Last updated March 18th 2026
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14 Guns That Changed the World
History turned on a dime every time one side brought a better gun to the fight. A repeating rifle against muskets. A machine gun against bolt actions. A polymer pistol against revolvers. Some firearms didn’t just influence warfare. They changed political landscapes, shaped national borders, and altered the course of civilizations.
These are the 14 guns that had the biggest impact on the world, ranked chronologically from muskets to modern polymer pistols. Each one created a before and after in the history of firearms, and several of them you can still buy today. For the broader story, see our complete history of firearms and firearms in warfare guides.
1. Charleville Infantry Musket (1717)
The .69 caliber French musket that helped America win its independence. The Charleville was the standard infantry weapon of France from 1717 through the mid-1800s, and tens of thousands of them were shipped to the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. It was faster to load, more reliable, and more accurate than the muskets that came before it. Most importantly, it introduced standardized barrels, ammunition, and parts, which was a revolutionary concept in itself.
The Charleville had a hell of a run at the top of the food chain before percussion firearms took over in the mid-19th century. Without this gun, the American Revolution might have ended very differently.
2. Colt Single Action Army (1873)
“God created man, and Samuel Colt made them equal.” The Peacemaker is the gun that defined the American West. Lawmen and outlaws carried the same revolver, and it earned its nickname because in a frontier town with no police department, a Colt on your hip was the only law that mattered.
The Single Action Army stayed in U.S. military service from 1873 to 1892, but its cultural impact lasted forever. You can still buy a Colt SAA today, and reproductions from Uberti and Pietta keep the design alive for cowboy action shooters and collectors. Prices range from $800 for reproductions to $10,000+ for originals. See our best revolvers guide for modern options.
3. Winchester Model 1873
“The Gun that Won the West.” The Winchester 1873 was one of the most successful rifles on the American frontier, and its lever-action design allowed rapid follow-up shots that single-shot rifles couldn’t match. Winchester sold over 720,000 of them, and the rifle remained in production for 52 years.
You could make a case for the Henry Repeating Rifle that helped win the Civil War, but the Winchester 1873 gets our vote for sheer cultural and commercial impact. You can still buy a Winchester Model 73 today, and lever actions remain hugely popular. Our 9 Best Lever Action Rifles guide covers the modern descendants of this design.
4. Maxim Gun (1884)
The first fully automatic machine gun, and one of the most consequential inventions in military history. Hiram Maxim’s water-cooled, belt-fed design could fire 600 rounds per minute and made the Gatling Gun look like a child’s toy. It was heavy, needed 4 to 6 men to operate, and it completely transformed warfare.
The Maxim Gun’s impact was felt most brutally in the Colonial wars of the late 19th century, where it gave European powers an overwhelming advantage. It went on to define the trench warfare of World War I, where machine guns turned the Western Front into a meat grinder. Every automatic weapon that followed owes something to what Maxim started. See our machine guns and how they changed combat guide for the full story.
5. Mauser 98 (1898)
The grandfather of the modern bolt-action rifle. Paul Mauser’s controlled-round-feed action was a revelation in 1898: a magazine feed, rapid cycling, and a quality extractor that made it the fastest and most reliable bolt action of its era. The Karabiner 98k variant became the standard German infantry rifle through both World Wars.
The Mauser 98 action influenced virtually every bolt-action rifle that came after it, including the Springfield 1903, the Winchester Model 70, and the Remington 700. The modern Mauser M98 is still manufactured and sold as a premium hunting rifle. Our best hunting rifles guide includes several rifles whose actions trace directly back to Paul Mauser’s 1898 design.
6. Colt M1911 (1911)
Designed by John Moses Browning, the M1911 served as the standard-issue U.S. military sidearm for 74 years. No other military sidearm in American history has come close to that record. The short-recoil, tilting-barrel lockup Browning invented for this gun is still used in the majority of modern semi-auto pistols today. Your Glock, your Sig, your M&P: they all use variations of Browning’s system.
The 1911 isn’t just history. It’s one of the most actively produced and purchased pistol platforms in the world. You can spend $400 on a budget 1911 or $5,000+ on a custom 1911. The double-stack 2011 has taken competition shooting by storm. See our best 1911 pistols under $2,000 for the top picks.
7. Browning Automatic Rifle (1918)
Another John Browning creation. The BAR gave a single infantryman the firepower of a light machine gun in a package he could carry and fire from the shoulder. At roughly 16 pounds firing .30-06 at 500 to 650 rounds per minute, it was a beast that served from World War I through the Korean War.
