A most pernicious thing: gun trading and native warfare in the early contact period

The author challenges the myth of trade dependence which has pervaded histories of this period, by proving the superiority of native weapons over matchlock muskets. A fascinating argument on a contentious ethno-historical issue. Contents Acknowledgments Chapter One: Contemporary Ethnohistory Chapter Two: The Gun in Europe - Evolution and Deployment Chapter Three: Colonial Arms Chapter Four: The Native/ European Gun Trade Before 1640 Chapter Five: The Weapons Trade Begins in Earnest Chapter Six: 1655 to the End of King Philip's War 1676 Chapter Seven: The Musket - Operational Parameters Chapter Eight: Conclusions and Hypotheses Appendix: Notes on Lethality Bibliography Illustrations 1. Sketch of a matchlock 2. Sketch of a flintlock 3. Detail from Samuel de Champlain's sketch Ch. 1. Contemporary Ethnohistory -- Ch. 2. The Gun In Europe -- Evolution And Deployment -- Ch. 3. Colonial Arms -- Ch. 4. The Native/european Gun Trade Before 1640 -- Ch. 5. The Weapons Trade Begins In Earnest -- Ch. 6. 1655 To The End Of King Philip's War 1676 -- Ch. 7. The Musket -- Operational Parameters -- Ch. 8. Conclusions And Hypotheses -- Appendix: Notes On Lethality. Brian J. Given. Includes Bibliographical References.