Matchlock, wheel lock, flintlock and caplock; muzzle-loading and breech-loading; revolving and rifling - the history of muskets and rifles is a fascinating journey through the development of firearms technology. From early matchlocks of the 15th century to the latest hunting rifles and assault rifles, Collector's Guides: Rifles & Muskets traces the development of these small arms through their technical revolutions. From a 16th century wheel-lock to today's Knight MK-85 muzzleloader, from the Winchester to the Ak-47 to the latest sporting rifles, Collector's Guides: Rifles & Muskets offers a narrative history of the classics among these firearms. Throughout there are technical specifications for featured firearms. Illustrated with more than 260 color and black-and-white artworks and photographs, Collector's Guides: Rifles & Muskets is an expertly written account of the history of sporting and military firearms.

From early matchlocks of the 15th century to the latest hunting rifles and assault rifles, Collector’s Guides: Rifles & Muskets traces the development of these small arms through their technical revolutions. Illustrated with more than 260 artworks and photographs, this book is an expertly written history of sporting and military firearms.

Challenges the longstanding view that the rifle musket revolutionized warfare during the Civil War, arguing instead that its actual impact was real but limited and specialized.

Originally published in 1852. This detailed and illustrated book also contains a short treatise on the Elastic Concave Wadding. The author was a well known gun and sword maker. This book will prove of great interest to all with an involvement in the history of firearms. Many of the earliest shooting and hunting books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing many of these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

TIME-LIFE presents the History of the Rifle from the first hand-held versions were Chinese fire lances invented in the 10th century through the Americans and their expansion westward, who refined the weapon and redefined its place in culture and society.

LIFE Explores History of the Rifle begins with a bang with the discovery of the explosive combination of charcoal, potassium nitrate, and sulfur. From 10th Century China to the United States, this special edition details the evolution of the weapon including innovative modifications such as improved ignition devices allowing single shooters to aim, fire, and hit targets. Although the innovation of the rifle improved efficiency and efficacy, the smaller, sleeker, and more sophisticated model of the rifle posed a threat, including increased crime and conflict. Traverse the Old World, the Civil War, and the Wild West and explore how the evolution of this firearm has changed warfare, society, and history irrevocably

From Musket to Metallic Cartridge is an historical introduction to the use of black powder firearms, from the primitive smooth-bore musket to breech-loading cartridge guns, as well as a primer on their practical use for today's black powder shooters. Drawing on his experience of countless hours on the shooting range, backed up by meticulous research, Oyvind Flatnes relates over 500 years of development and covers the huge range of different ignition systems, models and patents. He describes the use of antique firearms and replicas, discussing their historical and safe modern use. The book is profusely illustrated throughout, with both photographs and diagrams, showing a range of guns and their ammunition, with some live firing shots showing them in action. Aimed at shooters, collectors and general gun and weapons enthusiasts, this book will inspire the reader to learn more about how firearms work, and to take them onto the range too. Superbly illustrated with 265 colour photographs and diagrams.

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 51. Chapters: Early firearms, Muskets, Arquebus, Flintlock, Muzzleloader, Huolongjing, Antique gun, Brown Bess, Wheellock, Charleville musket, Naval artillery in the Age of Sail, Hand cannon, Matchlock, Blunderbuss, Jezail, Model 1795 Musket, Culverin, Nock gun, Snaplock, Wall gun, Fire lance, Model 1816 Musket, Howdah pistol, Springfield rifle, Springfield Model 1812 Musket, Model 1822 Musket, Springfield Model 1840 Flintlock Musket, Musketoon, Powder horn, Huochong, Petronel, Jingal. Excerpt: A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer. The musket replaced the arquebus, and was in turn replaced by the rifle. The term "musket" is applied to a variety of weapons, including the long, heavy guns with matchlock or wheel lock and loose powder fired with the gun barrel resting on a stand, and also lighter weapons with Snaphance, flintlock or caplock and bullets using a stabilizing spin (Minie ball), affixed with a bayonet. 16th-century troops armed with a heavy version of the arquebus called a musket were specialists supporting the arquebusiers and pikemen formations. By the start of the 18th century, a lighter version of the musket had edged out the arquebus, and the addition of the bayonet edged out the pike, and almost all infantry became musketeers. In the 18th century, improvements in ammunition and firing methods allowed rifling to be practical for military use, and the term "rifled gun" gave way to "rifle." In the 19th century, rifled muskets (which were technically rifles, but were referred to as muskets) became common which combined the advantages of rifles and muskets. About the time of the introduction of cartridge, breechloading, and multiple rounds of ammunition just a few...

This standard history of Bath County. Of greatest genealogical import are the chapters devoted to the names of heads of families in Bath in 1782, early marriage records, a roster of Confederate soldiers, and a list of families in Greater Bath.