Book Description
For 4,000 years weapons, and the warriors who used them, have acted as the cutting edge of history, using ax, spear, bow, sword, gun, and cannon to determine the rise of kingdoms and the fall of empires. From the stone axes of the earliest warfare to the heavy artillery of today's modern armies, this awe-inspiring book portrays for the first time the entire spectrum of weaponry. A spectacular, unprecedented visual reference to the design, function and history of arms and armor from around the world. Combines specially commissioned photography and sophisticated design with authoritative text and exhaustive coverage. Beautifully photographed and richly detailed catalogues display - often at actual size - all the major types of weapon, from spears to machine-guns. Profiles the warriors who have deployed the weapons to devastating effect, from the Roman legionary to the US Navy Seal. Includes features that showcase individual weapons in stunning detail.
Customer Reviews:
Great coffee table book.......2007-08-09
I bought this book as a birthday gift for my dad (A big weapons fan) He loved it. Great pictures and easy read with a lot of information. It's a big book, a really nice coffee table book.
Great reference.......2007-03-26
I bought this book as a source book for my D&D games, not only did it meet that goal to perfection but it was actually very interesting and a pleasure to read.
The pictures are great and really give you an idea of size and weight. And speaking of weight, most weapons have weights listed.
Great book, highly recommended!
This book is VERY well illustrated.......2007-03-16
I read this book at my public library, and now every time I go there, I just HAVE to read it. It tells the history of weapons like no other book before. The pictures are detailed and the descriptions are very informative yet easy for the smallest child to read. This is NOT one of those books that bores you out after a while. I even stick to the Handgun section, and I read it every time I see it. I'll bet there is no guide to weapons better than this book. Don't just consider it. Make it necessary for long trips.
super .......2007-03-09
I first got this book from the libray and liked it so much that I deceided to try and find it on amazon and guess what they had it so I ordered 3 for myself and my sons thanks
Great reference book.......2007-02-13
The pictures in the book really help illustrate the info. There is no way this book can be all-inclusive, but it does give a great overview of weapons throughout history.
Book Description
This is a classic work not only on this history of armour in the 14th century, but of a key battle and the wound pathology relating to victims of the battle.
Customer Reviews:
Unique work.......2005-10-08
This book contains a wealth of knowledge about medieval armour and the effects of weapons. The pictures are fantastic, skeletons buried in their armour, rarely does one get to see how armour was actually worn. The breakdowns and detail of actual armour construction is immaculate and enables any competant armourer to reproduce the examples shown. The detail from an archeologist's point of view was a little too in depth for my interest but if you are that way inclined then great. Only issue I have is the "analysis" of some of the wounds seen, Mr. Thordeman seems to imply that this battle was unusual in some way, that the combatants fought with unusual fury. He sites one incident of one combatant having both legs severed by a single blow as an indication of some great fury and intensity. I only disagree as there are very few examples of medieval battle wound pathology to compare the Wisby corpses. It seems that the author is looking at the battle from too detached a viewpoint, forgetting that killing was the purpose of the people who showed up to battle that day. This is a small detail but supposition as to the mental states of combatants, by someone who has no first hand experience of battle is unproductive. Otherwise a great book.
A true masterpiece!.......2003-02-27
This book has a very special meaning to me since I'm from the town of Wisby(nowdays spelled Visby). Born and raised on the island Gotland and lived most of my life thete. I'v built several of these coats of armour and so far everyone I've tried on have been of satisfatcion. The book is so far the best resource book I've ever found. I have for a long time tried to find the first edition, but IF you can find it somewhere it's incredibly expensive. So jus imagine my joy when I saw there was a reissue! And very soon I'm going to be proud owner of this masterpiece...
The book is really easy to use and have exceptional drawings and scetches. Transforming the scale of the objects in the book to original size is really easy and there's a lot of information i general. At last a recommendation for all you SCA-fighters out there. Try out armour no.6 and no.9 because they give very good protection and are comfortable to wear.
A true masterpiece!.......2003-02-27
This book has a very special meaning to me since I'm from the town of Wisby(nowdays spelled Visby). Born and raised on the island Gotland and lived most of my life thete. I'v built several of these coats of armour and so far everyone I've tried on have been of satisfatcion. The book is so far the best resource book I've ever found. I have for a long time tried to find the first edition, but IF you can find it somewhere it's incredibly expensive. So jus imagine my joy when I saw there was a reissue! And very soon I'm going to be proud owner of this masterpiece...
