4 Oldest Handguns In The World

When we think of world-changing inventions, firearms must rank among the top ones. These weapons forever altered how humans wage war, hunt, and protect themselves. While we’re familiar with today’s precisely engineered handguns, their earliest ancestors were surprisingly basic—essentially metal tubes packed with powder and stones. Despite their crude design, these primitive firearms sparked a revolution in human conflict. 

In this article we’ll examine the four oldest handguns ever discovered and what these ancient weapons reveal about themselves.

4. Tannenberg Handgun

The Tannenberg Handgun was discovered during archaeological excavations of Tannenberg Castle, which historical records indicate was destroyed in 1399 CE. By the late 14th century, firearms were becoming increasingly common in European warfare, though they remained supplementary to traditional weapons like bows, crossbows, and melee weapons.

While gunpowder weapons originated in China, European gunsmiths made rapid advances in the following centuries, developing more sophisticated ignition systems, improved metallurgy, and standardized ammunition that would eventually make firearms the dominant weapon of warfare worldwide.

One of the most notable aspects of the Tannenberg Handgun is its construction material—iron rather than bronze. This represents an important material transition in European firearm manufacturing. While bronze was easier to cast into complex shapes, iron offered superior strength and eventually became the preferred material for gun barrels once metallurgical techniques improved.

Evidence suggests it was likely mounted on a wooden stock, representing an early step toward the development of more ergonomic, user-friendly firearms that could be aimed with greater precision. Its presence in a castle suggests that by the late 14th century, firearms were considered valuable enough to be included in the defensive capabilities of important fortifications.

For a deeper look into how firearms evolved over time, check out our list of the oldest guns in the world.

3. Loshult Gun

The Loshult Gun represents Europe’s earliest confirmed firearm, marking the significant transmission of gunpowder technology from East Asia to the Western world. This technological diffusion likely occurred via multiple routes, including the Silk Road trade networks and the Mongol conquests that briefly united much of Eurasia under a single political entity.

As Europe’s oldest known firearm, the Loshult Gun provides tangible evidence of European experimentation with firearms technologies nearly simultaneous with advanced developments in China. While the weapon is primitive by modern standards, it represents remarkable innovation for its time and cultural context. Its cylindrical barrel design is simpler than the bulbous chambers seen in early Chinese firearms, possibly reflecting different metallurgical approaches or simply representing an earlier stage in design evolution.

Despite its relatively primitive nature, the Loshult Gun demonstrates that European craftsmen quickly grasped the basic principles of firearm design after exposure to the concept. Its substantial weight—approximately 20 pounds—indicates it was likely used as a support weapon rather than a truly portable firearm, perhaps mounted on a wooden stock or frame during operation.

2. Xanadu Gun

The Xanadu Gun derives its name from its discovery location—the ruins of Kublai Khan’s legendary summer capital, immortalized in Western literature by Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem “Kubla Khan.” This archaeological context places the weapon firmly within the Mongol Yuan Dynasty period, when China was under foreign rule but continued its technological innovations.

What makes the Xanadu Gun particularly significant is its detailed inscription, which includes not only the era name and year of manufacture (1298 CE) but also a serial number and manufacturing details. This level of documentation suggests a surprising degree of standardization in early firearm production, indicating that by the late 13th century, gun manufacturing had progressed beyond experimental one-off pieces to something resembling systematic production.

The Xanadu Gun’s most important feature is arguably its inscription, which provides definitive dating and makes it the earliest firearm with a precise production date. Its flared “bowl-mouth” design represents an early attempt to optimize the weapon’s effectiveness, possibly to increase the spread of projectiles at close range—similar to the concept behind later shotguns. The presence of axial holes suggests that this weapon may have been mounted on a fixed support, indicating a transitional design between purely handheld firearms and larger, mounted cannon. At over 6 kilograms, it would have been cumbersome to use without some form of bracing or support.

1. Heilongjiang Hand Cannon

The Heilongjiang Hand Cannon stands as the earliest confirmed firearm in human history. Discovered during archaeological excavations in the 1970s alongside artifacts from the Jurchen Jin dynasty, this weapon provides crucial insights into the earliest days of firearms technology. The timing of this weapon coincides with a significant military campaign during the Yuan Dynasty—the suppression of Prince Nayan’s rebellion in 1287-1288 CE under the command of General Li Ting, who has been credited with innovative use of early firearms in battle.

Historical records from the period describe soldiers carrying these weapons on their backs, with one soldier aiming the device while another applied fire to the touch hole, igniting the powder charge. This two-person operation highlights the primitive nature of early firearms, which required dedicated personnel just for the ignition process. The hand cannon represents a critical evolutionary step from earlier fire lances (bamboo tubes filled with gunpowder and projectiles) to true firearms with metal barrels capable of directing projectiles with somewhat greater accuracy and force.

The Heilongjiang Hand Cannon’s most distinctive feature is its bulbous powder chamber, designed to contain the explosive force of the black powder. This enlarged chamber reflects early metallurgists’ attempts to manage explosive pressure without sophisticated metallurgical techniques. The weapon’s substantial weight—nearly eight pounds—indicates it was likely braced against the ground or a support when fired, rather than held in the hands like later pistols.

Linguistic evidence further supports this weapon’s historical significance, as the Chinese term “chong”, specifically referring to metal-barrel firearms, first appeared in written records during this period. This linguistic development parallels the technological advancement from bamboo and paper fire lances to true metal firearms.

Conclusion

From humble beginnings in 13th-century China to 14th-century European battlefields, these four ancient firearms mark humanity’s first steps into gunpowder weaponry. Wildly inaccurate and often as dangerous to their users as their targets, these weapons nonetheless changed warfare forever.

Centuries separate these first experimental firearms from today’s precision handguns, a journey driven by equal parts human ingenuity and our relentless pursuit of more effective ways to wage war and protect ourselves.