Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor

Discover the origin, design, range, and function of arms including stone axes, swords, machine-guns, and sniper rifles, and meet the warriors who wielded them.

An epic, 4,000-year illustrated volume, Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor traces the evolution of the entire spectrum of weaponry through stunning photography and authoritative coverage. All the major arms through the ages including edged weapons, clubs, projectiles, and firearms can be found in the guide. 

This comprehensive book covers ancient Egyptian axes, bows, and spears of early societies in Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, and guns and missiles of modern infantry forces. Richly detailed catalogs showcase many weapons at their actual size, outlining the timeframe, weight, size, and country of origin to create comprehensive fact files.

Also profiled are the world’s top fighting forces, from the ancient Greek hoplites to today's US Navy Seals. 

Created in association with the Smithsonian Institution, this weapon encyclopedia presents in vivid detail the tools that have been at the cutting edge of history, helping determine the rise of kingdoms and the fall of empires.

Roger Ford is the author of dozens of books in the field of military history and weapons technology and systems, including the bestselling The World's Great Machine Guns: From 1860 to the Present Day. R.G. Grant is a history writer who has published more than 20 books, many of them dealing with aspects of military conflict. He has written on the American Revolution, World War I, and World War II, and is the author of DK’s Battle, Warrior, and Flight: 100 Years of Aviation.