If you had to pick one invention by humans that has changed the course of history, the invention of gunpowder may be it. This small, black powder that on the outside looks innocuous is actually one of the most powerful substances on the planet.

RailScales offers the best hand stops for your firearm, from your AR to your handguns and more. These simple rail covers are the best in the industry, protecting your hands from the heat of the barrel, guarding your rails from any damage, and making your firearm more comfortable overall to handle. Made from the highest-quality materials and superb craftsmanship, our handguard rails will make you not want to put your gun down. Below, we'll take a brief look at the history of gunpowder. Shop our rail covers online today!

HISTORY OF GUNPOWDER

Ironically, gunpowder was invented by the Chinese as they were looking for immortality. In a twist on fate, they indeed found immortality in an invention that not only has been around for 1000 years and counting, but that has altered the course of history.

An alchemist was a person in ancient times and throughout the Middle Ages who made elixirs that were meant to give people immortality and to cure illness. It also involved trying to turn lead into gold. While the root of alchemy seems frivolous to us in the modern age, it resulted in some amazing discoveries, one of them was gunpowder.

A Chinese alchemist was trying to create an immortal elixir when he mixed saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal that, when heated, ignited. Saltpeter is found in decaying animal excrement and contains the minerals potassium nitrate. Potassium nitrate contains potassium, oxygen, and nitrogen. When sulfur and carbon are added and then ignited, the potassium nitrate compound pulls apart and breaks up into its fundamental elements and thus creates an explosion. When these compounds are then pent-up, the gases that are produced are then used to propel a bullet, shell, or other object.

Surprisingly, this discovery was not immediately used as a weapon; instead, it was used in fireworks. However, by the Tang Dynasty (618 to 907 AD), it was being wielded, mainly on the tips of arrows that were coated in gunpowder, lit, and then shot into enemy encampments. Soon, bombs, catapults, and fire lances, which were primitive precursors to firearms, were invented. A fire lance would be loaded with a bamboo tube, ignited, and then ejected a projectile to a target. The Chinese continued to refine gunpowder, making a true gun out of brass or iron by the late 13th century.

While the Chinese always tried to keep their inventions a secret, this one got out and made its way along the famous Silk Road to Europe in the Middle Ages. Once the world discovered the power of gunpowder, it would never be the same.

CHOOSE RAILSCALES FOR YOUR NEXT RAIL COVERS TODAY

From its inauspicious beginnings, gunpowder would change the world, and today we have modern firearms that are the product. RailScales creates the most advanced rail covers for your firearms. These hand stops are built for longevity, durability, and to handle the roughest conditions and terrain, such as when you are hiking and hunting and when you're in the rain. Designed to be super comfortable, these handguard rails will give you a better grip and protect you from the heat of the firearm. They will also protect the rail of your firearm as well.

Made from G-10, a fiberglass composite material that is super thin, these tactical rails come with a limited lifetime warranty. Visit us online, and order today!