The book is really easy to use and have exceptional drawings and scetches. Transforming the scale of the objects in the book to original size is really easy and there's a lot of information i general. At last a recommendation for all you SCA-fighters out there. Try out armour no.6 and no.9 because they give very good protection and are comfortable to wear.
It works!.......2001-10-30
I've made armor using the diagrams of existing armor types from this book. I didn't much care for some of the strapping arrangements described, so I designed my own. (Hey, this is the armor the regular fighters left behind - Wisby was defended by the teens and the oldsters to judge from the age of the bodies. This suggests the men of prime fighting-age were elsewhere, with their primary armor.) It worked, well, and protected me in combat. And the illustrations and text were clear, clear, clear.
Great book!.......2001-10-20
This is the complete version of the orginal book all in one book, not two sets like the first. There is just a little intro added by Price. BUY THIS BOOK! It has wonderful information on the skeletal finds, plus it shows the orginal armor that was found, sketches of it, and recreations done by Bengt and company. I am thrilled they republished this book! It is impossible to find the orginal two volume set.
Customer Reviews:
A fantastic overview of the topic.......2003-09-30
This is THE book that I wish every SCA armorer and fighter had on his/her shelf and more importantly in the shop. It is a solid reference for every period activly covered by the Society. This book, with its excellent images and information, is always a good source of inspiration and documentation for any armor project that I take on. This book has raised my level of expectation of my own work and any other armorers work I come across. Its a must have for anyone who puts hammer to steel and wants to call it armor.
Best single volume reference ever.......2000-06-14
I think most everyone will agree that if there is one book on Medieval arms and amour that you buy, this is the one to get. I covers the complete history of the knight with hundreds of beautiful pictures of armour. My #1 reference. It also includes rare inside shots of some armour, and construction section.
An excellent source book!.......1999-12-30
Lavishly illustrated guide takes you through the development of armor and knighthood from beginning to end. We use it daily as a source for inspiration at albionarmorers.com.
A fine book for those into Armour.......1999-12-29
This book is really great--full of pictures and medieval art concerning armour. The chapters each cover a century in the development of armour. It takes a very archeological, historica approach to arms and armour. That's good because it makes an informative text, but I think the language a bit confusing at times, and not enough detail at other times. But it is a great book, for its pictures if nothing else.
Wow!.......1999-12-12
Wow!
That is all I can say. This book is the one that proved that good visuals do matter in history books. Arms and Armor of the Medieval Knight has it all: types of armor, weapons, historic data of where and when the weapon was used... but most important of all , VISUALS! Hundreds upon hundreds of page-size, full color photos of actual suits of armor, not crude drawings and diagrams that other books on the subject offer.
Also, I have to say that the texts is incredibly well-written an precise, the data is vast and accurate, and all the sources are quoted perfectly. This is the definitive book on the subject.
Book Description
This definitive guide covers the entire history of weapons, from the earliest, most primitive instruments up to remarkable advances in modern defense and warfare, including:Riot-control devicesElectrified nightsticksInfantry weaponsMultiple-launch rocketsFiber-optic misslesWire-guided torpedoes"Stealth" technology
Customer Reviews:
Splendid!.......2007-05-28
Wow, I picked up this book from my local library a few years back and fell in love with it! I ended up keeping it for 9 months and read from it almost every night while in bed. It's a wonderful and interesting tome of knowledge that has a great deal of information on all types of weaponry (extremely) old and new. Large diagrams and well written articles show and describe basic concepts, and usually later go into greater detail. This is a wonderful starting point for anyone who is interested in weaponry of any sort, as you find your favorite sections and then run back to your library (pay the hefty late fee, completely worth it!) and pick up more books on that specific area.
I'd even say this is a wonderful coffee table book, it's just that interesting! If you are at all interested by weaponry this is THE book to purchase. You won't regret it!
If you are interested in Military History buy any version of this book available.......2007-02-15
If you are interested in Military History buy any version of this book you can find.
