Michigan Innovation: The Daisy Air Rifle

Sorry, antigunners. I know a lot of people hate BB guns, but I loved mine growing up. And why wouldn't I? After all, the Daisy Air Rifle had its beginnings here in Michigan.

The Daisy's humble beginnings can be traced back to 1882 and the Plymouth Iron Windmill Company. A local inventor developed a product that was a combination of metal and wire, vaguely resembling a gun, that could fire a lead ball using compressed air.

The President of the company gave it a try, and after his first shot exclaimed, "Boy, that's a daisy."

The rest, as they say, is history.