The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Pistols & Revolvers

Fülszöveg

^nir
J
This superbly illustrated book constitutes a,color directory to the development of the hand gun across five centuries, from the unwieldy but often magnificently crafted wheel-lock pistols of the early sixteenth century to the streamlined and functional military side-arms of the present day Few people can resist the lure of the hand gun, for it is the most personal of weapons. Most of us, at some time or another, have seen ourselves in fantasy as a Dodge City gunfighter with a Colt slung low on his hip, or as a secret agent with a Beretta up his sleeve-and most of us would like to know more about these fascinating weapons. Therefore, this book has been written in such a way that the general reader can understand it. At the same time, the quality of its illustrations and the authoritative stature of the writer make it a valuable source of reference for weapons enthusiasts of all ages and degrees of expertise.
In order to make the information readily accessible to the... Tovább

Fülszöveg

^nir
J
This superbly illustrated book constitutes a,color directory to the development of the hand gun across five centuries, from the unwieldy but often magnificently crafted wheel-lock pistols of the early sixteenth century to the streamlined and functional military side-arms of the present day Few people can resist the lure of the hand gun, for it is the most personal of weapons. Most of us, at some time or another, have seen ourselves in fantasy as a Dodge City gunfighter with a Colt slung low on his hip, or as a secret agent with a Beretta up his sleeve-and most of us would like to know more about these fascinating weapons. Therefore, this book has been written in such a way that the general reader can understand it. At the same time, the quality of its illustrations and the authoritative stature of the writer make it a valuable source of reference for weapons enthusiasts of all ages and degrees of expertise.
In order to make the information readily accessible to the reader, this book is divided into six sections, each prefaced by an introductory essay. The first five sections deal with the major categories of hand guns in the order of their development: wheel-lock and flintlock pistols and revolvers; percussion pistols; percussion revolvers; cartridge revolvers; and self-loading ("automatic") pistols. The final section comprises a miscellany of unusual or unclassifiable weapons, including miniature pistols, home-made "specials", and experimental arms.
Some 300 of the most significant hand guns produced throughout the world in the past 450 years have been specially photographed in full color for this work of truly international scope. Each photograph is accompanied by a short essay describing the weapon's particular characteristics, its development, and its use, and by a table of technical information. Military arms are comprehensively covered, and the author deals also with the weapons of non-military users, including the duelist, the traveler, the law enforcement officer, and the criminal. Vissza