The Gun And Its Development

The Gun and its Development, 1881. 'Semi-portable cannon, on forked rest (14th century); Early matchlock-gun; The "Holy-Water Sprinkler" (mace, combined with four pistol-barrels), 15th century; Spanish arquebusier, 16th century; Ornamented wheel-lock musket (Munich, 17th century); Nock's seven-barrelled carbine, 1807...A handsome volume bearing this title, with the addition of "Notes on Shooting," by Mr. W. W. Greener, of Birmingham, gun manufacturer, has been published by Messrs. Cassell, Petter, and Galpin...As an exercise and mere amusement, apart from the killing of game or soldierly training for warlike service, the use of fire-arms has greater fascination, after all, than the practice of archery; the more so from the marvellous scientific improvements and beautiful mechanism introduced within the past thirty years. Even to persons who do not shoot, the explanation of these matters is an agreeable study, and it is an important portion of the industrial history of our age'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881. Creator: Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)