<P> In 1356 the Imperial - Spanish army had equipped units with handguns called arquebusiers . They had handguns which were more accurate, lighter, and portable than their 12th - century brothers from Europe . They were used in the Battle of Pavia in 1525 and proved to have dominated over King Francis I knights . </P> <P> The Battle of Cerignola in 1503 was largely won by Spain through the use of matchlock firearms, marking the first time a major battle was won through the use of firearms . Early firearms were fired by touching a flame or' match' to a fuse or pan filled with gunpowder that was connected by a small hole to the charge of powder in the barrel . In the earliest examples, this was done by hand . Later, mechanisms were developed to apply the flame or more simply a spark to the pan . </P> <P> As ignition devices, matchlocks, wheellocks, snaplock, flintlocks and percussion caps were used in turn . </P> <P> The paper cartridge was introduced sometime before 1586, and the bayonet came to use in 16th century France . Hand grenades, thrown by grenadiers, appeared around the same time . </P>

When was the first gun invented in america