More than two hundred illustrations trace the development of medieval arms from their crude beginnings to the beautiful ceremonial armor of the Renaissance

An illustrated survey of knights, their weapons, their battles and wars, and tournaments. Includes glossary of terms and an appendix detailing construction of armor.

More than two hundred illustrations trace the development of medieval arms from their crude beginnings to the beautiful ceremonial armor of the Renaissance

Captivated by military antiquities, English scholar Samuel Rush Meyrick (1783–1848) pursued a lifelong passion for studying and collecting medieval armory. The results of his work are a continual source of learning and fascination for weapons buffs and anyone interested in the medieval period. Brimming with over seventy full-color illuminated engravings from Meyrick's original 1842 survey of weaponry from the Middle Ages, here is a stunning historical showcase of European armor spanning the ninth to fifteenth centuries. From Richard the Lionheart in full battle regalia to the equipage of numerous anonymous knights, Meyrick presents a splendid panorama of medieval paladins and their weapons. Since earliest times, man has fashioned items for personal defense—shields, swords, crossbows, helmets, ornate suits of body armor for knights and their steeds, and much more. Meyrick's Medieval Knights and Armour chronicles the military regalia of the Middle Ages in all its forms, and when applicable, highlights its connection with mythology, religion, the arts, civil polity, and entertainment in ancient, as well as modern, times.

As soon as the armed man realized that iron and steel were the best defences for his body, he would naturally insist that some sort of a guarantee should be given him of the efficacy of the goods supplied by his armourer. This system of proving armour would be effected by using those weapons commonly in use, and these, in the early times, were the sword, the axe, the lance, the bow, and the crossbow. The latter seems to have been the more common forms of proof, though as late as the seventeenth century we have evidence that armour was proved with the "estramaon" or sword blow. -from "The Proof of Armour" Not a history of defensive armor but rather a guide to the actual making of armor, as well as the regulations that governed the artisans who made it, this is a fascinating-and practical-handbook on the production, selling, and wearing metal traditional medieval body armor. First published in 1912, this classic book-by British historian and author CHARLES JOHN FFOULKES (1868-1947), curator of London's Royal Armouries-draws on records of the time to detail the tools and appliances of the trade, the decoration and cleaning of armor, the use of leather and fabrics, and much more to offer a complete reference for readers of period fiction and history, wargamers, costumers, and anyone fascinated by the craft of the armorer. This replica of the 1912 edition is complete with all of the original diagrams, illustrations, and photos.

An illustrated survey of knights, their weapons, their battles and wars, and tournaments. Includes glossary of terms and an appendix detailing construction of armor.

DK Eyewitness Arms and Armor is an original and exciting look at the history of weapons and armor through the ages. Stunning real-life photographs reveal the design, construction, and workings of armor, offering a unique "eyewitness" view of how methods of warfare have changed. Show your child the very first weapons ever made, the armor worn by medieval knights, the battledress of a Japanese samurai, and the guns used by the frontiersmen and outlaws of the Wild West. They'll also discover the weapons that were carried by the first police officers, how sword and pistol duels were fought and much more!