Instructions regarding the use of the Mills No. 36 grenade contained statements to the effect that it could be thrown 25-35 yds (23-32 m), but that the danger zone in all directions from a mid-air burst was 25-30 yds (23-27 m). Also, it was noted that a wound could be inflicted up to 300 yds (274 m) from the point of detonation. This paper describes a theoretical investigation into the feasibility of such long-distance wounding. A combination of the calculation of the initial velocity of fragments and the application of standard ballistics to the fragments has been used to estimate the maximum range of wounding as around 298 m (326 yds). The probability of wounding in the open air and in a closed room is also discussed.
This paper provides new information on the Master Workmen and staff of the Royal 'Almain' Armoury at Greenwich from the first decade of the seventeenth century to its decline and final closure. During the reigns of the Stuart kings, James I and Charles I, the Armoury was under the direction of Jacob Halder, William Pickering, Thomas Stephens and Nicholas Sherman; and the wage payments to the workshop's personnel are recorded in the rare Exchequer Pells Issue Lists surviving from 1597, now at the National Archives, Kew.1 In the 1620s, the Greenwich Armoury was strongly criticised about the workshop's purpose and function, usefulness and productivity; and it was also seen as a rival of the Office of the Ordnance and its Master General, both before and during the English Civil War. Following the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, the Ordnance Office emerged dominant and the 'Almain' Armoury, long out of service, was finally closed 'by royal decree' eight years after the King was restored to the throne.
This article concerns Swiss weapons procurement at the end of the nineteenth century and attempts to explain how and why a small number of officers and politicians made consequential decisions about the arms that would defend their nation. People and processes are described and selection criteria are illuminated by looking at some weapons proposals that were rejected. The article concludes by explaining why the rigorous and logical procedures previously described seemed to have failed when the troubled IG.89 'Schmidt-Rubin'1 rifle was adopted by locating it not solely in a technological or organisational context but in the wider realm of international politics.
Castilian noble armouries became fundamental elements from the second half of the sixteenth century in the symbolic manifestation of the status of different aristocratic houses and their social, historical and political standing. One of the most important houses, that of the Dukes of Medinaceli, amassed its own and installed it in one of their most important palaces at Cogolludo. This article aims to contribute to knowledge of this site and offer a first look at one of the most important Spanish armouries before its transfer to Madrid, dealing with its development, chronology, content, display and forms; its evolution and transfer where it came to comprise another armoury; and its remnants that were added to sets of weapons that originated elsewhere.
The shooting of President William McKinley in 1901 by Leon Czolgosz was not an isolated incident but rather a prime example of the changing nature of political violence throughout The Long Nineteenth Century. Once primarily the domain of nobles or political elites seeking power, assassination had shifted to become a tool for ordinary individuals motivated by political ideology and social unrest. Figures like Czolgosz, who emerged from the working class, were driven by these new forces. This article explores the factors shaping Czolgosz's motives, particularly his exposure to anarchist thought and his belief that McKinley's policies harmed the working class. It also examines how the means of assassination, particularly pistols like Iver Johnson revolvers, were widely advertised and easily accessible for purchase. The impact of these events spurred contemporary debates on the personal protection of political leaders and the limitations of medical treatment, which, in some cases, proved as fatal as the attack itself. By situating the shooting of McKinley within broader historical trends, this article highlights how assassination evolved in both its motives and means, reflecting the era's shifting social and political landscape.
This research project, reported in three parts, focuses on Henry Nock's 'screwless lock', or, as it is called in documents at the time of its manufacture, the 'Duke's Lock', in the most important production variant of this novel and sophisticated design. This is the 5.5in long 'Type 2' Duke's Lock, as fitted to the final design iteration of the Board of Ordnance's Duke of Richmond's Musket (DoRM), namely its rammer-to-the-muzzle (RTM) version. The three papers report the results of the first published systematic assessment of the Duke's Lock's interchangeability. No statement has yet been found in archival material to suggest that the lock is, or was considered to be, interchangeable, or that it has interchangeable components, but the authors of many secondary works think that it was, and therefore we set out to investigate this important matter systematically. The first paper presented the findings of a five-lock component exchange experiment, which permits 20 component interchange tests. Measurements of key dimensions have also been made to assist in understanding the fits at which interchangeability was achieved. The exchange experiments established that from 50% to 100% of the lock's small components are interchangeable, with two especially surprising results: all cocks exchange on the large centres of the locks (20/20 or 100%), and all sears which can be tested were found to exchange between bents (17/17 or 100%). Tests assessing the complete assembly of all components in the lock thickness direction, omitting problematic individual components, showed success rates of 16/20 (80%) and 14/20 (70%). The results of this process were placed in a material context through metallographic analysis of components of a less well-preserved Board of Ordnance 5.5in Duke's Lock by Nock, and, for comparison, on an almost contemporary Board of Ordnance India Pattern Musket lock. The analysis revealed that many components of the Duke's Lock are made of steel rather than wrought iron, and that, for the centres and some other key components, these steels were selected because their