- Matchlock
Like Miles Standish, some of the soldiers had swords at their sides, and all carried either flintlock or matchlock muskets so big and heavy that, before they could fire them off, they had to rest them upon supports stuck into the ground for the purpose. - Manner of holding the Sling
In other instances we see it depicted with both the ends held in the hand, the figure being placed in the action of taking his aim, and a bird is generally the object of his exertion, as in the following engraving from a parchment roll in the Royal Library, containing a genealogical account of the kings of England, to the time of Henry III. - M102 Top view
Top view of M102 105 mm Howitzer attached to truck - M102 Howitzer
- M102 Howitzer
- Lunge
Executed in the same manner as the thrust, except that the left foot is carried forward about twice its length. The left heel must always be in rear of the left knee. Guard is resumed immediately without command. Guard may also be resumed by advancing the right foot if for any reason it is desired to hold the ground gained in lunging - Low Parry
Carry the point of the bayonet down until it is at the height of the knee, moving the point of the bayonet sufficiently to the right (left) to keep the opponent's attacks clear of the point threatened. - Long-bow, Arquebus, Cannon, and Greek Fire
We have specially to call attention to the two men who are throwing shells, which are probably charged with Greek fire. This invention, which inspired such terror in the Middle Ages, seems to have been discovered in the east of Europe, and to have been employed as early as the seventh century. We hear much of its use in the Crusades, by the Greeks, who early possessed the secret of its fabrication. They used it either by ejecting it through pipes to set fire to the shipping or military engines, or to annoy and kill the soldiers of the enemy; or they cast it to a distance by means of vessels charged with it affixed to javelins; or they hurled larger vessels by means of the great engines for casting stones; or they threw the fire by hand in a hand-to-hand conflict; or used hollow maces charged with it, which were broken over the person of the enemy, and the liquid fire poured down, finding its way through the crevices of his armour. - Light Artillery of Gustavus Adolphus
Gustavus abandoned the leather gun, however, in favor of a cast-iron 4-pounder and a 9-pounder demiculverin produced by his bright young artillery chief, Lennart Torstensson. The demiculverin was classed as the "feildpeece" par excellence, while the 4-pounder was so light (about 500 pounds) that two horses could pull it in the field. - Left Handed use
The men may be permitted to wield the rifle left handed, that is on the left side of the body, left hand at the small of the stock. Many men will be able to use this method to advantage. It is also of value in case the left band is wounded. - Knight of the latter part of the Thirteenth Century
The other great invention of this period was that of armorial bearings, properly so called. Devices painted upon the shield were common in classical times. They are found ordinarily on the shields in the Bayeux tapestry, and were habitually used by the Norman knights. In the Bayeux tapestry they seem to be fanciful or merely decorative; later they were symbolical or significant. But it was only towards the close of the twelfth century that each knight assumed a fixed device, which was exclusively appropriated to him, by which he was known, and which became hereditary in his family. - Japanese 75-mm Anti-Aitcraft gun
- Japanese 25-mm pom-pom gun
- Jamestown Soldiers
Jamestown soldiers carrying polearms (a halberd and a bill). (conjectural sketch by Sidney E. King.) - Jamestown sentry on duty
A Jamestown sentry on duty shouldering his heavy matchlock musket. (Conjectural sketch by Sidney E. King.) - Indian and Mound-builder Spear-heads
- Hunters with crossbows
- Hunters with crossbows
- How a crossbowman should approach animals
How a crossbowman should approach animals by means of a cart concealed with foliage. - Hooped Cannon in wooden bed
- Hand Grenade No. 7. and Ball Hand Grenade
