Mr. Jefferson’s Assault Rifle
High-capacity magazine? Check.
Capable of firing 22 aimed shots in a minute? Check.
A military weapon? Check.
Manufactured during the American Revolutionary War? Check.
The Girandoni was 22-shot, magazine-fed, nearly silent .46 caliber repeating rifle issued to elite Austrian troops from 1780-1815. Thomas Jefferson purchased two of these rifles, which he sent west with Lewis and Clark.
Remember it the next time some know-it-all—perhaps someone who used to have a cable show before he was fired for low ratings—says that the Founding Fathers only knew of muskets.
Hat tip to Bob Owens over at Bearing Arms. Bob’s got a great video on his article. Head on over to http://bearingarms.com/thomas-jeffersons-assault-rifle/ to check it out. Well worth your time in my opinion.
Pretty darn cool, kinda puts modern air rifles to shame.