I am always looking to expand my library and because this is a niche within a niche, I wanted to share some recommendations for pre flintlock books. If anyone else has recommendations, please share. Unfortunately, many books are out of print, so it may take a while to find them for a reasonable price.
Best overall:
Landeszeughaus Graz, Austria: Radschloss Sammlung/Wheellock Collection, by Robert Brooker.
This book has an insane amount of high quality photos of wheellock pistols, carbines, muskets, and rifles, from a 150 year period. The images show various angles and include barrel lengths and caliber. the museum has not added any of these online, so this is the only source for these guns. The main downside is the insane second hand price, or the 100ish euro shipping from Europe.
Good general history:
Weapons and Warfare in Reaniassance Europe, by Bert S. Hall.
This is a great history of the evolution of gunpowder warfare in Europe, including the science and tactics. The book is possible to find for a very reasonable price, which is nice.
Honorable Mention:
Le armi da fuoco portatili italiane dalle origini al Risorgimento, by Generale A. Gaibi.
This book is in Italian, which translation software really struggles with translating Italian gun terms, but it has a huge amount of decent quality images of wheellocks, miquelets, and flintlocks. There are many diagrams and photos of the inside and outside of unusual locks, which is amazing. Many Italian museums do not upload their collections online, so it is one of the only sources for the images. The book has been out of print for 50+ years, but can still be found at a reasonable price.
I have many more recommendations, but wanted to start with just these.
Best overall:
Landeszeughaus Graz, Austria: Radschloss Sammlung/Wheellock Collection, by Robert Brooker.
This book has an insane amount of high quality photos of wheellock pistols, carbines, muskets, and rifles, from a 150 year period. The images show various angles and include barrel lengths and caliber. the museum has not added any of these online, so this is the only source for these guns. The main downside is the insane second hand price, or the 100ish euro shipping from Europe.
Good general history:
Weapons and Warfare in Reaniassance Europe, by Bert S. Hall.
This is a great history of the evolution of gunpowder warfare in Europe, including the science and tactics. The book is possible to find for a very reasonable price, which is nice.
Honorable Mention:
Le armi da fuoco portatili italiane dalle origini al Risorgimento, by Generale A. Gaibi.
This book is in Italian, which translation software really struggles with translating Italian gun terms, but it has a huge amount of decent quality images of wheellocks, miquelets, and flintlocks. There are many diagrams and photos of the inside and outside of unusual locks, which is amazing. Many Italian museums do not upload their collections online, so it is one of the only sources for the images. The book has been out of print for 50+ years, but can still be found at a reasonable price.
I have many more recommendations, but wanted to start with just these.
