Customer Reviews

Warman's Civil War Weapons

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Warman's Civil War Weapons is full of the kind of mistakes that make you wince when you read it, for example: The book locates the Springfield Armory in Illinois instead of Massachusetts. It identifies the .58 caliber US Model 1861 as a .64 caliber, and so on. These, and numerous other mistakes in identifying the arms pictured betray the lack of knowledge of the author. In addition he includes a few tacky, limited edition historical art prints which cheapen the authenticity of the work, or in this case earmark it.

However, the photographs of the misidentified historical weapons are very good themselves.

Civil War weapons, as a historical subject, is not unimportant. To what extent did the rival armies use weapons which reflected the indsutrial and technological breakthroughs of the 19th C? To what extent did they explain the long resistance of the CS Army and the eventual victory of the Union? In practice were these weapons battle-winners, and how?
The author has alluded to these issues, but not, I think, with sufficient insight. As another reviewer has said, there are also a number of crass errors, as to places, dates, and even the technology.
Still, one cannot be as mean as 1 star, or even 2. At least he seems to be a genuine enthusiast. I'd want to give 2.5, but have to settle for an optimistic 3!

Good fast service, well packed, very good general reference book on the US Civil War.