The strangest deadly weapon in the history of mankind. The most unusual firearms The most interesting weapons in the world

Throughout human history firearms was the subject of modifications and improvements. Military technology was in a continuous process of development in order to meet the realities of modernity. Sometimes the result of such research was not quite ordinary things, examples of which we have given below.

10. Organ (weapon)

The organ is one of early attempts design a weapon capable of continuous fire on the enemy. This weapon was used in the 14th and 15th centuries. It received this name due to its resemblance to all known musical instrument. The organ was much smaller in caliber than cannons, but larger than simple guns, and played an important role in artillery attacks. These weapons were designed for rapid fire, the largest of the organs were those carried on horse-drawn carts - equipped with three sets of guns on each side, which amounted to a total of 144 guns. Unfortunately, their massiveness caused the batteries to simply get stuck in the mud and were not very useful and maneuverable in combat. In addition, it took a very long time to recharge the organ.

9. Periscope rifle


Invented by British sergeant William Beech, the periscope rifle was designed to fire from trenches and bunkers without having to come under enemy fire. He created this weapon while serving in Gallipoli, arousing wide interest among the military. In fact, he attached a wooden board to a conventional rifle with one mirror pointing along the direction of the barrel and another located on the bottom of the board through which the sniper could look in the desired direction. Soon after the invention, the periscope rifle began to be produced on an industrial scale. One of the improved versions of the prototype is the Guyberson rifle. Unlike its counterparts, which looked quite massive, this one, when assembled, when there was no need for a periscope, looked quite compact and looked like ordinary rifles. The periscope was placed inside a wooden butt. By pressing one button, it instantly turned into a weapon for conducting positional warfare. Unfortunately for many, they were developed too late to reach the front lines.

8. Squeezer Revolvers


Unlike traditional pistols, these have a unique shape that allows the revolver to fit in the palm of your hand. They were sold as an alternative to bulky handguns, and could provide you with more shots than the single- or double-shot Derringers that were also popular at the time. In addition, squeezers were distinguished by their special shape and unusual firing mechanism - many were rectangular shape, and some of them did not have a trigger at all. It was the complexity and unusual appearance that became the reasons why this type of revolvers never gained wide popularity.

7. Disposable guns


Designed for rapid air deliveries to resistance fighters during World War II, disposable Liberator pistols cost as little as $1.72 each. A million units of this weapon were released in just 4 weeks. The barrels of these pistols are devoid of cutting, so their firing range was only 7.5 meters. As a temporary weapon, these pistols were quite tolerable, allowing the resistance members to subsequently pick up something better from the dead enemies. An alternative to these pistols is the Deer Gun, developed by the CIA for use during the Vietnam War. Their cost was only $ 3.5, to reduce production costs, the weapon was cast from aluminum, only part of the barrel was steel. This pistol, only 12.7 centimeters long, was capable of reproducing only 3 shots. The production of this type of weapon was curtailed immediately after the assassination of Kennedy.

6. Pistol-penknife


The British company Unwin & Rodgers is a manufacturer of penknives with a surprise. A simple-looking folding knife concealed a miniature pistol. According to company representatives, these gadgets were designed to help protect against thieves and robbers. The trigger of this pistol was designed in such a way that it could be screwed into a door frame and adjusted so that the owners would be notified in time if the door was opened. This would serve as an excellent alarm for the owners of the house and would scare off intruders. Initially, the pistol fired caps, then they were replaced with cartridges. Later, the company released a modified version of the pocket pistol, called the Defender, which was only 7.5 centimeters long.

5. Staff of the King Henry VIII


King Henry VIII was famous not only for his love of women, but also for exotic weapons. One of his favorites was a special traveling staff - a cane with a tip in the form of a morning star, in which three pistols were hidden. According to legend, the king liked to walk around the city at night and check the guards for vigilance. Once a guard stopped him and, not recognizing him as a king, began to interrogate why he was wandering around the city with such weapons. The king was not used to such treatment and tried to hit him, but the guard turned out to be more dexterous, he arrested King Henry and sent him to prison. The next morning, when it became known who was in the dungeon, the guard was horrified, expecting punishment. But King Henry VIII praised him and even rewarded him for his devotion to the service. In addition, the king ordered that his cellmates be provided with supplies of bread and coal, since personal experience made sure what they had to.

