, not Crusader, that was trying to make this point.)

[Mutant]

Divorce.

[knucklehead0202]

Planning a trip to Dallas anytime soon

probably not real soon my friend. itchi' to get your hands on a carcano? i got one from a gun show, another in pieces from fleabay, one from a little shop in the desert(sportered), and the newest carbine i mentioned. hit the shows and the little shops whenever possible, they usually pop up pretty cheap. buy clips whenever you find deals on 'em too.

[Marcus von W.]

Good looking, scantily clad, young ladies to pose suggestively with guns.

I'd post some photos here to show you what I mean, but last time I did that I got banned for 2 weeks for "Posting Pornongraphy".

I don't know what "por-non-graphy" is, but I sure as he11 didn't post any.

[Bhobbs]

Copper jacketed, lead core, Spitzer projectiles.

[Gryff]

Not on the poll...gun powder.

[five.five-six]

Gun powder. Without that there are no fire arms.

There it is there.

With no wheel, there is no car.

[philobeddoe]

haven't read the whole thread, anyone vote for the shoulder thingy that goes up?

[five.five-six]

↑yes, they did on page 3↑

Divorce.

[mcmikeblues7]

These are all very important improvements in firearms. I believe that the box magazine was a very important and under-rated development.

[Nick Justice]

While gunpowder made firearms possible, the self-contained cartridge made single-barrel repeating arms possible.

Still, there has not been a major advance in firearms in over 100 years.

[Army GI]

Crusader hit the nail on the head. It was the socket bayonet.

The socket bayonet made it possible to arm entire infantry units with firearms. Prior to the bayonet, an infantry formation consisted of roughly 25 percent musketeers and 75 percent pikemen, the latter necessary to protect the musketeers from cavalry while they reloaded between volleys. As muskets became lighter, and musketeers more mobile, this couldn't be exploited because formations were slowed down by heavily burdened pikemen. It was the socket bayonet that changed everything. It increased both the maneuverability and firepower of line infantry, making firearms matter and creating an incentive for further military firearms development.

You know what, I change my answer from breech loaders to the bayonet. I'm a huge believer in the power of the bayonet.

[Anubis Laughed]

I'd say Gunpowder itself is the single most important discovery, but the self-contained cartridge is a close second. Compare the steady but slow pace of firearms development between the 1400's to circa 1850, and then the incredibly rapid rate of change and invention after the cartridge came along.

[five.five-six]

what do you think was the most important firearms development?

/thread