The Most Influential Weapons of History
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That depends how you look at it. The gladius was designed for stabbing thrusts which are typically more lethal than slashing or chopping. There is some historical evidence that Roman soldiers literally laughed and thought of enemies who slashed or chopped as being fools. So in that the gladius's usage was somewhat different to other swords in the main, it is hard to compare. Certainly it was ideal for its intended use. oh BTW forgot to mention one of the other rationales for the thrusting tactic was also that slashing or chopping typically causes you to leave more of yourself open to counter thrusts.
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Maybe but without the hands you couldn't have built the technology behind the button
Don't make me point out the disability at work act, they have to provide me with the facilities to do my job
MW
Who knows what they did but we are talking about influential weapons not on what some caveman used or still uses. What people used before 3300BC is irrelevant.
Swords have been used for 94% of the time real weapons have been in use which is far more relevant than say they have been around for 6% of human history.
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The most influential weapon of history?
Money. Gold. Currency. Whatever you want to call it. Belief in value.
Money. Gold. Currency. Whatever you want to call it. Belief in value.
You said it, Was gonna mention the maxim machine gun. I remember seeing one in the last samurai film.
Few more variants.
Vickers machine gun,
MG08,
PM M1910,
Skoda M1909 machine gun
Old but lethal
oh indeed, the 7.62 is still in use, but as far as i'm aware the US forces currently only use the 7.62x51NATO round in the following troop weapons:
M24SWS
M40SWS
Mk.11 SWS
M240B and variants
Mk.48Mod0
M14 and variants
and these weapons make up a very small percentage of the forces.
Agreed, for example in Iraq we used the 5.56NATO in the SA80, but the 7.62NATO in the L96AW, different standards for different application. The 7.62NATO was largely replaced by the 5.56NATO for the LSW/SAW weapons, but it's still the standard for GPMG/Sniper applications like the FN MAG and it's M240 variant, or the L115A1 especially in Iraq and Afghanistan due to the limited accuracy of the 5.56NATO at distances over 250m.
What Thesaff should have indicated that it was not the change of calibre, but the standardisation of calibres across a range of weaponry and applications that could be considered for the OP.
5.56 isnt heavy enough for green tip sniper ammunition.
The .50 is effective moreso because of its range than its hit.
Thanks for the replies so, really interesting thread 
Although it would be so easy to include tanks, warships and planes I’m going to limit myself to hand-held weapons. Would be good to do another article including nukes, all of the above and missiles in future, though.
This is the shortlist so far, then:
Other suggestions of ‘wannabedamned’s penis’, ‘a big rock’, ‘man’s hands’ and ‘a sock with a doorknob in it’ were considered but sadly discarded...
Although it would be so easy to include tanks, warships and planes I’m going to limit myself to hand-held weapons. Would be good to do another article including nukes, all of the above and missiles in future, though.
This is the shortlist so far, then:
- M911, for being in service so long with US forces at least – everything about this gun is what you want from a sidearm?
- The Maxim Gun, for influencing a load of other designs, changing battlefield tactics (helping along the need to develop the tank) and general WW1 stuff.
- I’m considering the Hoplon (technically armour) as the phalanx formation became widely used and the Hoplon was integral part of that – perhaps Alexander the Great’s conquering armies.
- The Longbow for helping England defeat the French and thus laying the foundations for later national greatness during the Tudor period.
- AK-47 or AKM – For bringing you shooty goodness even if you are a dirty peasant.
- M1 Garand – Americans seem to elevate this gun “The gun that won the Second World War” as they put it – to an almost unassailable mythical status. Personally I’d rather include the SMLE instead as it helped defeat the Germans twice and was supposedly rather bloomin’ good, old chap. Might have both?
- Roman Infantry Gladius – Remained relatively unchanged as an integral part of Rome’s battle tactics and helped them win and maintain an army. Rome has had a massive influence upon European culture even though it went kaput bloody ages ago.
- Matchlock musket for becoming the first ‘real’ guns and, even though they were a bit crap allowed common scum to kill hoity-toity noble types. Perhaps replace this with the crossbow instead for similar reasons.
- Possibly the Baker Rifle, maybe the Wincher Lever Action, maybe the Colt Single Action Army. Still need lots of research I guess.
Other suggestions of ‘wannabedamned’s penis’, ‘a big rock’, ‘man’s hands’ and ‘a sock with a doorknob in it’ were considered but sadly discarded...
It didn't stop the Vietcong.
Id still say the crossbow changed things more as it meant people with far less training could take on the most expensive/best equipped of armies with good effectiveness.