First published in 1881, "The Gun and Its Development" traces the interesting history of ballistic weaponry, from the ancient slingshot and bow to the pivotal invention of the crossbow and finally the game-changing gun. With authentic photographs and information on everything from construction and maintenance to proper use and beyond, this is a volume not to be missed by military history enthusiasts and those with an interest in the development of modern weaponry. William Wellington Greener (1834-1921) was a English gunsmith, most famous for being the founder of the W. W. Greener company and for his innovative designs. Other notable works by this author include: "Modern Breech-loaders: Sporting and Military" (1871), "Choke-bore Guns, and How to Load for All Kinds of Game" (1876), and "Modern Shot Gun" (1888). Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.