properties suited machine turning, and this reflects Nock's expert use of lathes within a factory that was using steam power by 1795. The analysis was supported by the disassembly and technical examination of some locks, including one that was partially completed, to analyse methods of construction. As regards archival sources, we built upon Howard Blackmore's seminal paper of 1956 by discovering additional archival data in the Ordnance Bill books, specifically the records of transactions with Nock's executors after his death in 1804, to as late as 1808. This allowed an improved understanding of the number of locks supplied and the uses to which they were put. The Ordnance Bill Books show that Nock delivered 12,010 Duke's Locks in only 29 months, between 4 July 1793 and 25 November 1795. Together the papers explore how Henry Nock was able to produce the remarkable figure of 12,010 interchangeable locks in 1793-95, five years before the production of 10,000 interchangeable locks was achieved in France by Honor & eacute; Blanc, who is widely regarded as the first in this field. Significantly, Nock's work also preceded that of Samuel Bentham, Mark Brunel and Henry Maudslay on the famous machines for making interchangeable components - in wood - for the blocks required for ships' rigging; the three principals began their work on this in 1799. The present three-part study not only firmly establishes Henry Nock's leading position in the field of firearm development but also as one of the pioneers of interchangeable manufacture at scale in engineering more widely, both nationally and internationally. Part 2 used studies of the marks on a sample of 25 locks to reveal more about the manufacturing system for Duke's Lock and how the people within the system were organised. The final paper, Part 3, discusses the small changes in design and inspection made during and after production that are revealed in the earlier Parts, and also how the design of George Bolton's later patent lock was influenced by Nock's work and the experience of his workmen.
The 'Foot Guard' Winchester rifle is the finest Model 1873 rifle to survive from the late nineteenth century. Held in private collections, out of public view, since its production in 1882, this important and beautifully decorated American firearm has never previously been discussed in a scholarly context. Research conducted in 2024 at the Connecticut State Archives, combined with examinations of contemporary newspaper articles and records preserved in Winchester Repeating Arms Company Archives Collection, revealed a trove of new information about the rifle, its manufacture and decorative significance, the story of its presentation, display and ownership, the relationship between its presenter and recipient, and the significance of opulent gifts between military groups in post- Civil War America. This contextual information clarifies the rifle's purpose and relevance, and reinforces its place in the pantheon of antique American arms.
Spanish colonial firearms which date from as early as the latter part of the seventeenth century are extremely rare, and no other surviving pieces can match the exceptional quality of this pair of pistols. They are the earliest dated decorated pistols produced in the Americas, and the finest among the small number of pistols known today which have stocks veneered with tortoiseshell. This article examines the form and decoration of the pistols, drawing comparisons with fashions in late 17th and early eighteenth century Viceregal Latin American art, design and materials. It also discusses their maker and offers a hypothesis regarding the identity of their original owner.
Historically, weapons have been both tools of warfare and symbols of power and status, as evidenced by references in ancient texts like the Vedas and epics such as the Mah & amacr;bh & amacr;rata and Ramayana. Artistic representations in sculptures, murals, and seals further highlight their importance in daily life and religious practices. Archaeological discoveries, particularly from the Indus Valley Civilisation, reveal advanced metallurgical techniques. Through detailed examination of these artefacts and iconography, the research provides insights into the martial practices and technological advancements of early Indian civilisations, contributing to a deeper understanding of the cultural and historical contexts of ancient Indian weaponry. This paper explores the development and use of ancient Indian weapons through a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating literary sources, artistic depictions, and archaeological findings. The study examines a variety of weapons, including copper-alloy knives, spears, and arrowheads, and analyzes their role and significance in ancient Indian society.
An examination of the crown + HO, G and G + G inspection stamps found on the blades of Birmingham sword cutler Henry Osborn and on those from the later partnership of Osborn & Gunby.
A full-size springald was built, tested, modified and re-tested by Mike Dudley, Nicholas Hall, and his fellow enthusiasts. Measurements were taken of performance and range was calculated. The value of experimental archaeology with full-scale replicas was demonstrated.
A remarkable network of connoisseurs and antiquaries has been revealed in the process of searching out the antiquities collected by Abraham Charles Kirkmann and those conveyed by his will (1866) to Thomas Goulbourne Parker of Browsholme Hall. He also bequeathed a large collection of pictures, mainly historical prints, including a portrait of S.R. Meyrick, to the Honourable Society of Greys Inn Court. J. M.W. Turner had painted the exterior of Browsholme, c.1800, and it was probably through Thomas Lister Parker, a previous owner, that Sir John Leicester, of Tabley, Parker's cousin, and his friend Walter Fawkes of Farnley, became the painter's principal patrons in the north of England. Turner took a great interest in the weapons and armour of the Civil War at Farnley and made an album of watercolours entitled 'Fairfaxiana'. Kirkmann was a friend of Thomas Goulborne Parker and an intimate of Samuel Rush Meyrick for whom he searched out books and artefacts to add to the collections at Goodrich Court. In 1857, the year before his death, T.L. Parker, visited the Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition, a vast display which attracted over one million visitors and included a large selection of Meyrick's weapons and armour arranged by J.R. Planche.