Ignition Bombs. Hand Grenade No. 7—Grenade heavy friction pattern. Hand Grenades Nos. 6 and 7 consist of metal cases filled with T.N.T and a composite explosive and are exactly alike, except that No. 7 contains shrapnel bullets or scrap iron, while No. 6 contains only explosive. At the top of each case is a place to fix the friction igniter, which is supplied separately. When these bombs are to be used, detonator fuse and igniter are put in and firmly fixed. Before throwing the becket on, head of igniter should be pulled smartly off. Ball Hand Grenade. The Ball Hand Grenade consists of a cast iron sphere, 3 inches in diameter, filled with ammonal and closed by a screwed steel plug which has attached to it a covered tube to take detonator in the center of grenade. It is also lighted by a Brock lighter. - Hand Grenade No. 5
Mechanical Bombs. Hand Grenade No. 5, known as Mills’ Hand Grenade. Mills’ Hand Grenade No. 5 weighs about one and one-half pounds and is in constant and steady use at the front, being the best known of all grenades. It consists of an oval cast iron case, containing explosives and serrated to provide numerous missiles on detonation. In the center is a spring striking pin, kept back by a lever or handle, which, in its turn, is held in position by a safety pin. - Hand Grenade No. 1
There are three kinds of bombs: (1) percussion; (2) ignition;, and (3) mechanical. It is not possible to describe every bomb in use under these three headings, but the most typical are selected for description, although it does not follow that they are all in use at the present time, but will give a fairly good idea of what is required. Percussion Bombs. 1. Hand Grenade No. 1. 2. Hand Grenade No. 2, formerly known as Mexican Hand Grenade. 3. Rifle grenade No. 3, formerly known as Hale’s Rifle Grenade. Hand Grenade No. 1 consists of a brass case screwed on to a block of wood, to which is fixed a small cane handle about half way up the case. Outside it is a cast iron ring serrated into 16 parts. The upper end is covered by a moveable cap with a striker pin in the center. On the cap are the words “Remove,” “Travel,” and “Fire” in duplicate. These are marked in red and can be made to correspond with red pointers painted on case. To prepare a bomb, turn cap so that pointer is at “Remove,” take off cap, insert detonator in hole and turn it to the left until the spring on the flange is released and goes into position under the pin; replace cap and turn to “Travel,” which is a safety position. When the bomb is to be thrown, turn cap to “Fire” and then remove safety pin. This bomb explodes on impact, and to insure its falling on the head, streamers are attached. Care should be taken that streamers do not get entangled. The bomb must be thrown well into the air. - Gun Maxim, ·303 Inch - Side elevation
1. End of crank. 2. Projecting arm of crank handle. 3. Crank handle. 4. Breech casing. 5. Fusee spring 6. Chain 7. Fusee. 8. Spring box 9. Resistance piece. 10. Buffer spring. 11. Check lever. 12. Lock casing. 13. Firing lever. 14. Trigger bar. 15. Projection on trigger bar. 16. Trigger. 17. Tumbler. 18. Lockspring. 19. Firing pin. 20. Crank. 21. Crank pin. 22. Connecting rod. 22A Cotter. 23. Side levers. 24. Sear. 25. Extractor. 26. Barrel. 27. Ejector tube. 28. Horns of extractor. 29. Keeper bracket. 30. Side cams. 31. Cover spring. 32. Cover. 33. Gib. 34. Adjusting screw for fusee spring. 35. Extractor spring. 36. Handles. 37. Double button. 38. Trigger bar spring. 39. Gib spring. 41. Extractor levers. 42. Belt. 43. Upper extractor stop. 44. Groove for side plate spring. 45. Cartridge grooves. 46. Ejector tube spring. 47. Side plates. 48. Guides in which flanges of lock move. 49. Guide ribs for extractor. 50. Cover lock. 51. Gunmetal block. 52. Hole for firing pin. 53. Safety catch. 54. Screwed head. 55. Connecting rod spring. 56. Crank bearings. 57. Slots, breech casing. 58. Crank stops. 59. Ammunition belt box, No. 2. 60. Feed block. 61. Top lever feed block. 62. Cork plug. 63. Feed block slide. 64. Top pawl. 65. Bottom pawl. 66. Band roller. 67. Barrel casing. 68. Screwed plug for filling. 69. Asbestos packing. 70. Packing gland. 71. Cannelure for asbestos packing. 72. Gunmetal valve. 73. Steam tube. 74. } Holes in steam tube. 75. } 76. Slide valve. 77. Steam escape hole. 78. Milled heads of oil brushes. 79. Oil brush. 80. Sight, tangent. 81. Sight, fore. 82. Shutter. 83. Shutter spring. 84. Shutter catch. 85. Notch for shutter catch. 86. Screwed plug for emptying. 87. Slides, right and left. 88. Gib spring cover. 89. Check lever collar. 90. Cover lock spring. 91. Safety catch spring. 92. Tangent sight spring. 93. Bottom lever feed block. 94. Trunnions of barrel. 95. Extractor stop. 96. Firing lever spring. 97. Shutter pivot screw. - Gun Maxim, ·303 Inch - plan, with cover removed
