Synopses & Reviews
PistolS≪/I> follows the evolution of personal sidearms in Europe, the United States, and Asia from medieval-era "hand cannons" with their clunky ignition systems, to the revolutionary Colt revolvers of the 19th century, to the modern semiautomatic weapons of today.
Full of fascinating insights and details, this work shows how pistols brought about the decline of knights in armor, and ultimately replaced the sword on the battlefield. The book also explores the pistol's astonishing "democratization" as it moved from being a luxury item of the nobility, to standard issue for soldiers, to a mass-produced commodity and source of intensive corporate competition. Along the way, readers meet the many colorful characters (often eccentric geniuses) who devoted themselves to pistol development.
Review
"This is a useful book, especially for students of firearms technology and collectors looking for information rather than prices. … Recommended. General readers; faculty and researchers; professionals." - Choice
Synopsis
The development of the pistol helped bring the age of the armored knight to an end, provided the elite with a status symbol of dangerous glamour, and inspired both artisans and industrialists to reach new heights of invention.
Synopsis
• Brings together a fascinating narrative history of pistols with specific functional details of famous models
• Offers a global perspective on the evolution of pistols
• Is equally accessible to gun enthusiasts and students
Synopsis
• Provides complete technical details of exemplary pistols from the first working models to the present
• In-depth coverage of the three major pistol designs—single-shot, revolver, and automatic—and their production and issuance in the United States, Europe, and Asia