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Hand cannon
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<p>The hand cannon (<a href="/facts/Simplified_Chinese_characters/UcAD6xXs">simplified Chinese</a>: 火铳; <a href="/facts/Traditional_Chinese_characters/bBFLkuz7">traditional Chinese</a>: 火銃; <a href="/facts/Pinyin/pUwjfMXg">pinyin</a>: <i><a href="/facts/Huochong/AtcnTCJ6">huǒchòng</a></i> or 手铳; 手銃; <i>shǒuchòng</i>), also known as the gonne or handgonne, is the first true <a href="/facts/Firearm/GuHx4aGE">firearm</a> and the successor of the <a href="/facts/Fire_lance/aKjj1YaR">fire lance</a>. It is the oldest type of <a href="/facts/Small_arms/GuHx4aGE">small arms</a>, as well as the most mechanically simple form of metal barrel firearms. Unlike <a href="/facts/Matchlock/2ppK74kP">matchlock</a> firearms it requires direct manual external <a href="/facts/Making_fire/gTQlzrY2">ignition</a> through a <a href="/facts/Touch_hole/IrRdQvMb">touch hole</a> without any form of firing mechanism. It may also be considered a forerunner of the <a href="/facts/Handgun/Vz25G3C4">handgun</a>. The hand cannon was widely used in <a href="/facts/China/lTjIXY5p">China</a> from the 13th century onward and later throughout <a href="/facts/Eurasia/KlLI9GDM">Eurasia</a> in the 14th century. In 15th century <a href="/facts/Europe/DTAtrKfh">Europe</a>, the hand cannon evolved to become the matchlock <a href="/facts/Arquebus/pfeToDsN">arquebus</a>, which became the first <a href="/facts/Firearm/GuHx4aGE">firearm</a> to have a <a href="/facts/Trigger_(firearms)/e95STa6G">trigger</a>. </p>