Originally published in 1904, this rare early work on the revolver and its use, is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. We are now republishing it, using the original text and artwork, in a high quality, affordable, modern edition. The author was a well known and respected figure in the gun world of that era. He was an expert shot with all types of firearms and was Vice-President of the National Rifle Association and President of the Ashford Rifle Club. He also wrote "The Art of Revolver Shooting" and "Practical Rifle Shooting." and was a prolific contributor of shooting material to the sporting press. The book's one hundred and thirty six pages contain many black and white photographas and illustrations and eighteen detailed chapters: Selecting a Revolver and Ammunition; Cleaning and Care of Weapons; Sights; Learning to Use the Revolver; Gallery Shooting; Bisley: 20 Yards Stationary Target; Disappearing Target; Rapid Firing; Traversing Target; Team Shooting and Coaching; General Remarks on Shooting in Competitions; Stage Shooting; Trick Shooting; Target Shooting Off Horseback; Shooting in Self Defence; Revolver Shooting for Ladies; Shooting in the Dark. This is a fascinating read for any gun enthusiast or historian, with much of the information and advice still useful and practical today.

Originally published in 1900 by the English gun maker "Cogswell and Harrison Ltd." This book is now very scarce and expensive in its first edition. READ COUNTRY BOOKS have now republished it using the original text and illustrations. One hundred and forty four pages contain nine detailed chapters: How to Shoot. - Gun Fitting. - Modern Guns. - Ammunition. - Grouse Shooting. - Partridge Shooting. - Pheasant Shooting. - Live Pigeon Trap Shooting. - Inanimate Bird Shooting. The contents are extensively illustrated with full page and text drawings and photos. A number of the drawings are by Archibald Thorburn, G. E. Lodge and Henry Stannard. As is to be expected with a famous gun makers publication, there is much technical advise and information, with many of the illustrations being of Cogswell and Harrison products. Also included are fifteen pages of vintage advertisements for guns and shooting equipment. This is a fascinating read for any shooting enthusiast or historian, with much of the information remaining useful and practical today. The chapters on live and clay pigeon shooting are especially informative. Many of the earliest sporting books, particularly those dating back to the 1800s, are now extremely scarce and very expensive. READ COUNTRY BOOKS are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

A Book of Five Swords and a Scroll, is about five Japanese swords that came to the United States after W.W.II and a Japanese hanging scroll of a 'Seated Samurai. The book is richly illustrated with over 110 photographs of these swords, map segments, and other associated materials. There are three original short stories centered around three of the swords. The book also contains sections regarding Medieval Japan, the Samurai, Japanese Sword Smiths, and Japanese Sword Care and Cleaning; Detail Technical Data of these swords is included, and there is a short biography of artist of the scroll. The chapter about the scroll, regards a person famous in 14th Century Japanese History. Two of these swords are over 450 years old. n addition there is a short biography of a unique US Marine that fought at Wake Island, Dec 8, 1941 - Dec 23, 1941 in WWII and taken as a Prisiner Of War by the Japanese. He spent a total of 1350 Days as a POW in Camps in China and Japan. This version of the book is in B&W.

"In the early transition from the long-lived flintlock system, handgun development closely paralleled that of the long arms. With the advent of the revolving pistols, however; came patents that created monopolies in revolver production and the through-bored cylinder necessary for self-contained metallic cartridges. The caplock revolvers took on a separate evolution and remained state of the art long after the widespread appearance of cartridge firing rifles and shotguns. They rode in the holsters of of explorers and adventurers across the world and granted safe conduct in the back-alleys of the Industrial West right up until the last quarter of the 19th Century.Handguns possess a mystique distinctly different from that of other firearms. They are tools of personal empowerment-chosen by their owners to provide independence and freedom of movement. In the ambitious, optimistic early years of western industrial civilization they were the emblem of liberty and equality and the bane of repressive governments and social movements. Largely because of the traditions that emerged in the time of the caplock pistols and revolvers, they remain so in the early years of the 21st Century."

1910. Under the authority of the trustees. The catalogue contains descriptions of more than 1340 pieces of armor and arms housed in the Wallace Collection at Hertford house.

Since its introduction in the 1950s the innovative G3 battle rifle has seen widespread combat around the globe, from South America to Afghanistan. This absorbing study investigates the origins, development, combat record, and legacy of this iconic rifle of the Cold War.

During the Cold War, the G3 was one of the world's pre-eminent battle rifles. Developed in France and Spain after 1945, the rifle was produced by the German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch. Adopted by more than 40 countries and produced on licence by many more, it was widely employed during colonial wars in Africa, insurgencies in Latin America, and conflicts in the Middle East, but perhaps its widest use was in the Iran–Iraq War. Variants of the G3 have also seen substantial usage among Special Forces including Britain's Special Boat Service and the US Navy SEALs. Semi-automatic versions, especially the HK91 and HK93, remain popular in the United States, and the G3-derived HK11 and HK21 family of light machine guns have also been widely adopted by military and law-enforcement units across the world. Fully illustrated with specially commissioned artwork, this study examines one of the iconic weapons of the Cold War era.

The papers presented in this book represent the latest research on a wide variety of arms and armour given as diplomatic gifts between Asia and Europe, or within Europe, between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. The research originated at a conference that celebrated the 400th anniversary of Anglo-Japanese relations.

Spencer Coil examines the uniforms and equipment used by the multiethnic Czarist Russian Forces during the turbulent reign of Czar Nicholas II. In addition to a remarkable selection of studio photos, stunning candid photos of front-oviki, or frontline troops, offer an authentic view of trench and battlefield life. Each photo has been carefully chosen and researched to offer the reader detailed information on the medical, motor, naval and air service branches as well as artillery, machinegun, pioneer, infantry, cavalry, and guard troops. There are chapters covering Cossacks, Caucasian irregulars, POWs, St. George Cross recipients and Czar Nicholas II. A full color section of heretofore unpublished photos of original headdress, equipment and accessories used by the armed forces provides valuable information on materials, markings, stamps and construction. This work is an outstanding and indispensable resource for all historians, collectors, re-enactors, war gamers, model builders and Czarist Russia enthusiasts.

Superb color photographs, including multiple full-views and detail shots, depict over 150 helmets of Germany, Britain, France, United States, Austria, Turkey, and others from World War I. Previously unpublished World War I photographs show the helmets as they were worn.

The fourteenth century witnessed a late medieval arms race; an era that began with knightly combatants armed in mail-and ended with them dressed head-to-toe in the complete plate armour that is commonly associated with knights. Although well documented in art and effigies, only a very few examples of this early plate armour survive. In this series of four planned volumes, Douglas Strong brings together three decades of research to offer a lavishly illustrated catalogue of these surviving pieces with a detailed record of their provenance, characteristics, construction details, and current whereabouts. Filled with colour and black-white photos, line-drawings, this book is a piece of artwork in its own right. Volume One focuses on the bascinet, the ubiquitous helmet of the period. Developing out of a small skull-cap worn beneath the great helm, it quickly evolved into a complete head defence of its own, becoming the helmet that defines the knightly harness of the second half of the fourteenth century and which survived in common usage into the early decades of the fifteenth century. Organizing the surviving examples into broad, morphological categories for both helmets and visors, Douglas Strong not only creates a catalogue of surviving pieces, but presents a basic typology, the first of its kind, into which future discoveries can be placed. Colour and b&w illustrations. Forthcoming volumes include: Volume II: Additional Head Defenses Volume III: Limb Defenses Volume IV: Body Defenses