4. High Fist Gun


During World War II, naval construction battalions were ordered to build airfields on some of the outlying islands. Pacific Ocean. This was a serious task, since it required a massive clearing of the territory from thickets in which enemies could hide. US Navy Captain Stanley Haight invented a special pistol named after him - the Haight Fist Gun. The pistol was attached to a glove and was loaded with just 1 round of .38 caliber, which was fired at the enemy with one movement of the phalanxes of the fingers. The first such glove was produced by Sedgley. Official name of this weapon was the "MK 2 Handgun".

3. Attached firearms


Before the advent of clips, inventors worked on how to make weapons fire multiple times in a row. Among the most dangerous of these inventions was the method of overhead loading rifles. It consisted in the fact that several cartridges were placed in the barrel at once. At a time when a hitch to reload a weapon could cost a life, such an invention was almost a revolutionary technology of the future. But this weapon never became widespread due to its potential danger to the life of the shooter himself. One accidental mistake or a contaminated barrel could cause the weapon to simply explode in the hands of the owner.

2 Elgin Machete Pistol


This pistol was the first bayonet-equipped percussion variant to be approved by the US military. 150 units of this type of weapon were produced specifically for the US Navy. Subsequently, the knife did not gain much popularity among sailors because of its bulkiness. In addition to those 150 pistols ordered by the military, there were no more orders for this type of weapon.

1. Gun-brass knuckles


A number of brass knuckle pistols appeared in the late 1800s, originally designed to protect travelers, often causing their own death. One of the most famous variations of the brass knuckle pistol was the Apache, which became a favorite of Parisian street gangs. Unfortunately, due to the peculiarities of its design, this pistol had a very limited range. In addition, the American "My Friend" brass knuckles pistol was widely known, which became widespread immediately after the end of the civil war.

Throughout history, firearms have undergone a wide variety of modifications. Sometimes very unusual specimens became the result of engineering research. We have collected 10 of the most unique models of firearms of the past.

Shooting body

The birth of artillery is associated with the appearance in the 14th century of weapons that allowed continuous fire. It was a multi-barreled gun, called the "Organ" because of the similarity with the musical instrument of the same name - the trunks were arranged in a row, like the pipes of an organ. Such installations had a much smaller caliber. They fired from all barrels simultaneously or in turn. The largest instrument of this class was the organ with 144 barrels. They were located on three sides of the horse-drawn cart. Such weapons were used against both infantry and armored cavalry. The main drawbacks of the weapon was their big weight and long time charging.

Rifle with periscope

In 1915, British Army corporal W.C. Beech invented the periscope rifle. It was assumed that a soldier firing such weapons from a bunker or trench would not be endangered. All Beach did was attach a board with two mirrors to the rifle, arranging them as in a periscope. After the advent of the “made on the knee” rifle, many countries began to develop their own prototypes. One of the most advanced examples was the Guiberson rifle. The periscope sight was removable, and in the absence of the need for shooting from cover, it was easily removed and folded into the butt. The main disadvantage of this weapon was its bulkiness. And besides, the development appeared at the very end of the First World War, so it remained unclaimed.

gun press

The press pistol could be hidden in the palm of your hand, it was not similar in shape to a traditional pistol, and at the same time it held more cartridges. Several models of pistol presses are known. For example, the Mitrailleuse pistol was shaped like a cigar, and to fire it, you had to press back cover. The Tribuzio pistol had a ring that had to be pulled out to fire.

Disposable pistols

The Liberator pistol was designed for members of the Resistance during World War II. The design has been simplified to the limit so that the pistols are small and easy to hide. If necessary, the pistol could be turned into a bunch of useless pieces of iron in a matter of seconds. There was no rifling in the barrel, and therefore effective range was about 7.5 meters. In the US, these pistols were sold for $1.72.