1. End of crank. 2. Projecting arm of crank handle. 3. Crank handle. 4. Breech casing. 5. Fusee spring 6. Chain 7. Fusee. 8. Spring box 9. Resistance piece. 10. Buffer spring. 11. Check lever. 12. Lock casing. 13. Firing lever. 14. Trigger bar. 15. Projection on trigger bar. 16. Trigger. 17. Tumbler. 18. Lockspring. 19. Firing pin. 20. Crank. 21. Crank pin. 22. Connecting rod. 22A Cotter. 23. Side levers. 24. Sear. 25. Extractor. 26. Barrel. 27. Ejector tube. 28. Horns of extractor. 29. Keeper bracket. 30. Side cams. 31. Cover spring. 32. Cover. 33. Gib. 34. Adjusting screw for fusee spring. 35. Extractor spring. 36. Handles. 37. Double button. 38. Trigger bar spring. 39. Gib spring. 41. Extractor levers. 42. Belt. 43. Upper extractor stop. 44. Groove for side plate spring. 45. Cartridge grooves. 46. Ejector tube spring. 47. Side plates. 48. Guides in which flanges of lock move. 49. Guide ribs for extractor. 50. Cover lock. 51. Gunmetal block. 52. Hole for firing pin. 53. Safety catch. 54. Screwed head. 55. Connecting rod spring. 56. Crank bearings. 57. Slots, breech casing. 58. Crank stops. 59. Ammunition belt box, No. 2. 60. Feed block. 61. Top lever feed block. 62. Cork plug. 63. Feed block slide. 64. Top pawl. 65. Bottom pawl. 66. Band roller. 67. Barrel casing. 68. Screwed plug for filling. 69. Asbestos packing. 70. Packing gland. 71. Cannelure for asbestos packing. 72. Gunmetal valve. 73. Steam tube. 74. } Holes in steam tube. 75. } 76. Slide valve. 77. Steam escape hole. 78. Milled heads of oil brushes. 79. Oil brush. 80. Sight, tangent. 81. Sight, fore. 82. Shutter. 83. Shutter spring. 84. Shutter catch. 85. Notch for shutter catch. 86. Screwed plug for emptying. 87. Slides, right and left. 88. Gib spring cover. 89. Check lever collar. 90. Cover lock spring. 91. Safety catch spring. 92. Tangent sight spring. 93. Bottom lever feed block. 94. Trunnions of barrel. 95. Extractor stop. 96. Firing lever spring. 97. Shutter pivot screw. - Guard
At the second command take the position of guard; at the same time throw the rifle smartly to the front, grasp the rifle with the left hand just below the lower band, fingers between the stock and gun sling, barrel turned slightly to the left, the right hand grasping the small of the stock about 6 inches in front of the right hip, elbows free from the body, bayonet point at the height of the chin. - Greek Sea Fight, 550 B.C.
Greek Sea Fight, 550 B.C. - German 105-mm Gun-Howitzer
- German 105-mm Gun - Howitzer
German 105-mm Gun - Howitzer - General Arrangements of Mark V. Tank—Front View
- General Arrangement of Mark V. Tank—Sectional Plan
- General Arrangement of Mark V. Tank—Sectional Elevation
- Gardner Two Barrel Machine gun
Gardner Two-Barrel Machine Gun, on cone mounting, for Naval use. Weight of gun 103 lbs; of mounting 153 lbs. ; calibre .045 ; rapidity of fire, maximum, 680 shots per minute - Gardner five barrel machine gun on carriage
- Gardner five barrel machine gun
Gardner Five-Barrel Machine Gun, on portable tripod, adapted for Naval use. Weight of gun 235 lbs; of mounting 134 lbs. ; calibre .045 ; rapidity of fire, maximum, 1200 shots per minute - Gallo-Roman Weapons
The Romans, either alarmed by the progress of Hannibal, or becoming aware of the value of such allies as the Spaniards, now sent larger armies to their assistance, headed by their ablest generals. - Gallo-Roman Sword and Horn
- Front View of the Guards
- From the wreck of the 'Mary Rose'
- French Garrison Gun
French Garrison Gun (1650-1700). The gun is on a sloping wooden platform at the embrasure. Note the heavy bed on which the cheeks of the carriage rest and the built-in skid under the center of the rear axletree. - Five barrelled Matchlock
The Chinese of the present day make use of a species of matchlock revolvers, and also of another matchlock, consisting of several barrels, placed on a common stock, diverging from each other, and fired simultaneously. - Firing Position
88-mm multi-purpose gun - Firing Position - Firing a demiculverine
Firing a demiculverine from a bastion at “James Fort.” (Conjectural sketch by Sidney E. King.) - Different forms of crossbow bolts
I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, military bolts ; 6, bolt with tow soaked in oil for firing ships and houses ; 7, bolt for a slur bow ; 8, bolt for killing deer ; 9, 10, bolts for killing large birds ; 11, 12, bolts for killing game birds. The latter had not metal heads, and were blunt, so as not to damage the game. - Diagram Showing Adaptation to the 'Large-Wheeled Tractor' Idea