As a lifelong student of military history I highly recommend this book. For me it is the "how it works" of weaponry and warfare. This book offers excellent diagrams and explanations. I often refer to it when looking for references to arms. Buy it - you will not be disappointed.
Please stop buying this book.......2007-01-13
I have lost all patience. Please stop buying this excellent book now otherwise I am afraid we will never see an updated version of what is actually a 20 year old text. Time and weapons have moved on. Even older systems coverage can be improved--there is not a decent picture of the old mundane RPG still being used to good effect. Publisher--get busy!
Good overall..........2006-12-10
I first found this book in a library 3 years ago, but I will never forget this book. I'm getting this on December 14, 2006. I think that this book is a very interesting book. I read it 46 times already(all 300 pages, and I never got boring)! Although I read it 46 times already, I think that it talks too much about medieval and primitive weapons. But all together, I think that it is the best book. I got about 80 percent of my knowledge on weapons from this book! If you like weapons, or want to study then, I think that you should choose this book.
Weapons organized by function rather than era or region.......2005-10-15
"Weapons" is rare, possibly unique among reference works on arms; it is organized by function rather than era, region, or alphabetically. Accordingly, you'll see a current police baton on the same page as a several thousand year old club. The functions begin with arming the hand (a rock, for example) and proceeds (more or less) by complexity, ending with aircraft, missiles, nukes, etc.
Without a doubt, there are better works on weapons of an individual era, or specific classes of weapons, but there is no better survey or overview of weapons. The omissions that I noticed were extremely rare (and dead-end) technologies that even soi-disant experts might be ignorant of. True, not every rifle ever manufactured is mentioned, but every major operating principle is. On the other hand, it included some little-known and exotic arms that illustrated major principles, for example, the 13mm air rifle that was used by the Austrians during the Napoleonic wars. Exotic, but not included because it is exotic, included to illustrate the principles of projectile weapons that use compressed gas as propellant (rather than a chemical reaction).
For what it is, a survey of tools of violence, "Weapons" is without equal. The organization makes it very accessible and easy to use. Throughout, the authors write in such a was as to educate without a condesending or arrogant tone. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Product Description
Rome's rise to empire is often said to have owed much to the efficiency and military skill of her armies and their technological superiority over barbarian enemies. But just how 'advanced' was Roman military equipment? What were its origins and how did it evolve? The authors of this book have gathered a wealth of evidence from all over the Roman Empire - excavated examples as well as pictorial and documentary sources - to present a picture of what range of equipment would be available at any given time, what it would look like and how it would function. They examine how certain pieces were adopted from Rome's enemies and adapted to particular conditions of warfare prevailing in different parts of the Empire. They also investigate in detail the technology of military equipment and the means by which it was produced, and discuss wider questions such as the status of the soldier in Roman society. Both the specially prepared illustrations and the text have been completely revised for the second edition of this detailed and authoritative handbook, bringing it up to date with the very latest research. It illustrates each element in the equipment of the Roman soldier, from his helmet to his boots, his insignia, his tools and his weapons. This book will appeal to archaeologists, ancient and military historians as well as the generally informed and inquisitive reader.
Customer Reviews:
THE Book to have.......2007-04-04
I am a Roman era re-enactor and I absolutely loved this book! Not only did in inform me with details I didn't know, but also informed me with what was wrong with my impression.
This is a must have for any Roman era enthusiast!!
My Brother Liked It.......2007-01-10
My brother is a big history and punic wars buff, and he really enjoyed it. From what I looked at the illustrations were amazing and the book seemed well written.
THE definitive work on Roman military equipment.......2006-09-08
I have both the first and the current editions of this utterly invaluable book. It is undoubtedly the best and most detailed discussion of Roman military equipment available and it is a "must read" for anyone interested in the subject, be he or she an historian, re-enactor, artist or whatever. I would give this book six stars, but there are only five available.
Customer Reviews:
Beautifully illustrated, beautifully printed.......2006-08-08
This book is produced as a catalog to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Also shown are items on loan from the Smithsonian, Victoria and Albert, the British Museum and others. It is the first in-depth examination of the fascinating and virtually unknown subject of armor and weapons from Tibet.
An isolated land-locked country, Tibet has been a crossroads of Tibetan, Mongol, Chinese, Nepalese and other states. Each of these has left behind an input on the design of weaponry including armor, for men and horses, and weapons including swords, bow/arrow, and guns.