Another pistol of this class, the Deer Gun, was developed by the CIA in 1963. The pistol was made of aluminum casting, and only the barrel was steel. To load this weapon, the barrel had to be unscrewed and ammunition loaded inside. This pistol costs $3.50.

Pistol knife

Victorian era became the heyday of various inventions. The British company Unwin & Rodgers, which produced penknives, offered an unusual device to protect the house from robbers - a knife with a built-in gun. The pistol trigger was screwed into the door jamb, the shot was fired automatically when the door was opened. The knife pistols used 0.22 caliber bullets.

Shooting cane of King Henry VIII

King Henry VIII was known for his many failed marriages and his weakness for exotic weapons. In his collection was a cane with a morningstar on the handle, in which three matchlock pistols were hidden. Today, the shooting cane of Henry VIII can be seen in the museum in the Tower of London.

Pistol on the glove

During World War II, the Naval Construction Battalion was tasked with building airfields in the Pacific Islands. The work was carried out in the jungle, and enemies could be hiding there. It was then that US Navy Captain Stanley Haight invented the "Hand Firing Mechanism MK 2" pistol, which was attached to a glove and loaded with just one .38 caliber bullet.

Attached firearms

Before the invention of weapons with magazines, inventors worked for a long time so that weapons could fire several times in a row. One of the most dangerous decisions was the overhead loading of rifles. Such weapons were not widely used, since an accidental mistake or a contaminated barrel led to the fact that the weapon exploded in the hands.

Dagger pistol

The Elgin was the first percussion pistol and the first pistol/dagger hybrid adopted by the US Army. In fact, it was a Bowie knife with the possibility of a single shot. 150 units of such weapons were issued by the US Navy for members of the expedition to Antarctica. True, dagger pistols did not become popular among sailors because of their bulkiness.

brass knuckles pistol

The brass knuckle pistol appeared in the late 1800s as a weapon that could be used for both ranged and close combat. Such weapons were produced as a means of self-defense for ordinary citizens, but gained particular popularity among street bandits. by the most famous models brass knuckle pistols were the French Apache and Le Centenaire, as well as the American "My Friend".

At the end of the last century, weapons began to appear that could stop a person, saving his life. In one of the previous reviews, we talked about, which can be used both in the fight against terrorists and as a means of self-defense.

Humans have been trying to kill each other since time immemorial, and have developed many clever and downright stupid ways to achieve this goal. We present to your attention a list of the most ridiculous and strange military weapons in the world.

Dogs are commonly used in war for minesweeping, guarding, sabotage, searching for the wounded, and a variety of other tasks. They also inspired the US military to build the Big Dog, a robotic creature created by engineers at Boston Dynamics. As conceived by the creators, this massive robot was supposed to save the strongest army from the need to carry equipment (up to 110 kg) manually in those areas where conventional transport cannot be used.

However, in 2015, the military canceled the robot dog project, explaining that its size and the noise created when walking would betray the position of the soldiers.

Thor must be sad - the military stole his thunder and lightning. Engineers at the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey have found a way to harness the power of lightning and have designed a weapon that fires lightning along laser beams. This weapon was called "laser-induced plasma channel". However, the military preferred a shorter and more capacious definition - "laser plasma gun".

A laser beam of high intensity and energy "rips off" electrons from air molecules and focuses the lightning, which travels along a straight and narrow path. So it can be accurately aimed at the target. So far, such a plasma channel remains stable only a short time and there is a danger that the energy may strike those who use it.

A research project called Project Pigeon involved the creation of a "pigeon bomb". The American behavioral psychologist B.F. Skinner taught birds to peck at a target on a screen in front of them. Thus, they directed the rocket to the desired object.

The program was revised in 1944 and then revived in 1948 under the name Project Orcon, but eventually the new electronic systems guidance proved to be more valuable than live birds. So now only an exhibition at the American History Museum in Washington DC reminds of this strange and unusual weapon.