The genesis of the “large-wheeled tractor” was as follows: Trenches with a parados and parapet about 4 ft. high were being constructed by the enemy in Flanders. The engineers consulted by the Land Ship Committee gave it as their considered opinion that if these obstacles were to be crossed, a wheel of not less than 15 ft. diameter would be necessary. Machines with these gigantic wheels were actually ordered, but the wooden model that was knocked together as a preliminary at once convinced even its best friends that the design was fantastic, and that any machine of the kind would be little better than useless on account of its conspicuousness and vulnerability. However, the “big wheel” idea did not utterly die, for in the upturned snout of the Mark I. Tank we have, as it were, its “toe” preserved, the track turning sharply back at about axle level, instead of mounting uselessly skyward, as would have been the case had not the old wheel idea been supplanted by that of the sliding track. - Crossbowmen killing Deer and Wild Boars
From MS. Gaston Phosbus. Fourteenth century - Crossbowmen
The centre figure may be seen bending his crossbow with a windlass, with his foot in the stirrup of the weapon. From Manuscript, Froissart's ' Chronicles. - Crossbowmen
They represent French soldiers at the defence of Rouen, 1419, shooting from behind the shelter of shields propped up in front of them. - Crossbowmen
The centre figure is winding up his windlass crossbow behind the shelter of a shield. From Manuscript, Froissarts ' Chronicles.' The larger shields, which were carried before the knights (by their pages) when on the march, and which were propped up in front of them as a protection from arrows in a battle or a siege, were known as pavises or mantlets. - Crossbowmen
The soldiers carry windlass crossbows. One man is winding up his weapon ; the other is shooting, with his windlass laid on the ground at his feet. - Crossbowman approaching game
Crossbowman approaching game by means of a stalkig horse - Cross-bow
The cross-bowman is winding up his weapon with a winch, his shield is slung at his back. - Costume of the Franks in the Eighth Century
Costume of the Franks in the Eighth Century - Combat on Foot
The engravings of Hans Burgmaier, in the Triumphs of Maximilian and the Weise Könige contain numerous authorities very valuable for the clearness and artistic skill with which the armour is depicted. We have given an illustration which represents a combat of two knights, on foot. The armour is partly covered by a surcoat; in the left-hand figure it will be seen that it is fluted. The shields will be noticed as illustrating one of the shapes then in use. - Chinese Floating Mines used againsts HMS Encounter
A, Can buoy containing powder. B, Box containing lighted match and punk below. C, Lid or slide between match and punk. D, String for pulling out slide, to allow match to ignite punk. - Catapult
The catapult was the howitzer, or mortar, of its day and could throw a hundred-pound stone 600 yards in a high arc to strike the enemy behind his wall or batter down his defenses. "In the middle of the ropes a wooden arm rises like a chariot pole," wrote the historian Marcellinus. "At the top of the arm hangs a sling. When battle is commenced, a round stone is set in the sling. Four soldiers on each side of the engine wind the arm down until it is almost level with the ground. When the arm is set free, it springs up and hurls the stone forth from its sling." In early times the weapon was called a "scorpion," for like this dreaded insect it bore its "sting" erect. - Bullet Mold
Bullet Mold - Brewster's and Standish's Swords
Brewster's and Standish's Swords - breechloader
Under the Swedish warrior Gustavus Adolphus, artillery began to take its true position on the field of battle. Gustavus saw the need for mobility, so he divorced anything heavier than a 12-pounder from his field artillery. His famous "leatheren" gun was so light that it could be drawn and served by two men. This gun was a wrought-copper tube screwed into a chambered brass breech, bound with four iron hoops. The copper tube was covered with layers of mastic, wrapped firmly with cords, then coated with an equalizing layer of plaster. A cover of leather, boiled and varnished, completed the gun. Naturally, the piece could withstand only a small charge, but it was highly mobile. - Breech loading Gingal (Chamber out)
Breech loading Gingal (Chamber out)