POLLARD'S HISTORY OF FIREARMS. By Hugh B.C. Pollard, edited by Claude Blair.

1983 1st edition. 4to (190 x 255mm). Pp559. Colour and b/w photographs, b/w line illustrations, bibliography. Brown cloth, spine titled in gilt. Cased in dark turquoise boards.

Based on Major Pollard's History of Firearms, this is essentially a new and far larger book, containing much material unavailable to Major Pollard". This definitive work covers the history of the gun work covers the history of the gun from its origins to the present day. Claude Blair, Keeper at theVictoria and Albert Museum, leads a distinguished international team of authors who have brought together the most recent scholarship on the subject". Chapters include; a memoir of Hugh Pollard; early firearms; the sixteenth century; the seventeenth century; the eighteenth century and the end of the flintlock; the percussion system; early breech-loading firearms; early repeating firearms; muzzle-loading revolvers; breech-loading and repeating firearms other than revolvers 1810-70; firearms other than revolvers and automatic pistols 1870-1918; cartridge revolvers down to 1918; automatic pistols down to 1918; general survey of firearms: 1918 to the present day; Scottish firearms; Oriental and Levantine firearms; the manufacture and proof of firearms; firearms accessories; air, spiring-air and gas guns; miniature firearms; bibliography. Contributors include; Claude Blair, Howard L. Blackmore; Fr. Irena Grabowska; Ian V. Hogg; Harold L. Peterson, William Reid, Dr. C.H. Roads, A.W.F. Taylerson, Professor Zdislaw Zygulski, Jr., A.R.E. North.