The traditional Tibetan gun was a matchlock, even down until the beginning of the twentieth century. And the traditional Tibetan gun had an interesting bi-pod attached that I've not seen on guns from anywhere else.
Donald LaRocca is Curator, Department of Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There are additional essays by John Clarke, Curator, Department of Asian Art, Victoria and Albert Museum; Amy Heller, a Tibetologist and art historian affiliated with the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (Paris); and Lozang Jamspal, Adjunct Professor, Department of Religion, Columbia University.
This book was produced in conjunction with a special exhibition presented at the museum from April 5 to July 2, 2006.
Customer Reviews:
SWORDS SWORDS SWORDS.......2007-01-10
THIS BOOK WAS BOUGHT FOR MY SON WHO IS VERY INTO SWORDS. HE LOVED THEM.
A Basic Overview.......2001-02-12
This book lays out the basics on knightly weaponry, accompanied by very good sketches showing the differences between the various weapons. While the text is simple and obviously written with a young audience in mind, it's actually a lot more detailed than it seems. The processes involved in making scabbards, hilts and inlays are all explained in the "Swords and Knives" section, which is about half of the book. The evolution of various weapons is also covered, although not quite in as much detail as I would have liked. Overall this is a good starting point for research on the subject. Note, however, that armour is not described at all, except to note how armour interacts with the various weapons. I know the writer has other books in this series, on the subject of armour, horses, and knightly battle. Those are probably worth checking out as well.
A Pretty Good Overview.......1999-10-12
This book defines its goals clearly and does a good job reaching them. Most of the nomenclature is defined in a glossary in the back which makes it a good book for beginners.
I would rate it as especially good for, say, a 10 to 14 year old, just starting the subject, as it is easy to read, brief and to-the-point.
An informative and compelling book.......1999-08-30
The Knight and His Weapons is a solid, if brief look at a knight's armaments in the twelve to fifteen hundred (though, earlier weapons are paid less mind). The introductory fiction was nicely done, and tied in well with the rest of the book, which is broken into several sections, each dealing with a particular type of weapon:
The sword and knife section was initially somewhat mundane, but Oakeshott spends a good deal of time on the construction of the sword, which isn't something I've seen elsewhere in as much detail.
The last section deals with early firearms, and while interesting, much less detail was spent there than on other topics (as is appropriate). I would have preferred the space used for something else.
For me, the best part of the book, by far, was the first to sections which deal with polearms, maces, etc. Few books cover these weapons at all, and Oakeshott does an excellent job, detailing each weapon's evolution and tactical use. Even if you know all there is know on swords (unlikely), these tow sections are worth the cost alone.
Overall, an excellant book. It is written in a casual but precise way, and the accompanying scetches are very nice. Definitely worth it.
Customer Reviews:
Tremendous Amount of Equipment Not Seen Elsewhere.......2007-03-22
Schiffer Publishing has been putting out a supurb series on German World War II armor. This one is on the non-production designs that were being worked on in Germany. It includes a large number of vehicles that have very rarely, if ever, been shown in the traditional books.
It is well known that the British (particularily) were highly effective at modifying the Sherman tank for special roles. Here instead are the German equivalents. Here are bridge layers and mine sweepers mounted on Panzer IV's. There are German attempts at armored ammunition vehicles and personnel carriers.
A specialty that I've not seen used by any other organization is the number of explosive charge carier vehicles. These vehiches have a large and powerful charge usually mounted outside the vehicle and the idea was to drive them up close to a fortification and either drop the charge for later detonation, or in the case of some small vehicles; just drive them up and set them off.
Finally there is a very good discussion on some of the really giant tanks that Hitler wanted built. This especially included the Porsche 'Maus' tank of which two were actually built. Only after the Eastern block broke up did the public learn that one example of the Maus is in the Russian Tank Museum in Kubinka.
This book has a wealth of pictures not seen anywhere else and with the other Schiffer books provides a complete description of German WW II Armor.
Book Description
Tremendously detailed and thorough account of premodern weapons of war — from the prehistoric Bronze and Iron Ages and the breakup of the Roman Empire, to the Viking era and the Age of Chivalry. Profusely illustrated with a host of armor and weapons: daggers, longbows, crossbows, helmets, swords, shields, spears and more.
