The utilize and development of firearms have been central to our nation’s survival and prosperity since the first lasting English colony was established in what is now Virginia more than 400 years ago. These settlers brought with them the best firearms available, which they knew would be needed to defend the colony and provide food from the wild animals of the fresh world.
The early smoothbore and wheellock firearms were replaced in subsequent decades by rifled firearms developed in Germany and Switzerland and the flintlock mechanism developed in France, which includes a trigger, sear, mainspring and trigger lock.
Kentucky long rifle: America’s first contribution to firearms engineering
