binding good. minor cover edge wear. pages discoloring. top edge foxing. no marks on text. dustjacket faded, torn at spine ends, rub marks, scratches, and edge creases, chips and wrinkles.

The many strange and freakish gun fabrications that are shown in this book are a tribute to man's inventive energy as applied to the development of arms. From days just past and from days long gone, Lewis Winant has selected over 300 pieces as representative of the oddities that have been constructed to utilize the propelling force of gunpowder. There are pistols in knives and canes; pistols in flashlights, purses, ploughs, whips, bicycle handlebars, stirrups, keys, pipes, belts, sundials, and other contrivances. In addition there are other types classified as oddities, such as squeezers, knuckledusters, alarm and trap. There are combination weapons, turret, chain and harmonica pistols, guns using superposed loads and other variations from the norm. These remarkable firearms come from more than fifty collections. Some of the most interesting rarities have never before been illustrated in any publication, and their existence is unknown to most collectors. Collectors of Colt revolvers and Elgin pistols will find items of special interest to them. Firearms Curiosa will delight the serious collector and will entertain the many who have little knowledge of firearms but who will be fascinated by the singular and sometimes fantastic products of man's creative-ness. Those with an inventive turn of mind will treasure the book. Both professional and amateur inventors will find stimulation in the variations in employment and technical functions of the weapons. Firearms Curiosa will be very welcome to students and collectors, for previously there has existed not one single compendium of reliable information covering odd firearms.