The Illustrated History of Weaponry From Flint Axes to Automatic Weapons

"The Illustrated History of Weaponry: From Flint Axes to Automatic Weapons," by Charles Wills, is a comprehensive look at the tools of battle. More than 600 photographs of an eclectic mix of weapons were specially commissioned from the 8,000-piece collection of the Berman Museum of World History. Spanning the globe and more than 3,500 years, they include a royal Persian scimitar owned by both Abbas I and Catherine the Great, a sword presented to Napoleon, the traveling pistols of Confederate president Jefferson Davis, and Heinrich Himmler's rifle. The variety of rare weapons of espionage and combination curiosa that rounds out the selection will appeal to even the most seasoned weaponry connoisseur.

"The Illustrated History of Weaponry" offers historical perspective of the people, places, and times important to the development of weaponry, with special feature spreads that illuminate such topics as The Hundred Years War, The Crusades, Naval Weapons, The Civil War, and Trench Warfare. The rare and wonderful pieces collected here and their commentary offer something for the history buff, cultural anthropologist, and weapons enthusiast alike.