Since I was in Leeds, I went to the Royal Armouries
Museum.
I didn't have time to see all of it – I could easily spend a day
there – but I visited some old friends and wandered about a bit.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_134137.jpg)
Hunting crossbow.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_134645.jpg)
An unusually pretty Walther Model 9. (The labels always start with the
technical description, a little unexpected; and while a .25ACP is "of
6.35mm calibre", it was built for the .25ACP, not for generic 6.35mm.)
![](tn_IMG_20211002_134747.jpg)
One of several "Apaches", knuckleduster-knife-pistols. One suspects
they were rather more popular for threatening than for actual use,
particularly the way you'd have to reverse your grip to use the
knuckleduster.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_134834.jpg)
Most of the guns were mounted sideways, but here's one to show you
just how big a barrel can look. (Mind you, it was something over half
an inch.)
![](tn_IMG_20211002_134908.jpg)
Another Apache in a different shape.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_135038.jpg)
Sterling SMG in remarkably good nick.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_135240.jpg)
And a third Apache. Wavy blades are cool!
![](tn_IMG_20211002_135314.jpg)
You know, I start to think there might be a reason combination
weapons have never been very popular.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_135546.jpg)
Ring-trigger derringer.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_140506.jpg)
One admires the mechanical ingenuity to make flintlocks work in the
first place, but my goodness the reliability…
![](tn_IMG_20211002_140649.jpg)
Kolibri pistol, believed to be the smallest ever made – firing 2mm
ammunition. Alas, they didn't have a scale next to it. Yeah, very
small, but desperately underpowered and inaccurate… you could probably
discourage someone if you shot them in the face.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_141007.jpg)
Some fantasy weapons, from League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and
Hour of the Gun.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_141135.jpg)
The inspiration for the pulse rifle, and for the Star Wars blasters.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_141531.jpg)
Holland and Holland hunting rifle. Very few uses in the real world,
rather more in role-playing games where often something much tougher
than human is being a threat.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_141647.jpg)
Pneumatic rifle, reservoir in the (rather uncomfortable-looking) stock.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_141839.jpg)
They had surprisingly few Drillings, and the reflective front glass
faced the window…
![](tn_IMG_20211002_142025.jpg)
Gorgeously decorated crossbow-rifle.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_144232.jpg)
Down the shaft. What is the term for this sort of art? Hoplography? Or
would that be the weapon as tool for creation of art?
![](tn_IMG_20211002_144558.jpg)
An Anglo-Saxon sword from near Windsor.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_150444.jpg)
Bergmann MP 18 – the weapon all those Nazis in Raiders of the Lost
Ark should have been using instead of MP40s. (They might have had
early MP35s.)
![](tn_IMG_20211002_150545.jpg)
Webley-Fosbery!
![](tn_IMG_20211002_151033.jpg)
That very distinctive feed system on a Maxim.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_151239.jpg)
Trench periscope Mauser Gew98. (Not at all clear that this was ever
actually useful.)
![](tn_IMG_20211002_151532.jpg)
Sword, Cavalry, Pattern, 1908.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_152405.jpg)
Persian horned helmet, probably ceremonial.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_152732.jpg)
What is it with these combination weapons? The grip would be horrid
for pistolling or for swording.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_153003.jpg)
Supposedly, headgear for carrying Deadly Accurate Razor-Sharp Quoits.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_153208.jpg)
Pangolin-scale armour from Rajasthan. (The only known example.)
![](tn_IMG_20211002_153532.jpg)
I feel that the Glasgow Kiss is unlikely to be an effective cavalry
tactic.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_153742.jpg)
What makes a polearm more dangerous? More blades! (Er, we want it to
be dangerous to the enemy, sir…)
![](tn_IMG_20211002_154420.jpg)
Mother-of-pearl and lacquer on spear shafts presented to Queen
Victoria in the late 1800s.
![](tn_IMG_20211002_155440.jpg)
Lorcin L-9, still high in the lists of handguns used in crimes even
some years after production ceased.
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