Da Vinci and the Handgun

Man, Moment, Machine • Season 2 • Episode 8

About this episode

An episode dealing with the MAN, famed artist and inventor Leonardo DaVinci, whose constant mechanical sketches for fantastic inventions leads to the weapons milestone of the enclosed "Wheel lock" pistol. The MOMENT is his inspiration to design an completely enclosed firing device, which was much easier to load and fire than the existing "Match lock" firearms. The MACHINE is the eventual development of this weapon and the influence it had in the creation of following generations of firearms.