Fun and Informative Articles

Pellet guns, also known as BB guns came into existence in the early 1500's. The earliest guns used a spring-loaded bellows to project a dart out of the barrel. As pellet guns evolved, pump-charged or pneumatic models emerged that required the user to pump air into a holding well. This compressed air sent the pellet soaring at higher speeds than the less powerful spring-loaded version. Out of the pump action  model, Co2 cartridges were born, making the pump action unnecessary.

The first pneumatic pellet gun was made for Henry IV of France. Because it was so expensive to make these types of guns, only the rich could afford to own one. In 1880, the first air rifles were manufactured in the US by Markham Air Rifle Company. They substituted small metal pellets for bullets and called them "BBs."

Everyone's heard of Daisy company, one of the most popular air rifle companies in the world. Daisy didn't start out manufacturing pellet guns, however. The company got its beginning selling windmills. With each windmill sold, they gave away an air rifle as a bonus. The guns became so popular that Daisy stopped selling windmills and went into the air rifle business. Appearing for the first time in the late 1930's, Daisy's Red Ryder model is their most popular and is still being sold today!