Firearm

The Ottoman Flintlock Rifle.

Firearms are a class of long-ranged weapons that launch projectiles at high velocity, through the confined burning of propellants. They were used as early as the late Middle Ages.

History

High Middle Ages

"The knowledge of projectile combat is not new to us, having been observed amongst our Eastern neighbors. But their weapons were much larger – and insufficient for our needs."

―Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad's Codex, page 28.

Altaïr's design for the hidden gun.

Though he knew of firearms being used in ancient China, the Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad took little interest in them; realizing that the weapons were of no use to his Order in their current size.

As such, upon obtaining the Apple of Eden, he successfully used the knowledge it held to miniaturize the design, "embedding their fiery weapon into a form that can be worn on the wrist."

Along with the formulation of a combustible powder that could be made from common ingredients, Altaïr kept the schematics for the Hidden Gun a secret, available to only the Brotherhood's most trusted allies.

Sometime afterwards, he recorded all details of these in his personal journal.

Renaissance

In Italy during the Renaissance, another Assassin, Ezio Auditore, came into possession of Altaïr's Codex, and showed the pages to Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo deciphered the instructions, and was able to construct the Hidden Gun for Ezio's use.

Papal arquebusiers.

Though firearms were uncommon until the early 16th century, after Cesare Borgia forcibly recruited Leonardo into his employ around 1499, the engineer was made to design a wheel-lock firearm for use by the Borgia armies.

Cesare's ally, the French Baron Octavian de Valois, received a personalized, golden wheel-lock firearm from Leonardo, and kept it with him at all times. During the Fall of Monteriggioni, Cesare used this pistol to kill Mario Auditore.

A variety of firearms began to circulate among common guards as well, with Arquebusiers wielding long rifles or arquebuses, and with several Horsemen and Papal Guards using shorter pistols.

In later years, upon Ezio's travels to Constantinople, he encountered Turkish soldiers using Ottoman flintlock rifles, as well as Janissaries who used short pistols. The Assassins of the local guild also made use of firearms to guard local dens, ranging from simple rifles to cannons.

Meanwhile, the Byzantines forces had an early version of a flamethrower, which they used to deliver Greek Fire. They also had a form of a machine gun, which was similar in construct to Leonardo da Vinci's prototype. Both of these were then later adapted by the Assassins, in order to aid them in defending their dens.

American Revolution

File:ACIII-Flintlock Musket.png

The Flintlock Musket.

By the time of the American Revolutionary War, firearms had become standard equipment for armies. Soldiers of both sides used muskets, often accompanied by bayonets.

The American Assassin Connor Kenway was able to wield a musket as well as two flintlock pistols; however, he only fired each of them once in battle, and could only reload them when the fight had finished.

Russian Revolution

Nikolai with his rifle.

During the late 19th and early 20th century, in the Russian Revolution, the Russian Assassin Nikolai Orelov wielded a modern bolt-action Mosin–Nagant rifle alongside the usual weaponry of his time.

Modern times

In 2012, Assassins continued to wield firearms in combat, and once used them on a direct assault on Abstergo Industries, in an attempt to rescue Desmond Miles.

Though Desmond overheard the exchanged gunshots over the intercom, Warren Vidic eventually told him that the rescue attempt had failed, and that most of the team had been killed.

Trivia

• A number of firearms were available in Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy, including the arquebus, .303 SMLE, and M1917 revolver.
• Owning two M1917 revolvers in Project Legacy granted the player the "Akimbo" achievement.
• The Flintlock Musket was awarded in Assassin's Creed III upon the completion of the memory "A Dangerous Secret".

Gallery

• 
  Octavian de Valois' personal wheel-lock firearm.
• 
  Concept art for a Scottish Flintlock pistol.
• Scottish flintlock in-game model.
  Scottish flintlock in-game model.
• 
  Concept art for a Flintlock pistol.
• Connor holding the Flintlock Musket.
  Connor holding the Flintlock Musket.
• Connor holding the Scottish Flintlock Musket.
  Connor holding the Scottish Flintlock Musket.
• Connor carrying a musket.
  Connor carrying a musket.
• 
  Connor using a pistol.