6 Interesting Facts About Guns (Number 5 Will Surprise You)

With around 40 percent of Americans owning a gun, it’s clear that they are a huge part of American life.

But just how much do you know about guns? Whether you own one or not, it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of firearms.

But beyond the knowledge of parts of a gun and how to use it, there are some fascinating, and some staggering facts about guns.

If you’re interested to learn more about the weird and wonderful history of guns, keep reading as we give you some interesting facts!

1. The Largest Gun Ever Built

The Gustav Gun was developed in the late 1930s in Germany and was truly a sight to behold.

It weighed 1300 tons and is a “railway gun” which means it was transported on a railway car. Even the shells it fired could weigh up to seven tons. It’s hard to fathom these things, but consider that it could hit targets accurately up to 23 miles away.

2. The Colt Revolver

If you’ve watched a Western movie, you’ll likely have seen a Colt revolver. John Wayne would have one in his holster (find out more about modern holsters) in almost every movie and the gun is iconic.

But where did it come from? Remarkably, it was created by the then 16-year-old Samuel Colt. Such a young age to produce something that now has such a cultural legacy.

3. James Bond and the Girl’s Gun

Up until the movie Dr. No, James Bond’s go-to handgun was a Beretta 418. Ian Fleming received notice from a gun expert that the Beretta 418 was a “woman’s gun”.

A scene in Dr. No allowed Fleming to make the switch to the now-iconic Walther PPK.

4. The First Gun

The first known weapon that could be classed as a gun was the Chinese fire lance. It used gunpowder to fire a spear housed in a bamboo tube.

This gun dates back to the tenth century, however, gunpowder was first used in the previous century.

5. It Costs How Moo-ch?

There are loads of weird gun facts out there. Here is an anecdote about a small Kenyan town, and how one would purchase guns there.

In 1986, a gun would cost you 15 cows. Of course, by the 2000s everyone realized how ridiculous this was… the cost was reduced to a much more reasonable four cows.

6. Playing It Safe

Gaston Glock, dissatisfied with the types of guns available, took it upon himself to design a new gun—you guessed it—the Glock.

When he tested the gun, he used his weaker left hand, so that in the event of an injury-causing failure, he could continue to use his right hand to draw designs.

That’s gun safety for you!

Did You Enjoy These Facts About Guns?

There are many more facts about guns all over the internet. Some are funny, some are worth looking at to remind yourself how dangerous guns can be.

Buying a gun and keeping it for protection is a right in the United States, but it’s important to remember the care you need to take.

Did you find this article enjoyable? Check out more like it on our blog!

The post 6 Interesting Facts About Guns (Number 5 Will Surprise You) first appeared on Weirdomatic. Weirdomatic is the place where all weird things come to life through the amazing world of photographs – a corner of our wild imagination or the whimsical face of the reality?