During World War II, the Corps marines United States came up with an ambitious idea: to use bats like kamikaze bombers. How to do it? Very simple: attach explosives to bats and train them to use echolocation to find a target. The military used thousands of bats in experiments but eventually abandoned the idea because atomic bomb seemed like a much more promising project.

It would seem, how can such lovely marine mammals get into the top 10 unusual weapons? However, humans have adapted the intelligent and easily trained dolphins for various military tasks, such as searching for underwater mines, enemy submariners and sunken objects. This was done both in the USSR, in the research center in Sevastopol, and in the USA, in San Diego.

Trained dolphins and sea ​​lions were used by the Americans during the Gulf War, and in Russia the combat dolphin training program was curtailed in the 90s. However, in 2014, the Russian Navy took on the allowance of the Crimean dolphins - the former Ukrainian "legacy". And in 2016, an order for the purchase of 5 dolphins for the Russian Ministry of Defense appeared on the public procurement website. So, perhaps, while you are reading this article, fighting dolphins ply the Black Sea.

In the midst of cold war the British developed a 7-ton nuclear weapon called "Blue Peacock". It was a huge steel cylinder with a plutonium core and a chemical detonating explosive inside. Also in the bomb was a very advanced electronic filling for that time.

A dozen of these massive underground nuclear weapons were planned to be placed in Germany and detonated if the USSR decided to invade from the east. One problem: the ground freezes in winter, so the electronic equipment needed to launch the Blue Peacock may malfunction. To overcome this difficulty, various ideas have been put forward, including the most awkward: from wrapping the bomb in fiberglass "blanket" to placing live chickens in the bomb with a supply of food and water necessary to survive for a week. The heat generated by the chickens will prevent the electronics from freezing. Fortunately, the British decided to reconsider their plan due to the risk of radioactive fallout, and in doing so, saved many chickens from an unenviable fate.

Weapons do not always injure the body; sometimes it can affect the mind. In 1950 the Central intelligence agency USA explored combat use psychoactive substances such as LSD. One type of "non-lethal" weapon developed by the CIA was a cluster bomb filled with the hallucinogen B-Zet (quinuclidyl-3-benzilate). People involved in experiments with this substance reported that they had strange dreams, as well as prolonged visual and emotional hallucinations, inexplicable feelings of anxiety and headaches. However, the effect of B-Z on the psyche was not predictably reliable, and the program for its use was curtailed.

During World War II, the British did not have enough steel to build ships. And the enterprising Britons conceived the idea of ​​building an ice killing machine: a massive aircraft carrier that would be essentially a fortified iceberg. Initially, it was planned to “cut down” the tip of the iceberg, attach engines, communication systems to it and send it to the place of military operations with several aircraft on board.

Then the project, called "Habakkuk", was transformed into something more. It was decided to take a small amount of wood pulp, mix it with water ice, to get a structure that would melt not for days, but for months, had a resistance similar to concrete and was not too brittle. This material was created by the English engineer Geoffrey Pike and was called pykrete. From pykrete it was proposed to create an aircraft carrier with a length of 610 m, a width of 92 m and a displacement of 1.8 million tons. It could take up to 200 aircraft.

The British and the Canadians who joined the project created a prototype ship from pykrete, and its tests were successful. However, then the military calculated the monetary and labor costs for the creation of a full-fledged aircraft carrier, and the Khabakkuk was finished. Otherwise, almost all Canadian forests would have been exhausted into sawdust for giant ships.

In 2005, the Pentagon confirmed that the US military was once interested in building chemical weapons, which could make enemy soldiers sexually irresistible...to each other. In 1994, the US Air Force Laboratory received $7.5 million to develop weapons that contained a hormone naturally present in the body (in small amounts). If enemy soldiers inhaled it, they would feel an irresistible attraction to men. In general, the slogan "make love, not war" could be realized on the battlefield if the tests did not show that not all soldiers lose their heads with desire. Yes, and gay activists were outraged by the idea that homosexuals have less fighting capacity than heterosexuals.

