The Complete Encyclopedia of Arms & Weapons

by Leonid Tarassuk, Claude Blair

The first significant encyclopedia on the subject to be published in fifty years, this is an indispensable reference source for anyone interested in arms and armor of all types, including Oriental, from prehistoric times to the present. The book contains over 1,250 illustrations (250 in full color) and 275,000 words of text describing armor, crossbows, swords, daggers, axes, cannon, pistols, bayonets, rifles, lances, machine guns, mortars, shotguns, howitzers, saddles, spurs, and much more. Arranged alphabetically by subject, this book offers the most comprehensive up-to-date knowledge available for everyone interested in the subject, including dealers and collectors of antiques.

Genres: History, Military History, Nonfiction

544 pages, Hardcover

First published November 30, 1979

About the author

Has held posts as research associate of the Department of Arms and Armour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Keeper of European and American Arms and Armour, The Hermitage, Leningrad (St. Petersburg)

Reviews

[Sean McLachlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful resource that corrects many of the mistakes in George Stone's 1961 Glossary of the Construction, Decoration, and Use of Arms and Armour. Despite the title it's not actually complete (an impossible task!) but it does make a brave attempt.
My only complaints are the reliance on drawings rather than photos, and some overly short entries for items that have a fair amount of information available. I can understand the first editorial choice as one simply to save money. Hiring an illustrator to copy photos is much cheaper than paying for permissions to reproduce so many photos. My second criticism is a bit more serious. For example, the entry for the ahlspiess is only about 70 words long, while much more is known about this weapon. Given the vast scope of this book, I guess they had to put a limit on length somewhere!
These are minor criticisms. This is an excellent work that must have taken a vast amount of research. Well done.
If you have deep pockets, I'd suggest also buying Stone's book too, for the hundreds of photos and his deep knowledge of Asian weapons. If you can only buy one, buy The Complete Encyclopaedia of Arms and Weapons.

[Andre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a reference book that details every arm and weapon imaginable. It also does a good job of detailing weapon development.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great encyclopedia of arms and weapons. The pictorials really help bring out the feeling of the domineering effect that each weapon had on its foe.