Pollard's History of Firearms, Claud Bair ed.
Posted 06-24-2014 at 04:22 AM by Happy in Wyoming
We all have our areas of expertise and specialization. But in order to fully understand any specific area of arms we need to place them in both a technical and historical context. The second edition of Pollard's work does just that. As editor and contributor Claude Blair points out few of Pollard's original words remain. But the concept and the organization is his, thus he deserves his recognition as author and editor.
Several articles cover the history of arms from their rude beginnings through the Eighteenth Century. This is important because there are few detailed accounts of this period. Furthermore, this is the period few of us know well. There aren't many guns extant. Many of the most interesting examples reside in museums where few of us have the opportunity to examine them. Here we see their evolution and have an interesting look at some of the events that new development. In his article on Sixteenth Century guns Baird begins with the introduction of the wheellock,the first firearm that did not require the user to carry something with a burning match attached. He tells us specifically when the first laws were decreed banning the manufacture and possession of these arms, particularly when they were concealable. It didn't take long.
This work and Smith's Small Arms of the World complement each other. They are, however, very different works. Smith is strong on specifics; Pollard is strong on overall history and development. I don't find the lack of specifics on modern weapons to be a problem at all. There is a veritable cornucopia of both general and specialized works treating cartidge firearms.
This work belongs in the library of every serious student of arms.
Several articles cover the history of arms from their rude beginnings through the Eighteenth Century. This is important because there are few detailed accounts of this period. Furthermore, this is the period few of us know well. There aren't many guns extant. Many of the most interesting examples reside in museums where few of us have the opportunity to examine them. Here we see their evolution and have an interesting look at some of the events that new development. In his article on Sixteenth Century guns Baird begins with the introduction of the wheellock,the first firearm that did not require the user to carry something with a burning match attached. He tells us specifically when the first laws were decreed banning the manufacture and possession of these arms, particularly when they were concealable. It didn't take long.
This work and Smith's Small Arms of the World complement each other. They are, however, very different works. Smith is strong on specifics; Pollard is strong on overall history and development. I don't find the lack of specifics on modern weapons to be a problem at all. There is a veritable cornucopia of both general and specialized works treating cartidge firearms.
This work belongs in the library of every serious student of arms.
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