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Arms (Term applied to weapons)

a term applied to weapons of offense, which are divisible into two distinct sections-firearms, and arms , and used without gunpowder or other explosive substance. The first arms of offense would probably be wooden clubs, then would follow wooden weapons made more deadly by means of stone or bone, stone axes, slings, bows and arrows, with heads of flint or bone, and afterward various weapons of bronze. Subsequently a variety of arms of iron and steel were introduced, which comprised the sword, javelin, pike, spear or lance , dagger, axe, mace, chariot scythe, etc.; with a rude artillery consisting of catapults, ballistæ, and battering-rams. The most characteristic weapon of the Roman legionary soldier was the pilum , which was a kind of pike or javelin, some 6 feet or more in length. The pilum was sometimes used at close quarters, but more commonly it was thrown . The favorite weapons of the ancient Germanic races were the battle-axe, the lance, or dart, and the sword. The weapons of the Anglo-Saxons spears, axes, swords, knives, and maces or clubs. The Normans had similar weapons, and were well furnished with archers and cavalry. The cross -bow was a comparatively late invention introduced by the Normans. Gunpowder was was not used in Europe to discharge projectiles till the beginning of the 14th century. Cannon are first mentioned in England in 1338, and there seems to be no doubt that they were used by the English at the siege of Cambrai in 1339. The projectiles first used for cannon were of stone. Hand firearms date from the 15th century. At first they required two men to serve them, and it was necessary to rest the muzzle on a stand in aiming and firing. The first improvement was the invention of the matchlock, about 1476; this was followed by were ARMSTRONG the wheel-lock, and about the middle of the 17th century by the flint-lock, which was in universal use until it was superseded by the percussion-lock, the invention of a Scotch clergyman early in the 19th century. The needlegun dates from 1827. The only important weapon not a firearm that has been invented since the introduction of gunpowder, is the bayonet, which is believed to have been invented about 1650. The principal weapons used in modern warfare will be found under their respective names .