Clyde Barrow loved the BAR so much he stole them from National Guard armories for his crime spree. Browning’s M2 .50 caliber machine gun deserves a spot on this list too, considering it’s been in continuous military service since 1933 and is still going strong. See our best .50 BMG rifles for the civilian equivalent.
8. Thompson Submachine Gun (1919)
The “Tommy Gun” became infamous during Prohibition as the weapon of choice for gangsters and the lawmen chasing them. A 50-round drum mag on a Thompson was a game-changer for close quarters combat, and its .45 ACP rounds hit like a truck. It went on to serve with distinction in World War II, where it earned the respect of Allied soldiers across every theater.
You can buy a semi-auto Tommy Gun today for around $1,400 from Auto-Ordnance. Full-auto originals exist but will cost you $30,000+ and an NFA tax stamp. Our Thompson submachine gun guide covers where to buy one and what to expect.
9. Sturmgewehr 44 (1944)
The first true assault rifle. Developed by Nazi Germany during World War II, the StG 44 combined the rapid-fire capability of a submachine gun with the cartridge power and range of a rifle. It introduced the intermediate cartridge concept (the 7.92x33mm Kurz) that sits between pistol rounds and full-power rifle cartridges.
The StG 44 directly influenced the development of the AK-47 and, through it, every assault rifle that followed. The concept of a select-fire rifle chambered in an intermediate cartridge that a single soldier could carry and control is now the global standard for infantry weapons. That idea started here. For the full story on how military and civilian rifles diverged, see our military vs civilian firearms guide.
10. AK-47 (1947)
The most produced firearm in history, with an estimated 100+ million manufactured worldwide. Mikhail Kalashnikov’s design prioritized three things: reliability, low production cost, and ease of use. It delivers on all three. AK-47s have been dragged through mud, sand, and jungle, left uncleaned for months, and they still fire. That legendary durability, combined with dirt-cheap ammunition, made the AK the weapon of choice for virtually every insurgency, revolution, and guerrilla war since the 1950s.
This gun has probably seen more warzones than all the others on this list combined. It appears on the flag of Mozambique. It’s that influential. Semi-automatic civilian AK-47s are available from $600 to $2,000+. Our 9 Best AK-47 Rifles guide ranks the top options, and our AK-47 vs AR-15 comparison tackles the eternal debate.
11. Uzi (1950)
Developed in Israel by Uziel Gal, the Uzi became one of the most iconic submachine guns ever made. Its compact design and 600 rpm rate of fire made it devastating in close quarters, and military forces in over 90 countries adopted it. When the HK MP5 took over as the dominant 9mm SMG for special operations, the Uzi maintained its position in the developing world and, unfortunately, in criminal circles from Chicago to Mexico.
The Uzi’s stamp-metal construction made it cheap and easy to produce, which is both its commercial strength and the reason it proliferated in conflict zones. Semi-auto civilian versions are available. For modern 9mm platforms, see our best 9mm AR pistols and PCCs and best 9mm carbine rifles.
12. M16 / AR-15 (1964)
The M16 first saw extensive combat in Vietnam, where it had a rough start (early versions jammed badly due to ammunition and maintenance issues). But the platform improved, and the M16 and its variants have been the standard U.S. military rifle for over 60 years. The lightweight, high-velocity 5.56 NATO round and the modular design created a rifle that could be adapted to almost any role.
The semi-automatic civilian AR-15 has become America’s most popular rifle platform, with millions sold for home defense, sport shooting, hunting, and competition. It’s also become the primary target for the gun control lobby, despite the fact that it functions identically to any other semi-automatic rifle. The AR-15 vs gun control debate will outlive all of us. For the full story, see our complete history of the AR-15, what “AR” actually stands for, and the story of Eugene Stoner, the man who designed it.
For buying guides: 10 Best AR-15 Rifles, Best AR-15s Under $1,000, Cheap AR-15s Under $500, and America’s Most Popular Rifles.
13. HK MP5 (1966)
Heckler & Koch’s MP5 became the gold standard for counter-terrorism and law enforcement operations worldwide. Its roller-delayed blowback action gave it accuracy and controllability that no other submachine gun could match. The SAS Iranian Embassy siege in 1980 made it globally famous, and it went on to equip SWAT teams, special forces, and VIP protection details across the globe.
The semi-auto civilian version, the HK SP5, is still available (at a premium price). For 9mm options in this space, see our best 9mm AR pistols and PCCs guide.
14. Glock 17 (1982)
When Gaston Glock launched his first polymer semi-automatic pistol in 1982, nobody in the gun industry took it seriously. A plastic gun from a curtain rod manufacturer with zero firearms experience? Please. Then it won the Austrian Army contract, and everything changed.
