This is apropos nothing, other than general curiosity -- but I've often wondered about this. What is the technical definition of a "gun" as opposed to a "firearm?" I've always thought of a "gun" as something like a Howitzer, something on a battleship or cruiser, or the 105mm we have in our foyer. Everything from a .17cal. up to .50cal, I'd call a "firearm." There must be an actual technical definition, and maybe a cutoff based on size or something, but I haven't been able to figure it out. Does anyone here know -- or have a logical rationale for an opinion? I don't think it has a basis totally on rifling or the lack of it, (smoothbore) but that might be partially the answer. But then that'd mean a smoothbore flintlock is a "gun" and then when they grooved the inside of the barrel it became a "firearm," (of course, it WOULD then become a "rifle.") Is that all there is to it? Then, how about those big boogers the Navy has, are some of them big "guns" and others big "firearms," or even big "rifles?" To some people, "guns," "rifles," and "firearms" are all one and the same thing, just EEEEVIL! To me, they're just tools.