Overview

The first firearms were small canons, the earliest of which was known as the millimete canon, dating from 1326. Public records from Florence in that same year that indicate a provision for guns in the protection of the town. Within about 30 years, there is evidence that handguns were being used for personal protection.

While early handguns had some distinct differences based on where they were made and where they were used, they had many things in common. They consisted of a wooden plank with an iron or bronze barrel attached to it. The barrel was plugged at one end and a hole was drilled through the barrel, which was called a vent. The gun was loaded with powder and ammunition. The ammunition consisted of a ball, shot, or small stones. Finally, after the vent had been sprinkled with powder, the gun was ready to...