The book is devoted to the history of weapons, their use and manufacture in Western Europe of the XV-XVII centuries. - from the late Middle Ages to the early modern era. The source base of the publication was the richest collection of weapons and armor of the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineering and Communications Troops (St. Petersburg). The first book tells about the history of the formation of the collection from the time of Peter the Great to the end of the 20th century, armor and other protective weapons, blade and pole weapons, as well as instruments of justice. Most of the items featured in the book are published for the first time.