In the first place in the ranking of the most amazing weapons is a tool that does not kill, but can hurt you, really hurt. The US military has developed a non-lethal weapon called the Active Throwback System. These are powerful heat rays that heat the tissues of the human body, creating a painful burn. The purpose of creating such a heat gun is to keep suspicious people away from military bases or other important objects, as well as disperse mass gatherings of people. So far, the installation for "rays of pain" is mounted only on vehicles, but the military said they hope to shrink their "brainchild".

In front of you are ten strange weapon created by human hands. Sometimes a device is so unusual that it's hard to imagine how to use it.

The organ was born thanks to attempts to get a weapon that fires continuously at the enemy. It was used in the 14th and 15th centuries. The organ got its name because of the similarity with the instrument of the same name. He was the size less gun, but surpassed the size of conventional guns, which made it indispensable in artillery attacks. It was intended for heavy fire, the largest specimens of the organ were transported on horse-drawn carts. In total, 144 guns were used during the battle, and often their heaviness affected the maneuverability of the battery. Reloading weapons also required a lot of time.

Pistols with funny name appeared in the 19th century. They were distinguished from their brethren by the presence of several trunks looking in one direction. The four trunks were fixed in such a way that they resembled a duck's foot, and this influenced the name. The unique design of the pistol helped the shooter hit multiple targets at once. This property has made the duck-footed pistol indispensable among people who often encounter criminal gangs, for example, among the guards in the prison or couriers. But this pistol also had disadvantages, it was distinguished by its heaviness and high recoil, which affected the effectiveness of aimed fire.

The weapon, which became the prototype of the grenade launcher familiar to us, was used in the 16th-18th centuries. Unfortunately, it cannot be called reliable, since the use was dangerous even for the shooter. Either the grenade lingered in the barrel and exploded, or the fuses burned out ahead of time, which also led to sad consequences.

Six barrels, a couple of which had locks - wheel and wick, the remaining parts had to be set on fire with handy means.

In Henry VIII, like many men, love for the fair sex and outlandish weapons was in the genes. The most favorite was the road staff. It was a cane with a head in the form of a morning star, which served as a kind of hiding place for three firearms.

An unusual symbiosis of forks, spoons and knives with weapons for protection.

Despite the apparent purpose, this weapon was not created at all in order to shoot from behind a corner. The creators wanted to reduce the size and vulnerability of the part of the machine gun installation noticeable to the enemy.

With the help of this weapon it was possible to shoot at the enemy without any fear for one's life.

The most big gun ever created. It was first used in 1918 when the German army decided to strike fear into the population of Paris. The length of the barrel of the Parisian cannon is about 28 meters, and the firing range is almost 75 miles. Despite the fact that the destruction from the use of this impressive weapon is not so great, appearance the Paris cannon could frighten anyone.

Weapon from 3d printer – Liberator

The first time the world saw weapons from a 3d printer was in 2013. It was a Liberator pistol worth about ten dollars. For this ridiculous amount, the buyer could purchase a weapon that is capable of only one shot. On the this moment Liberator's schemes are no longer available, its printing and distribution is illegal. But, despite the ban, files with modified Liberators can be found on the World Wide Web.

culture

Throughout the history of mankind, a huge number of various kinds weapons, sometimes even the most unimaginable devices at first glance were used.

Weapon Devices ancient world- this is generally a separate story, because the fantasies of our ancestors could only be envied, with what sometimes accuracy they made means of defense and attack!

Below are the most rare species weapons that, for some reason, did not last long, but which fully justified their purpose.

1) Maquahutl

This is wooden sword, one of the main weapons of the Aztecs. The weapon was up to 120 cm long, and along its edges there were special grooves with built-up parts called obsidian.

10 Most Terrifying Biological Weapons

As the Spanish settlers noted, the weapon was very well thought out, it was almost impossible to extract obsidian from the wood when thrown, which spoke of the strength of the device. Moreover, the teeth were so sharp that they often decapitated a person.

