Customer Reviews

Historical Guide to Arms & Armor

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At the onset let's establish the dual aspect of arms and armor. Obviously the first is protection, a means of attack, battle products. The second is probably as important: weapons reflected wealth, prestige, and power of the bearer. Practicality and artistry were wrapped into each weapon. "An Historical Guide to Arms and Armor" shows this development from earliest times, even including weapons as trading goods because of their value.

Writer Stephen Bull and Editor Tony North explain that the study of arms and armor did not really begin until late eighteenth century. Popular collecting began seriously after World War II when disposable income became available. The best historical pieces, of course, belong to private collections like Sir Walter Scott or to museums like the Tower of London.

Items for collections came from excavations, historical architecture like friezes and sculptures in cathedrals, and family heirlooms. In addition, information for books like this came from contemporary documents, histories, sketches, paintings, tombs, and collections.

The book presents the information about weapons in the classical period of the Greeks and Romans, the Dark Ages to the Crusades, the High Middle Ages, the Renaissance to the Sun King, from Brown Bess to Maxim, Oriental and Tribal Arms, and Sporting Arms and Armor.

The book is filled with photographs on every page, some full pages, both black and white and color. At random here are some examples. On page 83 is a war hammer from Italy c1490, one of the few capable of tearing open or denting armor. Displayed across pages 82-83 are eight hafted weapons: Swiss halberd, boar-spear, pole-axe, war axe, each with ugly, fierce blades and spikes.

On page 132 is a unidentified painting from the Musee de L'Armee in Paris of Napoleon's army in retreat from Moscow, 1812. The caption points out several weapons used in this war. On pages 146-147 are six types of revolvers: flintlock, Colt pistol, British revolver, and three from a catalog of the day, 1864, a source of information.

This 217 page book is a respected source from Facts on File. No one volume on a topic of this magnitude can be exhaustive, but this one is certainly a great beginning to the study of arms and armor.

As a note of interest, I even have my own little collection of weapons obtained from an armory in Carcassonne, France. My replicas include a Spanish sword, a battle axe with three types of blades, and a morning star. Getting these through customs thirty years ago just raised eyebrows.

The first book about weapons and armor i bought, and well worth the money too. Just one bad thing about it - for me anyway - It goes on for too long, including the american civil war and WW1. Even though this is well done, i find that it doesn't really fit in with the rest of the book, especially if you see that no armor exists then...

It also has a short chapter about "foreign" weapons: Japan, India, Afrika, etc. Again, if you're looking for medieval knights, not too interesting.

From the ancient Greeks to the advent of the machine gun, all significant developments in the soldiers' combat equipage are comprehensively treated, with clear, concise narrative and many beautifully rendered full-color pictures.
The text is divided into broad historical areas for convenience, and the concomitant evolution of weapons and tactics are clearly explained. As a bonus, there are chapters on Oriental and Tribal Arms and Armor, and Sporting Arms and Armor.
This work is a companion to Bull's "20th-Century Arms and Armor", which is similar in format and also highly recommended.
A high-quality production, in large format, generously illustrated, with bibliography and index.
(The numerical rating above is a default setting within Amazon's format. This reviewer does not employ numerical ratings.)

IN A NUTSHELL: EXCELLENT PRIMER FOR INTENSE STUDY INCLUDES USEFUL BIBLIOGRAPHY

This extensively illustrated 'historical guide to arms and armor', by Stephen Bull is detailed enough for the adult enthusiast while at the same time organized, written and illustrated in a way to interest, and be understood by almost anyone.

THE BOOK IS ORGANIZED BY ERA:

There are 7 chapters which are as follows; [plus a foreword, introduction and bibliography]

CHAPTER 1, 'THE GREEKS AND ROMANS' - Pg. 19
CHAPTER 2, 'FROM THE DARK AGES TO THE CRUSADES' - Pg. 39
CHAPTER 3, 'THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES' - Pg. 57
CHAPTER 4, 'FROM THE RENAISSANCE TO THE SUN KING' - Pg. 87
CHAPTER 5, 'FROM BROWN BESS TO MAXIM' - Pg. 127
CHAPTER 6, 'ORIENTAL AND TRIBAL ARMS AND ARMOR' - Pg. 165
CHAPTER 7, 'SPORTING ARMS AND ARMOR' - Pg. 197


BOTTOM LINE: WANT TO SEE AN ELEPHANT IN ARMOR? SEE PAGE 175

This engrossing oversized volume provides a survey which begins around 2000 BC and takes us right up to the era that immediately preceeds WW1. That does not fully tell the story of this book, which is actually a kind of history of civilization from the perspective of arms and armor.


ALSO RECOMMENDED: 20th-Century Arms and Armor, by Stephen Bull,1996

Regardless of what my predeccessors might say, this book is really a unique pleasure to have. It's illustrations are excellent, as is the historical information about almost every era. This is truly a book worth having, even if you are not interested in the research of arms and armour as myself. I would also recommend it as a book for children to have, because its colourfullness and relative simplicity makes it excellent for children to find out about arms and armour. Don't miss it!