Composite photograph showing Baron de Cosson, Harold Arthur Lee-Dillon, and Sir Guy Laking

Early Scholars

The origins of the study of arms and armour lie in the efforts of a small group of 19th and early 20th century gentlemen scholars. Today the field has grown wide in its appeal, from the university trained academic, to the enthusiastic re-enactor.

Within these pages you can gain an insight both to the scholarship and the lives of those early scholars and from our Online Object Catalogue order copies of many of their works.

Scary Horned Helmet

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Longest-range gun ever built

In WW I Germany built the longest-range gun ever. Its 100kg projectile travelled 122km, and left the muzzle at 1500 metres per second and reached a height of around 40km. About 6 times faster and 4 times higher than an average transatlantic passenger jet.

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