Small Arms
Further information: Rifle Left image: Jean Lepage silex carbine said "du Premier Consul", circa 1800.Right image: Rifling of Lepage carbine.
The first rifles were muzzle-loading, although this involved a lot of complication in inserting the bullet past the rifling, and clogging and cleaning problems were notorious. There are also muzzle-loading pistols and shotguns. These have gradually given way to firearms that use alternate methods of inserting a projectile into the barrel.
Read more about this topic: Muzzle-loading Rifle
Famous quotes containing the words small and/or arms:
“The gods attend to great matters, they neglect small ones.”
—Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 B.C.)
“Sleep takes off the costume of circumstance, arms us with terrible freedom, so that every will rushes to a deed.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)