This research project, reported in three parts, focuses on Henry Nock's 'screwless lock', or, as it is called in documents at the time of its manufacture, the 'Duke's Lock', in the most important production variant of this novel and sophisticated design. This is the 5.5in long 'Type 2' Duke's Lock, as fitted to the final design iteration of the Board of Ordnance's Duke of Richmond's Musket (DoRM), namely its rammer-to-the-muzzle (RTM) version. The three papers report the results of the first published systematic assessment of the Duke's Lock's interchangeability. No statement has yet been found in archival material to suggest that the lock is, or was considered to be, interchangeable, or that it has interchangeable components, but the authors of many secondary works think that it was, and therefore we set out to investigate this important matter systematically. The first paper, presented the findings of a five-lock component exchange experiment, which permits 20 component interchange tests. Measurements of key dimensions have also been made to assist in understanding the fits at which interchangeability was achieved. The exchange experiments established that from 50% to 100% of the lock's small components are interchangeable, with two especially surprising results: all cocks exchange on the large centres of the locks (20/20 or 100%), and all sears which can be tested were found to exchange between bents (17/17 or 100%). Tests assessing the complete assembly of all components in the lock thickness direction, omitting problematic individual components, showed success rates of 16/20 (80%) and 14/20 (70%). The results of this process were placed in a material context through metallographic analysis of components of a less well-preserved Board of Ordnance 5.5in Duke's Lock by Nock, and, for comparison, on an almost contemporary Board of Ordnance India Pattern Musket lock. The analysis revealed that many components of the Duke's Lock are made of steel rather than wrought iron, and that, for the centres and some other key components, these steels were selected because their properties suited machine turning, and this reflects Nock's expert use of lathes within a factory that was using steam power by 1795. The analysis was supported by the disassembly and technical examination of some locks, including one that was partially completed, to analyse methods of construction. Regarding archival sources, we built upon Howard Blackmore's seminal paper of 1956 by discovering additional archival data in the Ordnance Bill books, specifically the records of transactions with Nock's executors after his death in 1804, to as late as 1808. This allowed an improved understanding of the number of locks supplied and the uses to which they were put. The Ordnance Bill Books show that Nock delivered 12,010 Duke's Locks in only 29 months, between 4 July 1793 and 25 November 1795. Together the papers explore how Henry Nock was able to produce the remarkable figure of 12,010 interchangeable locks in 1793-1795, five years before the production of 10,000 interchangeable locks was achieved in France by Honore Blanc, who is widely regarded as the first in this field. Significantly, Nock's work also preceded that of Samuel Bentham, Mark Brunel and Henry Maudslay on the famous machines for making interchangeable components - in wood - for the blocks required for ships' rigging; the three principals began their work on this in 1799. The present three-part study not only firmly establishes Henry Nock's leading position in the field of firearm development but also as one of the pioneers of interchangeable manufacture at scale in engineering more widely, both nationally and internationally. Part 2 uses studies of the marks on a sample of 25 locks to reveal more about the manufacturing system for Duke's Lock and how the people within the system were organised. The final paper, Part 3, discusses the small changes in design and inspection made during and after production that are revealed in the earlier Parts, and also how the design of George Bolton's later patent lock was influenced by Nock's work and the experience of his workmen.
Henry VIII founded the Royal 'Almain' Armoury at Greenwich in 1515 in order to build quality armour primarily for himself and occasionally for his allies, armour to match notable harnesses made for his princely contemporaries and rivals in famous workshops on the Continent. But in order to do this, he was forced to recruit skilled craftsmen from abroad, where there was a strong tradition of armour manufacture going back centuries, particularly in Italy, the German lands and the Low Countries. Following the King's commands, his envoys and agents searched various workshops in Europe in order to recruit gifted men for the job, men willing to come and work in England. This venture finally resulted in the foundation of a distinctive workshop of armourers at the Royal Palace of Placentia in Greenwich, known as the 'Almain' Armoury, a name given because of the north European languages and dialects the men spoke. And this Greenwich 'Almain' Armoury, with its 'Master Workmen', became one of the best in its field for one hundred years.
On 19th February 2024, on the occasion of the 350(th) anniversary of the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the government of the modern state of Maharashtra in India announced that the patt & amacr; would be declared as the state weapon. The relationship between this regional ruler, the gauntlet sword, and the modern state are explored in this essay. The history of this weapon, and why it is so integral to the ethnic identity of the Marathas are examined.
