Guns on the Early Frontiers: From Colonial Times to the Years of the Western Fur Trade

by Carl P. Russell

This thoroughly documented, authoritative, and highly readable book not only details the weapons used during the settlement and westward expansion of America but also describes their use by fur traders, trappers, soldiers, and Native Americans. The result is a lively historical examination of the momentous events that were strongly influenced by the gun trade.
The text is augmented and enriched throughout with clearly identified illustrations of everything from antique muskets, flintlocks, repeating rifles, and howitzers to bullet molds, powder horns, and other firearm accessories.
“An outstanding contribution to firearms literature. It sets its own standard.” — The New York Times.
“For collectors, museum curators, archaeologist-historians, this book is — in its field — an essential contribution.” — Kirkus.
“A Glossary of Gun Terms, ample footnotes most skillfully arranged, and illustrations … complement the text which achieves the miracle of scholarship without tedium.” — San Francisco Chronicle.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Carl Parcher Russell was a historian, ecologist, and administrator. He joined the National Park Service (NPS) in 1923 as a Naturalist in Yosemite National Park. In 1931 he received a Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Michigan. He served as an officer for the NPS for 34 years, from 1923 until his retirement in 1957. He was the Chief Naturalist of Yosemite from 1923 to 1929. He specialized in frontier history, studying its material culture in minute detail, and documented pioneer life for the NPS and others.

Dr. Russell served in several regional positions in the NPS, including NPS Chief Naturalist of Yosemite (1923–1929), regional director, and Yosemite National Park Superintendent. Dr. Russell retired from the park service in 1957.

Reviews

[Eric Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flat out great. Very well written and full of info.

[Matt Gallant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very excellent