GARDNER, Robert Edward. Five Centuries of Gunsmiths, Swordsmiths and Armourers, 1400-1900
Item #6997
4to; 244 pp. + plates; cloth in dust jacket. Columbus, OH: Walter F. Heer, 1948. First Edition. Primarily an alphabetical reference divided into categories of gunsmiths, swordsmiths, canon founders, armourers, and bowyers. Entries often include interesting historical notes, for example: "Plate, A. J. - San Francisco, Calif., 1856-75. A rifle produced by Plate won highest award at the First Industrial Exhibition of the Mechanics Institute, San Francisco, 1857. Maker of rifles, shotguns and derringer pistols. Plate was agent for Henry Derringer's pistols and when the demand exceeded the supply he produced his own, paying a local tailor for the use of his name - H. Derringer." Unused bookplate; dust jacket chipped, with faded spine; near fine condition in good jacket. |
