Today, lasers represent the epitome of futuristic weaponry, always seeming just beyond our grasp. Yet, did you know that as early as 1580, there existed a futuristic super-weapon that saw military adoption before fading into obscurity?
Enter the air gun, a marvel powered by compressed air, invented around 1580 and widely adopted by the Austrian army by 1770. In a time when firing 3 rounds a minute was the norm, the air gun could unleash 22 rounds in 30 seconds, matching the power of a .45 ACP at one hundred paces. Silent and smoke-free, capable of operating in wet conditions, and free from the need for powder cartridges, the air gun was a game-changer. It even played a role in the Lewis and Clark expedition, used to awe Native American tribes with its prowess.
The decline of the air gun was precipitated by (1) the invention of smokeless powder, (2) the advent of breech-loading firearms, (3) the development of integrated cartridges, and (4) the logistical challenges of supplying compressed air versus distributing ammunition.
Yet, one can't help but ponder: What if the air gun had continued to evolve? Could men's preference for the dramatic flair of explosions have overshadowed the potential of the silent but deadly air gun?