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.
Book Description
The samurai sword: symbol of the spirit of old Japan it embodies the samurai's steely discipline, unswerving devotion, and peerless skill. A feat of craftsmanship by hereditary artisans, the samurai sword is often judged superior to the famed blades of Western Damascus and Toledo. This complete handbook reveals the lore of the samurai sword, fascinating both for owners and for the intrigued. Detailing the origins and development of the samurai sword, its historical background, styles, famous schools, and differences in construction, outlining methods of identifying and researching the sword, as well as caring for it properly.
Customer Reviews:
not a comprehensive handbook.......2006-06-28
mr. yumoto's work is very descriptive and pictures fill the pages more than text does.
"Samurai Sword a Handbook" lacks an analytic quality that would bring togheter the social, historical, technical and martial dimensions of the nihonto.
last but not least, such an important - and relatively undocumented - subject as care and maintenance of japanese blades is simply and vaguely evoked in two pages that make up a ridiculous chapter.
all in all, yumoto's work is too old to be satisfying to comtemporary readers in search of a meaningful, concise handbook which would explain rather than describe.
GOOD SOURCE.......2006-03-17
A PERFECT SOURCE WHO WANTS TO LEARN ABAUT JAPANESE SWORDS AND THEIR HISTORY
confused..........2006-03-03
I finished reading it yesterday. It is too much for beginner and not enough for intermediate or even expert...
It is definitely usefull for future reference in terms of finding more about your sword or swords you want to buy and using some of the criterias. Photos are B&W and crappy and references text-to-drawings are badly organized.
What is strongly missing is types of sword damage, how to eveluate type of damage and find it on blades etc...
I dont know when book was written but some information also seems bit obsolete...
If the book was hardcover, had two times more pages, colored photos to go with drawings, better organized and have more information, I would give 5. Now I give 3 of 5.
Great first sword book.......2005-10-27
This is a good, short overview of the basics of Japanese Swords. Recommended.
Great book.......2005-05-05
This is an awesome book for anyone wnating to know more about samurai swords and speaking as a beginner myself, I found that this book explained everything clearly and concisely - I now know a lot more about swords than i did before :)
Average customer rating:
- One of the best armour books ever written!
|
The Knight and the Blast Furnace: A History of the Metallurgy of Armour in the Middle Ages & the Early Modern Period (History of Warfare, 12)
Alan Williams
Manufacturer: Brill Academic Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Customer Reviews:
One of the best armour books ever written!.......2006-05-18
This is a highly detailed study of the metallurgy of medieval and Renaissance armour. It reveals some surprising facts and challenges some commonly held beliefs. The level of accuracy and detail are unmatched in this book. It features hundreds of pieces of armour from collections all over the world.
I highly recommend this book!
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:
Awesome.......2007-10-09
Its very interesting and detailed in all its descriptions. It could keep me entertained for months, learned a great deal about all kinds of weapons, great buy if interested in weapons
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.
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.
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!
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