The last mention of this weapon dates back to 1884. This copy burned down in a fire.

rare weapon

2) Tepostopili

This weapon was very similar to the previous one, however, it resembled a spear in shape. The thepostopilla had the same obsidian ribs along the wooden grooves, however, the handle was about the height of a man, which allowed for a better grip on the spear and gave it better "pushing ability".

3) Kpinga

Kpinga is a multi-blade throwing weapon used by the warriors of the Azande people who inhabited ancient Nubia. The length of the knife was about half a meter, while three iron blades protruded at different angles, which inflicted the maximum possible damage to the enemy.

Americans almost created the weapon of the future

In addition to the fact that kpinga was considered an indicator of status among the Azande, and could only be the property of proven and valiant warriors, it also acted as part of the ransom that a man had to give to the bride's family.

4) Qatar

Katar, apparently, was the most unique type of Indian daggers. It is characterized by an H-shaped horizontal grip, similar to brass knuckles, so that two parallel bars created a support for the hand.

With proper and skillful use, with the help of this weapon, even chain mail could be pierced through. It is worth noting that, like the kpinga, the katar was a status symbol among the Sikhs and was also used at ceremonial occasions.

5) Chakra

Chakra is an Indian warrior's throwing disc, the outer edges of which were pointed and also had a rounded shape. Depending on the size, these weapons were hung from the wrist or around the neck, and then, at the right moment, thrown at the target.

6) Khopesh

The khopesh was an Egyptian sickle sword that was an "advanced" version of the old Assyrian weapon. Initially, it was made of bronze, then iron became the main material for creation.

Super - the weapon that never existed

Due to its crescent shape, khopesh allowed for short term disarm the enemy by deftly picking up his shield. At the same time, sharp this weapon there was only an outer edge, which, however, could easily be dealt with by chain mail.

7) Chu-to-well

This is unique weapon was a Chinese repeating crossbow that was in use as early as the 4th century BC. With it, it was possible to fire 10 arrows at a distance of up to 60 meters in 15 seconds.

However, its penetrating power was comparatively low compared to modern single-shot crossbows, but its speed and poisonous arrowheads made it very terrible weapon, which was used until the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895.

Australia

Since Australia banned possession of most firearms in 1996, armed assaults and robberies have risen by nearly 60 percent in the 8-year period of the law alone.

Bulgaria

The law of this state officially allows the carrying and possession of almost any type of firearm. After the Bulgarian authorities introduced such a law, for a very short period time, an incredible decline in the number of serious crimes was recorded.

Brazil

In a 2005 referendum held in Brazil, the overwhelming majority of the country's citizens voted against a ban on the sale of firearms. According to the results of the referendum, every Brazilian who has reached the age of 25 can have a firearm for hunting or for self-defense. It is known that the sharpest social problem country is street crime. Through a referendum, according to the media, the government wanted to shift the solution of this problem onto the shoulders of ordinary citizens, disarming them.

UK

Since 1997, the UK has banned the possession of firearms. As a result, in 6 years, the number of rapes increased by 105 percent, the number of murders increased by 24 percent, armed attacks and robberies by 101 percent, and violent crimes by 88 percent. Thus, the crime rate just soared, and the UK took the top lines in the ranking of crime among the 18 most developed countries.

Germany

10 million German citizens are carriers of legal weapons. At the same time, despite the fact that the number of gun owners is growing every year, the number of crimes related to the use of weapons has fallen sharply.

Mexico

The Mexican constitution allows its citizens to possess weapons and use them to protect themselves and their property. In addition to this, in 2004 they passed a law on the possibility of having at home no more than two firearms. However, perhaps Mexico is one of the few countries in which the permit to carry weapons could not protect ordinary citizens from the wars constantly waged between drug cartels.

USA

In many American states(31) as you know, the carrying of weapons is allowed. There is a regular decrease in the number of murders, robberies and other types of criminal activity in these states. It is worth adding that in those US states where weapons are banned, the crime rate is much higher.