This comprehensive, fully illustrated reference volume covers the evolution of small arms from primitive spears to portable rocket launchers. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Small Arms details more than 1,000 weapons, complete with full-color photographs. Featuring arms from around the world and across history, this stunning guide highlights the intricacies that make each variety unique, tying in historical anecdotes as well as the history of certain brands. Revealing fascinating insights and historical episodes—such as the inspiration for Samuel L. Colt’s revolvers, or the lozenge-case gun used by Italian spies during World War II—this is an ideal resource for historians as well as fire arms enthusiasts. The volume is lushly illustrated with detailed photographs, many of which are published here for the first time.

Bite the bullet and read this book! From primitive polearms to futuristic machine guns, small arms pack big power. An American symbol of freedom, it is nearly impossible to resist the allure of these feats of mechanical genius. Almost as amazing as their power is their variety: slings and maces, pistols from wheel locks to flintlocks to today's semiautomatics, Colt revolvers, Remington and Winchester rifles, weapons of espionage, and many more. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Small Arms details more than 1,000 weapons, complete with full-color photographs. Featuring arms from around the world and across history, this stunning guide highlights the intricacies that make each variety unique, tying in historical anecdotes as well as the history of certain brands. Whether reading about the inspiration for Samuel L. Colt’s revolvers, or the lozenge-case gun used by Italian spies during World War II, arms enthusiasts will delight in the details. Even better are the photographs, many of which are published here for the first time. A companion to the best-selling Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weaponry, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Small Arms is an excellent resource for gun collectors and admirers alike.

From the very first handguns of the fifteenth century to modern machine guns and rifles, Small Arms Visual Encyclopedia is a highly illustrated volume that examines all the significant small arms of the world, featuring more than 1000 of the world's handguns, assault rifles, shotguns, machine guns, and other more esoteric weapons. All the famous weapons of each type are featured, such as the M-16, Colt .44 Magnum and MG42. Each featured small arm is illustrated with an excellent full-color artwork, showing the weapon in great detail with full specifications tables that list country of origin, weights, dimensions and calibre (with all weights and measures provided in both metric and imperial). With more than 800 outstanding color artworks, Small Arms Visual Encyclopedia is a comprehensive and accessible reference work that will appeal to anyone with an interest in small arms.

A visual historical reference to over 500 military, law enforcement and antique firearms from around the world with a fascinating history of small arms from the 14th century to the present day, comprehensive directories of small arms, full technical specifications and is illustrated with more than 550 photographs and artworks. This book features world's most important small guns from the medieval hand cannon and the matchlock handgun to the Luger P08 and today's FN P90 as well as famous small arms including the Colt .45, the Browning High-Power M1935, the Lanchester and the MP38 submachine gun. Included are specially commissioned color photographs and artworks, including cutaway diagrams to show internal components and gun operation. This complete guide is expertly written by leading professionals in their field.

Hundreds of thousands of small arms are produced around the world every year & this book is a review of those currently available. Divided into 4 sections -- rifles, pistols, shotguns & machine guns -- it provides encyclopedic coverage of more than 150 firearms. Each entry describes the weapon, giving the major technical features & dimensions, & offers critical comment on its performance. Much of the energy of the small arms industry is directed towards developing new cartridges, rather than investing in costly gun-development programs. Hundreds of detailed illustrations, many in color. Impressive text!

A complete look at weapons—from the Stone Age and Bronze Age to present day—from spears and swords to handguns and automatic weapons. When did hunting weapons begin to be used against humans instead of animals? What is the difference between the Plains Indian War Club and the Fijian War Club? What weapon is common to peoples in every part of the world? The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weaponry is a comprehensive guide to arms and armaments throughout history. Beginning in the Stone Age, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weaponry travels through the Bronze Age to our present day, showing the tools humans have used to defend themselves all around the globe. There’s the Japanese tanto, or dagger, which have become identified with gangs known as yakuza. There’s the flaming arrow used when Swiss and Austrian forces clashed in the 14th century. And there’s the revolver that Samuel Colt made practical for both military and civilian use in Hartford, Connecticut. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weaponry will help readers better understand how—and why—the battles of history were fought.