3 Weird and Surprising Facts About Guns

Almost everyone has an opinion about guns. On one hand, some individuals believe that gun ownership leads to gun violence. But on the other hand, different individuals believe that gun ownership leads to protection from unwarranted gun violence.

On both sides, these many different opinions can feel entirely grounded by data and logic. And this rhetoric — along with political pressure and the media — can make it difficult to know what’s up and what’s down, what’s right or wrong. 

But no matter what you believe, it’s highly likely that you don’t know the strange facts about guns listed below! So, lay down your arguments for a few minutes and keep reading to discover a few wild and wacky truths about one of the nation’s most polarizing topics.

Stranger Facts #1 — Guns Can Fire in Space?

You may never plan on leaving the atmosphere, but — if you do —  rest easy knowing that you can still fire a gun from space. (Although, we can’t confirm if there is a concealed carry for women or men in space!)

In fact, while it’s not commonly known, 21st-century ammo actually contains its own oxidizer. And thanks to this oxidizer, your gunpowder will explode and ultimately fire your bullet. So, even if you’re in space without any oxygen, you can still shoot a gun — even if you’re running out of breath. 

Stranger Facts #2 — What Do Guns and Spiders Have in Common?

Well — you’ve come to the right place to find out! Nowadays, various manufacturers and skilled professionals typically paint crosshairs onto a riflescope (sometimes, even by hand!). But it hasn’t always been that way.

When companies were first making scopes for firearms, they actually used the strong-as-kevlar silk webbing produced by female black widow spiders! And these scope-making businesses would even hire staff to take care of the spiders so the silk would keep on flowing. 

Over time, though, this practice and production method disappeared like a cobweb in a corner and the spiders lost their jobs. But, then again, due to the strain of mass-producing super-strong silk, something tells us the spiders didn’t really mind looking for new work.

Stranger Facts #3 —  Toy Guns … for Adults?

The revolver was, at a time, more of a bespoke offering. It wasn’t always readily available for anyone at any time. Not until the genius of Samuel Colt, that is.

See, Samuel Colt was a brilliant young mind who, at the ripe age of sixteen, whittled and designed the first model of a mass-producible multi-shot gun. Think of it as the Model-T and the assembly line of the revolver — and essentially, an initial precursor to the toy guns we know today! 

And on the topic of toy guns, did you know? The late, great, infamous outlaw, John Dillinger, actually escaped prison with his very own, hand-whittled toy gun. It sounds crazy, we know. But, it’s true!

Believe it or not, when Dillinger was holed up in Lake County Jail — an Indiana jail heralded as nigh-unescapable — he managed to break out with nothing more than a piece of dark wood that he carved into the shape of a pistol! And with it, he tricked and intimated his way past fellow inmates and even thirty-three individual jail guards — a harrowing escape which, ultimately, let him live to see another day.

From Colt to Dillinger, who knew wooden toy guns weren’t just for kids!

Did You Know These Strange Facts about Guns?

While firearms are serious weapons and not to be taken lightly, we do hope this article helped add a bit of fun background to the hot topic of guns today. And, locked and loaded with these facts about guns, we hope you’ll have plenty of ammo to impress anyone on either side of the firearm debate.

And as always, be sure to visit our site and check back daily for all the latest in industry news!

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