Cocking The Hammer Research Paper

cocking the hammer. This concept made the five shooter the first practical, fast-firing repeaters when they came out of his Paterson, New Jersey, factory in 1836.” As the author explains this technology was important evolutionary change for firearms, not did it implement the more reliable way of igniting the charge in a guns barrel, the percussion cap, but it allowed for a more rapid and sustained rate of fire which would become very important. This technology of repeating sustained fire rate would not only limited to short range fire arms, but would eventually be implemented in long range weapons as well. According to Firearms an Illustrated History, “there had been attempts to produce a “repeater,” or multiple-shot, rifles and muskets as early as the 16th century. Notwithstanding the success enjoyed by the percussion revolvers of Colt and others, it took the unitary cartridge containing primer, charge, and projectile in one package to make the repeating rifle a satisfactory reality in the mid-19th century.”

One technological advance we have yet to discuss which had a profound effect on making firearms more efficient was the advent of smokeless powder.

According to author Spencer Tucker in The Encyclopedia of the Spanish-American and Philippine-American War Volume 1, “Smokeless powder, developed in France in 1884, was technologic breakthrough. More powerful than coarse black powder, it also left less fouling residue.” Smokeless powder had an important tactical advantage as well. “Black powder emitted thick smoke after each discharge, limiting concealment by marking the shooters location. At the same time, the smoke served to limit the shooter’s vison by obscuring the target. The discharge from smokeless powder, though not completely invisible, allowed for riflemen to fire from concealed positons with considerable greater security and

accuracy.”
Finding ways to become more efficient at killing at a distance has been one of man’s goals since the beginning of time. Since early hominids first acquired human like anatomical features, and began to engage in abstract thought by engaging in the constructing of stone tools, humans have been looking for better ways to kill a target while simultaneously keeping a safe distance. As we history has illustrated humans have and continue to find ways to better improve their weapons which are designed to help the user continually and successfully kill at a distance. The evolution of the first weapons to contemporary weapon illustrates this well. Humans have continued to refine weapons. The journey in term of weaponry evolving has taken human from the sling, to the spear, to bow, to the cross bow, to the firearm, to the modern day semi-automatic rifle. At the same time humans were trying to advance their weaponry, they would also create substances which would help shape the history of the world, such as gun powder which would not only create more effective weapons, but also move mountains. Although long range weapons may seem a technology that has be spurred during contemporary times. It is in fact, a concept that can be traced all the way back to the origins of man.