The Most Influential Weapons of History

[Glaucus]

How has the AK changed the world? Other than being used by a bunch of poor farmers with little effect who would otherwise use another weapon if no AK existed.

it's cheap, it's reliable, it's easy to manufacture. it's been used in nearly every conflict since it was released.
It's been used in nearly every genocide and is still being used in Africa and other countries as a wmd. There's more of them than any other weapon.

how is that not influential. When you get countrys who put it on their flag.

 

[Von Smallhausen]

Why?

The M1911 revolutionised automatic pistol design.

 

[Nursie]

Gatling Gun

This must be in the list.

 

[LabR@t]

rape as a weapon has changed the face of this world no end.

 

[EvilDreams]

rape as a weapon has changed the face of this world no end.

I read somewhere that 16 million people alive today are related to Genghis Khan.


0.5 percent of the male population of today.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Spear
Horses
Armour
Those long spears that were used against horses
.
.
.
Hydrogen bomb

 

[Tefal]

Do you mean influential as in changed warfare/politics or do you just mean iconic and used in every film from then onwards as a few of yours seem to be the later.


personally, I'd say the crossbow marked a major change in warfare, suddenly every poor (and not necessarily strong/well trained, as required for the long bow) peasants coul kill the richest and most well armoured of noblemen.

 

[LabR@t]

I read somewhere that 16 million people alive today are related to Genghis Khan.


0.5 percent of the male population of today.

Thats mental

 

[Von Smallhausen]

How about the keyboard ?

 

[Gerard]

Platinum87's eye beams..

 

[Thesaff]

One is ammunition size, from killing to wounding and the ability to carry more ammunitions.
The change from the 7.62 to the 5.56
The RPG and Shoulder-launched missile systems
Drones, for their future abilities.

 

[Castiel]

How about the keyboard ?

 

[BunnyKillBot]

The Mind,

I know its not what your getting at, and I apologise for trying to be a smart-alec, but it is the most deadly weapon in any combat situation.

And also, as a sort of counter-opposite to the mind of the self, Propaganda, the subversions of the minds of others.

 

[physichull]

AK47, the first Gatling gun, ICBM's, guided weapons.

 

[EvilDreams]

I can't believe no one has mentioned a sock with a doorknob in it.

 

[Thesaff]

Crossbow, for enabling common soldiers to kill armoured nobles with little training

I would swap the crossbow for the Pike, this weapon was reintroduced to middle ages warfare for this reason alone.

 

[mushroomsoup]

sock with a snooker ball is better

 

[Thesaff]

Keyboard Fu, one of the deadliest of arts.

 

[Castiel]

One is ammunition size, from killing to wounding and the ability to carry more ammunitions.


The change from the 7.62 to the 5.56
.

AFAIK the 7.62 is still the best choice for snipers, especially given the new L115A1 AWSM

 

[Stelly]

Tanks?

Stelly