This fascinating but little-known book was first published in London in 1914. The author was a prolific contributor to the sporting press of that time and was an acknowledged expert on guns and shooting.We have now republished it using the original text and illustrations. The books 232 pages are a veritable mine of information on the development, manufacturing, choice, and use of the English shotgun and its associated cartridges and loads. Much practical advice is also offered on shooting grouse, pheasant, partridge, woodcock and wildfowl etc, with a multitude of tips on dealing with high birds, "coasters", wind direction and weather, "flapper-shooting," etc. Fourteen comprehensive chapters deal effectively with each of these subjects and are fully illustrated with vintage black and white photos and illustrations. The original fascinating adverts for guns, cartridges, shooting grounds, equipment etc, have also been retained for historical interest. This early shooting book will prove to be a valuable asset in increasing the knowledge and prowess of all "gun-buffs" and shooting men.

Shotguns - Their History and Development (Shooting Series - Guns amp Gunmaking) This important work on the Shotgun was first published in London 1923 in limited numbers, and is now a rare find in its first edition. READ COUNTRY BOOKS have now re-published it from the original text incorporating the photographic illustrations and many fascinating gun makers advertisements. One hundred and fifty five pages are divided into eight detailed chapters: - The History of the Shotgun. - The Selection of a Gun. - Game Guns, Wildfowl Guns, and Small Bores. - Repeating, Automatic and Miscellaneous Guns. - The Shotgun Cartridge. - Ballistics. - The Gun-Room, Accessories and Dress, etc. - Shooting. Etc. Also included is a 12 page appendix on Shotgun Data and Tables. The contents are interspersed with numerous vintage photographs and other illustrations of shotguns and equipment. The author was a well known sportsman whose many years of practical experience with guns and their usage have made this book a valuable contribution to the history of shotguns, and also a recommended addition to any shooting enthusiasts library. 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.

First published in Great Britain in 1881 and subsequently revised nine times between then and 1910, The Gun and Its Development traces the fascinating history of weaponry: the obscure, ancient origins of the slingshot and the bow, the invention of the crossbow, possibly around 1000 AD; the introduction of gunpowder into Europe in the fourteenth century; the development of sporting and military guns over the centuries thereafter; and the rise of modern, mass-produced firearms in the early twentieth century. Chapters cover early to modern handguns; gunpowder ignition methods from fuses and flintlocks to percussion fulminates; shotguns; hammerless guns; ejector guns; the history of the firearms industry; manufacturing methods and their development in Britain, America, and elsewhere; how to use and handle different types of guns; ballistics; the development of rifling and smokeless powder; and much more. Copiously illustrated with photographs and marvelous engravings, The Gun and Its Development is the classic, authoritative reference work on the subject, certain to be of great interest to marksmen, hunters, gun collectors, and anyone interested in military or industrial history.

"This is a book that deserves a place on every shooting man's bookshelf." Michael Yardley, author of Positive Shooting and...

From the beginnings of the age of sail and firearms to the present day, the Encyclopedia of Naval History provides a complete and comprehensive guide to world naval history.