Customer Reviews:
Should Be Called "The Archaeology of Swords" & not Weapons.......2007-06-19
I bought this mainly for what I could learn about fighting axes. What I got was a description of 3 vague axe types without any new (or much old)information about them. Thats not much in 330pp. I was disappointed from the second I opened it and leafed through it. Obviously there were a great many axes used in these times periods yet you wouldn't think so reading this book. The 95% of this is on swords. If you were interested in much of anything else from that time period, forget it. If swords are your thing this is for you.
The Archaeology of Weapons: Arms and Armour from Prehistory to the Age of Chivalry.......2007-01-07
This is a very informative book, written clearly and delightfully free of arcane references. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 is because most of the illustrations are drawings rather than photographs. The drawings are good though. This is a good reference book for dating the styles and innovations of edged weapons up through the end of the 15th century--Particularly for a collector.
A compelling read.......2006-11-08
This book goes beyond the history and developement of the sword and related weapons. It deals with early European history as it relates to weaponry and fighting techniques and back the claims with archeological findings. Oakeshott also discusses the old sagas and other historical lore, supported by archeology, to illustrate the culture of the sword and the peoples who used these weapons. I find it hard to just finish the chapter that I am on and get about with the day's work. A truely compelling read for those interested in anchient weaponry.
Highly readable and yet extremely informative.......2006-04-25
This fascinating book is the magnum opus of author and sword-expert Ewart Oakeshott (1916-2002). In it, the author traces the evolution of European (and only European) arms from prehistory to the fifteenth century. He shows how weapons changed in shape and composition, sometimes due to changes in technology (for example in the change from bronze to iron) and sometimes due to changes in society (for example in the development of chivalry).
Overall, I found this to be a highly readable, and yet extremely informative book. The author does a great job of explaining the evolution of weapons in a clear and easy-to-understand manner. I enjoyed the many picture and illustrations that are peppered throughout the book, finding them very useful for understanding the text.
Now, as you might expect with a book by a sword-expert, this book focuses primarily on the development of the sword, but as the sword has usually been considered the king of the pre-gunpowder battlefield, this is not a great surprise. So, let me just say that this is a great book for understanding European weapons of any era, and of the evolution of the weapons in general. I think that this is a great book on ancient and medieval weapons, one that I would not hesitate to recommend to all readers.
A must have.......2005-09-21
This is a simple walktrough the age of blade weapons. Easy understood, good illustrations and serious written. It's not a boring learning book, but it is helpfull. Either you are a reenacter or an archeology student. Buy it!
Books:
- Whiskey River (Take My Mind): The True Story of Texas Honky-Tonk
- Who Built America?: Volume Two: From 1877 to Present (Who Built America)
- You Want Me to do What? An Illustrated Book on the Joys of Fellatio: Explicit Techniques
- 100 magic miles of the Great Barrier Reef : the Whitsunday Islands
- 5 Essentials for a Winning Life: The Nutrition, Fitness, and Life Plan for Discovering the Champion Within
- A Short Course in Photography: An Introduction to Photographic Technique (6th Edition)
- A Survival Guide to Managing Employees from Hell: Handling Idiots, Whiners, Slackers, And Other Workplace Demons
- Adobe Photoshop CS2: The Art of Photographing Women
- Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0: A visual introduction to digital photography
- Adobe Photoshop Restoration & Retouching (3rd Edition) (Voices That Matter)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Soft Addiction Solution
- The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
- She's Out of Control
- Shadows in the Water: A Starbuck Family Adventure, Book Two
- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
- Principles of Polymerization
- Presenting Wales from A to Y. The People, the Places, the Traditions An Alphabetical Guide To A Nati
- Tina Modotti: Between Art and Revolution
- Island White Ghost
- A Lovely Letter from Cecie: The 1907-1915 Vancouver Diary and World War I Letters of Wallace Chamber
General
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Battle: A Visual Journey Through 5,000 Years of Combat
Ship (Smithsonian)
Weapons: An International Encyclopedia From 5000 B.C. to 2000 A.D., Updated Edition
Ocean
Warrior: A Visual History of the Fighting Man
