A History of Weapons: Crossbows, Caltrops, Catapults & Lots of Other Things that Can Seriously Mess You Up

By John O'Bryan

Someday a prehistoric man picked up a rock and threw it at whatever. And the heritage of guns started. Comedy author and weapon nerd John O'Bryan relays the freaky highlights of man's centuries-old obsession with weaponry. He hilariously explains the mace, the morning celebrity, and the fellow catcher, whereas conveying real information regarding each one weapon: its historical past, makes use of, and badass strength. Flipping via history's highlights, readers will know about Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, and the "peaceful" Shaolin priests. This final compendium of amazing guns supplies all of the unusually real info bound to provoke anyone who is ever made a gun with their hands and stated, "PEW-PEW-PEW!"

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So the following time you spot a man sporting this kind of on the Ren Faire, do every body a want: push him over, hit him within the head with a morning superstar membership, and inform him to place an effective shaft on his weapon. EASE OF USE: (you’re going to get very drained and intensely injured) related guns: The threshing flail, that's decidedly no longer bullshit merits: seems to be striking; intimidating to stand in conflict dangers: tough to regulate, onerous to take advantage of MADE well-known by way of: Liars at Renaissance gala's; Millhouse, who by chance knocked out that man within the military surplus shop at the Simpsons SWORD BREAKER think it or now not, a few humans favor to not move right into a struggle with a defend or buckler of their left hand. Who is familiar with, might be they only don’t like being alive? If you’re this type of humans, I hugely suggest making an investment in a parrying dagger. those nifty little left-handed blades got here in numerous styles and sizes, many having intricate crossguards and stylish quillons (those issues that guard your hand). The sword breaker, however, comes with deep, ferocious enamel behind the blade, like an open crocodile mouth that’s simply bold you to step within. This doesn’t simply make the dagger glance awesome—it additionally serves a pragmatic function. The swordsman parries with this facet of the dagger, hoping to trap the opponent’s sword within the the teeth. If winning, the wielder can twist the sword breaker to—you guessed it—break the enemy’s sword. yet except the enemy used to be utilizing a sword made from peanut brittle, this most likely didn’t ensue too frequently. much more likely, one might use the sword breaker to seize the enemy’s weapon and pull it from his hand. yes, it’s much less remarkable than truly breaking the sword, however it nonetheless acquired the task performed. merits: seems cool; can seize enemy’s sword in its “teeth” negative aspects: most likely won’t truly holiday enemy’s sword concerning: major gauche, a left-handed parrying dagger used with the rapier; “trident dagger,” a parrying dagger with extra blades that spring out from the edges HALBERD The Swiss have invented a few lovely striking issues through the years: chocolate, cuckoo clocks, and cash laundering, to call a number of. yet let’s no longer put out of your mind the halberd, the steel-cleaving polearm of the Swiss center a while. How potent is a halberd opposed to a knight in complete plate armor? positioned it this manner: if a knight have been a lobster, then the halberd will be the cracking utensil that pulled the succulent meat from its shell. This undesirable boy of a polearm gains at the very least 3 ways to break a knight’s day. The awl could be swung in huge sweeping angles, producing adequate strength to split limbs from torsos. The hook at the again is used for grappling. As impregnable as metal plate is, it’s cumbersome, and provides plenty of corners for the knight’s enemy to snag. easily use the halberd hook to snatch directly to a section of the knight’s armor, and you'll pull him round like a exhibit pony. as soon as you’ve acquired the knight in a susceptible place, use the pike at the most sensible of the halberd to puncture his breastplate.

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