Last August, Peter Smithurst’s ‘The Evolution of Gun Making: Machine made weapons, 1700–1820‘ was published. A follow-up volume was has been published this month; ‘Making the Enfield Pattern 1853 Rifle-Musket: The Evolution of Gun Making, 1820–1860.’ The two volumes provide a comprehensive and well illustrated study on the subject, giving a unique insight into military gunmaking of the 18th and 19th century. Much has been written on the history of firearms of this period, but details of the actual production of arms has not received this depth of study. These remarkable works don’t make ‘light reading’ but will become the definitive studies of the techniques involved and a key resource for anyone interested in the evolution of gun making.
| The Evolution of Gun Making: Machine made weapons, 1700–1820 by Peter Smithurst Pen & Sword Books Ltd ISBN 978-1036107789 233 pages view on Amazon | Making the Enfield Pattern 1853 Rifle-Musket: The Evolution of Gun Making, 1820–1860 by Peter Smithurst Pen & Sword Books Ltd ISBN 978-1036106850 286 pages view on Amazon |
