Desc.- Origin - approx. date cat. # 

sword- Spain c.1610         SPAR 6928

sword- Spain c.1500      SPAR 6932

cutlass- Spain c.1745     SPAR 6934

saber- France c.1845         SPAR 6907

sword- France, Mod. 1882 SPAR 6903

sword- France c.1876        SPAR 7304

sword- Japan WWII          SPAR 7900

sword- European late 17thC SPAR 6936

sword- Philippines c.1890's SPAR 5598

cutlass- U.S. NAVY M1860 SPAR 6945

Edged weapons have been used far longer than firearms. With the invention of gunpowder, pole arms receded from preeminence, except as an insigna of rank. However, bayonets were soon added to firearms to compensate for the slow rate of fire and short range of the firelock, wheellock, or musket. As the rate of fire and effective range of the weapons increased, bayonets became shorter and less important to the infantryman.

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

EVOLUTION OF FIREARMS

In its most fundamental sense, a weapon is merely the extension of a person's arm. Javelins, arrows, and bullets make it possible to attack an opponent at progressively greater distances. This is one of the trends in weapons development that will become apparent as you visit this museum.

The earliest firearm in the collection, a late medieval European hand cannon, is pictured in use in this image.

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

CASE 2: Handguns

HANDGUNS

Ignition and loading systems of handguns, or pistols, have followed much the same evolutionary path as their larger counterparts. The samples displayed here do not portray all the permutations of handgun development, but do indicate the historic common line of their evolution.

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

Cat.#: SPAR 1022

WheellockThis ornate German pistol, dating from the early seventeenth century, is a fine example of a wheellock weapon. Like the long gun, it works on the principle that a stone, in this case iron pyrite, held against a revolving steel wheel will create hot sparks.

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

Cat.#: SPAR 5004

Miquelet Lock    Cat.#SPAR5004

The miguelet, along with the similar snaphaunce, form a transition between the wheellock and the true flintlock. Characteristic of the lock mechanism is the external mainspring and the horizontally acting sear. When the piece is cocked the foot of the cock rests on the sear which protrudes through the lock plate. Pulling the trigger slides the sear from under the cock which rotates forward. The flint strikes the battery uncovering the flash pan and showering sparks into the priming.

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

Cat.#: SPAR 7895

FLINTLOCK PISTOL

Invented in the mid-seventeenth century, the flintlock pistols, such as this French officers pistol of 1816, remained in use for well over 200 years. Working parts, such as the mainspring, are protected within the lock. When the trigger is pulled the sear, which rotates in a vertical plane, disengages from a notch in the tumbler allowing the cock to snap forward under pressure from the mainspring.

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

Cat.#: SPAR 2123

PERCUSSION PISTOL

The mechanism of the percussion lock, as found in the U.S. Model 1842 pistol, is identical to that in the flintlocks. The differences are external; loose priming is replaced with a percussion cap placed on the nipple or cone, and the flint is replaced by a hammer that strikes the cap to initiate ignition.

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

Cat.: SPAR 1237

PERCUSSION REVOLVER

The percussion cap encouraged the development of repeating pistols such as this .36 caliber single action Old Model 1861 Remington Navy revolver. Six rounds can be loaded ready for firing. As in the single shot percussion pistol, priming is still provided by a separate cap.

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

Cat.#: SPAR 1818

PERCUSSION TO CARTRIDGE RICHARDS CONVERSION

A further step in reducing the amount of time necessary to load the weapon, and incidentally making it more sure to fire, came with the introduction of the metallic cartridge. Colt initially made this pistol as a M1860 percussion weapon; it was later modified to use metallic cartridges.

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

Cat.#: SPAR 7585

METALLIC CARTRIDGE

The Smith & Wesson Model No. 2 Old Model Revolver is a six-shot pistol that fires metallic cartridges that combine priming, propellant, and bullet in one unit. In this model the barrel hinges upward so that the cylinder can be removed and the empty cartridges ejected by pushing each chamber over the pin under the barrel.

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

Cat.#: SPAR 861

MAGAZINE LOADED SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOLMagazines increased the ready supply of ammunition available to the gun, and reduced loading time. The long barrelled version of the P-08 was the first Luger to use the 32-shot snail magazine. This pistol is considered to be one of the most accurate long-range handguns in the world, particularly when used with a detachable shoulder stock.

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

Cat.#: SPAR 862

GERMAN SNAIL DRUM MAGAZINE FOR LUGER- attached to Luger pistol shown above -

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

Cat.#: SPAR 1062

BORCHARDT AUTOMATIC

Hugo Borchardt, of Connecticut, invented an automatic pistol in the 1890. Unable to find an American manufacturer, he moved to Germany and began working for the firm of Ludwig Loewe and Company which put Borchardt's pistol into production in 1893. Borchardt's assistant, Georg Luger, modified the pistol which became famous under his name.

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

Late 14th Century European Hand Cannon
Cat.:# SPAR 710
  &
European 15th to 16th Century Halberd
Cat.#: 5441

HAND CANNON

One of the very earliest firearms, dating from the late fourteenth century, was simply a tube mounted on a pole that could be pointed toward the enemy. A match had to be held in the hand, making it awkward to aim and fire the piece with any accuracy.