Synopses & Reviews
Following on from the success of
Out of Nowhere - A History of the Military Sniper, Martin Pegler has given us an in-depth study of not only the development of the rifle, but also the parallel emergence of the American rifleman, sharpshooter and sniper. His book examines the gradual evolution of the rifle in America from the earliest firearms introduced in the 15th century, to the most recent and highly accurate sniping rifles of the 21st century.
He takes and in-depth look at the technological development of the weapons, sighting systems and ammunition as well as the unique part played by the U.S. firearms industry in pioneering mass-production. Considerable use has been made of contemporary accounts in describing how the use of the rifle during the Revolutionary War, Civil War and the more recent conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries have impacted on American military history.
This detailed account concludes with a study of the American sniper in modern warfare, including Afghanistan and the ongoing Operation Iraqi Freedom and it ultimately gives a fascinating overview of the relentless march of weapons technology, as well as an unusual insight into the lives and the motives of the men who used them.
About the Author
Martin Pegler was born in 1954 and has a BA Hons in Medieval and Modern History and an MA in Museum Studies, both from University College, London. He is the author of a number of books including 'The Military Sniper since 1914' (Osprey, 2001); and 'Firearms in the American West 1700-1900' (The Crowood Press, 2002), and he has also contributed to a number of magazines. In the 1980s he had the privilege of interviewing many World War I veterans about their wartime experiences, and the recordings are now part of the sound archives of the Imperial War Museum, London. Martin was the Senior Curator of Firearms at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds for many years. He now lives in the Somme, France, where he and his wife run a small bed and breakfast, which is situated on top of the old German front line! Martin has established The Somme Historical Centre (www.martinpegler.com), where visitors can see the technology used in the 1914-18 trench warfare. He is currently an author and firearms consultant and he also lectures at local Great War museums. In his spare time Martin runs motorcycle tours of the Somme battlefield. The author lives in Somme, France.