One of the first monumental works devoted to the history of handguns from ancient times to the 19th century and written in Russian. In the 130 years since its first publication, the book has not lost its relevance and significance, becoming repeatedly reprinted classics. Based on many collections in Russian museums and foreign collections, P.P. von Winkler traces the evolution of weapons from Paleolithic and Neolithic weapons, weapons of the Egyptians, Celts, Greeks, Romans and Germans to European weapons of the Middle Ages and the New Age.