Throughout the entire existence of human civilization, weapons as such have periodically undergone many very different changes. However, sometimes the result of some work of design engineers were very original things.
In this material, you will be presented with a list of firearms that amazes both with its appearance and unique capabilities. Some of them made a real revolution in the military field. While others were more likely a luxury item and did not represent any practical value at all.
Introducing the top 10 most incredible modifications of firearms.
10. German six-barreled ax
In the eighteenth century, an ax was rightly considered a privileged weapon. Depending on the financial capabilities of the owner, it is equipped with a variety of additional features.
In the hilt it was possible to hide a dagger, a hollow shaft could be a convenient container for swords, which was not fixed by anything, so it could jump out with a small push.
However, the synthesis of an ax with a pistol is considered the top of various technical variations of the ax. The muzzle of this weapon was located at the end of the handle, at the blade, which, in turn, served as the barrel.
Such axes were very popular among people of a noble class who lived in the second half of the 16th century, but closer to the 17th century, no one used the ax as a battle ax anymore.
9. Cranked weapon
The idea of a curved weapon was not given to many military designers for many years. Pistols and rifles designed for firing from shelters were developed as far back as the century before last.
However, this idea began to be actively implemented only in the 20th century. Germany is considered the first state in whose territory such studies were actively conducted. During the First World War, Finnish scientists invented a periscope device for the Mosin rifle.
8. Weapons from a 3d printer - Liberator
The first time a public weapon created on a 3d printer was presented in 2013. On its manufacture was spent 9.30 dollars. It was a military weapon that could fire just once.
At the moment, such a gun cannot be sold widely, and its seal is prosecuted.
7. Staff of King Henry VIII
The infamous king of England, Henry VIII, went down in history as a “black widower” and lover of unusual weapons. In his collection were the most unusual instances of military weapons of the time.
A special place in his collection is occupied by a cane with a morgenstern on the handle, in which three pistols with a wick fuse were located. Now this unusual product can be seen in the Tower of London.
6. Shooting cutlery
These are unusual "hybrids" consisting of elements familiar to everyone, cutlery and deadly weapons. The owner of these things had the opportunity to very quickly repel a surprise attack, not looking up from the meal.
5. Hand Mortars
The essence of these modifications is that with their help it is possible to fire shots as if in an arc, so that the conduct of the battle behind the fortress walls has become more effective.
Of course, hand-made mortars have a number of significant drawbacks: they are noisy and exude a rare stench during shelling. However, their shells fly along a high trajectory, which gives their owners a unique opportunity to fire indirectly.
Possession of this type of weapon requires high professionalism, from the one who will fire shots. Such a weapon is capable of causing significant damage to the enemy’s forces, but in melee combat it has no practical use. Hand mortars used to be a threat to their owners.
4. Paris gun
Another name for this weapon is “Kaiser Wilhelm Pipe”. This is a long-range 210 mm turret-based gun. With his help, in 1918, German troops attacked Paris.
This installation had several disadvantages. Firstly, the barrel had to be replaced quite often, and, secondly, the accuracy of the hit was sufficient only for shelling within the city.
However, the main purpose of its use in the war was not to inflict large-scale destruction, but rather to exert psychological pressure on the enemy, because the so-called Paris cannon greatly reduced the morale of the French, and the presence of weapons, which were incredible for that time in terms of scale, inspired German soldiers.
3. Italian shield with a gun
With its help, you can accurately attack the enemy, protecting yourself as much as possible from a retaliatory strike. According to some reports, the famous Henry VIII acquired dozens of similar devices for himself and his close associates.
2. Authority
The body is one of the earliest combat-ready structures that allow continuous fire on the enemy. It was used in the XV century. This unit owes its name to a musical instrument with which it has many external similarities.
The organ had a much smaller caliber than guns, but also larger than ordinary guns, so it was very useful for artillery attacks. This weapon was intended for quick fire.
Large guns were transported on horse drawn carts. Sometimes their bulkiness became the reason that the batteries along the way simply could get stuck in the mud. Also, reloading this type of weapon took too much time.
1. The duckbill gun
This type of military weapon was created in the 19th century. His pair (sometimes more) of the trunks were always aimed at destroying a single target. The whole structure looks very much like a duck leg. Such a pistol allowed a single shot to hit several targets.