The Glock 17 wasn’t the first polymer-framed pistol (the HK VP70 beat it by over a decade), but it was the first one that worked so well that it forced the entire industry to follow. Today, polymer-framed striker-fired pistols dominate the handgun market. The Sig P320, S&W M&P, Springfield XD, CZ P-10, and Walther PDP all exist because Gaston Glock proved the concept worked. Hollywood gave it a mythical reputation (no, it can’t get through metal detectors), but the gun earned its real reputation through brutal reliability in the hands of military, police, and civilians worldwide.
Glock is now the most popular handgun brand on the planet. Our 11 Best Glock Pistols guide covers the full lineup, and our Glock 19 Gen 6 review tests the latest version of the most popular model.
Where to Buy These Iconic Guns Today
Several of these world-changing firearms are still available in civilian semi-auto form. Here’s where to find them:
- Palmetto State Armory: Best prices on AK-47s, AR-15s, and 1911s.
- Guns.com: Huge selection including Glocks, lever actions, Tommy Guns, and specialty firearms.
- Brownells: AR-15 parts and complete guns, plus 1911 parts and accessories.
- EuroOptic: Premium rifles including Mauser actions and the HK SP5.
- MidwayUSA: Parts, accessories, and ammo for all platforms.
Use our price checker tool to compare prices across all major retailers.
Related Guides
- The History of Firearms
- The History of Firearms in Warfare
- John Moses Browning: Life, Designs & Legacy
- Eugene Stoner: The Man Who Invented the AR-15
- The Complete History of the AR-15
- Military vs Civilian Firearms
- Most Popular Military Small Arms
- Best Military Sniper Rifles
- America’s Most Popular Rifles
- Machine Guns and How They Changed Combat
- The Evolution of Police Handguns
- 12 Most Powerful Rifles
The Bottom Line
From a French musket that helped birth a nation to a polymer pistol that rewrote the handgun industry, these 14 guns didn’t just change firearms. They changed the world. Wars were won and lost, empires rose and fell, and entire categories of weapons were invented because someone built a better gun than what existed before.
The remarkable thing is that many of these designs are still with us. You can buy an AK-47, an AR-15, a 1911, a lever-action Winchester, and a Glock today, all descendants of the guns on this list. The technology evolves, but the fundamental designs that changed the world keep proving they were right all along.
FAQ: Guns That Changed the World
What is the most influential gun in history?
The AK-47 is arguably the most influential firearm in history. With over 100 million produced worldwide, it has been used in more conflicts, revolutions, and wars than any other firearm. Its legendary reliability, low cost, and ease of use made it the weapon of choice for militaries, insurgencies, and guerrilla forces across every continent. It appears on the national flag of Mozambique.
What gun changed warfare the most?
The Maxim Gun, introduced in 1884, changed warfare more fundamentally than any other single firearm. As the first fully automatic machine gun, it transformed combat from individual marksmanship to industrial-scale killing. The Maxim Gun enabled European colonial expansion and defined the trench warfare of World War I, where machine guns turned the Western Front into a stalemate that cost millions of lives.
Which guns on this list can you still buy today?
Many of these world-changing firearms are still available in civilian semi-automatic form. You can buy AK-47 pattern rifles, AR-15s, Colt 1911 pistols, Glock 17s, Winchester lever-action rifles, Thompson submachine guns in semi-auto configuration, HK SP5 pistols, and Mauser 98 bolt-action rifles. The Colt Single Action Army Peacemaker is still manufactured by Colt and several other companies.
What was the first assault rifle?
The Sturmgewehr 44, developed by Nazi Germany in 1944, is considered the first true assault rifle. It combined the rapid-fire capability of a submachine gun with the range and cartridge power of a rifle by using an intermediate cartridge. The concept directly influenced the development of the AK-47 and every assault rifle that followed.
Why did the Glock change the gun industry?
The Glock 17, introduced in 1982, proved that a polymer-framed striker-fired pistol could be more reliable, lighter, and cheaper to produce than traditional steel-framed handguns. After winning the Austrian Army contract, it was adopted by thousands of law enforcement agencies worldwide. The Glock forced every major manufacturer to develop their own polymer-framed pistols, fundamentally reshaping the handgun market.
What is the oldest gun still in military service?
The Browning M2 .50 caliber machine gun, designed by John Browning in the late 1910s and adopted in 1933, is the oldest firearm design still in active U.S. military service. The basic design has remained fundamentally unchanged for over 90 years and is still mounted on tanks, trucks, ships, and aircraft. The 1911 pistol design is also still used by some military special operations units.
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