The Most Influential Weapons of History

Most weapons have just been developed to get one up over the enemy in a given situation. They may have shaped a battle or two, but rarely do they change much more.

The one weapon that has changed the world more than any other is of course the nuke. It has changed the world not only by forcing changes in military doctrine, but also politically, ideologically, socially and more. No other weapon can come close to the effect that nuclear weapons have had on the human race.

If talking about more conventional weapons, however, then something along the lines of the first gunpowder rifles, or the machine gun, would be at the top. To give individual people such a destructive force in the time of cavalry and swords was monumental. However I don't think it could be narrowed down to an individual weapon.
 
feedtheram said:
commercial airliner? or are you talking purpose made weapons.

wasnt dillinger important for guns?
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D'you mean Derringer?

cobraderringer.jpg
 
The nuclear bomb is literally the most influential weapon we have, both today and ever in mankind's history. It not only forced the end of a world war, but it's the core aspect of a delicate balance between superpowers in the world, and one of the biggest prizes any aspiring nation can acquire. They will go through many hardships, and sacrifice many resources into the acquisition of one. Iran (who are enduring sanctions after sanctions in their pursuit for one) and North Korea (the majority of NK's GDP are spent on the military industrial complex) are two modern examples.

The acknowledgement of being in possession of such weapons grants you untold clout on the international arena. It is the ultimate trump card in the global game of poker.
 
The trebuchet. Before their invention, siege warfare was quite drawn out due to catapults being rather ineffective against solid stone fortifications.
 
Forde said:
Thanks for the replies so, really interesting thread :D

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.
What does everyone think?


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...:)
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Greek-fire

Blackpowder (C/S/KNO3)
-Made castles/heavy fortifications/armour obsolete
-Advances mining(blasting)/metal-working(gun-barrels)/chemistry/rocketry

Ammunpulver(C/NH4NO3)
German smokeless powder bridging the gap between blackpowder and modern smokeless. Has stability problems due to crystallization and hygroscopicity.

Smokeless powder (nitrocellulose/nitroguandine/nitroglycerine)
-Increased energy density over blackpowder
-Advances firearms/chemistry/explosives(dynamite)
 
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Flibbles said:
The trebuchet. Before their invention, siege warfare was quite drawn out due to catapults being rather ineffective against solid stone fortifications.
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The only effective form of siege warfare was mining - look up the siege at Rochester. And then how the siege at Kenilworth failed. The only reason that the trebuchet is noteworthy is that it was the only siege engine not invented by the Romans.


M
 
Forde said:
Thanks for the replies so, really interesting thread :D

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.
What does everyone think?


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...:)
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Again you seem to be confusing weapons you like with weapons which had an effect on history.

The M1911 had no effect - sidearms are irrelevant.
The Maxim I will grant you - Britain kept the Empire with it.
It was the spear that the Hoplites used which counted.
The longbow - Britain lost the 100 years war if you remember.
The AK-47 has sustained wars, but whether it has changed any is open to doubt. But it's possible.
The Americans success in WW2 was down to many things, but the M1 was not one of them. The could have used pretty much any rifle and still won in the Far East.
The Gladius: again, it was Roman tactics that counted, not weapons. The Pilum was at least as important.
Matchlocks covers a multitude of weapons - too many to have a place here.

Despite what you may see on the Discovery Channel, wars are won by people and tactics, not a particular weapon.


M
 
Meridian said:
The longbow - Britain lost the 100 years war if you remember.
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Ahem, the English lost the Hundred Years' War. The Scots fought mostly with the French. :p

I think you're right about the longbow though. The crossbow or composite bows were more influential, in my inexpert opinion.
 
Horses

The chariot.

The shortbow.

The Longbow.

And onto guns ......

German P08 (Luger)

Browning Hi-Power Pistol

MP40

MG34

MG42

StG 44 (the grandaddy of modern assault rifles)

AK47

The nuke.
 
Meridian said:
Again you seem to be confusing weapons you like with weapons which had an effect on history.

The M1911 had no effect - sidearms are irrelevant.
The Maxim I will grant you - Britain kept the Empire with it.
It was the spear that the Hoplites used which counted.
The longbow - Britain lost the 100 years war if you remember.
The AK-47 has sustained wars, but whether it has changed any is open to doubt. But it's possible.
The Americans success in WW2 was down to many things, but the M1 was not one of them. The could have used pretty much any rifle and still won in the Far East.
The Gladius: again, it was Roman tactics that counted, not weapons. The Pilum was at least as important.
Matchlocks covers a multitude of weapons - too many to have a place here.

Despite what you may see on the Discovery Channel, wars are won by people and tactics, not a particular weapon.


M
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Meridian, thanks for your input but I don't remember saying any weapon was a favourite of mine so I'm not confusing anything on that count.

The 'influential' part of the title is proving difficult and I want to be accurate which is why I'm asking for advice - although having said that this is the type of article that will never be definitive and some readers will always disagree no matter how long I take to complete the research. The 'history' part is very subjective too, but in this case it means that a pistol could be included if it influenced greatly later pistol design - and indeed larger semi-automatic weapons design - as the Colt M1911 did (as I've read - I'm no expert).

Still, thanks for posting your opinions - what would be your top ten?
 
lionheart766 said:
Gatling Gun
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Id say this as well and its refinements up towards WWI.

I appreciate artillery etc could do more devastation in certain conditions, but how many weapons in war could be manned by say 4 tops, and actually carve down whole sections of infantry with the ease of one of these?

Yes the tactics used against them were obviously stupid in hindsight.

*I also appreciate other weapons and the fact that the Gatling gun was around in wars/battles before WWI in various incarnations*
 
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