Gunnery in 1858: Being a Treatise on Rifles, Cannon, and Sporting Arms Explaining the Principles of the Science of Gunnery, and Describing the Newest Improvements in Fire-Arms

In this detailed 1858 treatise the author lays out the emerging science of gunnery, guiding the listener through the mechanics of rifles, cannon and sporting arms. Clear explanations of barrel construction, projectile design, and the newly patented expansive bullet reveal how raw firepower was being transformed. Richly illustrated passages bring to life the angularly laminated steel gun and other cutting‑edge weapons that were reshaping battlefields.

The preface argues that progress stalls without disciplined scientific inquiry, contrasting Britain’s cautious bureaucracy with the rapid adoption seen in France. By exposing common mistakes of inventors and offering practical advice, the work serves both the curious shooter and the serious engineer. Listeners will come away with a vivid picture of an era where foundries were battlegrounds and every new improvement promised decisive advantage.