Arming the World

American Gun-Makers in the Gilded Age

By: Geoffrey S. Stewart

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Hardcover | 1 July 2024

At a Glance

Hardcover
352 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
23.7 x 16.4 x 3.9

Hardcover

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Arming the World tells the story of the American small arms industry from the early 1800's through the post-Civil War era. From the first days of the republic, the federal government determined that the United States should produce arms in a new, and radically different, way. Rejecting the time-worn artisanal methods followed in European countries, America established government-owned weapons factories where arms would be mass-produced using water-powered machinery. Spreading to the private sector this "armory practice" led to ground-breaking advances in machine tools, fundamental changes in labor relations and, crucially, the ability to mass-produce guns with interchangeable parts. Soon, American gun-makers were experimenting with new types of small arms, including revolvers, breech-loading guns, repeating rifles, and even the first machine guns. Almost from the beginning, American arms-makers looked for opportunities overseas. By the 1850's they had found success selling guns and gun-making machinery to Britain, Russia, and other countries. The federal government's staggering purchases of arms during the Civil War fueled the industry's explosive growth and, simultaneously, stimulated the development of fast-firing breech-loading rifles and metal-cased ammunition. When, in 1865, it became evident that every country in the world had no choice but to re-arm itself with these modern weapons, the American advantage was overwhelming. Salesmen from Remington, Winchester, Colt, and Smith & Wesson--and from lesser-known firms, too-- traveled the world marketing their guns, dominating--or, perhaps, even inventing-- the international arms business. American gun-makers sold rifles and side-arms by the millions and cartridges by the billions to great powers, restive colonies, and fading empires alike. At a time when the uneasy European balance of power was shifting, this outpouring of Yankee ingenuity and ambition had repercussions that reverberate even today.

Industry Reviews

"[A]n incredible tour through the American experience during what is arguably the golden age of firearm development... Arming the World: American Gun-Makers in the Gilded Age is a must-have for the historical firearm enthusiast seeking a greater understanding of the role American armsmakers played in the latter half of the 19th century."

-- "American Rifleman"

"Arming the World, is a sweeping, detailed, highly readable account of how a few ingenious New England inventors and craftsmen, before and during the Civil War, created the world's most advanced--that is, fast-loading and deadly--rifles and pistols. Soon the world's warring rulers beat a path to their door, enabling American manufacturers and arms dealers to build a booming, truly global munitions industry."

--Knight A. Kiplinger, Editor Emeritus, The Kiplinger Letter and Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine

"Geoff Stewart has done a brilliant job in Arming the World telling the little-known and largely under appreciated story of the development of American guns--from revolvers to rifles--before and after the Civil War. It's an engagingly written and deeply researched tale filled with memorable characters who transformed the American arms industry and played a crucial role in the history of warfare at home and abroad."

--Marc Leepson, author of Flag: An American Biography; What So Proudly We Hailed: Francis Scott Key, A Life; and Lafayette: Lessons in Leadership from the Idealist

"Much has been written about the advent of the 'American system' of gunmaking prior to and during the Civil War. Yet very little exists about what happened to the arms business after the war. Thankfully Geoff Stewart corrects the problem with his deeply researched and exquisitely written study Arming theWorld. This is the book to read for anyone interested in the origins of the early international arms trade and its long-term implications."

--Merritt Roe Smith, Cutten Professor of the History of Technology and MacVicar Faculty Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; author of Harpers Ferry Armory and the New Technology; and editor of Reconceptualizing the Industrial Revolution and Inventing America: A History of the United States

We all know the basics of the history of American gun making but few have seen all the fine details. That's where this book comes in fleshing out the abbreviated narrative into the complete story. And what a story it is. How a small former colony grew and introduced interchangeable parts and mass production to the world. This book tells how why it came about instead of saying it just happened. From government armories to private factories America was embracing the new technology in guns that became the Industrial Revolution as its technology was applied to making every item... It's one thing to relate the events but quite another to provide all the fine details. That's where this book comes in, giving an in-depth knowledge of all the factors that figured in the historic events that shaped the history of gun making in the U.S. which went on to influence events worldwide with a legacy and ramifications that continue to the present day. This is an entertaining read that will give you a far greater understanding of these events and how they are all tied together than any previous work that I have come across.

--Jim Dickson "The GunMag"

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