Buzz
After going through the list of the 10 best firearms, I thought it would be entertaining to create a list of the 10 worst firearms in history. In evaluating these weapons, I focused on factors such as their reliability, safety features, and practical utility during the time they were created. If you feel I've missed any truly dreadful firearms, be sure to share your thoughts in the comments for a potential follow-up list.
10. Colt Revolving Rifles
Although these rifles provided a notable increase in firepower for the people of the Old West in the 1830s, they had several significant flaws. For all versions, there was a leak of gas at the front of the cylinder with a corresponding reduction in muzzle velocity. Additionally, for the double-action models, as the cylinder rotated after each shot, the recently fired chamber often released hot gas toward the shooter's hand. This weapon only ranks at number 10 due to these issues being manageable in comparison to the added firepower it offered.
9. The Liberator
The Liberator was a single-shot pistol made from stamped sheet metal, designed to be dropped behind enemy lines during WWII and handed over to resistance groups. Its design was quite limited, offering only one shot of .45 ACP against an enemy likely armed with a semi-automatic pistol, rifle, or even a fully automatic submachine gun. Reloading was also a major hassle, as you had to insert a stick into the barrel to eject the spent cartridge.
8. Gyrojet
The Gyrojet was a handheld rocket launcher developed in the 1960s, firing 13mm rockets. Unlike traditional firearms, its velocity increased once the projectile left the barrel. However, one major issue was its lack of close-range stopping power, which is crucial for a pistol. On some occasions, the projectile simply fell out of the barrel without even firing.
7. Boys Anti-tank Rifle
The Boys Anti-tank rifle was an early attempt at anti-tank weaponry, used unsuccessfully at the start of WWII. It was a five-shot rifle weighing 16.33 kg (36 lbs) and fired a 13.97mm (.55 caliber) armor-piercing round, capable of penetrating 21mm of armor at 300 meters. At the time, it was underpowered and couldn't penetrate the armor of German panzers. It was also unwieldy for soldiers to carry, and its recoil was intense.
6. Nock Volley Gun
The Nock Volley Gun, first introduced around 1780, could fire seven .50 caliber slugs simultaneously. It proved effective for repelling boarders in naval combat, but its intense recoil was capable of injuring the shooter, even causing shoulder damage. Additionally, the muzzle blast often had the unintended consequence of setting fire to the ship's rigging.
5. Cochran Revolvers
One of the lesser-known firearms on the list, the Cochran revolvers had a horizontally rotating cylinder. This design meant that every time you fired, a loaded round was aimed directly at you. Precision was critical because even a slight mistake in machining could cause the round pointed at you to discharge.
4. Nambu (94 Shiki Kenju)
The Nambu (94 Shiki Kenju) was a Japanese pistol design from WWII, chambered in 8mm Taisho 14 rounds. It was severely underpowered, difficult to handle, and presented significant safety risks. With a firing sear that projected from the sides, it was prone to accidental discharge. The pistol was capable of firing a round before it was fully chambered, making it more dangerous to its user than to the intended target.
3. Chauchat
A French light machine gun so poorly designed that soldiers who were issued it discarded it in favor of their rifles. Introduced during WWI, the Chauchat was constructed so poorly that the parts were not interchangeable between individual guns. Its magazine, with large openings on the sides, was a magnet for dirt and mud, which quickly caused jams—rendering the weapon useless, especially in the muddy conditions of trench warfare. The reason it ranks so high on this list is that, despite the availability of many decent light-machine guns at the time, this malfunction-prone gun was still issued to soldiers.
2. Grossflammenwerfer
This item is more literally a firearm than some others on the list, as it is a German flamethrower from WWI. Operated by a two-person crew, it was so hazardous that only convicts were tasked with using it. The weapon functioned like a bomb, guaranteeing danger for both operators. Bulky and heavy, it was an easy target for enemies. The brutality of the weapon led Allied forces to view it as barbaric, making it highly unlikely that the operators would survive if they attempted to surrender.
1. Pepper Box Revolver
The pepper box revolver was popular before the Colt-style revolver became the standard. It was cumbersome due to its multiple barrels, and the unpredictable chain-firing mechanism sometimes caused all barrels to discharge at once, which could easily break a user's wrist. It was prone to explosions and had poor accuracy. Some even joked that the safest place to stand when it fired was directly in front of it.
